African News & Stories

Working together for health in Zimbabwe
Led by coordinator Hannah Mafunda, the UMC health board makes the most of its resources by collaborating with other religious communities to fight diseases like coronavirus and Ebola.
Educating for peace in pan-African relations
Missionary Jane Kies reflects on how God uses her role as an English teacher at Africa University to foster peace and confidence in the lives of students in their academic careers and beyond.
Reconciling relationships with nature
Rev. Tyler Sit, a Global Ministries EarthKeeper, shares how a program that provides nature-based therapy in support of people of color is impacting his community.
Burundi UMC celebrates milestones in reconciliation
Two years into its reconciliation process, the Burundi UMC celebrates training for pastors and a reconstructed hospital.
COVID-19 prevention fosters hope in East Angola
The Rev. Dr. Leo Garcia, a missionary doctor serving in East Angola, rallied churches, health professionals and volunteers in his community to make COVID-19 prevention resources available to every household.
Statement on the death of Bishop J. Woodrow Hearn
As a director of Global Ministries from 1984 to 1992 and president of the agency from 1988 to 1992, Hearn helped to shape mission witness and service in the last two decades of the 20th century.
Health access and coverage: an issue of justice
By Kathy GriffithSeptember 2020 | ATLANTA The United Methodist Church’s Abundant Health Initiative is committed to reaching a million and more children with life-saving interventions, a goal…
Water project lightens load for new mothers
The United Methodist Church has installed rainwater-collection systems at three of its health facilities in the East Congo Episcopal Area ...
Global Ministries remembers Bishop John Yambasu
Leaders of the agency and its board of directors recall the influence Bishop Yambasu had on the church as a whole and specifically within the work of mission.
Remembering Bishop John Yambasu
Thomas Kemper reflects on the meaningful personal and professional relationship he had with Bishop Yambasu, who died on August 16 in Sierra Leone.
A short history of Global Mission Fellows
The first Methodist short-term, young adult missionary program began in 1948, sending young adults to serve 3-year assignments in Asian countries devastated during World War II. Today, Global Mission Fellows come from many different countries and serve in placements around the world.
Food relief helps in Liberia’s COVID-19 fight
Liberia is combating COVID-19 through both health and food security: the health board received an early solidarity grant from UMCOR for prevention training and the conference received a more recent UMCOR Sheltering in Love grant to provide food packages to the elderly, the physically challenged and at-risk children and youth undergoing rehabilitation at a facility in Monrovia. UMNS shares the story.