News
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020
Beloved in Christ Jesus:
Thanks for all the ways you continue to extend the love and grace of God made known in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to more and more and more people. Against many odds you are learning, stretching, and serving. You are reaching your communities and beyond using so many creative methods. Churches in our conference are meeting outside in church yards and in parks, you are meeting in your cars and parking lots, you... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020
Like many annual conferences, we will be holding a virtual annual conference session on September 12, 2020. We will convene with opening worship at 9 a.m. and hope to conclude business by 1 p.m. The business session will include action on legislation, election of new lay leaders, election of leaders for all conference boards/committees/lead teams, and the commissioning of two United Methodist Deaconesses. At 3:30 pm, we will reconvene for the commissioning and... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020
Biweekly, you can find a group of women gathered at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lewistown, Ohio, to crochet and knit walker bags, prayer shawls and other items. Beginning with a time of prayer and devotion, the “Happy Hookers,” as they affectionately call themselves, laugh and share as they stitch.
Less than a year ago, Mary Fulton and Mary Moon were discussing ideas for mission projects. They recruited a group of retired women connected with the church... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020
Two new interactive town hall discussions are planned as part of the “Dismantling Racism: Pressing On to Freedom” initiative’s town hall series on anti-racism to explore both old and new approaches to organizing for racial justice in church and community. In the first of the two discussions, participants will hear from a panel of seasoned leaders on August 19 at 12:00 noon CT, followed by a discussion featuring a panel of emerging leaders on August 26 at 12:00... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020
A blast that has killed over 150 people and injured another 5,000 to-date, has also left an estimated 300,000 displaced from their homes in Beirut, according to Reuters.
Longtime ministry partners that live and work in Lebanon are being offered assistance by UMCOR to help meet the most immediate and basic needs of those affected by the explosion.
You are there for people who are impacted by disasters when you give to UMCOR.
Please help UMCOR respond to this and... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020
As we end our two-part series about VBS in West Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic, we share stories of a program that took participants into their backyards and another that unknowingly changed the lives of the leaders.
BOLT! VBS Focuses on Outdoor Activities
Some young people may have become tired of virtual learning. At Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church, children’s minister Laura McCoy selected a Vacation Bible School study designed specifically for famil... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020
The U.S. criminal justice system is often anything but 'just.' With only 5% of the world's population, the United States contains about 20% of the world's prisoners, imprisoning its residents at a higher rate than countries such as China, Russia, and Rwanda. For years, the ‘war on crime’ has consistently targeted inner cities, tearing at the fabric of families and communities. At the same time, few programs have existed to help inmates better themselves, or to... (read more)
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020
Renovation of what will be the Charitable Pharmacy's second location is scheduled to begin in September, with a planned Spring 2021 opening.
The new location will be housed in the former Eagle Market at 1464 Cleveland Avenue.
In addition to providing non-narcotic prescription medicine and pharmacy services at no cost for low-income individuals and families, the new location will share space with a fresh food market run by Community Development for All People.
T... (read more)
Monday, Aug 3, 2020
Uzima Business Center (UBC) is the name given to a project implemented at Kamina Children’s Home (KCH), the orphanage of The United Methodist Church in North Katanga, DR Congo. The Center was created to be a source of income for the young people of the orphanage, in order to support their transition into adulthood. Funded by Global Ministries, UBC was inaugurated on May 30, 2020.
UBC houses several different businesses, including a cybercafé and computer shop,... (read more)
Monday, Aug 3, 2020
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. – Hebrews 13:3
The United Methodist Church is a connectional body, and those connections proved invaluable during West Ohio’s recent COVID-19 Reentry Kit Challenge. Reentry Kits are a modified version of an UMCOR hygiene kit, adding shampoo, hand sanitizer, a face mask, and an encouraging note, and providing those r... (read more)