The Kerusso | 2022 October

The Kerusso – October | 2022 Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”

USA Conference Superintendents and their Regional Assignments The Cabinet of USA Superintendents met in late September in Indianapolis to prayerfully discuss which of them would serve as the primary contact for each of you, our churches and pastors. This map details those assignments.

But the beauty of our particular polity is that each of us, (including me, the Int. General Superintendent) stand ready to serve you in any way possible.

In a real sense, ALL of the Conference Superintendents are YOUR Superintendents! * The three black asterisks in Kansas, Missouri, and Alabama represent where the three Superintendents currently reside.

REGIONS - These clusters of churches aren’t built for business, but for fellowship and cohesive ministry!

The EMC Discipline beautifully lays out the purpose along with some organizational instruction: ¶421. There shall be regions which are groupings of Evangelical Methodist churches, pastors, and credential holders in proximity to one another for the purpose of prayer, fellowship, encouragement, mutual accountability, unity, support, group activities for renewal and enhanced ministry. ¶422. The number of regions and the churches within each region shall be determined by the General Council, as recommended by the Cabinet of Superintendents, and reported to the General Conference. Both the regions and churches in the region may be adjusted annually by the General Council as need dictates. ¶423. Each region shall be assigned a Conference Superintendent to provide supervision, leadership, support and care to the churches, pastors, and credential holders.

As you know by now, the members and delegates of the 33rd General Conference held in North Carolina in July elected three individuals to serve the churches of the USA Conference as Superintendents. They are Rev. Kevin Brouillette, Rev. Wesley Mackey, and Rev. Aaron Withrow.

As the map above shows, Rev. Withrow will be serving the Northeast, Mideast, and Midwest regions. Rev. Brouillette will be serving the Southeast, and Heartland regions. And Rev. Mackey will be serving the Mid-States, Northwest, and Southwest regions.

Many of you will enjoy a continuing relationship with the Superintendent who was serving your region and church before, while some of you will be getting to know someone new. Either way, these servants who love being a pastor to pastors will be working hard to connect with you, visiting you and your churches as well as using electronic connections to pray with you and let you know that you matter to us, and to the Master of the Vineyard.

The Kerusso - October | 2022

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

Updates From Around The World EMC Myanmar Conference

EMC Board of World Missions

Submitted by Revs. Bill & Lisa Walker, BWM Co-Chairs

The Surpassing Power of God In 2 Corinthians 4:8-12, Paul writes that his sufferings are for the manifestation of the Gospel, and for the benefit of his readers, those to whom he is ministering.

He uses these contrasts: “afflicted but not crushed;” “perplexed but not driven to despair;” “persecuted but not forsaken;” “struck down but not destroyed.”

This is the correct, biblical attitude that the Christian should have toward hardship, and the reality that we should live when we suffer in Christ. Nowhere in the EMC does this apply more these days than in Myanmar. Our brothers and sisters have been in this mess for over eighteen months. Violence is everywhere. Bloodshed is common. Food, gasoline, clothing— everything—is expensive. Many people cannot work. Crops cannot be planted, much less harvested because of the war.

You can read many articles here: https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news Our brothers and sisters are at times caught in the crossfire. This recently happened again near Paletwa. Forty-three families, whose homes were destroyed, are taking shelter in the EMC regional “headquarters.” It’s not a place you would think might provide shelter, but it’s the best there is.

Yet, according to the words of the Apostle Paul, they are not crushed, they have not despaired, they are not forsaken, nor are they destroyed. Contrary to what one might think, they press on. Verse 11 says: “We who are living are always being given over to death, …so that the life of Jesus may be manifested…” In all their hardship our EMC brothers and sisters in Myanmar are ministering the Gospel passionately. That is what they live for. There is no prosperity, no retirement, no vacations, no family reunions— they are keenly aware that their lives could end any day, and so they are laser-focused on evangelism and discipleship—and they are making a difference!

Since early 2021, we have prayed for the coup to end and for “normal” life to be restored. We have learned that it is better to ask “what” God is doing, and “what” we should do, and “what” we must learn rather than asking “why” such things are happening, or “why” our prayers have not been answered the way we hoped. Unseen by the human eye and unreported by human media, another war rages on, fought in the spiritual realms, with spiritual weapons, and with eternal consequences. Each week, we hear reports of people coming to Christ from traditional religions. Nine here, three there, then twelve, then five. Even some persons who have opposed local ministries of the EMC are now Christians and have been publicly baptized.

Please join with us and pray regularly for our brothers and sisters in Myanmar. Not only EMCers, but for all who bear the Name of Christ. If you can join us on Zoom Wednesday nights at 10pm Eastern, we welcome you, even if you only join occasionally. If you cannot, please take time to pray, and include Myanmar in your prayer list.

Zoom meeting ID: 838 6265 4366, password: 596321.

If you want to give for humanitarian relief in Myanmar, it will be greatly appreciated and quickly implemented.

