News

Earth Day is April 22, 2021. The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement is providing these tips as a tool to equip church members, families, and individuals to respond to God’s call to care for creation and do ...

By Jill Wondel, Associate Conference Lay Leader During Lent this year, my small group has been studying the Psalms. We’ve had wonderful conversations, reflecting on the stories behind the Psalms and imagining both what ...

By Rev. Karen Shearer, pastor of Grace UMC (Madison) I had arrived on a good day. Betty was awake in her recliner and smiled at me as I entered her room. Her baby doll was resting in her arms and every so often, she ...

A Springfield church uses local events to relate the journey of the Stations of the Cross to modern times.

When I sought the election as bishop in 2016, I never imagined the degree of disruption (the pandemic, denominational issues, racial injustices and political turmoil) we would have experienced this last 18 months. My ...

By Lauren Miers Martin Leathers takes the phrase “skin in the game” literally. The Gathering Students Pastor said for $10,000 he would shave the beard he had been growing for three years. Every fall since 2018, The ...

Bishop Bob Farr announced his plan for the supervision of the Mark Twain district due to the planned June retirement of current District Superintendent Steve Pinnell.   “I have named Rev. Mi Hyeon Lee as the District ...

Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” with our volunteer activity or with the people we serve. Our goal as United Methodist ...

On Saturday, February 27, 16 churches and over 100 students and leaders gathered virtually for LEAP, a one-day youth conference. Seven speakers shared on the Fruits of the Spirit and offered relevant, actionable messages...

Zion and New Covenant conduct food distributions every week.

By Lucas Endicott While all of us have been impacted by COVID-19, people in Mozambique have especially felt the weight of the pandemic.   In Mozambique, those who earn a daily wage by working in the fields or selling ...

Maintaining faith, courage and energy in the face of these challenging times can be a bit daunting. However, daunting times are nothing new to the Christian faith. As we travel through this season of Lent, we are ...

Bishop Farr intends to host a virtual clergy conversation to unpack the news released today about further postponement of General Conference 2020 and the announced special session on May 8, which you can read more about ...

Churches should prepare to help people through a wave of grief as we begin to come together again.

Some churches are going beyond enhancing their online presence and beginning to think about it as a new church site.

The Missouri Conference Mission Council has voted unanimously to recommend that the Missouri Conference reduce the number of districts from nine to five beginning July 1, 2022. A proposal will be brought to annual ...

By Rev. Sandy Nenadal The season of Lent will soon be upon us, and so much has happened in our nation. We continue to face rising infections and deaths from COVID-19. The Capitol building was rocked by violence, and a ...

We’re celebrating a few of Black leaders who were important to Missouri United Methodist History. Rev. Dr. John Doggett Rev. Dr. John Doggett answered his call to ministry on the west coast, where he started a ...

A United Methodist church uses its fellowship hall for a vaccination clinic.

In response to continued conversation and action as it relates to race and ethnicity, Bishop Robert Farr announces the formation of a Task Force on Race and Culture.   In consultation with Conference leadership, Bishop ...

The Missouri Conference will revisit in-person worship guidance on or around May 1. As we’ve entered a new year, we encourage our churches to remain vigilant in their safety precautions related to COVID-19. Even with ...

By Lauren Miers Parents of school-aged children know keeping kids motivated to continue their online distance learning schoolwork is difficult. Rev. Charity Goodwin and her sister Tramaine Williams encouraged their ...

Several pastors in the Missouri Conference have experienced the coronavirus first-hand.

A bell on a stand in front of a church is a familiar scene. The bell had often been in the steeple of a former building and was moved when the church moved to a new location. Three bells, however, is much more unusual. ...

Church of the Resurrection puts people to work serving the community on the MLK Day holiday.

 What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was un-American. It was not okay. Even as we affirm the rights of freedom of speech and to peacefully assemble, the peaceful transition of power is a pillar of a democracy and...

A new production facility has been built for manufacturing mobility carts, formerly known as PETs.

The year 2020 was full of many “firsts” and a season of “we’ve never done it like that before.” Sometimes the changes were easy and sometimes they were extremely hard and long. It was certainly a year of adjustments. Now...

Hear how University UMC in University City, Missouri, is reaching out and empowering its neighbors through the Open Door Food pantry.

One St. Louis church set out to make sure Black community members made their voices heard through voting education.  

Della Lamb prepares to welcome new neighbors.

Hear how Unity UMC is building bridges in and impacting its community through a micro-loan program.  

Looking for a biblically-based sermon in order to take a Sunday off following Christmas? Rev. Dr. Bruce Baxter, Southeast District Superintendent, has made his sermon, Finishing Well (2 Timothy 4:6-8, Philippians ...

High-tech musical lights display draws droves to small rural church.

Fall and spring are my favorite seasons of the year. In spring,everything comes back to life from a season of cold, darkness and dormancy. New life begins to spring forth and baseball begins. In fall, the colors change; ...

The Caring People ministry provides community and support for single mothers.

The Rare Breed ministry in Springfield provides a help to homeless and at risk teens.

By Scott Burdin, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Seeing a street lined with refrigerators is always surprising the first time you notice it. Our Disaster Response team deployed to Louisiana early Oct. 27 from ...

Bishop Bob Farr discusses his Nov. 18 guidance on COVID-19, pandemic fatigue and how to minister in this challenging season.  

Two Crossroads interns how worked through the pandemic have stayed on the job at their churches after their internships were up.

Several United Methodist churches in Missouri offer up their facilities to be used as polling places.

Dear Missouri Conference Clergy and Laity,   As we live into our first General Rule of doing no harm, I strongly encourage that in-person worship services be suspended until further notice for congregations located in ...

Missouri Bishop Bob Farr issues a statement encouraging people to vote, assist others in voting and do what they can to support fair elections.

Written by Robin Ewy, LPC The year 2020 has taken a toll on most of us. God made us for community, and the political/social climate and Coronavirus have thrown us for a loop. We are not meant to be alone yet social ...

Bishop Farr shares encouragement about leading through anxious times.

Bishop Farr shares encouragement about leading through anxious times.

Church offers communion in circles (small groups) to meet local health guidelines.

Lay pastor Ivan James has been watching with concern the national dialogue as the country nears the November 3 election. Deepening political divisions in America and the fear that votes won’t get counted, has eroded ...

Baptisms of youth continue during time of shutdowns.

A monthly drive-through event offers communion and mission opportunities.