News
April 23, 2018
From Facts to Faith
The journey of the next new member to your church may be a long one. Andrew McFarlane is now an active leader at Bolivar United Methodist Church, a place where he would have not conceived himself being part of for most ...
April 23, 2018
Message From Cody Collier
One of the great joys of my life is being a part of the Conference Sessions Committee. This group prayerfully discerns the theme for Annual Conference and works on every detail, so Conference delegates will experience ...
April 23, 2018
Missouri Conference Represented in Wespath's Young Leaders Advisory Board
Jordan Ault, from the Missouri Conference, will be working in 2018 to help shape the way Wespath Benefits and Investments (Wespath) serves The United Methodist Church by participating in Wespath’s inaugural Young Leaders...
April 23, 2018
Missouri Religious Leaders Unite on Gun Violence
Missouri faith leaders held a press conference at the Catholic Charities office in St. Louis on April 11 to express their opposition to House Bill 1936, which relates to taking firearms into churches. Currently in ...
April 23, 2018
Parting Shot
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may ...
April 23, 2018
Pentecost Now & Forever
We normally think of Pentecost as the event described in Acts 2: The coming of the promised Holy Spirit, falling on the followers of Jesus, forming them into a community and empowering them to spread the good news. But ...
April 23, 2018
Price Points for Quality Sound
Help! My church needs to buy new praise band equipment, and we don’t know where to start! Never fear, this is a common dilemma. Whether your congregation is starting a new contemporary service, wants to upgrade existing...
April 23, 2018
Restoring Hope in Puerto Rico
By Lauren Miers Driving through Puerto Rico, downed power lines, debris and broken trees still line the roadways eight months after Hurricane Maria impacted the island. Some houses appear unscathed; Others have blue ...
April 23, 2018
Shareable Messages
I recently had a chance to hear Len Wilson speak. Like seemingly most people who speak at religious conferences, he has written a lot of books. At least he’s realistic about the outcome. “Studies have found the average ...
April 23, 2018
Small but Mighty: Elm Grove Church Serves the Lord
In the footprint of time, little Elm Grove Church has served the Lord in myriad ways through the hands and hearts, mouths and minds of its disciples. They’re focused on making more disciples for the transformation of ...
April 23, 2018
United Methodists Stand, Act to End Racism
United Methodists joined with their hearts, feet and faith on the 50th anniversary of the death of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., as people around the world pledged anew to combat the sin of racism. Gathering at ...
April 10, 2018
Bishops seek declaratory decision from Judicial Council on Special Session
WASHINGTON – The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is asking the Judicial Council for a declaratory decision on what petitions can be submitted to the denomination’s Special Session of General Conference...
April 09, 2018
Missouri Faith Leaders oppose proposed change to state law allowing concealed weapons in houses of worship
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kim Jenne, Director of Connectional Ministries kjenne@moumethodist.org (573) 441-1770 PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED IN ST. LOUIS for 11:15 AM, April 11, 2018 Missouri Faith Leaders oppose ...
April 01, 2018
Barn Find
I love old cars. I try not to make idols out of them. Sometimes I’m successful. Among car lovers, there’s a certain mythology around barn finds. The tale goes like this: A young man took all of his earnings from the ...
April 01, 2018
Coming Clean
Laundry ministry is the newest service that Grace and its partners offer to impoverished people in community. People in need in Springfield now have a new place to get their laundry done: Grace United Methodist Church. ...
April 01, 2018
Hurricane Maria Relief
Imagine this... the sunshine with rays reaching far and wide. As you are walking, you look to your left and see the beach with debris, broken palm trees. Your eyes move slowly to the many shades of blue in the water that...
April 01, 2018
Mission Field: Rural Missouri
Trying to expand a ministry in a community that is showing declines in small business and other institutions can be an arduous task. When Rev. Andrew Coon of the Shelbina/ Honeywell charge introduced the speakers at the ...
April 01, 2018
Mozambique Initiative: Stepping Up to Partnership
Asmall church can be impactful on its members, it’s community – and it can also use the United Methodist connection to make a difference for people thousands of miles away. Scott’s Chapel United Methodist Church is ...
April 01, 2018
Nurturing Musical Gifts
“If the music is too good then we aren’t worshiping God, we’re worshiping the music.” This is a phrase I’ve heard uttered on occasion. There are many variations on this statement including, but not limited to, “If we ...
April 01, 2018
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson Some blessings in life don’t require us to wrestle. We love those. Those things connected with God’s grace are given to us as gifts out of God’s love for us, our salvation included [Ephesians 2:8-9]. ...
April 01, 2018
Reaching for Community
Connection Through Preserving History When Aryana Rosen saw a small notice in the paper about an upcoming meeting regarding what to do about Brighton Methodist Church, she felt compelled to check it out. “I thought ...
April 01, 2018
The Heart of the Matter
According to some psychologists, most people lean toward being either rule-followers or rule-breakers. I tend to lean toward rule-breaker. Until recently in my new role, where I am supposed to be a rule enforcer; mostly....
April 01, 2018
The Love of God
Commenting on I John 4:19, which reads “We love him, because he first loved us,” John Wesley wrote “This is the sum of all religion, the genuine model of Christianity. None can say more: why should any say less...” ...
March 31, 2018
Letter From the Editor
By Fred Koenig A dozen years ago I was in Kansas City interviewing Rev. Dan Bonner at Grand Avenue Temple. As I got ready to leave, he asked where I was going from there. “Grace United,” I replied. “Excellent,” he said....
March 23, 2018
Commission members grateful to serve, complete work on final report
LOS ANGELES – Members of the Commission on a Way Forward expressed gratitude at the opportunity to be part of the Commission and they signaled hope for The United Methodist Church as they completed their meeting in Los ...
