MANILA — United Methodist mission partners in the Philippines gathered for roundtable discussions, Aug. 5-7, 2025, at the Wesley Conference Hall of the UMC headquarters in Manila. The meeting, attended by 30 participants, included 15 partners from the three Philippines Central Conference episcopal areas, UMC agencies and institutions; ecumenical partners; and educational institutions. The meeting provided a space for partners to share their context and strategic priorities, engage in continuing study on decolonizing mission, and focus on ways that Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry can mutually support the region.

The Philippines Central Conference (PCC) episcopal areas, agencies and institutions shared priorities for the quadrennium. A new strategic program was started by episcopal areas among 28 annual conferences. Some of these innovative ministries focus on resource development, leadership development for clergy and laity, and Wesleyan discipleship programs and resources. Health care access, ministry with indigenous people, congregational vitality and community engagement are priorities for the church, which has also taken steps toward salary and benefit standardization for church workers. Philippine outreach and mission growth in the Middle East was also lifted up in celebration.

PCC agencies like the Board of Women’s Work, as well as two church-related institutions, the Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation, Inc. (KKFI) and the Asuncion Perez Memorial Center, Inc. presented unique ministries of leadership development among women and youth, such as justice ministries and community development. There is deep engagement among communities of youth and women to serve children living with HIV and create opportunities in low-income communities, both urban and rural. Asuncion Perez’ ministry works with indigenous people known as the Aetas, who live in Zambales.

Mary Johnston Hospital, the only UMC hospital in the country, presented innovative programs and ministries such as a community-based midwives program and the Red Flame Initiative (a blood network ministry). In line with its green hospital program, the hospital is powered by solar panels – the savings from the lower electric bill is channeled to fund its HIV and AIDS program.

Educational institutions, such as Union Theological Seminary, Harris Memorial College, Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges and Wesley Divinity School, along with the Philippine Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Seminaries (PAMSCUS) presented highlights from their current programs. They shared rich and unique histories – most of which are related to the work of early Methodist missionaries. They identified challenges that might benefit from Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry support in the areas such as scholarships, community extension programs, facility improvement, faculty development and other programs to strengthen ministerial formation and specialized trainings.

The disaster management offices (DMOs) and the Manila Episcopal Area Anti-Human Trafficking Program and Migrant Ministry outlined current programs to resource partners in the areas of disaster management, human trafficking and migration.

Our ecumenical partners enriched the roundtable meeting as they shared some risk-taking initiatives that allow them to accompany some of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in the Philippines. These partners include the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) – a fellowship of bishops from Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant churches, and the Ecumenical Center for Development (ECD), which focuses on advocacy and services that promote peace, justice, human rights and humanitarian work. Rise Up for Life and for Rights that works alongside ECD, works with families of the victims on the war on drugs under the presidency of Duterte.

Rev. Dr. Lizette Tapia-Raquel, academic dean of Union Theological Seminary, Philippines, led a presentation on decolonizing mission. History attests to the ways Christianity has been used to proliferate colonization. Dr. Tapia Raquel presented a feminist post-colonial criticism of John 4, in which Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and asserts his superiority over her. It was an invitation to be conscious of how the same text can be used for liberation or oppression. For a church to engage in mission, it must decolonize its interpretations of the Christ who never took the side of empire but promised blessing to the poor. Her presentation was followed by small-group discussions that opened space for participants to share their thoughts and insights on decolonizing mission.

In both his opening and closing remarks, Roland Fernandes, general secretary for Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry, affirmed a commitment to walk and work with partners in the Philippines. “The roundtable continues the process of partner engagement and recognizes the importance for Global Ministries and GBHEM of the Philippines UMC, its organizations and ecumenical partners in the Philippines.” He further expressed that this roundtable arises out of the conviction that mutual understanding of each other leads to stronger long-term partnerships.

Echoing his words to the spring Board of Directors meeting of the two agencies, Fernandes reminded the partners of their collective moral imperative “to stand firm on the side of the gospel message, which calls us to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry and tend to the sick.”

Darlene Marquez-Caramanzana is an Asia Pacific area liaison with Global Ministries in the Philippines.

The post Strengthening mission relationships with Philippine partners appeared first on Global Ministries.

This experience not only took me to a new country but forever laid that country and its peace process and struggle for peace on my heart and will now forever be a part of my call in this world.

Maggie Taylor, Mountain Sky Conference

ATLANTA – The Young Adult Pilgrimage of Peace (YAPP), June 23-28, took place in South Korea this year, hosted by the Korean Methodist Church (KMC) in collaboration with The United Methodist Church through the General Board of Global Ministries and the World Methodist Council (WMC). This kind of pilgrimage, journeyed by many in ecumenical circles, helps Christians understand their role in strengthening peacebuilding efforts on the Korean Peninsula and globally.

