The Kerusso | 2021 September

Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”

General Conference | July 26-29, 2022 | Black Mountain, NC Be sure to mark your calendars and “SAVE THE DATE” for EMC’s General Conference 2022 at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Dr. Ed Stetzer and Rev. Jim Harriman are scheduled as special speakers. Youth ministry, EMC registration details, and the conference agenda are continually being worked out.

We are excited to announce that DEEP Ministries, led by Shan and Dan Rose will be providing “Kid’s Kamp” for infants through 5th grade children. Since 2003 DEEP Ministries (Discipling Encouraging Equipping Partnering) has been used by God to come alongside missionaries and Christian organizations to offer helping hands, prayer, and encouragement. The Roses and their team of servants find the Holy Spirit empowers them to minister far beyond their natural abilities and comfort zones. They have laid block, strung barbed wire, hiked into the jungles to reach new people groups, conducted camps for all ages, and trained church leaders.

DEEP exists to meet special needs, fill in gaps, and lift up God’s servants, helping them fulfill their God-given vision. DEEP has served and witnessed in over 30 countries and at least 18 US states. At the heart of everything they do is evangelism, building the Kingdom of God, fulfilling the Great Commission and God’s plan for our lives. Be watching for more details about ‘Kids Kamp” in the very near future.

Please continue reading for some important GC2022 information.

RIDGECREST RESERVATIONS ARE OPEN. Your lodging and meal reservations will be made separately from your EMC registration. You will make your own room reservation directly with Ridgecrest. Your 8 meals during the conference will be included in your reservation. All you need to secure your reservation is the first night’s lodging as a deposit. Final payment for the remaining nights and meal tickets will be payable to Ridgecrest when you arrive at the conference.

Ridgecrest reservations can be done online by clicking this link GC2022 Ridgecrest Reservation or by calling the reservation line at 800-588-7222. If you are reserving multiple rooms, it will be best to call the reservation line and they will be happy to help you. Early reservations help us determine if we need to adjust our contracted number of rooms with Ridgecrest. We appreciate those of you that can plan ahead with us. *A special note regarding meal pricing: Children ages 5 and younger are free with a paying adult, children ages 6 - 11 years old will pay the child rate of $56 for 8 meals, and children ages 12 and older will pay the adult rate of $96 for 8 meals. That covers all 8 meals during the conference. The online reservation page is not reflecting the ages and pricing correctly.

Ridgecrest is aware of this. Simply choose the correct number and age for each child in your family and the appropriate pricing will be applied at the reservation office.*

EMC Registration for GC2022 will not be open for several more months but when it is, it will be very similar to registering for a Journey session. Be watching this newsletter and your email for updated General Conference 2022 information.

The Kerusso – September | 2021

The Kerusso - September | 2021

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Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”

Junior Camp - Markleysburg, PA Camp Sonrise Mountain (Taken from EMC Youth Facebook page)

"Better Together" Jr. Camp at Camp Sonrise Mountain, Markleysburg, PA is in the books. It was good to be back!

We had three fun-filled days with Bible Teachings, Capture The Flag, Archery, Drama, Crafts and our Closing Chapel. Thanks to all our great staff and campers for an amazing time!! We also appreciate Camp Sonrise Mountain and their staff for being such great hosts in such a beautiful location!

A South Carolina EMC gets a New Name and a Second Chance Submitted by, USA Conference Superintendent, Kevin Brouillette

The Lord is really working in Woodruff, South Carolina. Little did I know that Pastor Karen and Adonis Marrero would be such a blessing to this community.

After the former pastor retired and the church closed, Karen asked if she could be given the opportunity to continue ministry in the church. We met with the General Board of Ministerial Relations and I appointed Karen as Pulpit Supply Pastor. She reopened the church and immediately began to minister to the community by meeting their needs, loving the people and praying with them.

After six months of hard work and determination, on Sunday, August 8, I was privileged to welcome fourteen new members into the fellowship of Walk by Faith EMC. We dedicated and baptized a number of children, and went outside to a small swimming pool where I baptized eight new believers. The Lord is indeed working-through this precious couple and Walk By Faith EMC. The trustees of the denomination bought this property a few years back praying that God would do a work through this old abandoned Methodist Church. God has indeed answered prayer. Truly God is moving in the ministry of Walk By Faith EMC in Woodruff, South Carolina.

