Uplifting the Poor in Spirit

The Rev. Catie Newman prays with John Wm. Weaver in front of a neighbor's wind-damaged home while a United Methodist volunteer team makes emergency repairs to his roof in Marion, Iowa. Weaver's mobile home was severely damaged during a derecho windstorm in August. Newman is the disaster response coordinator for the Iowa Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Uplifting the poor in spirit

In 2020, The United Methodist Church confronted new challenges including a global pandemic, renewed calls to end racism, delays to general conference and the possibility of the Church splitting into separate denominations. During this time of anxiety, United Methodists everywhere continued to find hope in the promises of God.

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Members of the worship team at CityWell United Methodist Church in Durham, N.C., prepare to record an online worship service in 2020. A new study of United Methodist churches finds racially diverse congregations are more likely to grow over time. File photo courtesy of CityWell United Methodist Church.

A study of more than 20,000 United Methodist churches in the U.S. found that multiracial churches had higher worship attendance over time.

The Commission on General Conference logo.

Further postponement needed for the 2020 General Conference as the pandemic continues to affect the safety of mass gatherings and travel.

United Methodist Marlena Graves is the author of 'The Way Up is Down.' Image courtesy InterVarsity Press.

In this podcast episode, author Marlena Graves talks about how our striving can lead to discontent. In Jesus, she teaches, the way up is down.

Taurai Mhishi hasn’t let his disability keep him from serving The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, where he has worked to clear church grounds for a parking lot at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Harare, Zimbabwe. His servanthood during the pandemic has inspired others to lend a hand. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, UM News.

With money tight due to the country’s economic turmoil and COVID-19, Zimbabwe United Methodists lend their time and talents to the church.

Courtesy "Get Your Spirit in Shape," United Methodist Communications.

In this podcast recorded on June 5, 2020, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling of the Baltimore-Washington Conference and BishopRobert Farr of MIssouri discuss racism, the killing of George Floyd and the protests happening across the US. They express their anger, how they are treated differently because of race and gender, and some steps United Methodists can take to be part of dismantling racism.

Billie Jean Baker has an apartment now but for about three years had no home of her own and often slept outside Dallas’ Oaklawn United Methodist Church. She recently received a Harry Denman Evangelism Award for helping the church expand its ministry with the homeless. Photo by Sam Hodges, UM News.

Billy Jean Baker is honored for using her personal experience with homelessness to help Dallas’ Oak Lawn United Methodist Church open its doors wider.

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