Coming this Fall, Season One of Signs of Life from UM News. We head to Atlanta to hear about how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. In Belfast, we'll learn about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—a vital part. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, we'll explore translation and interpretation through language and culture.

The pastor of Martin United Methodist Church in the Horizon Texas Conference says he leads a “purple church,” where people are prioritized over political views. In “Signs of Life,” a new podcast from UM News, Ben Ward talks with the Rev. Daniel Hawkins about bringing diverse church members to the table and having sometimes hard conversations to be in community together. He says the congregation, which is one-third Tongan, is “unified without being uniform.”

Find a transcript and more at https://www.umnews.org/en/news/finding-unity-in-diversity-a-churchs-journey-with-rev-daniel-hawkins

Are there churches that have learned to live and worship together, even with seemingly opposing views on politics, culture, theology, class, and more? Can the story be told of hope and understanding and forgiveness and the future? These are those stories. Join host Ben Ward and United Methodist News for stories and signs of life.