This Methodist-sponsored itinerary included visits to Kwangju, 5.18 Memorial Park, Daejeon Gollyeonggol, Paju DMZ, and the Yanghwajin Missionary Cemetery as witness to the devastation caused by warfare and political tensions that have persisted for 75 years between North and South on the Korean Peninsula.

The delegation included nine UMC seminarians and three young adult Methodist delegates and 13 members of the WMC Young Adult Committee, one young adult from the Korean American UMC, and 10 young adults from the KMC.

Many who take this journey are surprised to learn that the Korean War has not technically ended, as the armistice signed in 1953 was not a permanent peace treaty between North and South Korea, China and the United Nations. The armistice left the country divided at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South.

The sites visited by the pilgrims were not easy to take in and understand. On June 25, which marked the 75th anniversary of the Korean War’s outbreak, the pilgrims visited Gollyeonggol Peace Park in Daejeon, the site of one of the largest civilian massacres at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950.

“The quiet hills seemed to sing a buried truth and silenced grief,” wrote Adrian Mendoza in a reflection. Mendoza participated as a seminarian from Drew Theological School in New Jersey. He is from the Philippines and spent two years in Zambia as a Global Mission Fellow, Global Ministries’ young adult missionary program.

“I listened not only to the people living and surviving from the constant attempts to bury and erase them and the (hi)story that they carry, but to the land itself,” Mendoza continued. “The trees, the soil, and the wind seemed to carry memories of violence long buried…When the daughter of a victim spoke to us, I had an epiphany that we were not just there to hear her story. We were called to carry it, so that her unburied hope of the full truth being unearthed would one day come, even if not in her lifetime.”

Seongjin Hong, a participant from United Theological Seminary in Ohio from South Korea, mentioned Gwangju Memorial Park, a memorial to those who gave their lives during the Gwangju Democratization Movement of May 1980: “While standing there, we engaged in a group discussion about the true meaning of peace. One key realization was that peace is not passive – it often requires struggle and even sacrifice to overcome injustice. This site reminded us that peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is an active commitment to justice, truth and dignity for all people.”

Global Ministries recently intensified its focus on peace with justice ministries and has committed support for additional pilgrimages into places where people struggle with oppression, civil conflict and the effects of unresolved wars. In May 2025, Global Ministries, with the Methodist Church in Britain, the World Council of Churches, and the Methodist Liaison Office in Jerusalem and the WCC Jerusalem Liaison Office, offered pilgrim participants a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the sacred heritage of the Holy Land while gaining insight into the challenges faced by its people, particularly the Palestinian Christian community.

Roland Fernandes, Global Ministries’ general secretary, expressed his gratefulness and support for this method of ecumenical peacebuilding: “The Young Adult Pilgrimage of Peace (YAPP) reminds us that this legacy isn’t just history; it’s a call to the future. As the Methodist family, we commit to walking together on this path of reconciliation, raising our voices for peace in Korea, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and for justice wherever hope is needed around the world. And with each future YAPP pilgrimage, we will continue to grow this movement, inviting more young people to join in, to listen, to learn, and to lead with courage and compassion.”

Katie Paul, a young adult participant from the Oklahoma Conference is a witness to the transformative power of this kind of experience: “This pilgrimage changed me. It taught me that peace begins not just in policy or protest – but in presence. It begins when we show up, listen deeply and allow ourselves to be transformed by the stories of others.”

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

Young Adult Pilgrimage of Peace
YAPP continues to invite young people to walk with communities facing oppression and injustice, listening deeply and being transformed by their stories of resilience, hope, and faith. Global Ministries will host another YAPP pilgrimage in 2026, giving participants the opportunity to witness, learn, and reaffirm a shared commitment to peace with justice.

The post Pilgrims feel the pain of division on the Korean Peninsula appeared first on Global Ministries.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Murriel gives thanks for a recent trip to Bangui, CAR, where he attended the dedication of the first United Methodist Church facility in the country. His church in Atlanta, Cascade United Methodist Church, dedicated more than $150,000 of its 2024 Lenten offering to the building of a new church sanctuary and office facility in Bangui (see earlier story). That facility was completed this year.

ATLANTA – I give thanks to God for the opportunity to journey to Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). Words can hardly express the depth of the experience we shared with the people of this region, particularly during the dedication of the very first United Methodist church facility that now stands as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the generosity of the Cascade congregation.

God is doing a marvelous work in the Central African Republic. Thousands are being discipled, and the United Methodist movement is growing in powerful and meaningful ways. I share just a few highlights from this life-changing trip as witness to the tangible impact of our collective ministry.

During the service of dedication for the new church, hundreds gathered in celebration. Sixty individuals were baptized into the faith, publicly declaring their love for Christ. The front of the church is adorned with a sign bearing the names of the donors from Cascade and our extended family of supporters – whose generosity made this possible.

