A purpose driven life: Effects of restorative justice ministry go beyond prison walls

Recidivism is a word you may be familiar with but not be sure of its exact definition. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, recidivism is “a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior; especially: relapse into criminal behavior.” What it boils down to is inmates returning to prison for violations after release. Around 98 percent of the inmates currently incarcerated in Nebraska’s 10 prisons will be released and return to our communities...

UMCOR, Schoen and Taylor to be recognized with Governor's Points of Lights award

The Governor’s “Points of Lights Awards” are presented quarterly and recognize Nebraska volunteers who give their time, talent and energy to help Nebraskans build stronger  communities. The Rev. Lyle Schoen, who serves Falls City First and the Rulo United Methodist churches, and Soucie Trucking driver James Taylor, Cambridge, Neb., will be recognized in a ceremony honoring all quarterly honorees on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 10:30 a.m., at the State Capitol. They will be...

Agency looking for a few (million) good men

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) — The average Protestant church has 39 percent men and 61 percent women, according to a study of congregations in the United States. No one believes we have too many women, but many congregations want to find ways to reach the 69 million men who don’t attend any church. “If your church has a United Methodist Men unit that meets, has fellowship and does some great work within the church, that is wonderful,” said Gil Hanke, top staff executive for...

Experiencing Mission

What do United Methodists do when government budget cuts reduce community services? They get busy, fighting for justice and rolling up their sleeves to do the work at hand. That’s what a large group of volunteers did to kick off the Nebraska Annual Conference on May 31, 2011. “The Church Has Left the Building” is the theme of this movement to get Christians out into the world to personify God’s love. Lisa Maupin, Nebraska Annual Conference Volunteer in Mission...

Omaha mission church offers help, hope to troubled neighborhood

Editor’s note: The following story ran in the winter 2010-2011 edition of the "Nebraska Messenger." We would like to offer an update, courtesy of Living Hope UMC's pastor, the Rev. Ralph Elwyn Gaines (pictured at right). Gaines reports that since July 1, 2010 — when Living Hope became a mission church* — 46 people have joined the church, and 16 have been baptized. This brings the total number of members to 72, along with 55 “associate...

United Methodists in Nebraska and Iowa collect nearly 17,000 health kits for Haiti relief efforts

In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12, the Nebraska United Methodist Conference encouraged its members to collect health kits as a tangible way to help the victims of the natural disaster. The health kit drive kicked off on Jan. 18, and ended on Feb. 8; over the three-week period, over 12,000 kits were dropped off at nine designated locations across the state. The Nebraska Conference also coordinated with the Iowa Conference to pick up any kits that remained from...