News

From: Jane Kies, Africa University - Mutare, Zimbabwe Here in Zimbabwe, Christmas is a time when the welcome smell of rain ends a long dry season. The country greens up, the acacia trees break out in yellow or white blossom, and flowers and shrubs that only appear at this time of year push their way through the rain-softened cracked ground. It's a time for insect (some edible!) invasions, mosquitoes, and—dare I say it—snakes. It's a time for land preparation, plowing (by oxen), and planting ...

Iowa Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) will celebrate its 20th anniversary this month, and you are invited. The board of Iowa JFON is encouraging everyone to join to learn about its history as well as the plans for the future of JFON in our state.  Iowa Justice For Our Neighbors is a non-profit organization, welcoming low-income immigrants of all faiths into churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy.  Established by the United ...

By Audrey Young, Iowa’s General Secretary for the Iowa Board of Global Ministries It may be a good idea to bring all leftover bulk items for kits to our 2017 Ingathering, rather than holding anything over for 2018, as is the custom of some local churches. “We have been assured UMCOR will accept all of our kits from our 2017 Thanksgiving Ingathering this year. The book for next year, 2018, will reflect the changes,” stated Dan Houston, Iowa Ingathering Chairperson. The first big changes already...