United Women in Faith: Faith Talks

On this episode of Faith Talks we discuss the mass shootings that plague our nation—and the suicides, domestic partner abuse and community-based violence that result in the vast majority of U.S. gun deaths. Now more than ever, understanding and interrupting the cycle of gun violence is a public health imperative.

We will be talking with women leaders working in their communities and advocating for public policy to end this scourge of U.S. gun violence. Our guests will be:

*Amber K. Goodwin, executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund, a leading gun violence prevention organization working on policy, education, leadership development, and building resources centered on communities of color.

*The Rev. Rhonda Thomas of LIVE FREE Florida, a grief counselor for students after the Parkland High School mass shooting.

*Oresa Napper-Williams of Not One More Child, whose son died by gun violence.

Attacks on Asian/Pacific Islanders will be the focus of this episode of Faith Talks. We will discuss the fatal March 16 shooting at several Asian-owned businesses in Atlanta, as well as the recent incidence of attacks on this community. If we are honest, anti-Asian sentiment, including the sexualization of Asian women, has existed for decades. Now is the time to determine what each of us can do to stop it.

Our guests include:
*Gloria Tan, Executive Director, Gum Moon Residents Hall, an NMI in San Francisco, CA
*Susan Kim, UMW Charter for Racial Justice Support Team member
*The Rev. Scort Christy, president New Federation of Asian American United Methodists

As women who love God and favor justice, we know you’ll appreciate this discussion. Our hope is that we’ll leave with concrete things we can do to put faith, hope and love into action.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so how must we care for ourselves? Faith Talks host Jennifer Farmer will explore this question and more on this episode of Faith Talks with the following guests:

*Ghylian Bell, founder and director of the Urban Yoga Foundation
*Valencia McClure, certified aromatherapist and founder of The Artistry of Essential Oils
*Nora Cunningham, UMW executive for spiritual growth

Visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/FaithTalks to find out more and register for upcoing Faith Talks events.

We are thrilled to have an opportunity to talk with UMW National Board Leaders for our next Faith Talks event and profile them during Women’s History Month. United Methodist Women is still making history turning our faith, hope and love into action on behalf of women, children, and youth.

We will hear from several members of our 2021-2024 UMW's National Board of Directors including UMW Board President Ainise Isama'u of the California Pacific Conference, UMW Vice President Cynthia Rives of the North Texas Conference, UMW Chair of Governance Committee: Daryl Junes Joe of the New Mexico Conference, and UMW Chair of Finance Committee: Heidi J. Careaga of Wisconsin Conference.

Visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/FaithTalks to hear more episodes of Faith Talks and to register to attend upcoming Faith Talks events.

As we celebrate Black History Month, join us as we will talk with Darryl W. Stephens, The Rev. Khristi Lauren Adams, and Emily Jones.

Darryl W. Stephens, author of UMW’s 2021 Spiritual Growth study book, “Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living into the Church’s Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship." The Rev. Khristi Lauren Adams, author of “Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color,” and Emily Jones, United Methodist Women executive for racial justice.

In this conversation we will discuss why working for justice is part of our biblical faith, why the declaration that Black lives matter is controversial in the 21st Century, and ways to build community within the body of Christ.

Over the past several years, our United Methodist Women Faith Talks host Jennifer R. Farmer, has worked on a special project documenting the experiences of some of our sisters who have navigated professional settings as the first or only. While the media is quick to document when a person becomes the first to hold a position, the first to reach a milestone, or the only, they can sometimes overlook or minimize the challenges a person in this situation may face and the ways in which faith can be a sustaining force.

Listen in on this Faith Talks conversation about Jennifer's s new book, First and Only: A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving at Work and in Life. The forward for the book was written by former Ohio State Senator and 11th Congressional Candidate Nina Turner, who declared the work “essential reading.” Released by the Christian publisher Broadleaf Books, First and Only is both a love letter and an affirmation of the ways in which faith can anchor every aspect of our lives.

This episode of Faith Talks is features guest host Emily Jones, United Methodist Women’s Executive for Racial Justice.

Visit http://www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org/FaithTalks for more information about upcoming Faith Talks conversations.

2020 was historic in terms the number of natural disasters, with weeks of raging, smoking wildfires in some parts of the country that left many struggling to breathe. In other parts of the world, residents weathered tropical storms that destroyed communities and severely diminished livelihoods. Yet in others still, communities experienced one of the hottest years ever recorded.

All of this happened amid a global pandemic upended the U.S. economy and everyday life for millions. people.

While the incoming Presidential Administration must tackle a host of issues to make our environment safer and more sustainable, there are also things each of us as individuals, and as communities.

Guests for this conversation include:
*Elizabeth Chun Hye Lee, United Methodist Women’s Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice and Climate Justice Lead.
*Phyllis Terwilliger, UMW Be Just. Be Green Jurisdictional guide for Northeast, a UMW Susquehanna conference Social Action Coordinator in PA.
*Dr. Andrea Marpillero-Colomina, Clean Transportation Consultant at GreenLatinos.
*Laura Haight, U.S. Policy Director at the Partnership for Policy Integrity.

---

Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R Farmer, Spotlight PR.
Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

What impact does giving have on your faith? Listen in as we talk with four incredible women of faith on this episode of Faith Talks.

Guests for this conversation include:
*UM Deaconess Katelin Hansen, PhD, Director of Operations at Community Development for All People, a National Mission Institution in Columbus, Ohio
*Cathy Stone, Executive Director of Cornerstone Family Ministries, a National Mission Institution in Tampa, Florida
*Tamara Clark, United Methodist Women Treasurer
*Christi Campos, Development Officer, United Methodist Women.


---

Faith Talks is hosted by Jennifer R Farmer, Spotlight PR.
Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

Advent is a period of yearning expectation for Christmas and the second coming of Christ. And if there ever was a year that made our souls cry, “O, Come, O Come, Emmanuel!” 2020 has been it. What are you doing to prepare? How can we welcome Christ anew into our lives, homes, communities, nation and world?

United Methodist Women’s Regional Missionaries work in their home nations and areas of the world promoting education, gender justice, economic empowerment, and leadership development among women and youth. That can be a heavy lift, even when it’s not being done in the midst of a world pandemic.

On this episode of Faith Talks we are joined by United Methodist Women missionaries Grace Musuka (Central Africa), Finda Quiwa (Sierra Leone) and Dr. Catherine Akale (Cameroon) to talk about the state of women and youth in the developing nations where they work during this time of COVID.