Pray for our Youth and their leaders attending SPARK, the big weekend youth event at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. It gets underway Friday. Registration is closed, but you can see details.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: During this (Jan. 18-25) Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Christians worldwide are challenged to offer kindness and hospitality to others. Read story
Celebrate Recovery! The Indiana Area Celebrate Recovery at Homer City UMC recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary. Two area newspaper took note -- The Indiana Gazette and The Blairsville Dispatch. See Gazette story
Talking With Youth About General Conference: As the 2020 General Conference approaches and news reports of a separation plan circulate, you may want to discuss what’s happening with your youth. For observations and discussion tips, check out the Youth Worker Collective website.
Minority Ministries Key to Plan: Negotiators of a proposed separation plan for The United Methodist Church say $39 million for minority ministries was a critical element to reaching an agreement. Read UM News story
Introducing the New UMC Social Principles: Eight years ago, the General Conference called the UMC Board of Church and Society to lead a revision of the Social Principles in order to live more fully into our identity as a global church. The new document was created with feedback from thousands of United Methodists across Africa, the Philippines, the U.S. and Eurasia. Learn more and see the result at .umcsocialprinciples2020.org/.
Apply Now for Zim Immersion: February 1 is the deadline to apply for an immersion experience in Zimbabwe. Learn more and get application at wpaumc.org/ZIP.
Mission Trip to Zimbabwe: Want to experience Africa with The Nyadire Connection? TNC teams will travel later this year to connect with friends and support ministries at the Nyadire Mission Centre. Activities include Bible School, Sports Camp, building projects at the Home of Hope Orphanage (laundry tubs, playground, bookshelves, etc.), teaching basic computer skills, vocational skills with the Hearing-Impaired, medical assistance (CPR, speech therapy, dental hygiene, eyeglasses, sanitary pad sewing), creating videos and audio recordings, tackling energy and water issues, and more. The next team plans to travel July/August 2020. Contact Molly Michael with any questions at mollyalice.michael@gmail.com. Learn more at Nyadire.org.
New UMCOR Executive: Effective Feb. 3, the United Methodist Committee on Relief will have a new executive director, Lara S. Martin, currently the manager of education and programs at the Center for Humanitarian Emergencies of Emory University. Formerly with Save the Children in Washington, Martin is a member of North Decatur UMC in suburban Atlanta. Read press release
Wesley on Stewardship: John Wesley, Methodism's founder, grew up poor. But the sale of his writings and his preaching made him one of England's wealthiest men. He made sure to give almost all of it away. Charles Edward White, a professor at Spring Arbor College, writes about Wesley's stewardship of money. Read commentary
Connect with Financial Leaders! Joe Park, managing partner of Horizons Stewardship, says research shows that people who are leaders in financial giving to churches are increasingly opting to give elsewhere. He offers 5 Reasons your Financial Leaders Don’t Give More. See what they are
MLK Day Retrospective: To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed on Jan. 20, UM News revisited its 2015 trip to Selma to cover the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. The marches were organized by King and other civil rights leaders to protest institutional racism and support the rights of African Americans to vote.
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United Methodists return for Bloody Sunday 50th