The church dedication was a worship experience like no other. We sang, we danced, we received an overwhelming welcome parade, celebrated Holy Communion, preached the gospel, and fellowshipped with our new brothers and sisters in Christ for hours. It was an atmosphere of joy, gratitude and deep spiritual connection.

I had the distinct honor of training nearly 50 pastoral leaders from across the region. These women and men are at the forefront of ministry, leading more than 30 congregations – many of which gather under simple structures in remote districts. Yet, despite limited resources, their faith is strong, and their mission is clear: reach more souls for Jesus Christ in a nation still healing from the scars of war.

We were also able to spend time with the Global Ministries missionary, G. Seza, and the logistics team who serve tirelessly to make ministry possible on the ground in CAR. One of the most humbling and joyous surprises came when the District Superintendent, the Rev. Aquilas Soranaka, announced that the name of the new church would be “Bethel-Cascade United Methodist Church.” This name was chosen by their leaders in honor of Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda and the faithful members of Cascade UMC who generously gave to make this historic project possible.

Bethel-Cascade UMC stands as a beacon of hope and a tangible sign of God’s promise in the Central African Republic. It is already thriving and will serve as a spiritual home for generations to come.

Our work, however, is just beginning. We will remain in ongoing conversations with Global Ministries about how we can continue to support this region. A UMC health clinic is currently under construction, with plans to add a maternity ward to combat maternal mortality. The need is great, but so is our God.

And then, there were the children. So many beautiful, joyful children who captured our hearts and reminded us why this work matters. Their smiles were the very face of hope.

I thank Cascade for being a church that doesn’t just pray about the world – we show up and serve it. God is doing a great work through us, and I am excited about what lies ahead. The true impact cannot be captured in photos alone – it lives in the hearts of the people we encountered and in the seeds of hope we’ve planted together.

The Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Murriel is the senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church with campuses in southwest and midtown Atlanta, Georgia.

The post Journey to Bangui – An experience like no other appeared first on Global Ministries.

U.S. churches nationwide are using Direct Pay funding for solar conversion, but the program is about to drastically change.

ATLANTA – Enacted by the 117^th Congress in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act gave tax-exempt entities like local governments, schools, hospitals, public utilities, churches and community organizations an opportunity to receive Direct Pay tax credits when they build renewable energy projects like solar, wind or electric vehicle charging stations for the first time. The act had a 10-year term limit, set to expire in 2032.

Businesses and homeowners claim these credits on their tax returns once their projects are completed and meet the prescribed specifications. Direct Pay (also known as Elective Pay) created an opportunity for nonprofit entities to receive the value of certain clean energy tax credits as direct cash payments, offsetting about 30% of the cost of specific projects. This extended the opportunity for nonprofit organizations, including churches, to build sustainable energy infrastructure, contribute to cleaner air and water, and create green jobs.

On July 4, 2025, the 119^th Congress signed into law the H.R. 1 reconciliation bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). H.R. 1 changed the term limit of Direct Pay, so it now expires at the end of 2027, and it adds new eligibility rules for projects constructed between now and then.

Although the federal Direct Pay program is ending sooner than expected, there is time before the program expires. However, new restrictions come into play for projects that start in 2026.

Global Ministries Environmental Sustainability Program director, the Rev. Jenny Phillips, says projects that have been completed or have “started construction” before December 31, 2025, will be eligible to file under the pre-H.R. 1 rules. “Started construction” means at least 5% of the total, final project cost is paid and/or physical work has commenced.

Projects that start construction by January 1, 2026, or later, will be subject to rules related to equipment content from “Prohibited Foreign Entities.” The rules about what this means should be released sometime in August 2025. In addition, projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026, or be placed in service before December 31, 2027.

Credits for storage (batteries) will be available through December 2033, subject to the Prohibited Foreign Entities rules.

The Global Ministries Environmental Sustainability Program will continue to host its monthly Zoom meeting for United Methodists who are planning to file or are in the process of filing for Direct Pay. Most participants relate to their churches’ finance or trustee committees as volunteers or staff. The meeting’s primary agenda is for participants to discuss questions and share information with one another about Direct Pay rules and the filing process. To receive the Zoom meeting link, email environment@umcmission.org.

The October 2-5 EarthKeepers training this year takes place in Washington state, and participants will have an opportunity to ride the ferry to Vashon Island to visit Vashon UMC and learn about its ministries. The deadline to apply for this EarthKeepers training is August 21, 2025. See details here: https://umcmission.org/earthkeepers/.

Laity interviewed from three United Methodist churches that completed their solar projects all agreed that transitioning from fossil fuel usage to renewable energy is possible and even affordable if you know where to look for funding, even for small churches. Not one, however, said it was an easy journey, though well worth the time and effort.

