The Kerusso | 2022 April April

The Kerusso – April | 2022

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

Opening Session Tuesday, July 26 3:00pm

EMC General Conference 2022

Conference Ends Friday, July 29 11:30am

We Need Your Help as We Work to be Good Stewards of God’s Resources A Wednesday night Bible study in a local church doesn’t involve too much pre-planning. You arrange a space in your facility somewhere, decide who will teach, set the time and invite the church family. Sunday worship involves a lot more planning, including worship teams, children’s workers, greeters, ushers, bulletins, and sermon preparation. All of you know the work involved there. Further still, organizing a community event in coordination with other churches in your area requires even more pre-planning. Those kinds of events often involve months of steering committee meetings to arrange details, as well as finding the resources necessary to promote and host the event with all of the various aspects in place.

But even beyond that, the EMC’s 33rd General Conference in July at Ridgecrest Christian Conference Center is an international event involving hundreds of delegates from around the country and around the world. In order to book an affordable, attractive, and hopefully Christian venue that would accommodate our projected assembly size, we began planning in early 2019. After several months of comparative research, we signed a contract with Ridgecrest in September of 2019 which among other things committed us to guarantee the booking of a certain block of hotel rooms. We then began working on speakers, children and youth programming, and many other key details. Now we are at the juncture where final details need to be set, especially regarding room block size, and details regarding our children’s ministry team, who need sufficient time to recruit all the workers needed for appropriate classroom/staff ratios.

Why am I sharing all of this now? Because I know that the Lenten season heading into Resurrection Sunday is a VERY busy time, and most of you are running 90 miles an hour, working to serve your flock and reach out to your community with the life-changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And we THANK THE LORD that you are.

But there are key dates and commitment thresholds regarding General Conference that are fast approaching which could mean a lack of vacancy for people who want to come, but are not yet registered. The other side of that coin might mean significant conference dollars to cover the cost of unused hotel rooms. WE DON’T WANT EITHER OF THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN. So, we desperately NEED YOUR HELP to be good stewards of God’s resources.

To that end, we’ve set a REGISTRATION and RESERVATION deadline of April 22.

We cannot guarantee price or hotel availability after that date. So I’m asking that you help us by finalizing your church’s plans, and then RESERVE your rooms and meals with Ridgecrest. Then also be sure to REGISTER your guests and delegates through the EMC. Both of those links are are page 2 of this Kerusso, and on our website. Be sure to click “SUBMIT” at the bottom of the EMC form. If you didn’t receive a confirmation email, you may have missed that step.

PLEASE DON’T PUT IT OFF ANY LONGER!

The Kerusso - April | 2022

Page 2

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

EMC General Conference 2022

EMC GC2022 Registration - Click Here for the conference, all children’s and youth activities, and the optional banquets or email: kparsons@emchurch.org

All voting adults coming to General Conference will pay a $45 registration fee. Voting adults are either: a) Members of the Conference (all active OR retired credential holders other than Local Preachers), or b) All delegates 18-years or older, representing a local church.

Non-voting guests such as spouses, children, colleagues will need to register but are not required to pay the $45 fee.

CHILD/YOUTH ACTIVITY FEE: A staffed nursery, Kid’s Kamp (preschool - 5th grade), and youth activities are optional for a $15/child activity fee with a $45/family maximum. Register your child(ren) using the GC2022 Registration form. The activity fee must be added to your total registration. Register early, space is limited.

OPTIONAL BANQUETS: A Ladies’ Lunch and a Men’s Breakfast are available for a $15/person upcharge to your Ridgecrest meal ticket and will be collected by EMC at the time of your conference registration. The banquets are geared to adults, but are open to children 5 years or older with a parent. To reserve a banquet seat, fill in the appropriate section on the registration form. Seats for each banquet will be filled on a first-come, first serve basis.

Your General Conference Registration is NOT COMPLETE until your payment has been received. Registration payments can be made by mailing your check to EMC Headquarters at P.O. Box 17070, Indianapolis, IN 46217, or by clicking this link: PAY YOUR REGISTRATION ONLINE

Ridgecrest Reservations - Click Here Click the link above to reserve your lodging and meal tickets with Ridgecrest Conference Center or call: 800-588-7222.

Your lodging for 3 nights and the 8 conference meals will be included in the Ridgecrest reservation. You will make your own lodging/meal reservation directly with Ridgecrest. For any special dietary needs, contact Karen Parsons at 252-339-1414.

IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE THE DROPDOWN LISTS AT THE TOP OF THE ONLINE RIDGECREST RESERVATION SCREEN TO INDICATE HOW MANY PEOPLE IN WHICH AGE GROUPS ARE IN YOUR RESERVATION. This is how Ridgecrest will have an accurate meal count for the cafeteria, and how you reserve meal tickets for everyone in your party.

To secure your reservation you will need the first night’s lodging fee for a deposit. Final payment for the balance of your reservation will be payable to Ridgecrest when you arrive at the conference. CLICK HERE to view a conference cost summary.

Please Note: The online reservation page is not reflecting the ages and pricing correctly for children. 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.

