Rev. Shari Prestemon

08/28/2026

If you or your congregation wish to contribute to humanitarian response efforts in the wake of the devastation in Nepal, please click on this link and follow instructions given at the end of the article. You may designate your gift to Nepal in the comment field of the referenced giving page. Thank you for your generosity and prayers.

🇳🇵 Pray for Nepal
Devastating floods in Nepal have claimed hundreds of lives, left many missing, and displaced families across affected communities. Global Ministries is in communication with our partner in Nepal and preparing to respond to urgent needs as aid can safely reach those affected.

Our partner shared, “At this critical moment, we would greatly appreciate your prayers for Nepal.”

Please join us in praying for those who have lost loved ones, those still missing, displaced families, rescue workers, and our partners working to bring help and hope.

Learn more at: https://ow.ly/y3OH50ZGCZq

08/28/2026

We have heard from one of our global partners in Nepal, where devastating floods have left many dead and many more missing. We are preparing to respond to their needs and offer aid as they are able to receive it.

Our partner said:

“We are very grateful for your prayers and for remembering us during this difficult situation. Our team is safe, and I am now in Chitwan, an area affected by the disaster.

We can't imagine the loss of life. The dead bodies are floating on the riverbank, and people are hopeless. The road access to the affected area is broken, and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has issued an alert about the possibility of another flash flood. Given the urgency, we are exploring ways to provide immediate humanitarian support to the most affected families, particularly those who are displaced or at imminent risk.

At this critical moment, we would greatly appreciate your prayers for Nepal. We will continue to keep you updated on the situation.”🙏

08/27/2026

Global Ministries staff have reached out to our partners in Nepal to inquire about their wellbeing following these devastating floods there. We anxiously await word, knowing that the area where our partners live and work is listed among the towns directly impacted by this disaster. Please join us to hold every missing, grieving, and traumatized soul in prayer.

More than 1,000 people were missing in Nepal and the Tibet region of China after a torrent of mud, water and ice swept away villages and bridges. Officials said at least 335 people had been killed.

08/26/2026

Did you know that the origins of our ministry globally actually began in a haystack? The substance and approach of our global work has evolved considerably since then, and that’s a good thing! Read more in my blog this week.

From a haystack in 1806 to 30 years of shared witness through Global Ministries, our understanding of global mission has evolved.

Read Rev. Shari Prestemon’s reflection on how mutuality, humility, and authentic relationships shape the way we walk alongside partners around the world today.
https://ow.ly/98rY50ZFevt

08/18/2026

BBZ was a saint among us in the United Church of Christ. A scholar, historian, theologian, trail-blazing leader, and beloved colleague and companion for many. I join the whole of the United Church of Christ in celebrating her faithful life and witness and giving God thanks for the enduring legacy she leaves behind.

🕯️ With deep gratitude and sorrow, we remember the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Zikmund—educator, historian, minister, and author—who died Monday, August 17 at the age of 87. Her wisdom, scholarship, and unwavering commitment to the United Church of Christ shaped generations and will continue to inspire all who seek justice, inclusion, and faithfulness.

UCC General Minister & President/CEO, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, reflects on Rev. Zikmund’s extraordinary contributions and the lasting imprint she leaves on our church and the wider world.

Read the full statement from Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson: https://www.ucc.org/celebrating-the-life-and-legacy-of-rev-barbara-brown-zikmund/

08/16/2026

One of the blessings of my role is being invited in to various settings of the United Church of Christ, including our Conferences’ Annual Gatherings. This weekend I was honored to be with the Indiana-Kentucky Conference and to serve as keynoter for their Annual Gathering. It was a joy! The Spirit is up to something good in the IKC!

08/10/2026

Friends across the United Church of Christ (and beyond) are reeling as they received this devastating news of Rev. Derek Terry’s death. Rev. Terry was a bright light among us, a creative and joyful spirit dedicated to making the extravagant love of God real in our congregations, denomination, and world. His leadership of the Open and Affirming Coalition, his ministry at St. Peter’s UCC in Cincinnati, and his faithful and prophetic witness in every space he entered were gifts to us all that will have enduring and precious impact. I lift his family and friends, his congregation, and his colleagues in my prayers and join them in grieving this very deep loss.

The following is a joint statement from United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, and the Open and

07/17/2026

https://www.ucc.org/ucc-gmp-issues-statement-after-ice-killings-in-texas-and-maine/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=united-church-of-christ&utm_content=e47d0b75-e105-491a-b0e9-a4b13aa9ed4a&utm_campaign=social-media&fbclid=IwRlRTSATHh0FwZG9mAWZkaWQWUKuPF2iO8cWuzaJwDLKZOjM_egqBI2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6oemNtPAybEkYO2gIn_zpJnkd10TyzYXbZXfXiuWzOGqmGbw0aDubp15phSQ_aem_aPgJOnBS1V3i-pxoD4OfYA

United Church of Christ General Minister and President/CEO, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson has issued a statement condemning the recent Immigrations and

07/14/2026

What matters most to us? That was a question our Global Ministries partners in Argentina had wrestled with and their answers were clear. There’s something for us to learn from them. Read more in my reflections here.

When it comes to the decisions we make in our churches about how we will steward our resources, what matters most? Last week I had the privilege of