How did Vashon United Methodist Church on Vashon Island, Washington, achieve its dream of solar-powered independence? Church member Eric Walker noted: “It took the right season, the right conference, the right state, and in many ways, the right people to get this done.”

On the U.S. East Coast, First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, was laying out $75,000 annually to meet its energy bills, and those costs continue to rise. Bob Doughty, the church’s facilities manager, said they were dealing with a boiler system from the 1920s.

“Half of the church was steam, and the other half was water-baseboard, and with that comes lots of opportunities for leaks and downtime if the boiler goes out, which it did.”

Edmonds UMC, in Edmonds, Washington, on the shores of Puget Sound just below Seattle, had green energy on its “to-do” list for a long time. A dedicated group in the congregation wanted solar energy for environmental reasons, but it wasn’t economically feasible until they found local and federal funding programs.

Stan Gent, prefers to think in broad strokes when it comes to how United Methodist churches can help to sustain environmental balance. He maintains that a United Methodist Church shouldn’t be in this process alone, and he leans on the Social Principles and the connectional tradition of Methodists. The Pacific Northwest Conference is engaging all its churches to reduce their carbon footprint.

“There has to be some bigger thinking. Is there a way to understand that part of our church ethos is to care for the land and the world itself? We are environmentally focused,” Gent noted. “That should be a big part of how we manage our investment assets as well. It’s just that we haven’t looked at the resources we have.”

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

The post Churches navigate financial support for solar projects   appeared first on Global Ministries.

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE – In our communities, breastfeeding continues to play a vital role in improving maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). In Sierra Leone, United Methodist health facilities have observed remarkable benefits resulting from increased awareness and practice of exclusive breastfeeding.

Pastors and Imams speak from the pulpit and in the mosque telling men that a father’s role is important too. If we support women, the children will grow strong. Our MNCH data shows a noticeable decline in malnutrition among infants under six months of age, which we attribute largely to increased exclusive breastfeeding rates.

Through health education, peer support and community outreach, more families are embracing breastfeeding as both a natural practice and a lifesaving intervention.

Breastfed infants in our catchment communities are showing stronger growth, fewer cases of diarrhea and respiratory infections, and overall better immune responses compared to those who are partially or not breastfed.

Mothers who breastfeed exclusively often experience quicker recovery after childbirth. Our reports indicate reduced postpartum bleeding, faster uterine contraction, and emotional bonding that contributes to mental well-being are other benefits of breastfeeding. Mothers may find it useful as a means of family planning, and they engage regularly in clinic visits, health education sessions, and child welfare monitoring, reinforcing the continuum of care.

We have seen a steady improvement in attendance and outcomes at our well-baby clinics. Mothers who breastfeed always bring their children for regular growth monitoring, immunizations and nutritional counseling. This has created a stronger connection between families and United Methodist health services, fostering trust and long-term participation in child health programs.

Catherine Norman is the Health Board Coordinator for United Methodist health facilities in the Sierra Leone Conference.

Global Health

Global Ministries provides a way to support United Methodist health facilities and the medical personnel who help to create sustainable support systems for women who choose to breastfeed their babies through the first six months of life.

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, give to Abundant Health.

The post The impact of breastfeeding in Sierra Leone appeared first on Global Ministries.

PANAMA CITY — “It is a large Methodist family that is gathered here today, with many members, each with our own personality,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary for the general boards of Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry, addressing the 86 participants assembled for a mission consultation for Latin America and the Caribbean, held July 21-23 in Panama.

Bishops, pastors and laity from across the Methodist connection in Latin America, the Caribbean and several other countries discussed the future of mission collaboration and connectional relationships with Global Ministries, Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church (UMC), the Council of Evangelical Methodist Churches in Latin America and the Caribbean (CIEMAL), the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA), and other individual churches and mission partners. The full assembly of participants represented 40 partners across the region, including seven regional partners and seven pan-Methodist partners.  

“Just as a good family makes room for all and allows each one to share his or her gifts with the others, so Methodism in the Americas has room for each of us to contribute our own gifts to the mission of God,” said Fernandes.

Recognizing the diversity that has always characterized Methodism in the region, participants considered what they could do together, all offering what they can for the sake of God’s mission in Latin America and the Caribbean and beyond.

Pre-consultation conversations focused on eight themes: mission; youth and young adults; gender-based violence and child protection; education; climate justice and health; poverty and migration; financial accountability; and peacebuilding. These discussions laid the groundwork for continued dialogue at the consultation, where attendees explored ways to support faith formation among young people, promote justice, enhance regional communication and strengthen intergenerational leadership, among other topics.

“We needed and believed it was very important to be able to meet as a region and be able to identify strategies, identify important things for the development of the mission in our country and in Latin America,” said Bishop Pedro Araúz Valdéz of the Evangelical Methodist Church of Panama (IEMPA).