To reserve multiple rooms, if your group plans to share rooms, or if you need help with the online reservation process, it will be best to call the Ridgecrest reservation line listed above and they will be happy to help you.

The Kerusso - April | 2022

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

Page 3

Let’s Celebrate a Very Successful November Missions Offering!

Philippians 1:3 “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God.” Each year the Evangelical Methodist Church Board of World Missions promotes a “November Missions Offering.” The money received is divided equally between our global conferences of Mexico, Myanmar, Asia Pacific, and Christ for all Nations (CFAN). They are free to use the money according to their needs, and the funds are administered by each conference.

The EMC family came through stronger than ever this year! Collectively, you all gave $15,300!! Additionally, we had an anonymous donor generously offer to match up to $15,000 for the 2021 November offering. This provided a wonderful challenge to the EMC family and means that each gift was doubled!

This article might seem a little late considering that the November offering was nearly 5 months ago. However, it is our normal experience to receive donations for the “November” offering through the end of January. The total amount, including the matching amount has been distributed to the four global conferences, and they are busy putting the money to good use!

And now, the Evangelical Methodist Church Board of World Missions announces its 2nd annual RESURRECTION OFFERING - an appropriate way to celebrate our risen Lord Jesus Christ!

While we are working hard to spread the news of Jesus, to disciple and mentor new believers here in the USA, our EMC brothers and sisters around the world are doing the same thing! This missionary offering will be shared with our global EMC conferences as they endeavor to be faithful witnesses in their respective parts of the world.

Last year, the Resurrection Offering provided some financial relief to pastoral families in the four global EMC conferences.

This year, we want to help with church planting. Here are some of the ways your gift will make a difference: · MEXICO will use their portion to help support church-planting pastoral families and national missionaries. · MYANMAR plans to open a new mission field in the Shan State. In spite of the coup, their Paletwa mission field has grown to where it can be organized as a full district. · CFAN is plating a new church in Toronto, Ontario and the Paris, France church desperately needs help securing their own meeting place where they can grow and not have to move frequently. · ASIA PACIFIC designed their own BOOT Camp (Bible Outreach and Outlook Training) to prepare church planters and workers. Your gift will sponsor this effective and intensive training program.

You can send your gift to: EMC Headquarters PO Box 17070 Indianapolis, IN 46217 You may also give online by CLICKING HERE. Be sure to designate your gift as 2022 Resurrection Offering.

Thank you in advance for your generosity - Bill Walker, EMC BWM Chair

The Kerusso - April | 2022

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

Page 4

The Haggard School of Ministry Con ict. We All Experience It. How Do We Resolve it?

CONFLICT RESOLUTION The Haggard School of Ministry | Con ict Resolution Course | 11-15 July 2022 Facilitators: Drs. Art & Melody Wilt | Enrollment Limited to 20 Persons | 2 Continuing Ed. Credits Register By June 17, 2022 | $100 Fee | At the Heritage Learning Center, EMC Headquarters To Register contact Jim Coulston at: EMC Headquarters (317) 780-8017

Two EMC Congregations Welcome A New Pastor Little Hocking EMC, Ohio The Little Hocking 1st EMC congregation welcomes their new pastor, Jeff Williamson. Pastor Jeff and his wife Terry started serving the church in August of 2021 as a temporary pulpit supply. Then in December, the congregation unanimously called Pastor Jeff to be their pastor. Pastor Jeff has previously pastored churches in West Virginia and North Carolina, and also served the EMC as a district superintendent. He and Terry are currently serving at Gihon Road EMC in Parkersburg, WV and will be pastoring both congregations.

Pastor Jeff reports that God is doing great things at Little Hocking! The folks at Little Hocking are dedicated to God and committed to serving Him, each other, and their community. They have a baptism service planned soon and Bible-school this summer. They are currently holding youth services jointly with the two congregations. They also held a joint Christmas program that went very well. Pastor Jeff and Terry are excited to see what God has in store for this loving congregation.

Little Orleans First EMC, Maryland After Pastor Larry Trail suddenly passed away in late October of 2021, First EMC of Little Orleans, MD, struggled to know what to do next. In late November, Pastor Brian Hammond and his wife Tammy had a meeting with the small congregation for a time of prayer and seeking direction. The good folks of First EMC made it very clear that they did not want to close. While driving home, Pastor Brian received a call that changed everything. Larry's brother, Darhl "Gene" Trail, shared that God had placed a burden on his heart for this church and the people of Little Orleans area. Darhl had been a preaching and singing evangelist for many years. Now he believed God wanted him to pursue becoming a pastor in the EMC and shepherd this congregation.

In late January, Darhl was approved by the GBMR, and Pastor Brian appointed him pastor of Little Orleans, MD. We welcome Pastor Darhl "Gene" and Melissa to the EMC and Little Orleans First!

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Pastor Gene shares, "We are humbled to be utilized by God to preach the message of salvation to the Little Orleans community and beyond. We desire to give a cool glass of water to those who are thirsty and love them on their journey to find Christ. Galatians 2:20 is our message! We are dying to self to allow Jesus to live in us and through us, as we share the good news of the Gospel!