News

Oklahoma and Texas Tornadoes

On May 20, Moore, Oklahoma was devastated by a massive tornado. Over 20 people were killed and more than 200 were injured. Earlier in the week, several tornadoes roared across central Texas killing at least 6 and injuring almost 100. Families have lost their homes and lives have been shattered. This is a horrific reality and it is a reality into which the love of Christ will flow. You can respond in several ways: Pray for those who have been so deeply hurt. Pray for their families, for...

UMCOR Offers Ways to Donate to Disaster Relief

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is on the ground in Oklahoma and Texas. Donations and flood and cleaning buckets are needed. To respond quickly to the disaster you can text RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation to UMCOR. 100% of the gift will go to relief. 0% to administration. Download the UMCOR mobile app to make a donation to UMCOR for Oklahoma tornado relief.  Scan this QR code with your smartphone to download the app. Currently the QR code only works on iPhones...

"One Person Changing One Life In One Day"

On April 27, the United Methodist Churches of Taylor County came together togive service to our community.  It was an active day with over 500 people volunteering to do all sorts of acts of kindness.  We had nineteen children in Bible School.  The Blood Drive yielded 55 pints of blood.  Our goal was 35 pints!!  Our food drive earlier in the month had given us 2 pickup loads of non-perishable foods.  They were given away...

Annual Conference Reminder 5/7

Have you registered for Annual Conference yet? All delegates, both clergy and lay, must register online prior to May 15. Are you a clergy delegate? Register here. Are you a lay delegate? Register here. Remember to make your hotel reservations before May 19. You can do that here. Have you heard about the Potato Drop? This year we will welcome a huge truckload of potatoes to an outdoor area near the Convention Center for our Afternoon of Service. Through the work of MANY...

Forum of Residential Bishops visiting U.S. Mexico Border Today

Active bishops of The United Methodist Church began the first meeting of the Forum of Residential Bishops on May 5 in San Diego with inspiring worship led by Rev. Jorge Lockward, Director of Global Praise for the General Board of Global Ministries. The bishops and spouses spent time in prayer, singing, praying for one another, anointing each other, and remembering their baptisms. The purpose of the meeting is to create a learning environment where the residential bishops will share best...

Thailand Methodist Mission Update

Anthony Bourdain needs to run around with us. Truly! This past week we traveled up to the Northeast section of Sakaew province to visit Pastor Pimpeekah and the members of Ta Phraya Church.  We traveled up there together with Pastor Banya and a Thai mission team from Life Center UMC for an evangelism event.  This mission team had been trained in washing and dyeing hair and there was a hair dresser on the team too, so they opened a free beauty shop for the day to create good relations...

Party with a Purpose

Plan a "Killer in the Dark" watch party and party with a purpose!. Starting May 5 through November 3, NBC stations across the U.S. will air “Killer in the Dark: An Extraordinary Effort to Combat Malaria.”  Watch your local listings to see when it will air on your local NBC station and when it airs invite family and friends to watch with you. This updated documentary is about The United Methodist Church’s work to help make the world malaria-free. Actress...

"Home Run" hits home with United Methodist Church recovery ministries

The numbers are staggering. Addiction kills hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. every year and a sobering fact is that one in four deaths in the U.S. are attributed to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug abuse. “Home Run” is a movie about addiction – a story of an athlete whose life spirals out of control due to ego and alcohol. Premiering April 19, the inspirational feature film is based on thousands of true stories about people struggling with addiction who found help...

Passing the Torch at Aldersgate

On the weekend of March 22-23, friends of Aldersgate gathered for a Pass the Torch Retreat to mark the end of Rev. Lee Padgett’s leadership and transition to the new leadership of Dave Cohn. Led by Revs. Phil Hogg and Brad Smart, participants spent valuable time reflecting on Aldersgate’s core values and visioning for the future. To learn more about Dave, read his account of his life and calling to camping ministry. Welcome to the Kentucky Conference and to Aldersgate Camp, Dave and...

Union College's 19th President to be Inaugurated

Almost a year after being named as Union College’s 19th president, Marcia Hawkins, Ph.D., will be officially sworn in during a ceremony later this month. Inauguration day is set for Friday, April 26. To start the day, there will be a worship service at 9:30 a.m. led by Bishop Lindsey Davis in Conway Boatman Chapel at Union College. The induction ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. in John M. Robsion Arena with a reception to follow. The day’s festivities will end with the...

