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Fishing gear in Somalia, home repairs in India,
and school buildings in Thailand are three
examples of aid United Methodists are providing
in tsunami-damaged areas—but often unnoticed by
international media.
This work is being done by the United Methodist
Committee on Relief (UMCOR) in collaboration
with ecumenical partners that are able to
deliver long-term relief and rehabilitation
services.
Date posted:Jun 30, 2005
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With an election in 2006, church women from Angola want to
ensure that the 70% of illiterate women know the issues that will
specifically affect their lives and are empowered to vote in a
country that has long been at war.
Date posted:Jun 29, 2005
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Children were often inserted into Bible stories as objects to
make a point to adults. Even our favorite stories about children
who became great leaders, such as Moses and Jesus, were
written long after the fact to make a strong case for their
leadership.
Date posted:Jun 28, 2005
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The UMCOR Hotline: June 28, 2005
Caring for Zimbabwe's homeless; A desperate
journey to the US; Increasing
famine threat in Africa; Rebuilding lives and
seeking water in Afghanistan
Date posted:Jun 28, 2005
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For the first time in history, human beings have
the ability to eradicate poverty from the face
of the earth, leaders of several religious and
faith-based groups in the United States said at
a June 27 press conference.
United Methodist Bishop Peter Weaver was among
the leaders who spoke at the conference, held
right before the group traveled to London for
the first Transatlantic Forum on Global Poverty.
The forum is being held just ahead of the Group
of Eight Summit.
Date posted:Jun 28, 2005
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After a period of political tumult in early
June, the situation in Bolivia has stabilized,
according to a United Methodist missionary based
in La Paz.
Date posted:Jun 27, 2005
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Having grown up in close acquaintance with the working poor, I
have long admired and marveled at the ingenuity of those who
have little. I have traveled extensively in parts of the world where
poverty is deeply entrenched.
Date posted:Jun 24, 2005
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The young people who got off the bus at the
beach town, Kribi, at the start of Holy Week
2005 were mostly strangers to one another.
Climbing back on to head home for Easter at
week's end, they were closely knit United
Methodist youths, all holding Bibles received as
participants in the first national youth camp of
the new United Methodist Church in Cameroon.
Date posted:Jun 24, 2005
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We always have to be mindful of the many ways
that God has gifted us through the Holy Spirit.
Some of us have gifts of prophecy and others
gifts of faith. Some of us have special gifts
of music or the ability to teach; others have a
gift for gardening or carpentry. All of these
gifts must be shared or they are nothing.
Date posted:Jun 23, 2005
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At first glance, it looks no different than any
other summer camp, with boat rides, a refreshing
dip in the pool, and challenges such as climbing
a wooden wall or making a precipitous 50-foot
drop on a rope swing.
But a closer look shows these are special
campers at the United Methodist Church's West
River Center near Annapolis. They are deaf and
blind adults, with volunteers helping them
experience the sights and sounds others take for
granted.
Date posted:Jun 23, 2005
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Several people unload boxes of syringes and
lining them up for Kathy Abdah who calls out
instructions to Karen Little, who is waiting to
record the inventory on a laptop computer.
"In third world countries they are reusing
syringes by dipping them in alcohol," points out
the Rev. David Schrader, superintendent of the
Calumet District, in the United Methodist
Church's North Indiana Annual (regional)
Conference. "New syringes are a remarkable gift
for these hospitals."
Date posted:Jun 23, 2005
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World Refugee Day was June 20th. This story
shows one refugee family's warm welcome by
Genesis UMC, Ada, Michigin. This church has a
history of sponsoring several families who have
resettled in the US.
Date posted:Jun 22, 2005
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The Women’s Division and Mission Volunteers office of the
General Board of Global Ministries are forming a partnership that
will enable women from the United States to build friendships
and experience mission for one to two weeks in Zimbabwe,
Uruguay, Cambodia, Sierra Leone or Cote D’Ivoire.
Date posted:Jun 22, 2005
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'Taking care of God’s creation is part of our Christian mission.
We should be caretakers of this beautiful planet God has allowed
us to live on and not destroy it. Environmental advocacy with a
theology of God’s creation could give us, as Christians, some
common ground, and bring us together around a common
table.'
Date posted:Jun 22, 2005
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Eight United Methodist young adults are devoting
eight weeks of the summer to a volunteer mission
program that puts them in situations where
people are struggling for justice.
Date posted:Jun 21, 2005
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UMCOR Hotline, June 21, 2005
Civil unrest in Haiti has led United Methodist
Volunteers in Mission to cancel all summer mission
trips to Haiti. Heavy spring rains in the Highwood
Mountains of north-central Montana destroyed
bridges in the area. Northern Chile was rocked by
a powerful earthquake last week. Food shortages
from the lack of rain, locust infestations, and a
breakdown of civil infrastructures are causing
famines in southern, western, and eastern African
nations.
