Local Church

Mission and Ministry
The Rev. Ingrid McIntyre (left) admires a birthday card for Terry Corral, a resident of the Village at Glencliff medical respite program housed at Glencliff United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn. The Village consists of 12 tiny homes where people experiencing homelessness can recover after a hospital stay. McIntyre is the church’s lead pastor. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Small churches can do large ministries

Some people need diapers for their children, while others need a place to recover from surgery and freedom from medical debts. Three United Methodist churches are responding — and making an outsize contribution to their communities.
Local Church
United Methodist Birchenough Local Church in Birchenough, Zimbabwe, was planted in the early 1970s and the congregation worshipped under this muucha tree until a permanent sanctuary was completed in 2025. Photo by Kudzai Chingwe, UM News.

Brick by brick, persistent pastor builds own church

After decades worshipping under a tree in Zimbabwe, United Methodist congregation gets permanent sanctuary constructed by local pastor and his family.
Faith Stories
The Rev. Mbayo Mwepu Maxime, a leader of evangelism in North Katanga, Congo, who helped translate the Bible into the regional native language, has died at the age of 70.

Pioneer of Bible translation in Congo remembered

The Rev. Mbayo Mwepu Maxime, a leader of evangelism in North Katanga who helped translate the Bible into the regional native language, has died at the age of 70.
Faith Stories
The Rev. Lorenzo Dow was a circuit preacher known for his unkempt appearance and fiery sermons. 1856 engraving by Lossing-Barrit courtesy of Wikipedia.

Lorenzo Dow’s ‘crazy’ life

Born in the late 18th century, Lorenzo Dow was anti-slavery and not big on personal hygiene. He was also a more popular Methodist preacher than many of his contemporaries.

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