Noisy Offering for Change for Change

Previously during the Kentucky Annual Conference the “Children’s Ministry Team” and  the “Children and Poverty Grant Team” have sponsored the “Change for Change” fund drive for the $1,000 “Children and Poverty” grants. For the past several years we have had a friendly competition between Districts for those attending to deposit their spare change in District Buckets to see who can collect the most. Your spare change can generate...

Imagine No Malaria Mother's Day Cards

Imagine No Malaria is offering a set of three limited edition Mother’s Day cards, each with a different photo of mother and child. Each card features scripture about Mothers. Each set contains three cards and come with envelopes in shrink wrap.   Download Mother’s Day Resources Now! Looking for a special card to send your Mom, Grandmother, aunt or special friend for Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day Frequently Asked Questions Sermon Notes -...

Wesley Manor Celebrates Annual State Facility Survey

Kentucky’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) completed its annual surveys of both Wesley Manor’s Health Care Center and Memory Care Center on March 21st with a fantastic report!  A thorough annual review was conducted of Wesley Manor’s Nursing, Dietary, Activities, Housekeeping & Laundry Departments and of Administration to determine Wesley Manor’s compliance with state licensure regulations.    While at Wesley Manor, the Survey Team...

Menifee County Hosts New Hope Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday, March 30, the first New Hope Easter Egg Hunt was held in Menifee County. Over  525 people gathered at Frenchburg Elementary School, where children of all ages sought out over 5500 brightly colored eggs. This was the first time an Easter Egg Hunt had ever been held for the entire county. The egg hunt was part of a continuing effort to be in relationship with the residents of Menifee County, where the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church plans to start a new...

2013 Impact Shelby

Just like we had Impact Appalachia in 2011, and Impact Hope Springs in 2012, where volunteers from across the state came together to help members of those communities in a day of service, we now have Impact Shelby.  On Saturday, March 30, 2013, members of the seven United Methodist Churches in Shelby County, KY came together for a day of service in Shelby County.  There were several projects planned out for the almost 300 volunteers that came out to help.  The...

Information for Submitting Nominees for Ministry Awards

The Kentucky Annual Conference is fast approaching. Our theme this year is “Reach the World: Thriving Faith Communities.” We pray your church is already working hard to reach your world and to make your communities thrive. If your church or is someone in your church has been involved in a special ministry in reaching your world, we want you to consider applying for one of the awards we recognize. You will find below information about awards recognizing...

Bishop Davis Names New Superintendents

Bishop Lindsey Davis is pleased to announce four new Cabinet positions. All changes will become effective at the 2013 Annual Conference session. Rev. James Williams will become the Lexington District Superintendent, Rev. Paul Fryman will be assigned as the Prestonsburg District Superintendent, Rev. Gene Pillow will serve as the Madisonville District Superintendent, and Rev. Terry Reffet will become the new Superintendent of the Ashland District.   As the new District Superintendent of...

Heroes, Saints and Legends Honorees Named

The Board of Wesley Village is pleased and proud to announce the Heroes, Saints and Legends honorees for 2013 will be Miss Phyllis Hail, long-time Conference Director of Leadership Development, Mr. Ray Bradbury, industry leader in coal mining safety and productivity, and Dr. James A. Shepherd, serving Conference Churches for well over 70 years!   The event will again be held at the Embassy Suites in Lexington on the evening of October 1st, 2013.  For more information call Tim...

Farewell Reception for Michael Watts

Please join us as we say "thank you" to Conference Treasurer, Michael Watts for ten years of dedicated service. Michael has served faithfully in this role and will be greatly missed. Michael lives in Lawrenceburg and is actively involved in the Lawrenceburg United Methodist Church. He was elected as a Lay Delegate to the 2012 General Conference in Tampa. A farewell reception honoring Michael Watts will be held on Monday, March 25 at 3:00p.m. in Fanelli Hall of the Kentucky Conference...

An Update on Venezuela from Warren Lathem

By now you have heard the news that President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has died of cancer and the Vice-President is in power.  Please pray for the people of Venezuela as a pall rests on the country and they wait to see what kind of transition will occur. Jane and I returned on March 5, the day the President was announced dead.  Since then we have been in close communication with the wonderful people of Venezuela.  Below is a report of the month we spent with them. "Grace...