There was broad agreement that the strength of Methodist churches could be enhanced by fostering a regional presence and a connected infrastructure through dialogue and ecumenical cooperation. This could provide an opportunity to rethink the roles of regional organizations, such as CIEMAL and the Council of Bishops of CIEMAL.

The desire to better listen to and build relationships with partners has been a hallmark of Fernandes’ leadership since he became general secretary of Global Ministries in 2020 and Higher Education and Ministry in 2024. The agencies organized major mission consultations in Africa and the United States in 2023. “Having a consultation with mission partners in Latin America and the Caribbean seemed the next essential part of this process,” he said, as he expressed the agencies’ desire to learn from those in attendance. 

This consultation was the most expansive meeting of Methodist mission partners in the region in recent decades. Acknowledging that partnerships are shaped by the past, Fernandes recalled two key themes from a similar 2007 Panama meeting: 1) redefining and deepening connectionality to strengthen relationships and support the church’s mission and 2) fostering open communication.

Coming together as Methodists throughout the Americas fits with work that the Council of Bishops of the UMC has been doing through its Ecumenical Office to strengthen and renew relationships with the church’s autonomous affiliated sister churches. This work also aligns with a desire by CIEMAL to strengthen and renew relationships in the region following disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bishop Tracy Smith Malone, president of the UMC Council of Bishops, spoke of a new era emerging for the church. “God is calling us to grow and form disciples of Jesus Christ, to develop Christlike leaders, to stand in solidarity with the poor.” She spoke of Jesus’ call to bring good news of hope and salvation to a world yearning for God’s grace, mercy, love, compassion, justice and peace and to live humbly with the oppressed and marginalized.

Daily worship brought prayer, reflection and familiar hymns played with joyful Caribbean rhythms. Participants paused in reverence to honor those who had gone before them, lighting candles in memory of lives whose enduring light continues to illuminate the path forward.

Inspired by Luke 10:1, in which Jesus “…sent them on ahead in pairs to every city and place he was about to go,” participants discussed common challenges for their individual contexts and opportunities for greater collaboration among their respective churches.

“The task and mission of the church is to go beyond the four walls, to go where the need is, to seek out the man who is living, the woman who is experiencing moments of difficulty,” said Bishop Jorge Merino Riffo of the Methodist Church of Chile. “I believe that this is the task and the mission that the church in Latin America, the Methodist Church, must continue to fulfill, transforming itself into a space of hope amidst despair.”

Bishop Héctor A. Burgos-Núñez of the Upper New York and Susquehanna conferences of the UMC said, “This has been a time of building and strengthening relationships, learning together about our missional realities and beginning to dream together our next fateful steps.”

Bishop Lizzette Gabriel Montalvo of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico praised the active listening throughout the consultation, suggesting it must now be followed by concrete actions. “This is not just another meeting. This is a blessed moment that can be fruitful. I trust that in the near future we can return through connectionality as witnesses of God’s mission in all our contexts,” she said.

In closing remarks, Fernandes noted that listening and learning are key aspects of mutuality in mission. He offered thanks for the active dialogue and ideas exchanged throughout the consultation and committed to facilitating the next meeting follow-up, including soliciting feedback on the gathering and issuing a full report documenting key takeaways to serve as a blueprint for prioritization. “We have been called to this,” he said, referencing the disciples’ joyous return in Luke 10:17.

Fernandes thanked the event facilitators, staff organizers and hosts — Bishop Valdéz of IEMPA and Bishop Antonio Miguel Trottman Migar of the Panama/Costa Rica District of MCCA, as well as the support of Bishop Montalvo, president of the Council of Bishops of CIEMAL, Bishop Juan de Dios Peña as the president of the Executive Committee of CIEMAL, and Bishop Malone, president of the Council of Bishops of the UMC and all other distinguished bishops and church leaders in attendance and joining online. (Legal restrictions and visa challenges forced participants from Venezuela and Haiti to virtually attend the consultation and concurrent MCCA women’s meeting.)

During closing worship, an agape meal included the sharing of sweet milk and bread in the tradition of the early church. And as worship concluded, participants joined hands in friendship, celebrating the presence of God felt throughout the gathering, a presence that will continue to guide next steps.

Susan Clark is the chief communications officer for Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry.

The post Methodist leaders convene to strengthen mission in Latin America and the Caribbean appeared first on Global Ministries.

ATLANTA — In a world increasingly defined by crisis – political instability, economic injustice, climate change and mass displacement – 42 young adults see a different future: one guided by faith, service and deep commitment to community. On July 18 in Accra, Ghana, Global Ministries commissioned the 2025-2027 cohort of Global Mission Fellows (GMFs) to serve in 23 countries around the world for two years.

While these young adults range in age, background and vocation, a common thread in their stories is clear – a calling to put faith into action and embody change through community.

