North American News & Stories

National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry announces departure of the Rev. Francisco Cañas in June 2020 and search for new director
Having served in his current role for 13 years, Cañas will step down from his staff position as national director and the NPHLM Committee will conduct a national search for a new director next year.
The Rev. Dr. James T. Laney receives 2019 World Methodist Peace Award
For his work as a missionary, educator and diplomat on behalf of the people of Korea, Laney was honored at a ceremony cohosted by the World Methodist Council and Global Ministries in Atlanta on Nov. 21.
Church and Community Workers biennial gathering focuses on immigration and substance abuse ministries
United Methodist Church and Community Workers gather in California for their biennial meeting to celebrate and reconnect with their colleagues for mutual support and professional networking.
Grants build mission capacity in 54 countries
Grants totaling $853,301 will help build the capacities of United Methodist mission partner organizations around the world next year in the areas of Leadership Development, Congregational Development, Ministry with the Poor and Global Health.
Global Ministries’ directors focus on God’s mission in a fractured world
Directors of the Global Ministries and UMCOR, meeting Oct. 10-12, focus on mission and ministry, global migration, disaster response, new initiatives and ways to bind the United Methodists together despite fractures in the church and world.
Hurricane Dorian: From devastation to resilience in the Bahamas
Residents of Grand Bahama Island and Abaco are receiving relief in the form of shelter, meals and hygiene items. Some are also taking great joy in being a part of the volunteer effort, serving their neighbors in the midst of their own tragedies.
United Methodists return lands in Ohio to the Wyandotte people, held in trust for 176 years
The gathering held on September 21 in Upper Sandusky, Ohio brought together more than 500 people in celebration of a shared past and promising, common future.
Puerto Rico recovers from 2017 hurricanes, aided by UMCOR, UMVIM
The month of September marks two years since Hurricane Maria brought widespread destruction to Puerto Rico. The recovery has progressed steadily, thanks largely to the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, and with the help of UMCOR training and funding and more than 200 Volunteer in Mission teams.
UMCOR support scales up Arkansas River flood recovery
Although it didn’t receive much national attention, the spring floods of the Arkansas River wiped out property and devastated some communities. UMCOR and the Arkansas Conference Disaster Response Team have just rolled out a new phase to help with recovery.
Creation care gets traction as priority
A growing amount of grassroots climate change work is being done by graduates of Global Ministries EarthKeepers training.
UMCOR disaster response through the lens of Hurricane Dorian
Throughout Hurricane Dorian’s movements, UMCOR coordinated with Conference Disaster Response Coordinators from United Methodist conferences along the Southeastern U.S. coast, monitoring their needs and likely responses.
Healthy Youth USA in North Atlanta provides healthy scholarships with Global Ministries partnership
Healthy Youth USA, an afterschool and summer camp program in the North Atlanta area, used a Global Health grant to ensure that more children could access the care they needed while their parents were at work.