North American News & Stories

United Methodists are long-time supporters of Children Disaster Services, a critical coordinating agency of the Church of the Brethren. With UMCOR grants and prayers and many volunteer hours, United Methodists help to care for the youngest family members when disasters strike.

Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, president of the board of Global Ministries, grieves over the unjust deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery and challenges disciples of Jesus Christ to step forth in action.

Mellie Thomas, Disaster Recovery Project Manager of the Mississippi Annual Conference, talks about changes in disaster response due to the coronavirus.

Vicki McCuistion reflects on the work of UMCOR in the Rio Texas Conference and how her training as a disaster recovery asset manager prepared her to navigate a different kind of disaster: the coronavirus.

The Rev. Dr. Richard Boone, Church and Community Worker missionary with the West Ohio Conference, tells the story of how an inmate experiences transformation through the Horizon Prison Initiative.

Global Ministries’ coronavirus response is reaching those in need internationally and in the U.S. In addition to grants from the Sheltering in Love UMCOR COVID-19 Response Fund, 32 solidarity grants have been dispersed from UMCOR, Global Health and other program units, totaling about $346,000.

Mission makes an impact as partners around the world are awarded funds to address issues intensified by the spread of the coronavirus.

Dr. David Scott examines what we can learn from missionaries amid the coronavirus restrictions. Missionaries have long experience in putting love into action in unfamiliar settings. In this third and final reflection, he considers how focusing on concrete acts of service helps to cultivate a sense of compassion that keeps us connected to the world around us.

The temporary hold placed on approved grants in March has been lifted, allowing more than $29 million to be released over the remaining months of the year.

Connect with leaders in creation care to share ideas, resources and support for environmental ministries.

Amid the disruptions caused by the coronavirus, people seek new ways to maintain spiritual and social connections. This second of three reflections looks at how missionaries stay connected to social support networks with communication and mutual prayer, even when they are physically distant from those they love.

Commissioned as EarthKeepers in 2019 and now collaborating cross-country, the Rev. Crystal Paul Watson and her mother Lavanda Paul have developed and are launching a creation care curriculum for youth and young adults.