5/2/2024
One of the questions most often asked of me when I would speak to groups during my first career as a journalist was “Why don’t you ever put good news on the front page?” The answer was, “We do put good news on the front page, though admittedly not as often as the not-so-good news.” I then would go on to explain that news was something that happens outside the ordinary and that we all should lament a day when people being kind, helping others and, in general, being good neighbors was rare enough...
3/5/2024
The statement was simple, but I found it to be profound. Our Thessalonian-native guide Aliki — Alice in English — was sharing facts in her colorful way with a group of Great Plains Conference pilgrims tracing the journeys of the Apostle Paul from Feb. 21 to March 1. The group was in Delphi in the central portion of Greece at one of the many temples of the mythological god Apollo. Priestesses would tell the future — in ambiguous terms, of course — to people who traveled to this temple. As...
Transition into Ministry Program
10/18/2023
Rev. Maddi Baugous serves at Omaha First United Methodist Church and is part of the TiM (Transition into Ministry) program. As part of the program, mentoring pairs get to identify and attend a Continuing Education experience. Day 1 Reflections: I traveled to Minneapolis, MN for the Festival of Homiletics. The conference has sermons and lectures on preaching. This was part of a confusing education grant through my Transition into Ministry program, which meant Morita, my mentor and lead ...
8/31/2023
Powwows are an exercise for the senses. The bright colors of the dancing regalia hit nearly every color of the spectrum. The traditional songs and rhythmic tapping of the drum perks the ears. I attended what was only my second powwow Aug. 25 as part of a contingent from the Great Plains Conference at the 147th Ponca Powwow near White Eagle, Oklahoma. Bishop David Wilson, the first Native American elected to serve as bishop in The United Methodist Church and part of both the Choctaw and ...
7/19/2023
Would people in the United States stand for Americans to be held captive? Would Americans do nothing as other countrymen and women were beaten mercilessly, starved, violated in numerous ways and separated from their families? The answer is yes. View Videos from the Trip Day 1 — Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and parsonage, as well as the Freedom Rides Museum, in Montgomery. Day 2 — The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, both operated by the Equal ...
6/28/2023
This week's Micah Corps update comes from Joseph Kasongo, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a student at Southwestern College, majoring in computer science and digital arts with a minor in Discipleship Bible Study. The photo shows Micah Corps members at the Black Methodists for Church Renewal dinner during the conference. The 2023 Great Plains Annual Conference in La Vista, Nebraska, was an amazing experience that exceeded my expectations. As I walked into the conference ...
6/14/2023
This week we begin our contributions from members of the 2023 Micah Corps. This submission is from Julia Davidchik, a Columbus, Nebraska, native who is finishing her sophomore year at Central Community College, transferring to a school in Colorado this fall for a physical therapy degree. From these past two weeks as a Micah Corps intern, I have learned, laughed, and was surprised a lot. Some of the subjects we talked about include how segregated Omaha is, redlining, immigration, learning about ...
11/9/2022
When disasters happen around the world, Great Plains is invited to help, and we respond! It is what our ministry is all about – serving with compassion and care as we are the hands and feet of Christ. It is our calling, not just something we do. The Florida Conference Disaster Response Coordinator extended an invitation to us soon after Hurricane Ian had left much destruction in the State of Florida. A group of eight ERTs (Early Response Team) joined together from all over the conference to make...
10/27/2022
Members of Grace United Methodist Church in Winfield have established a partnership with the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a statewide coalition working throughout Kansas to encourage people and organizations to promote policies that ensure everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. As a partner organization Grace UMC joins business leaders, doctors and hospitals, social service and safety-net organizations, faith communities, chambers of commerce, advocates for ...
10/26/2022
For the past 15 years, students at Burke High School in Omaha have been steered in successful directions thanks to a project co-founded by Omaha St. Luke UMC. The Teen Center provides “opportunities for students in an after-school environment with intentional exposure to education and relationships,” according to the center director. See more from WOWT.
