Methodists help Marshallese women
The Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church is helping to raise money for mothers from the Marshall Islands who were promised money in exchange for giving up their unborn children in an adoption scheme, according to a news release.
Private adoption attorney Paul Petersen of Mesa, Ariz., was arrested and charged this month with 62 state and federal charges in three states: 32 state charges in Arizona, 11 in Utah and a 19-count federal indictment in Arkansas, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
At least 19 women from the former U.S. territory are in need of immediate assistance in Northwest Arkansas for transportation and living expenses in what Bishop Gary Mueller of the denomination’s Arkansas Conference described in the release as “a terribly sad situation.”
“These women desperately need our help, and I’m asking for our United Methodists in Arkansas to lift them in prayer and to provide any financial support,” Mueller said.
Visit bit.ly/arumc-donate or mail a check to the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church in care of Marshallese mothers, 800 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72202.
Contact Amy Ezell at amy.ezell@arumc.org or (501) 324-8030, or Caleb Hennington at caleb.hennington@arumc.org or (501) 324-8037 for more information.
Bible marathon readers sought
Bible Reading Ministry International is now seeking readers of all ages to take part in the Green Forest 10th Annual Carroll County Bible Reading Marathon.
Participants will read for 15 minutes at a time, and readers are encouraged to coordinate “block sign-ups” of 8-16 people to read during the marathon.
The public Bible reading will be held in the town square in Green Forest.
Contact Jo Anne Wurdermann at (870) 350-0451 or visit the ministry’s booth at the Heritage Craft Festival, 206 E. Main St., Green Forest, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today to schedule a time to read.