Video: ‘Look what God can do’


An East Tennessee pastor says God guided her congregation to respond to the needs of families displaced by Hurricane Helene. The Rev. Sarah Varnell, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, says the church’s response started small and has grown into a community-wide effort, with the church becoming a safe place for people to come and get supplies. “Look what God can do,” she said.

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Elias Torres cleans up flood damage from Hurricane Helene at Cedar Key (Fla.) United Methodist Church. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News. 

Florida churches begin Helene recovery efforts

United Methodists across the southeastern U.S. are responding in communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. UM News photographer Mike DuBose traveled with church leaders and relief workers in Florida this week to document as they began assessing damage and planning relief efforts.
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A view of Valle Crucis United Methodist Church in Valle Crucis, N.C., shows water over the stairs of the entryway after flooding caused by Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina and other parts of the southeastern United States last week. Bishop Ken Carter, who leads the Western North Carolina Conference, said it’s estimated that more than half of the 44 counties in the annual conference have been affected. Photo courtesy of the Western North Carolina Conference. 

United Methodists offer relief after Helene

Church members are beginning the long, slow recovery following Helene’s devastating storm surge and flooding in the southeastern U.S. Conferences are busy supporting survivors.
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Theology and Education
Hakim Erezenious Kwenyo (standing) helps a student during a session of the Youth Digital Literacy Project at Ariaze United Methodist Church’s women’s training center in the Rhino Camp Settlement of Uganda’s Siripi Zone. The project is supported by The United Methodist Church’s South Sudan Children Ministry and the Holston Foundation. Photo by Mudomo Joseph, UM News.

Computer training empowers South Sudanese refugees

A United Methodist project provides 50 young people in Ugandan refugee settlements with hands-on digital literacy training.
General Church
The Rev. Dr. Lloyd T. Nyarota and The Rev. Albert Otshudi Longe. Photos courtesy of the authors.

An invitation to reflect on the denomination’s future

Two participants in the coming Leadership Gathering raise questions about The United Methodist Church’s structure, leadership and evangelism that could help frame discussions about the denomination’s future.
General Church
The skyline of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. United Methodists from around the globe are coming to the Canadian city for the denomination’s first-of-its-kind Leadership Gathering, scheduled for Oct. 20-24, intended to help the denomination discern its next steps. Photo by Tamsintj, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Countdown begins to Leadership Gathering

Organizers are providing resources to help all United Methodists engage with the gathering intended to help faithfully reimagine the denomination’s future.

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