They are in need of a 30 foot ladder to reach the third floor. If there are any churches in North or South Carolina that could meet this need, would you please contact me or Jim Coulston at headquarters and we will receive your donation. It is indeed a blessing to see God work through this multicultural ministry and the Evangelical Methodist Church. May God continue to add His blessing to our denomination as we seek to be obedient to His call and will, no matter where that leads us.

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Keeping in Touch with our Global Partners

Updates From Around The World

Submitted by, Rev. Bill Walker, GBWM Chairman EMC Asia Pacific Ministries Thrive Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

EMC I don’t think there is a single person on the planet that Asia Paci c has not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conference The Philippines has been hard hit. The island of Luzon, where the capital city Manila is located, was locked down for most of 2020. As I write this brief article, the Philippines is locked down again, battling one of Asia's biggest COVID-19 outbreaks related to the Delta variant. They had more than 10,000 new cases in one day! It comes as no surprise that the personal lives of the Filipino people have deteriorated financially, personally, and socially from these severe lockdowns. Things were getting better, but now we don’t know how long this new crisis will last.

Thankfully, modern technology like videoconferencing makes it possible for churches to meet when people are forced to stay at home or restrict the size of in-person groups. Although many people around the world live in areas where the internet is not fast or reliable enough for platforms like Zoom, videoconferencing is helpful and the churches in the Philippines have used it as much as possible, but you can only do so much on Zoom.

Although the pandemic has been financially devastating, the spiritual lives of our EMC brothers and sisters remain strong! They are passionate to do ministry even through limited ways. The churches have kept looking for opportunities to continue sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. “Jesus Christ our Redeemer” EMC, under the leadership of Pastor Bautista is pictured giving away free Bibles, putting the hope of Jesus into the hands of people whose world has crashed around them, during a time when daily living is difficult. Obviously, that was between lockdowns. “Handtouch of Jesus” EMC, led by Pastor Lafavilla gives away food for families of kids who attend their children’s ministry.

This is a youth evangelistic fellowship of the “LORD of Hosts Christian Church” under the leadership of Pastor Matias. A new church plant in Valenzuela, on the north side of Manila offers a food pantry in conjunction with Gospel preaching.

Please continue to pray for our EMC brothers and sisters in the Asia Pacific Conference (mainly the Philippines). We hope with them that the pandemic will soon fade away, but of course we have no idea how long it will last.

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Hardships, whether pandemics or persecution, certainly impact the ministry of the Church and cause suffering. However, the Christians have historically been at the forefront of offering relief and sharing the message of salvation though faith in Jesus Christ. These faithful Filipino believers lean forward in service of Jesus Christ despite the hardships they face every day, through significant sacrifice, and personal risk. Nothing should deter followers of Jesus from fulfilling His calling to make disciples of all people. Please remember our Asia Pacific brothers and sisters in prayer and follow their example!

The Kerusso - September | 2021

Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”

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It was seventy- ve years ago this past May 9th - - the place was Memphis, Tennessee. "... a small group of preachers and laymen met together for consultation and prayer, endeavoring to cope with the growing apostasy of the church. After long hours of waiting before God in prayer, they felt de nitely led of God to organize the Evangelical Methodist Church."

(EMC Discipline, ¶12

In celebration of this milestone, The Connections staff has assembled a commemorative issue, having sought out a few historical articles and photographs from the EMC's earlier days, as well as some more contemporary pieces.

We trust you will enjoy walking through the annals of time with us, remembering that from the very beginning, the passion of our founders and predecessors was a firm conviction about the authority and veracity of Scripture. And that passion remains aflame today. God's Holy Word is the only antidote for our sin-infected culture. The Apostle Paul affirmed to Timothy that "evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived ..." He admonished Timothy to remain grounded in the only source of immovable truth - God's Word. (references from 2 Tim. 3)

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You may read this current issue, as well as find an archive of recent past issues at our website. Click here

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The Kerusso – September | 2021

Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”