“As we see an increase of greed in our world, we also see the powerful work of community coming together,” said Hannah Hanson, director of Young Adult Mission Service for Global Ministries. “This cohort is committed to community in an uncertain world. They are creatives, and health practitioners, and environmentalists, and migrant advocates. I am inspired by all their gifts, and most importantly, by the way they are rooted in faith and seek to follow the path God has set for them and the communities they are being sent to.”

For many fellows in this cohort, a call to community is not new. It’s been growing for years, shaped by personal experiences, academic study and spiritual formation.

For Jonathan Odia Mwaba, a fellow from the Democratic Republic of Congo who will serve in the West Angola Conference in the area of agriculture, the calling emerged from seeing his own community’s struggles. “I witnessed the struggles of smallholder farmers like food insecurity, environmental degradation and limited access to resources. These experiences shaped my understanding of the interplay between social justice, environmental stewardship and community resilience.”

Mwaba grew up in The United Methodist Church and earned a degree in agriculture and natural resources management. “I have been influenced by the call to love our neighbors and care for creation,” said Mwaba. “Fundamentally, my goal as a fellow is to create long-lasting change by integrating agricultural knowledge with social and environmental justice. I believe together and through shared learning, new ideas can be developed and created that are beneficial both to people and the planet.”

Seul “Stella” Lee, a native of South Korea who will serve in Germany, senses that the call to serve God in another country and different culture is a turning point in her life. “I have come to a deep realization that the joy overflowing within me is a gift from God and that I must share that gift with the world. Missionary work is not simply about spreading the gospel, but also about putting God’s love into practice,” she said. Equipped with training from the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, Lee will work at Bethanien Diakonissen Stiftung (Bethanien Deaconess Foundation) to support vulnerable groups who receive very little to no governmental assistance, like people with mental illness and the elderly.

For Bolivian fellow Anssery Ivia Mamani Cala, who will serve with the Evangelical United Methodist Church of Ecuador, education is a core piece of her calling. “I strongly believe in the power of education as a transformative tool,” she said. “Not only for children but also for communities as a whole. Global Mission Fellows offers me the ideal platform to put into practice what I’ve learned as an early childhood educator and what I’m passionate about: working for a more just and inclusive world.”

Cala’s vision of transformation is not a one-way path. Like many fellows, she sees mission not as something done to or for a community, but something done among and with it. “I firmly believe that working for the well-being of others not only enriches the lives of those who directly benefit, but also profoundly transforms us as human beings. I’ve always felt an inner call to return to the essential, to that which gives meaning to existence: service to others.”

The commissioning service was both a celebration of calling and a sending into service. “The Christian church has a wonderful tradition of sending people into mission service,” said the Rev. Dr. Judy Y. Chung, executive director of Missionary Service for Global Ministries. “In the act of commissioning, these persons are being dedicated to service for a season of their lives. The United Methodist Church and our partner churches support these persons as they go forth into the world on behalf of the church.”

Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, the Most. Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, delivered the sermon and led the act of commissioning. He was joined by four more bishops and Global Ministries representatives who laid hands on the fellows. After they were commissioned, the new fellows were vested with the anchor cross by the outgoing class of GMFs who have journeyed with them as candidates.

“My prayer,” said Hanson, “is that they will listen well and form deep relationships as they seek God’s justice to break through in our world. And my prayer for the church is that we will learn with them and from them.”

As the fellows go forth from Accra, they are sent by The United Methodist Church with both a blessing and a charge: to extend love and care in uncertain times, to build community in unlikely places and to trust that God is already present in the work they are called to do.

Watch a recording of the commissioning service on the Global Mission Fellows Facebook page.
 
Sara Logeman is the senior manager of Content and Marketing for Global Ministries.

The post Young adults called to community in an uncertain world appeared first on Global Ministries.

NOTE: This story is being updated as new information arrives from Gaza.

It was the first time in weeks that I could feed my children a warm, complete and nutritious meal that contains meat. They were so happy.

Farah*, participant in the UMCOR/IOCC project, Central Gaza

ATLANTA – The situation in the Palestinian territory of Gaza worsens each day. “Severe malnutrition is spreading among children faster than aid can reach them,” notes Edouard Beigbeder, Middle East and North Africa regional director of the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported this week that 2.1 million people trapped in the Gaza war zone are facing another killer on top of bombs and bullets: starvation. “We are now witnessing a deadly surge in malnutrition-related deaths,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, said in a July 23 media release.

Large humanitarian relief operations active in the Gaza strip include the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is operated by Israeli military forces in the south out of Rafah in partnership with the U.S. and the United Nations, which has been in Gaza providing basic necessities, education and health care services with Palestinian partners for many years.

