In 1960, Ruth Johnson Colvin decided to volunteer her time to do something about the high rate of functional illiteracy in Syracuse, where she lived. Sixty-two years later, the nonprofit she founded and the methods she designed to teach literacy have spread across the United States and into 26 developing countries around the world.

Global Ministries EarthKeepers’ projects in 2022 include plans to increase environmentally sustainable energy projects, decrease waste and plastics, repopulate trees in urban areas, improve access to environmental resources, preserve island habitats, grow gardens in many settings and offer spiritual growth opportunities that integrate the need for human rest and restoration with the environment’s need for care and thoughtful preservation.

While many Christians across the world celebrate World Communion Sunday with the elements and rich ritual of communion, the UMC offering collected on that Sunday extend the communion table to provide tangible assistance to students around the globe.

Global Health partners with the North Katanga UMC for a cholera campaign that provides more treatment options and prevention measures, but also aims to change the understanding of entire communities about water safety and sanitation to stop the disease in its tracks.

The application has launched for the next cohort of young adults who will serve in social justice ministries in the United States in 2023-25.

UMCOR has delivered 4,000 cleaning and hygiene kits, supplies of non-potable water and generators while ERTs help assess damage.