Environment

Social Concerns

Thozeka Letuka (seated) and her husband, the Rev. Thabiso Letuka (right), join employees of Big Start Recycling and Buy Centre for a photograph at their facility in Durban, South Africa. Thozeka Letuka, a United Methodist and founder of the business, says Big Start transforms discarded items into valuable resources, helps clean up the environment and provides meaningful employment to members of the community. Photo courtesy of Big Start.

Church member's passion for recycling pays off

United Methodist woman opens center to clean up the environment, empower members of her South African community.

Global Health

Children and youth show off the cake they received from visitors from Ambodifasika United Methodist Church in Faratanjona, Madagascar. The community faces food shortages due to climate change and other factors that have reduced crop production in the region. Photo by Esdras Rakotoarivony, UM News.

Church in Madagascar feeds hungry

United Methodists plant seeds of hope in a remote village facing food challenges.

Social Concerns

Bees are essential in growing flowers and plants. The process of pollination plays a critical role in maintaining natural plant communities and ensuring production of seeds in most flowering plants. Photo by Laurens Glass, United Methodist Communications.

Ask The UMC: Our Living World, Part 2: Plant Life

United Methodists understand that plant life is essential for all life in our living world. We must therefore ensure they are cared for in all their diversity, not only for our sake, but for the sake of our animal neighbors on this planet as well.

Social Concerns

Elephants, impala, rhinos, and wildebeest at Kruger National Park, South Africa, show the diversity of animals on the continent. Photo by Chris Eason, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Ask the UMC: Our Living World, Part 1: Animal Life

"Religion" means relinking-- with one another, the world around us, and the powers or reality that lies behind it. In Part 1 of our series, Our Living World, we explore how United Methodists understand our link with our animal neighbors and how to renew and sustain it.

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