A statement released earlier in the month from the ACT Alliance signed by a hundred faith-based humanitarian agencies states: “Experienced humanitarian actors remain ready to deliver life-saving assistance at scale. Yet more than 100 days since Israeli authorities reimposed a near-total blockade on aid and commercial goods, Gaza’s humanitarian conditions are collapsing faster than at any point in the past 20 months.”

Yet, small, faith-based humanitarian organizations have diligently and quietly provided humanitarian relief – food, water, shelter and health care – in whatever corner of Gaza they find themselves. These agencies have worked in Gaza previously and have contacts within Palestinian communities. As Palestinians are forced to move repeatedly to avoid bombardment and violence, the faith groups move with them.

Humanitarian groups working in Gaza continue to call for peace in the Middle East, and the opening of humanitarian corridors to move relief supplies into Gaza on a scale that would meet the overwhelming need. Even so, they work with what they have.

Currently, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) partners with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to bring much-needed food and water rations to Palestinian families in the refugee and displacement camps where they are living. IOCC supports ongoing work in Gaza by partnering with groups that are part of these displacement camps and the communities that host them.

In a camp where many displaced families have found shelter in Central Gaza, IOCC partners with a local youth organization. IOCC contracts with a local commercial kitchen to cook and package hot meals for the camp. This ensures that healthy, fresh food is distributed, minimizing contamination and spoilage. The youth organization met with people residing in the camps to find those most in need of food – women and children – so they could receive food with minimal complications. A food distribution coordinator and chefs were recruited to run the operation. More than 3,500 beneficiaries received daily meals for several months.

Aid that comes in the form of food boxes generally containing flour, legumes and cooking oil can be helpful to some, but displaced families often have no way to cook the food, no pots or utensils, and lack enough clean water to prepare a meal. By using a commercial kitchen close by, IOCC takes the food to families who come to an organized central, safe place in their camp to eat or to pick up food without confusion or fighting and with assurance there will be enough for today and tomorrow. This method also provides work and therefore income for workers in the host community.

Hana*, a 34-year-old mother of five, once lived a modest but stable life in Al Jadeed at Al-Nuseirat Camp with her husband and children. Their house was destroyed, and her husband was injured last year. With no stable source of income and limited aid, Hana’s greatest fear is not being able to feed her children.

“My children would go to sleep hungry, and I had no way to promise them a meal the next day. The war not only destroyed our home, but it also took away our dignity and ability to survive,”Hana said.

She recalls the moment she received the first meals for her children from the UMCOR/IOCC program: “It was the first time in a long time that I saw my children eat a full, warm, and nutritious meal. I was relieved because I knew they wouldn’t sleep hungry that night.”

The quotes from Hana and Farah above are from IOCC staff who invite the recipients to sit down and talk with them, asking for their help to evaluate the relief operation. This gives both voice and a measure of dignity to those they serve. Even in war time and uncertainty, evaluation and respect are key to successful humanitarian projects.

In addition to the meals provided each day, training sessions on health, nutrition and hygiene helped displaced families reassess their current situations and discover alternative ways to feed their families and keep them healthy once the UMCOR project drew to a close.

The program at the IDP camp at the beginning of the year was successful, so UMCOR has doubled its support for IOCC as it opens another relief site in another Central Gaza location. For this project, IOCC is partnering with a Palestinian women’s organization.

This camp hosts a large population of residents and tens of thousands of displaced families. IOCC is concentrating on shelters for the displaced and the women’s group is currently organizing the list of who should receive this aid – those with few resources left – and suppliers of fresh food and the cooking location are being contracted.

IOCC aid will reach 3,700 people in the shelter. Critical food aid, psychosocial support and trauma counseling are goals for this project. Activities for about 2,000 girls and boys are planned to provide relief, time for play and moments of joy for children who have experienced trauma and violence and witnessed the complete destruction of their homes and villages.

Regular sessions of Psychosocial First Aid (PFA) conducted by specialists will be offered to parents and other adults, giving them a safe space for learning, sharing their experiences and strengthening their resilience to the trauma they must survive.

Throughout this crisis, UMCOR finds hope in people working together for the common good and depends on the faithfulness of partners who know the populations they serve. Human dignity, kindness, just methods of distribution and reaching people where they shelter are hallmarks of UMCOR’s work and an expression of God’s love for all people in need.

*names have been changed

Christie R. House is a consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.

United Methodist Committee on Relief

Founded in 1940, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the global humanitarian relief and development agency of The United Methodist Church. A part of Global Ministries, UMCOR works in more than 80 countries worldwide, including the United States and its territories. Working in the areas of disaster response and recovery and migration, UMCOR responds to natural or civil disasters that are interruptions of such magnitude that they overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on its own.

The post UMCOR and humanitarian partners feed thousands in Gaza appeared first on Global Ministries.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — On June 30, 2025, a centennial celebration was held at Lee Sam Bong Hall at Ewha Womans University to honor the 100th anniversary of Methodist mission work in Korea.

