May all praise and glory be to God, for the ways he is working in the hearts and minds of God’s people at Effort United Methodist Church on the North District. This year, on Easter Sunday, the church was blessed to …
Filipino pastors reflect on relationship between faith and compassion
As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, many Filipino Americans are reflecting on how faith, culture, and community continue to sustain joy and hope in difficult times. For us Filipino Christians, hope is deeply rooted in trust …
Pathways Bridges inspires congregations to move “from the table to the streets”
Across communities, congregations participating in Pathways Bridges are reimagining what it means to be the church, shifting from inward-focused ministry to meaningful community engagement. For many, Bridges has become more than a series of workshops. It is a community bonded …
Exciting news from Camp & Retreat Ministries: an inspired summer awaits
This year, our Camp & Retreat Ministries directors formed a task force to create a brand new curriculum for our overnight summer camp programs at Gretna Glen, Innabah, and Pocono Plateau. Throughout the winter months, a dedicated team of staff …
Divided We Fell, Together We Rose: How a Food Bank Came Back to Life
At first glance, the church appears much like any other United Methodist congregation—its sign bearing the familiar cross and flame, tall columns welcoming visitors, and a carillon marking the hours. Yet beyond this ordinary exterior lies a story shaped by …
NEW Matching Challenge! Undies for Easter
People are responding to our Undies for Easter campaign to provide vital undergarments for Philadelphia’s incarcerated individuals. Thank you! We are at approximately 25% of our goal at this time, with 2.5 weeks to go. Step up for our new challenge: a generous …
Embracing Curiosity with Alyssa Ruch, Director of Pathway Bridges
Pathway Bridges, a Lilly grant-funded program, has been equipping churches to bridge the gap between the church and the community since 2022. New cohorts launched in the spring and fall of 2025. Three years in, there’s still an aura of …
Bringing a God-sized Vision to Life: Help Build Yatosha Deaf School in Tanzania
In Tanzania today, thousands of deaf children live without access to the basic education every child deserves. While the country has made progress in expanding primary and secondary schooling, children with hearing impairments remain among the most underserved and overlooked. In Tanzania, there …
Christ UMC offers dignity & hope to neighbors in need
It is said that good ministry always has a zip code. Christ UMC in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, is located less than a mile from a homeless shelter. Chartered in 1975 as the result of a merger between two congregations, Christ UMC came into being about the same time …
United Methodists from across Philadelphia gather to advocate for change amidst affordability crisis
On November 12, Philadelphia community leaders, service providers, and residents filled the sanctuary of Mother African Zoar UMC to raise a unified alarm about a crisis they say is devastating the lives of Philadelphians. Affordability of basic needs—housing, food, utilities, …