So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:11-16(NIV)
This was the theme scripture for the Great Lakes Global Methodist Church Annual Conference held right here in Michigan at Spring Arbor University from June 11th through June 13th. Greg and I were blessed to attend, along with other Global Methodists from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, as well as Michigan.
There is so much I want to share with you from our time of worship and fellowship; times of music, messages, prayer, food, hugs, meeting new friends and reuniting with those we already knew. I don’t know where to start, so I guess I’ll begin at the beginning with Conference Superintendent Scott Pattison’s message at opening worship on Wednesday morning. I will share more in future newsletters and during Sunday worship.
Scott’s message was energizing, but also gave an excellent description of what it means to be a Global Methodist, something I think many of us still struggle with 18 months after disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. The Conference theme was Equip-equipping the people of God for the work of God using the five-fold ministry from Ephesians 4:11. Some are called to be teachers, some pastors, some evangelists, some prophets, and some apostles through the gifts given to us by God to live out our calling. Each of us is called to be in service to God, not having God serve us. Our mission through our call is to be a disciple who makes disciples, who makes disciples…As United Methodists we became out of alignment from Jesus’ mission for each of us and were comfortable being out of alignment. We needed to be realigned and reset to be who we were called to be.
IYKDWYBDYKGWYBG
No, that’s not a typo. It is an acronym for "If you keep doing what you‘ve been doing, you keep getting what you’ve been getting."
That is the result of being out of alignment. So, how do we get aligned? We enter into a new life cycle. We, as Global Methodists, are in infancy, moving to childhood. We are now aligned with the Wesley Holiness Church and the Evangelical Church.
We were part of a denomination that was high in program, high in structure, allowed for limited relationship and limited vision, while requiring its churches to pay large amounts to cover expenses. Now we are moving into a denomination high in vision and relationship. As Global Methodists, we desire unity in the church where Christ is the standard. Our goal should not be filling the pews and the offering plates, but funding a place for new people. How exciting that we are part of a new expression of Methodism where the lost are saved, the broken are made whole, and the hurting are healed.
Reverend Dr. Pattison ended his message with this-The theme of equip is not just for now, not just for this week. This is where we’re moving. This is how our Conference will begin to function. Using the theme from Buzz Lightyear in the movie Toy Story, To infinity and beyond. The Great Lakes Global Methodist Conference is going forward this next year and beyond. Scott said, Grab a friend as we grow forward!
Verse 10 of Ephesians 4 reads; He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
Our mission is to align with Jesus to fulfill his mission of filling the whole universe with the good news of salvation.
Keep your eyes and ears open. I have more to tell you about the Annual Conference and the future of the Global Methodist Church. I hope your enthusiasm for where God is leading us grows just as mine is growing.
Pastor Nancy
