When flash floods swept through Central Texas this summer, leaders at First UMC Richardson recognized a new opportunity — to form an Early Response Team (ERT) that could respond immediately in the aftermath of disasters in Texas.

Thirty-two individuals representing 10 United Methodist churches and community organizations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area gathered Saturday, Oct. 11 for a training session on immigration court observation. The training, led by Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United), introduced participants to the role of public court observers— volunteers who attend immigration hearings to offer care, document proceedings and monitor for potential abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers or court staff.

When harm happens within the church, it often shakes the very foundation of trust and faith that communities hold dear. In those fragile moments, Resource Persons from the Horizon Texas Conference Crisis Response and Care Ministry quietly step in to walk alongside individuals who come forward with painful stories. Their work does not happen in the public eye—but it is deeply sacred.

Members of Custer Road en Español gathered on the afternoon of Oct. 5 for a spirited worship service celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and honoring the many cultures and countries represented in their growing congregation.

Since the early 2000s, trained Response and Care Teams have been deployed across the United Methodist connection to assist congregations facing crises such as misconduct allegations and congregational trauma. The ministry has steadily grown, equipping both clergy and laity to walk alongside individuals and churches during seasons of difficulty.

Sounds of laughter and worship filled the halls of First United Methodist Church Paris’ Youth & Ministry Building as more than four dozen students from across the East District gathered for a regional Bishop’s Rally, held October 5 from 2–5 p.m.

Children’s Creative Playday Preschool, a ministry of First United Methodist Church of Allen, is celebrating 50 years of nurturing children through play-based education.

Gordon United Methodist Church commissioned a new Congregational Care Team on Aug. 17, 2025, during worship at the close of its summer series, The Lost Art of Listening.

Over Labor Day weekend, more than 40 youth and adults from eight churches across the Mid-South and South Districts came together at Belton First United Methodist Church for a lock-in filled with worship, fellowship, and service.

On July 18–19, Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church in Flower Mound, Texas, became a hub of radical love and hospitality as more than 1,100 volunteers from across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex came together to pack meals for communities in the Philippines. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the church hosted a 24-hour meal-packing event that filled an entire shipping container, producing 285,000 meals.

FREADom Nation, a six-week literacy and enrichment pilot program hosted by Life Center UMC in DeSoto, and backed by First UMC Dallas and supported by One + One Dallas, served more than 40 rising kindergarten through fifth-grade scholars this summer. Each day mixed reading with movement, art, science, music and cultural celebration.

On May 29, 2025, Spencer Brinkerhoff, a rising ninth-grade student from Scout Troop 451, delivered 100 UMCOR cleaning kits as part of his Eagle Scout project. The kits, designed to help families recover after disasters, will be ready at The Woods UMC site to replenish UMCOR stock when disasters hit.

On Wednesday nights in July, Epworth UMC in Arlington looked a little different. Instead of filling pews with worshippers, tables are covered in colorful bricks, and the sound of laughter and creativity fills the room. Welcome to LEGO Club—a unique ministry that has captured the hearts of children and parents alike.

Ja'riah Holley, a digital design student at the University of Texas at Dallas, is spending her summer serving as a counselor at Glen Lake Camp. She discovered the opportunity through a Bible study and said she’s grateful she chose to serve.

Women discerning a call to ordained ministry are invited to apply for the Horizon Texas Clergywomen Scholarship, now open for submissions through August 1, 2025.

Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., episcopal leader of the Horizon Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church, in collaboration with the appointive cabinet, has announced four key leadership appointments that reflect the conference’s continued commitment to seeking the loving, just and free world God imagines for all people.

As the Horizon Texas Conference enters a new chapter of connection and collaboration, it has established a new support structure for those serving children, youth and families across its churches. The newly appointed Children & Youth Area Coordinators are trusted leaders tasked with fostering relationships and coordinating efforts within their geographic regions.