Date posted:Jun 21, 2005
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The century-old Estonian United Methodist Church
ordained its first two women as pastors at the
2005 annual conference in mid-June.
Another historic event this year was the
first election of the Estonian church
superintendent, who in the past was selected by
the bishop of the Northern Europe Central
Conference.
Date posted:Jun 20, 2005
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United Methodists will have opportunities this summer to take
up the cause of South Asians, Muslims and Arabs who are
detained or being deported from the United States without
consideration of their basic human rights.
Date posted:Jun 20, 2005
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At Regional Schools of Christian Mission, study leaders for
conference schools of Christian Mission and United Methodist
Women conference officers are trained to take home a spiritual
growth, issue, and geographic study. When they return home,
they will either teach a study or help plan and implement a
conference School of Christian Mission, educating 20,000 United
Methodist Women members, clergy, children and youth across
the United States throughout the next year.
Date posted:Jun 20, 2005
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...Seeing a student discharge and then return to
treatment makes staff members wonder what
success is. Thankfully, Nate’s situation was
fairly simple: he needed more time to
transition ... He finally found success in
school, managed to cope with change, and
established a new life for himself.
Date posted:Jun 17, 2005
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As families across the United States celebrate Father’s Day this
weekend with special breakfasts, treats, gifts, and worship
services, there are still families struggling to survive in the
richest nation in the world.
Date posted:Jun 17, 2005
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Citizens and politicians continue to organize against provisions
in the PATRIOT Act that pose a threat to civil liberties.
Date posted:Jun 17, 2005
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I often tell people that one of my DNA markers
is the cross and flame because The United
Methodist Church is so much a part of who I am.
And I got that DNA from my father. My father was
raised in the Methodist Episcopal Church with a
strong influence from the Evangelical United
Brethren.
Date posted:Jun 16, 2005
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NEW YORK, New York – June 16, 2005—UM mission
personnel and volunteers in the northern Chilean
area struck by an earthquake on June 13 are
safe, as are staff and students at Methodist
schools, but the homes of many poor people were
destroyed and several of the school buildings
were heavily damaged. The tremor, measured at
7.9 on the Richter scale.
Date posted:Jun 16, 2005
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Unable to work and living on a small monthly
federal disability check, Joe, a resident of
Salt Lake City, found it difficult to make ends
meet. When he could not afford to buy food or
necessities, Joe often found himself going to
Crossroads Urban Center for help.
Date posted:Jun 15, 2005
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Since September 11, the fear of terrorist attacks has been used
to justify a series of laws and regulations that have restricted
immigrant rights, legitimized racial profiling by law enforcement
agents, and led to the detention of thousands of South Asian,
Muslim and Arab boys and men in the US, and the deportation of
hundreds. As United Methodist Women study India and Pakistan
in schools of mission this year, we can also become aware of
how fear and new legislation are affecting South Asian and other
Muslim communities in the US, and take action.
Date posted:Jun 15, 2005
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The upcoming ninth assembly of the World Council of Churches
will demonstrate "that there is life in the ecumenical movement,"
according to a United Methodist who sits on the planning
committee.
Date posted:Jun 15, 2005
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In the 20 years since its founding, the
Christian-related Amity Foundation has expanded
its social outreach programs in China to include
education for migrant children, assistance for
the disabled and support for people with
HIV/AIDS.
But many church members in the United States
know the organization because of the Amity
Teachers Program, which remains an important
part of its work, according to Zhang Liwei, the
executive in charge of international
relationships.
Date posted:Jun 15, 2005
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United Methodists will have opportunities this summer to take
up the cause of South Asians, Muslims, and Arabs who are
detained or being deported from the USA without consideration
of their basic human rights.
Date posted:Jun 14, 2005
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Join others at Schools of Christian Mission this summer as they
link the geographic study on India and Pakistan to local action.
Write a letter to your local newspaper about the unjust detaining
and deportation of South Asians, Muslims and Arabs without
consideration of their basic human rights.
Date posted:Jun 14, 2005
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Tips for writing letters to the editors about unjust detaining and
deportation of South Asians, Muslims and Arabs.
Date posted:Jun 14, 2005
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UMCOR Hotline, June 14, 2005
UMCOR is providing Liberian returnees with food
aid, seeds, tools, and training. Tropical storm
Arlene blew across West Florida and Alabama on
June 12. Children in Kharbert orphanage, Armenia
enjoyed International Children's Day June 1.
Date posted:Jun 14, 2005
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When you drive through for fast food, have you considered that
the lettuce and tomatoes on those hamburgers you are buying
are picked by farm workers who are among the worst paid and
worst treated people in the United States?
Date posted:Jun 13, 2005
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Contact McDonald's, Burger King, and Subway
today to ask that
they follow Taco Bell's lead, meet with the
Coalition of
Immokalee Workers (CIW), and help end human
rights abuses in
their supply chain!
