Global Ministries News & Stories

Thomas Kemper reflects on the meaningful personal and professional relationship he had with Bishop Yambasu, who died on August 16 in Sierra Leone.

Global Ministries joins the World Council of Churches in celebrating "The Light of Peace: Churches in Solidarity with the Korean Peninsula." This important new work includes reflections on peacemaking from Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and Thomas Kemper and recognizes the continuing conflict in Korea, seventy years after it began in 1950.

United Methodist missionaries from around the world gathered virtually on August 11 to hear a farewell message from and pay tribute to Thomas Kemper who is leaving the post of general secretary at the end of the month.

Like many places in the world, Vietnam is facing economic impacts from the novel coronavirus. The Vietnam Mission Initiative partnered with Global Ministries Asia Pacific Regional Office, Scranton Women’s Leadership Center, and the Wesley Foundation to offer concrete love and compassion to its neighbors.

Shirley Townsend-Jones, a Church and Community Worker missionary in South Carolina, works with a rural African American cooperative ministry. Her ministry pulls together people from nine churches to face challenges, transform their communities, and celebrate the small victories of each day.

Global Ministries’ Laos Mission Initiative celebrates 20 years of service with increased membership, new clergy members and local pastors, and more engagement with local community members.

The first Methodist short-term, young adult missionary program began in 1948, sending young adults to serve 3-year assignments in Asian countries devastated during World War II. Today, Global Mission Fellows come from many different countries and serve in placements around the world.

Global Ministries welcomes the decision of a U.S. federal judge to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, pending a thorough study of the environmental impact of the 1,172-mile ribbon of oil opposed by Native Americans, notably among the Sioux.

In the aftermath of police killings of unarmed Black people, AALM (Asian American Language Ministries) representing the twelve official Asian and Asian American Caucuses of The United Methodist Church, strongly condemn the brutal and avoidable murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and the unconscionable number of precious Black lives that have been lost as a result of racist violence.

Urs Schweizer shares a story from The United Methodist Church in Hungary, which has developed a backyard farming program with a few Roma communities who raise more nutritious food and some extra income.

Global Mission Fellow Warren Alfeche explores new settings and outlets for ministry in Northern Ireland.

Decades of support and funding from Global Ministries’ Community Developers Program has helped Buena Vista UMC increase outreach within its community.