Pastor

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.

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.

Faith Stories

The Rev. Abisay Lameck Juwakali, described as an inspiration for resilient leadership and service as well as a pioneer of holistic mission, died Oct. 5 in a traffic accident. Photo courtesy of the Tanzania Annual Conference.

Abisay Juwakali remembered as holistic leader

The Rev. Abisay Lameck Juwakali, an advocate for ministry combining evangelism, education and health, died Oct. 5 in a traffic accident in Tanzania.

Faith Stories

The Rev. Jesse Baker preaches at First United Methodist Church of Elon, N.C. A poet as well as a pastor, Baker writes a sonnet based on the Scripture he intends to preach on each week, then uses the sonnet to inspire his sermon. His new book, “Clarity and Light: Meditations on Scripture,” is a collection of his sonnets. Photo by Patrick Abbott, courtesy of First United Methodist Church.

Pastor turns sonnets into sermons

A United Methodist pastor in North Carolina is writing poetry to put Scripture in perspective, which he says helps him write more compelling sermons.

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