News
Thursday, May 14, 2020
In public health, contact tracing is a key strategy to contain a virus. Until we have a vaccine, contact tracing is a way to fight the COVID-19 virus.
The Ohio Department of Health needs more contact tracers to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In the Ohio River Valley District, clergy and laity have partnered with the Hamilton County Health Department to be trained for this role.
Interim health commissioner Greg Kesterman and the Rev. David Meredith discu... (read more)
Thursday, May 14, 2020
During this time of crisis, the United Methodist Financial Credit Union has been offering our Skip A Payment option for members with existing loans who are encountering financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Members may skip their May payments on qualifying loans with NO FEE.
Members who previously skipped their March or April payment can qualify to skip AGAIN in May.
If you wish to utilize this program, please contact Shanna Davidson via emai... (read more)
Thursday, May 14, 2020
The spread of a mysterious deadly disease emptied city streets and filled hospital beds. Many risking their lives to help were people previously overlooked or even belittled.
Sound familiar?
The year was 1793, and yellow fever was ravaging Philadelphia - then the U.S. capital and the young nation's largest city. On a much smaller scale, the epidemic presented similar challenges to the COVID-19 pandemic. And just like now, church leaders found new ways to respon... (read more)
Thursday, May 14, 2020
“Good Works exists to connect people from all walks of life with people in poverty so that the kingdom of God can be experienced.”
In the midst of coronavirus, many of the ministries provided through Good Works have slowed down or been placed on “pause.” And yet, they continue to operate Timothy House, which provides shelter to people experiencing homelessness in 9 southeast Ohio counties. They work hard to provide a clean, safe, temporary home for adults and c... (read more)
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Greetings in the strong name of Jesus,
Every day throughout this health crisis, I learn more about myself and others. On one hand, I find comfort in knowing Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton have access to more information regarding the coronavirus than any of us. Their collective wisdom has guided us through these last few months. On the other hand, I find myself wishing I could snap my fingers, and everything would instantaneously go back to normal.
As b... (read more)
Thursday, May 14, 2020
The February killing of an unarmed Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, in Brunswick, Georgia, continues to fill the news cycle and our hearts. The Council of Bishops joins the General Commission on Religion and Race and the General Board of Church and Society in condemning this senseless killing, and racism and white supremacy in every form.
The list of innocent Black lives who have been needlessly killed grows each day: Eric Garner, Terrence Crutcher, Alton Sterling,... (read more)
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
The West Ohio Camping & Retreat Ministries has made the difficult decision to suspend all summer camp programs due to the coronavirus.
"The health, safety and well-being of our campers and staff are very important to us," said Director Ken Overholser. "The decision was made after many hours of conversation, discernment, and prayer with conference leadership, camping and health care officials."
Full refunds are available to those already registered and to... (read more)
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
When two nurses contacted "Connecting Threads" at Powell United Methodist Church to ask if volunteers would make protective masks, the answer was "yes." Nurses in local hospitals were working 12-hour shifts with COVID-19 patients, and they lacked adequate protective masks.
Connecting Threads, a small-group ministry at Powell, meets monthly for sewing and fellowship. In early March, the request came to Nancy Tela, a member of the group. She alerted the other mem... (read more)
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
West Ohio Greenhouse is the subject of the latest episode of Field Preachers: A Church Planting podcast from the United Methodist Church Discipleship Ministries.
Path 1 New Church Start at Discipleship Ministries encourages investment in relationships, lay and clergy leadership, best practices and healthy partner churches, so that multiplication of world-transforming disciples happens in more places for more people.
Click here to listen as Laurie Steele, Jon Mo... (read more)
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Wings of the Morning, the United Methodist aviation ministry in North Katanga, has been called into service to assist peace negotiations in a strife-ridden area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The governor of the DRC's Tanganyika province called Gaston Ntambo Nkulu, missionary pilot, for assistance early in March this year. The Cessna Caravan that Ntambo flies is a unique size, big enough to carry a government delegation, yet small enough to land on a... (read more)