The 145th Annual Gathering: A Reflection Older Adult Ministries Convocation

The 145th Annual Gathering: A Reflection

By Minister Kristin Kelly

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Shifting is difficult when one wants to remain stagnant and unmoved because they have made themselves more significant than the spirit working within the present moment...

These are the thoughts that came to my mind during the DCBC 145th Annual Gathering. Various moments stood out, but the preaching moments captivated me. Each preacher I heard spoke of the Woman at the well and mentioned her interaction with Jesus and her physical response of going back to tell the “story,” but one point that made me look deeper was said on the last night: “Jesus went through some things and places to get to the point of meeting this Woman.” This preaching moment was when I understood DCBC’s new outlook on ministry and partnership. This conference called for an intentional Christ-like shift in a post-pandemic world: A shift to being more aware and compassionate. This shift challenges us to go through some things and places to get to communities and individuals to create partnerships and engage in empowering work. Jesus and this Woman showed us, however, that the work calls us to come with our fullness and wholeness and have honest conversations about what is going on in our everyday lives. Sometimes, we have to shift from what we know and shift into the possibilities of what we will discover. Shifting may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary.

Minister Kristin Kelly is an Educator and Freelance Researcher (kristin.kelly14@gmail.com).