news stories Tagged “Missional Engagement”

Beyond Borders: Watertown First UMC’s Mission of Hope in Zimbabwe

February 29, 2024 / By Kevin Miller, Multimedia Content Creator / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In Zimbabwe, the life of a young boy named Edward Dingadade took a transformative turn, fueled by the kindness of a community thousands of miles away. This story, woven with threads of empathy and global unity, originates not directly from Edward, but from the compassionate individuals at the Watertown First United Methodist Church. Touched by the struggles faced by AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe, they made a commitment to fund the …more

What to expect as we prepare for AC24

February 7, 2024 / By UNY Communications / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Planning is underway for the 2024 Upper New York Annual Conference session, to be held May 30-June 1 at the SRC Arena, on the campus of Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.  Administrative team leaders met virtually last week to iron out details regarding the upcoming session. Participants included chairpersons from the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, Conference Finance and Administration, Commission on Equitable Compensation, Nominations, and Trustees working in conjunction …more

Transforming lives through compassion in Uganda

January 31, 2024 / By Kevin Miller, Multimedia Content Creator / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and …more

The importance of church statistics

January 19, 2024 / By Autumn Wells, Administrative and Accounting Services Specialist / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

There are many reasons why church statistics are so important and why they need to be up-to-date. First and foremost, they are there to help your church mission. Statistics allow a church to see trends such as growth or decline in membership, revenue, expenses, attendance, membership makeup, amount of youth, and more. These trends can help a church plan for the future. There are many distinct groups who view and …more

Three Upper NY United Methodist Churches’ help bring joy to seniors

December 20, 2023 / By Kevin Miller, Multimedia Content Creator / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The holiday season is a time of celebration, joy and family gatherings, but for many senior adults, it can also be a time of loneliness and isolation.    However, Faith in Action Volunteers, a program of the Broome County Council of Churches, has been lighting up the lives of seniors for a number of years through a heartwarming initiative known as the Silver Bells program. The mission of …more

NOMADS lend helping hands at Asbury Retreat Center

October 30, 2023 / By Rev. Sue Russell, Asbury Retreat Center Director

Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service, more commonly referred to as NOMADS, recently spent three weeks at Asbury Retreat Center. The NOMADS are volunteers with the mission of rebuilding lives, homes, and facilities with God’s love and their hands. Volunteers from across New York and Pennsylvania spent Oct. 2-19 at Asbury. The retired, or close to retired participants, enjoy traveling across the United States in an …more

Creating a bridge and building understanding with faith leaders

September 22, 2023 / By Kristina Clark, Director of Missional Engagement

Every month, faith leaders from various traditions come together for a powerful roundtable to discuss justice issues. The group is called InterFaith Works and it’s been meeting for 46 years. There are representatives from the Hindu Community, Islamic Society of Central New York, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Quakers, American Baptist, Episcopal Church, Catholic Church, Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, The United Methodist Church among others. In …more

From refugee to homeowner: The power of mission work

July 17, 2023 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Editor's Note: Walt Mathias,  member of Honeoye Falls UMC; Leon Perkins, member of Rush UMC; and Peter Baldwin and Jim Kanaleyof Iona UMC received a $2,500 Everyday Disaster grant from the United Methodists of Upper New York Missional Engagement Ministry Area for their carpentry work in the homes of refugees in the Rochester area. Ahmad Ibrahimi is one of the refugees they have helped. His …more