The commemoration highlighted the century-long legacy of three foundational legal bodies that significantly shaped Methodist mission in Korea. In 1924, the American Methodist Korean Women’s Mission Foundation was established to support women-led mission initiatives. This was followed by the founding of the Foundation of Southern Methodist Church in Korea in 1925, which expanded the institutional and property base of mission work. In 1926, the Foundation of Methodist World Mission-Korea was formed to unify and strengthen the growing infrastructure of Methodist mission. These three organizations were instrumental in establishing more than 400 churches, schools, hospitals and social service centers across Korea, and later played a pivotal role in the formation of the Korean Methodist Church in 1930.

Methodist mission in Korea began in 1883 with the first donations toward missionary efforts, which led to the arrival of the first missionaries in 1885. Over the past 140 years, more than 700 missionaries have served in Korea, contributing to spiritual, educational and social development across the country.

Distinguished international guests attended the celebration, including Bishop Gregory V. Palmer, executive secretary of the UMC Council of Bishops; Jana Jones, president of United Women in Faith; and Sally Vonner, general secretary/CEO of United Women in Faith. Their presence symbolized the enduring partnership between the Korean Methodist Church and The United Methodist Church community.

This historic event celebrated the legacy of past mission efforts and reaffirmed a shared commitment to future ministry and collaboration.

The Rev. Paul Kong is the Asia Pacific Region Representative for Global Ministries.  

The post Celebrating 100 Years of Methodist Mission in Korea appeared first on Global Ministries.

MUTARE, ZIMBABWE—Africa University (AU) and the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church (Global Ministries) have entered into a four-year partnership to support pioneering research and innovation in agriculture and public health – two of the most pressing areas shaping the continent’s future. AU’s vital work in these areas was put at risk due to the sudden withdrawal of international aid earlier this year.

Agriculture is part of Africa University’s roots. When AU opened its doors in 1992, Agriculture and Theology were its founding faculties – nourishing both body and spirit. Today, the university’s strategic focus on agricultural innovation marks a return to that foundational call for holistic, transformational education that creates leaders for the continent of Africa, grounded in Christian values.

Global Ministries will provide funding, technical support and capacity-building resources, while AU also lends its agricultural expertise. They will work through Global Ministries’ successful Yambasu Agricultural Initiative, named after the late Bishop John K. Yambasu, who was the fourth chancellor of Africa University, serving from 2020 until his untimely death that same year.

Africa University’s life-saving work on malaria prevention through the Zimbabwe Entomological Support Program in Malaria (ZENTO) will be supported through the partnership. The ZENTO program, conducted with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care and its malaria partners, saw breakthroughs that have included the identification of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and the creation of one of the nation’s largest malaria research and insect reference centers.

The ZENTO program’s achievements have contributed significantly to a reduction in malaria cases across Zimbabwe’s hardest-hit provinces. However, the sudden withdrawal of international aid placed this vital work at risk. With Global Ministries’ support, AU’s laboratories can continue operating, mentoring young scientists and anchoring the nation’s malaria control efforts.

The partnership between AU and Global Ministries also opens doors to extend agriculture and health research impact across United Methodist episcopal areas and health partners in Africa, advancing the pan-African connection and moving toward the collective aspiration of health equity and scientific leadership, born of the continent.

“The elimination of foreign aid funds has impacted vital work at AU. Though we cannot fill the full funding gap caused by these massive funding cuts, we hope to help mitigate some of the impact. This will allow AU to continue vital work in education, health and sustainable agriculture,” said Roland Fernandes, general secretary for Global Ministries and Higher Education and Ministry. “Through the United Methodist network, we also hope this partnership will have an impact on communities throughout the continent.”

Africa University Vice Chancellor, Rev. Professor Peter Mageto, said of the collaboration: “This partnership is a powerful testimony of what Africa University represents – hope, resilience and possibility. At a time when many doors have closed, Global Ministries has continued to invest in African solutions, led by African minds. With this support, our faculty and students can continue doing what they do best: shaping knowledge into action, and action into lasting change. The future is calling, and together, we are answering it!”

Africa University was established 33 years ago as the first private, fully accredited university in Zimbabwe. It is the first university in Africa approved by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. With four colleges, one school and two training institutes, AU is a Pan-African institution that has educated students from more than 36 African nations.

Global Ministries, the global mission and development agency of The United Methodist Church, has worked in mission and ministry for more than 200 years and is one of the founders of Africa University, reaching more than 100 countries through its programs and through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Media Contacts:

Susan Clark
Chief Communications Officer, General Board of Global Ministries
Communications@umcmission.org

Jeanette Dadzie
Director, Advancement and Public Affairs, Africa University
dapa@africau.edu

The post Agriculture, health focus for Africa University-Global Ministries’ partnership appeared first on Global Ministries.