Learning to give sacrificially through tithing
Tithing. It’s one of those core Christian tenets that, purposefully or not, often gets forgotten by followers of Christ. Maybe it’s because, as humans born with naturally sinful inclinations, we would rather keep our money to ourselves. It’s just easier to be selfish and take care of your own needs and your family, right? Why […]
United Methodist Bishops call for prayers for peaceful elections in Congo
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The bishops of The United Methodist Church are calling for prayers of peace for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is witnessing violence in the buildup to the presidential elections on December 23, 2018. Here is the statement from the Council of Bishops: As President of the Council of Bishops of The […]
Blue Christmas services provide hope, sacred space for those in mourning
Every year, people from all over the world flock to their local church to attend joyous Christmas services full of uplifting carols, prayers of hope, and words of encouragement. But for a large number of often overlooked believers, these hope-filled services are anything but uplifting. For those who have lost loved ones, dealt with debilitating […]
Looking to the past, preparing for the future
contributed by Karon Mann, General Conference 2019 Delegate In his book The Singing Thing, author John Bell says, “We are creatures of our past, we cannot be separated from it.” He was referring specifically to the music of our past, particularly hymns and religious songs that evoke strong feelings or memories, but smells can elicit […]
Committee on Reference to meet in January
Nashville, Tenn. — The Committee on Reference will meet in advance of the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference in order to determine whether petitions submitted by organizations and individuals are in harmony with the call to the special session, as required by ¶14 of The Book of Discipline 2016 and Judicial Council Decision 1360. This […]
2019 GBHEM spring loan applications available now; scholarship applications available in early January
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry is now accepting loan applications for spring 2019. The application period for spring 2019 loans is from Dec. 13, 2018 to May 2, 2019. For 2019 scholarship applications, students need to apply between Jan. 3 and March 7, 2019. Each year, GBHEM gives out more than $5.5 million […]
Kaleidoscope Grief Center seeks volunteers to serve children, families in grief
LITTLE ROCK, AR (Dec. 13, 2018) – Losing a loved one is difficult for everyone, and grieving that loss is essential to accepting painful feelings and creating an opportunity for growth and a new sense of normal. Methodist Family Health’s Kaleidoscope Grief Center is hosting a training for volunteers from 5:30-8 p.m. in the second-floor […]
Obituary for James Meadors Jr.
James “Jim” M. Meadors Jr. was born May 23, 1929, and died Dec. 9, 2018. Jim Meadors, the son of Son and Stella Meadors was born in Alma. He graduated from Alma High School, then attended John Brown University and graduated from College of the Ozarks while serving as pastor to the Lamar Methodist Church. […]
A prayer for General Conference
contributed by Asa Whitaker, General Conference 2019 Delegate A few days after publishing this column, I will — with God’s help — deliver a sermon in my local church that I have entitled “Living in the presence of God.” As some of you will probably imagine, I have spent a great deal of time, study, […]
United Methodists Release State of the Church Report 2018
Nashville: A new report from The United Methodist Church on the state of the church says that 50 years after the creation of the denomination through the merger of The Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church, the church’s ministries around the world are thriving. “This 2018 State of the Church report is a […]