Date posted:Jun 13, 2005
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Researchers from St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. say Africa University
and Zimbabwe are good potential partners in an
initiative to test the effectiveness of an HIV
vaccine on people in Africa.
"This would be a first for Africa," said Dr.
Karen Slobod, co-leader of the HIV Therapeutics
and Vaccine Development team working at the
Children's Infectious Disease Center at St Jude.
Date posted:Jun 13, 2005
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Every UMCOR Kit Counts
Sometimes it may seem that sending a health or
school kit is too small compared to the immense
needs of vulnerable people worldwide. I just
returned from a visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia, where I participated in several kit
distributions. I can tell you from experience that
every kit really does count.
Date posted:Jun 10, 2005
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In Anaheim, Calif., May 4-7, 2006, approximately 10,000
women from around the world will gather to celebrate the
purpose and mission of United Methodist Women at the
quadrennial Assembly. The event will be packed full of Bible
studies, outstanding speakers, music, worship, and learning
opportunities.
Date posted:Jun 10, 2005
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Scholastica was small in stature yet large in
faith and devotion. She lived in the Lake
District on the shores of Titicaca, a single
mother of three children who cared for her
elderly parents. Her husband had abandoned her
and her children years before and his
whereabouts were unknown. Their living
conditions were more than meager; without
mattresses, they slept on the dirt floor of
their mud brick house.
Date posted:Jun 08, 2005
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United Methodists and some 1,500 other
Christians were participants in "Hunger No More:
An Interfaith Convocation," sponsored June 6 by
Bread for the World at the National Cathedral in
Washington. Bread for the World's partners
include the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Date posted:Jun 08, 2005
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A new United Methodist church near Kathmandu,
Nepal, has been named in memory of the Rev.
Karuna Bhujel, a missionary killed in a road
accident in April.
Date posted:Jun 07, 2005
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The “gospel of prosperity” is the belief that
God wants Christians
to be financially rich. It is promoted by many
conservative
evangelists, especially tel-evangelists. This
gospel appeals to
people from various incomes. It confirms to the
wealthy that
their wealth is proof God loves them, and that
it's OK to pursue
wealth, even to make it top priority. It appeals
to the poor
because it seems like a way out of poverty.
Date posted:Jun 07, 2005
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UMCOR Hotline, June 7, 2005
In Armenia, UMCOR needs to purchase about 75 tons
of cheese. An unprecedented amount of health and
school kits are requested for this year. The
Methodist Church of Haiti provides hot lunches to
children in 93 schools through the Methodist
school system. At the end of 2003 there were
nearly 12 million refugees in the world.
Date posted:Jun 07, 2005
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The major Protestant Church in Japan is a strong
ally of the Baraku people, an indigenous
minority that has been excluded from advancing
in Japanese society for six hundred years.
Date posted:Jun 06, 2005
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I write this on a flight home from the
Philippines, where I spent the last two weeks
working on several articles for United Methodist
publications. During the trip, I spent four days
in a remote section of Mindanao, the island
where ethnic and political conflicts have
generated decades of war. I was there to do an
article for Response magazine about a feisty
Methodist woman who works in an isolated stretch
of mountains promoting community based health
programs and basic literacy.
Date posted:Jun 03, 2005
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Tears flowed freely on the Africa University
campus as an over-capacity crowd witnessed the
university's 11th graduation ceremony.
The hundreds of people who turned out for the
May 28 ceremony filled every inch of the open-
air venue. They came to celebrate the
achievements of the largest graduating class in
the institution's history.
Date posted:Jun 03, 2005
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The 120 women were part of the Korean United Methodist
Women’s Training Event, held in Nashville, Tenn., May 20-22.
Sponsored by the Women’s Division, the event introduced
Korean women to the one-million member organization and its
136-year mission with women, children and youth.
Date posted:Jun 03, 2005
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A young Muslim woman and a Roman Catholic nun, both from
the Philippines, were able to network at the United Nations with
others involved with indigenous issues because of assistance
from the United Methodist Church.
Date posted:Jun 02, 2005
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An ecumenical delegation will visit the
Philippines to collect facts about political
repression and offer pastoral support to
affected churches and families.
United Methodist Bishop Solito Toquero of Manila
and Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, chief
executive of the National Council of Churches in
the Philippines, urged the visit.
Date posted:Jun 02, 2005
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After last autumn's hurricanes pummeled Florida
and surrounding states, our plea to the churches
was modest: We need flood buckets.
Date posted:Jun 01, 2005
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Bread for the World, the nation's largest grassroots lobbying
organization on domestic and international hunger issues, is
hosting the first-ever Interfaith Convocation on Hunger at the
Washington National Cathedral on June 6th. This historic
meeting of more than 40 religious leaders will call for the
president and Congress to join them in making acommitment to
end hunger. See attached list of confirmed attendees.
Date posted:Jun 01, 2005
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