Around the World in 60 Seconds: November 2017
With many branches of the Wesleyan Methodist family tree stretching around the globe, we hope to keep you connected to ongoing activities, celebrations, and challenges that about 80 million of our sisters and brothers from about 80 Methodist denominations are encountering.
*In the Methodist Church in Brazil, the Chamber of Missionary Expansion has launched a new video series exploring topics like, “what is my place in mission?” and raising questions such as the distinction between “mission” and “missions.” Visit the official YouTube channel for the video series’ producing partner and official newspaper of the Methodist Church in Brazil, the Christian Exhibitor.
*A devastating earthquake has rocked the border region between Iraq and Iran, with death tolls continuing to climb past 400 and thousands injured. The earthquake, registering at 7.3, was felt as far away as Israel and Kuwait. Search and rescue efforts are underway.
*Bishop Harald Ruckert from the Evangelisch-methodistiche Kirch – the Methodist Church in Germany – reports on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
*This week with the World Methodist Council we focus our prayers for Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia alongside the World Council of Churches. A guide for specific thanksgiving and intercession can be found here, along with a “Prayer for the Side-Lined, Lost, and Overlooked People.”
*From the Methodist Church of South Africa, Presiding Bishop Zipho Siwa has issued a call to confront gender-based violence in a short video message.
*The global relief agencies of several Methodist bodies in Britain, Australia, the U.S., and Ireland have come together in response to the humanitarian disaster unfolding against the Rohingya people of Myanmar.
*Currently the Korean Methodist Church has missionaries in 71 countries around the world.
*In October, a delegation from the World Methodist Council traveled to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Francis to celebrate 50 years of Methodist-Catholic dialogue. Among the contingency was Dr. Kimberly Reisman, Executive Director of World Methodist Evangelism. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]