Missouri Annual Conference

Human Rights
An African Libation service is performed in honor of the late Marcellus Williams during the final day of the biennial National Summit on Mass Incarceration and Social Justice on Oct. 5 in Kansas City, Mo. Williams was put to death on Sept. 24 in the state, while questions about his murder conviction persisted. From left to right are the Rev. Samantha Nyachoto, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Dover, N.J.; the Rev. Kevin Kosh Jr., director and strategist of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century’s National Network of Young Adults; and Nathaniel Callaway, founder of Ebony Excellence. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Summit spotlights mass incarceration, redemption

Amid gripping tales from a variety of speakers at the National Summit on Mass Incarceration, the top executive of Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century shared how he is personally affected by the justice system.
Worship
The worship team at Kirkwood United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Mo., invited people to be creative together and paint on canvases available at the front of the sanctuary during their summer worship series. Photo courtesy of the Missouri Conference.

Connecting with the Creator on canvas

At Kirkwood United Methodist Church, a summer worship series called “Every Moment Holy” encourages people to find God’s presence in new ways. One Sunday in the series centered on art and the idea that all are created in the image of the Creator.
Faith Stories
Only about 100 medivac pilots are in the Army, so being one means you will spend much time deployed. The Rev. Bryan Wendling spent all the 1990s in the service; that meant a lot of time in the desert, with Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Photo courtesy of the Missouri Conference.

Pastor flew Army medical missions

These days, the Rev. Bryan Wendling is pastor of New McKendree United Methodist. But he’s among the Missouri Conference clergy with a military background. Fred Koenig shares the story of Wendling’s years as an Army medivac pilot, including during Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
Local Church
High gas prices and inflation are affecting the ministries of United Methodist pastors in the U.S., who are dealing with increased demand at food pantries and other charities, as well as their own paychecks not stretching as far. Original photo by Paul Brennan, courtesy of Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Inflation, gas prices complicate ministries

Rising prices are affecting the ministries of United Methodists, especially rural multi-point charges. Pastors also are finding the buying power of their paychecks shrinking.

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