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Volunteer Kalvin Davis helps a family select a tree from the artificial “tree farm” at Faith Community Church of Coopersville, Michigan, a United Methodist congregation. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Artificial tree farm brings joy to families with special needs

United Methodist ministry provides a unique experience for families living with sensory issues, allergies or physical disabilities.

Editor's Picks

General Agencies

Delegates participate in the Central Conference Pension Forum held Nov. 17-21 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila, Philippines. The forum, hosted by Wespath Benefits and Investments, brought together United Methodists from Africa, Europe and the Philippines to collaborate on strengthening clergy pension plans provided through The United Methodist Church. Photo by Gladys P. Mangiduyos, UM News.

Forum tackles pension sustainability outside US

Wespath Benefits and Investments gathered United Methodists from Africa, Europe and the Philippines to collaborate on strengthening clergy pension plans.

Evangelism

The Rev. Joe Graves (left) baptizes a baby Sept. 21 at Cityview Church. The rest of the McKinley family also were baptized during the service. Graves helped launch Cityview, a merger between his 2017 church start Central City Church and the more traditional St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He’s also written a book on church planting, a priority of the East and West Ohio conferences. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

Ohio United Methodists aim to plant 100 churches

Starting new expressions of church is a priority in The United Methodist Church’s Ohio conferences, which plan to launch 100 new faith communities by 2029.

Church Growth

Members of Second Chance take a selfie in the courtyard of Franklinton High School in Columbus, Ohio, on Sept. 21. Second Chance is a new United Methodist faith community focused on people recovering from addictions. It frequently worships in the building, which previously housed a United Methodist church. Photo by Jim Patterson, UM News.

2 church plants bloom on different paths

Husband-wife United Methodist pastors are helping to revive the denomination in Columbus, Ohio, using different approaches. One of them has authored a book explaining how others can start successful churches.

Latest News

Evangelism

Edward L. Massaquoi broadcasts on ELUM, The United Methodist Church's radio station in Monrovia, Liberia, in 2017. Massaquoi was among more than 40 communicators from across Africa and the Philippines who gathered Nov. 18-20 for the United Methodist Broadcast Network annual meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, as the network celebrated its 10th anniversary. File photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Broadcast network marks decade of amplifying Gospel

Local Church

Lisa Bowser (left), lay leader of Marshallton United Methodist Church in West Chester, Pa., speaks with Christian Boehnke as church members Neal Bowser and Jonah Eckert work in the background to renovate a disability access ramp at St. John United Methodist Church in Bridgeton, N.J. St. John is the fifth-oldest historically Native American church in the denomination. The two congregations have been sharing in ministry and fellowship since 2024 as part of Marshallton’s efforts to address racial injustice toward Indigenous people its area. Photo by David Eckert.

Church addresses historic injustice to Indigenous neighbors

Theology and Education

Vice chancellor Peter M. Mageto speaks during the commissioning of the Africa University solar plant in Mutare, Zimbabwe, on June 6. The solar plant represents a new milestone in the university’s quest to harness sustainable green energy and escape power outages affecting the country. Photo by Africa University Public Affairs Office.

Africa University switches to solar power

Social Concerns

A “geofencing” campaign aims to flood the mobile devices of worshippers in the western U.S. with anti-Palestinian messages. Several United Methodist congregations in Texas are named in a filing by Show Faith by Works, a California-based company. According to the filing, the messaging will “combat low American Evangelical Christian approval of the Nation of Israel” and “increase awareness of Palestinian ties to Hamas and support for terrorism.” Map courtesy of Google; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Firm plans to target churches with pro-Israel ads

Faith Stories

The Rev. Øyvind Helliesen, a member of The United Methodist Church’s top court since 2016, died Nov. 25, 2025. At the time of his death, he was the Judicial Council’s vice president. Photo by Kristine Helliesen.

Øyvind Helliesen mourned as ‘sage’ amid tumult

Local Church

Karen Ririe hands a plate to a student during a Thanksgiving Day meal at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Ririe is the international student coordinator at the college. She also is a member of Oak Park United Methodist Church in Bartlesville, Okla. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Giving international students a taste of Thanksgiving

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Local Church

Video/photo caption: A display behind Grandville United Methodist Church in Michigan tells the Christmas story in a 15-minute light show set to music with an original soundtrack. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

The nativity story comes to life in lights

Evangelism

Jesus cures the man born blind. 1973. JESUS MAFA is a response to the New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa. Image courtesy of Vanderbilt University; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News.

Social media graphics from UM News

Social Concerns

Bishop Minerva Carcaño (left), chair of the United Methodist Immigration Task Force, listens as the Rev. Giovanni Arroyo, top staff executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, speaks during the United Methodist Immigration Task Force meeting, held Nov. 18-20 in Los Angeles. The gathering brought together church agencies, migrant ministries, bishops and ecumenical partners to strengthen coordinated advocacy. Photo by the Rev. Gustavo Vasquez, UM News.

Task force responds to growing needs facing immigrants

Mission and Ministry

Ohio United Methodists aim to plant 100 churches

General Church

Forum tackles pension sustainability outside US

Commentaries

Compass provides sustainable retirement plan for clergy

The Rev. Dr. Don Messer. Photo by David Stucke, Dakotas Conference.

On World AIDS Day, church called to bold action

After regionalization, church must prioritize unity

The Rev. Dr. Tércio B. Junker Photo courtesy of the Northern Illinois Conference.

Reclaiming faith beyond fear and ideology

Remembering who we are amid US budget fight

Deacons serve diverse, specialized roles

Religious trauma affects clergy too

Honoring our differences while celebrating unity

Multimedia

Social Concerns

Danny Fisher selects some canned goods at the Rhea House, a free grocery store in Tennessee operated by United Methodist Reelfoot Rural Ministries and Dyersburg First United Methodist Church. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Food pantry digs deeper to overcome challenging year

The Rhea House free grocery store, a partnership between Dyersburg First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Reelfoot Rural Ministries, counts its blessings.

Connectional Table

Connectional Table lives into new vision at Philippines gathering

Disaster Relief

Volunteers prepare trees for planting as part of a reforestation project on the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The flood relief project is sponsored by UMCOR and the Manila Episcopal Area. Jhoanna Ragasa reports.

UMCOR supports tree-planting project in Philippines

Mission and Ministry

Volunteers with the Canaveral Port Ministry welcome cruise ship workers on leave while their ships are docked in Port Canaveral, Fla. The ministry provides respite for homesick seafarers far from their home countries. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Port ministry offers seafarers home away from home

Disaster Relief

Members of Floris United Methodist Church help Barbara Douglas remove debris from her home in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

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