March 20, 2018
Bishops, leaders of UMC-related institutions optimistic of denomination’s future
DALLAS - Several leaders of United Methodist Church-related institutions voiced optimism and are preparing for possible changes in the global denomination that could occur as a result of the Special Session of the ...
March 14, 2018
Commission on a Way Forward meets March 19-22 to prepare final report
WASHINGTON D.C. – The 32-member Commission on a Way Forward will meet in Los Angeles on March 19-22 to prepare a final report to be submitted to the Council of the Bishops for consideration by the bishops at their ...
March 13, 2018
Bishop Ough, thousands of United Methodists to join in rally against racism
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., United Methodists will unite with members of the National Council of Churches in Washington, D.C.,...
March 05, 2018
Managing Multiple People in Music Ministry
By Ryan McLouth So you have a lot of people interested in serving on your worship team, but you don’t know what to do with all of them? This is an excellent problem to have, and there are plenty of solutions. The only ...
March 05, 2018
Preaching on Faith and Money
Rev. Mike Slaughter approaches the topic of preaching on faith and money with a simple and hard to argue with reasoning: We should talk about money because Jesus did. “If money was 40 percent of Jesus’s teaching, it ...
March 05, 2018
Youth Urged to Seek Something Greater
Sunday morning at WOW always brings hundreds of bleary-eyed middle school and high schoolers back to the Expo Center floor for one more worship experience before heading home. This year, Bishop Bob Farr was intent on ...
March 01, 2018
Begin With Knowledge
By Jeff Fothergill At our Church Council meeting a couple of months ago, we spent time discussing what it means to be a “sent” church. I’m not sure if we touched all the bases, but it was clear that we couldn’t get ...
March 01, 2018
New Tax Rules & Charitable Giving
The new tax reform legislation will take effect for the 2018 tax year. If members of your church have questions about charitable giving and the new tax rules, your Missouri United Methodist Foundation is here to help. ...
March 01, 2018
The Need for New
When Rev. Roger Ross told his former district superintendent he felt God was calling him to plant a new church, the District Superintendent laughed out loud and advised him that they don’t really do that kind of thing. ...
February 28, 2018
Commission on a Way Forward clarifies values as it presents two sketches to bishops
DALLAS - What is the Christ’s way forward for doing mission and ministry in the worldwide United Methodist Church? That is the question bishops pondered during their February meeting in Dallas this week as they received ...
February 26, 2018
Holiness & Happiness
By Hal Knight Happiness is something everyone wants but no one can adequately define. One internet site had over 13,000 quotes from famous people on what brings happiness. Suggestions include having enough money (but ...
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February 26, 2018
Let’s be open to Christ changing our minds, Bishop Ough tells fellow bishops
DALLAS - Council of Bishops President Bishop Bruce Ough has urged his fellow bishops to be open to Christ changing their minds as they counter disagreements and to be prepared to lead The United Methodist Church into ...
February 26, 2018
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson Images change the photographers who capture and create them. Photography as a spiritual discipline asks many contemplative questions at various points we won’t flesh out here. What’s important is that ...
February 26, 2018
Pound Us With School Supplies
By Fred Koenig This summer, Mission, Service and Justice (formerly known as Office of Creative Ministries) will have an amazing new facility to do ministry. We hope you will help us bless this new space with an old ...
February 26, 2018
Unleashed for Ministry
Luke 10:1-9 Luke 10:1 (The Message) Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. Key Verse: Luke 10:9 (The Message) ‘God’s kingdom is right on ...
February 23, 2018
Bishops to receive, discuss updated report from Commission on a Way Forward
With attention on the missional and theological foundations of The United Methodist Church, the Council of Bishops (COB) is preparing to receive an updated report from the Commission on a Way Forward on possible models ...
February 19, 2018
Reimagined Communitites
I recently heard a presentation by Dr. Richard Flory, the senior director of research and evaluation at the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture. He is a sociologist whose research focuses on religious and cultural ...
February 05, 2018
Rev. Melissa Dodd Named Next Northwest District Superintendent
Rev. Melissa Dodd Rev. Cindy Buhman Rev. Melissa Dodd has been named as the next Northwest District Superintendent. She will replace Rev. Cindy Buhman, who will be returning to serve as a local church ...
February 02, 2018
2018 Mozambique Initiative: Celebrating and Adapting Ministry
Last month, I shared successes of our Mozambique ministry in 2017. I didn’t have final giving support numbers at that time. In 2017, we concluded the highest giving toward the Mozambique Initiative in our history. Total ...
February 02, 2018
Focus on Education: Opportunities Abound
The Missouri United Methodist Foundation continues to bring outstanding educational opportunities to Missouri in 2018. Look for these programs in the next few months!
February 02, 2018
Is it the Spirit, or is it just me?
By Hal Knight We have been looking at dangers to the Christian life, those things that can draw us away from God and our neighbor. The last of these, enthusiasm, may not sound like a danger at all. We might think that ...
February 02, 2018
Parting Shot
By Eric Mattson My photography waits for the coming resurrection. What beauty I see reminds me that Christ brings light into darkness. Darkness cannot overcome that light. Those who live in Christ are not swallowed up ...
February 02, 2018
Robert & Martha Marble Mission Award Criteria
Each year the Robert and Martha Marble Mission Award is given to an individual in the Missouri Annual Conference who exhibits outstanding commitment to mission. This award is given in honor of the Marbles, who served for...
February 02, 2018
The Power of Encouragement
By Cody Collier God calls us to encourage people! Who are those in the New Year you are encouraging with your presence, actions and spiritual practices to live out their faith and invite others to become disciples of ...