Send to EMC HQ, designated as such, at P.O. Box 17070, Indianapolis, IN, 46217 or online donations can be made at emchurch.org/online-giving Feel free to contact us for further information. billwalkeremc@gmail.com or lisawalkeremc@gmail.com

The Kerusso - October | 2022

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

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Shelbyville EMC Celebrates 75 Years of Ministry Submitted by Rev. James Coulston

“With the firm conviction that the gulf that separates conservative and liberal thought in the church is an ever-widening chasm…” (EMC Discipline ¶11). Those words summed up well the thought of a group in the Vine Street Methodist Church in mid-1940’s. The restlessness grew when it was learned a new group of Methodists were meeting and exploring the organization of a strong Bible-based church. The pastor, Rev. A.M. Hamilton attended the organizing conference in Kansas City, MO, November 16, 1946.

In the summer of 1947 the Vine Street congregation attempted to purchase their property from the conference. When that did not succeed, the group organized into the Shelbyville EMC on June 22, 1947.

The first few months were a struggle in finding a suitable location. The first two months’ services were held in the basement of a home. Quickly outgrowing that, the church rented a storefront adjacent to the stately church building they had just left.

It was a lesson in humility for those several weeks.

A member of the church walked by a former church building on East Washington Street, which was being used as a warehouse for a gas station and oil company. The Lord spoke to her that, “this was it.” The leaders explored the purchase of the building and on November 3, 1947, purchased the church building. The building was hurriedly fixed up and on November 30, 1947, the first service was conducted amid the oil drums and gas pumps pushed off to the side.

The building had been built as a German Presbyterian Church, in 1869, with the services conducted in German. The church closed and was utilized as a warehouse. Since becoming Shelbyville EMC, the church to gas station warehouse, back to a church building, has gone through several renovations. The neighboring gas station was eventually purchased and demolished.

Three additions were added to provide Sunday School and meeting space. In 1987, a small warehouse next to the church was purchased and turned into a fellowship hall with “prophet’s quarters.”

The church has been a sending church in regards to workers. Missionaries from the congregation have included: Mabel Shaner (Cuba); Eva Hasecuster (WGM-Burundi Africa); and Carol Cochran (WGM-Am. Indian Field). Ministers sent from the church have included: Rev. David E. Leffler; Rev. James Gaunce; Rev. Dean Mitchell; Rev. Ralph Stocklin; Rev. Virgil Miller; and Rev. James Coulston.

The Lord has blessed the Shelbyville EMC abundantly. The church has been an active participant in the men’s, women’s, youth and conference ministries. It is the desire of this congregation to continue to let the message of our Lord and Savior be proclaimed from its location.

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

October is Pastor Appreciation Month Copied from SUBSPLASH.com, 9/23/2021 Our pastors and their families serve our churches all year long preaching, praying, teaching, and taking care of our community. Sometimes it’s easy to take them for granted or forget to encourage them and celebrate their work.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month with Sunday, October 9th being set aside as Pastor Appreciation Day. This season is a special time to honor the pastors who minister to us and celebrate the impact they make on our lives. It’s wonderful to know that your work is recognized, and our pastors will love to hear how much they are appreciated.

Taking time to acknowledge their hard work is also a biblical practice. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of recognizing the work of those in ministry: "Now we ask you, brothers, and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work."

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Please join us in honoring all our Pastors!

Medical, Evangelistic, Dental, Surgical - MEDS

Jun and Marlene Mateo are making advance preparations for MEDS 2023. You can pray and give, but you can also go! You don’t have to be a medical professional! There are plenty of ways for non-medical people to help. Reserve these dates: January 25 February 9, 2023. I promise you will be jet-lagged, run-ragged, inspired, heart-broken, and sweaty. You will laugh and cry. You will have late nights and early mornings. You will experience an incredibly beautiful country and be loved and appreciated by even more beautiful people. You will eat rice—lots of rice, and you will eat some of the best fruit you have ever tasted. You might just learn a few phrases in Tagalog. Beyond all that, your participation in 6 MEDS locations over 16 days will help open new areas where the EMC is not yet established. You will help pave the way for the Gospel of Salvation and the message of Scriptural holiness by selflessly loving as Jesus loved.

The cost for 16 days in-country is $2,500 (meals, lodging, travel) plus the cost of airfare. Most US participants will fly together from a west coast airport; those arrangements will be made by Jun Mateo. So, the total trip cost will be approximately $4,000 to $4,500. There is an option to shorten your involvement if you are unable to commit that many days; this will also lower your in-country expense.

For more information, or to reserve your spot, contact Jun Mateo at junmateo@yahoo.com (916-224-3783) or me, Bill Walker, at billwalkeremc@gmail.com (706-255-3450). If this trip is not for you, please mark your calendar anyway, and set reminders to spend time each of these 16 days in prayer for MEDS 2023! If you’d like to contribute to help with supplies and medication, designate your gift as “MEDS 2023” and send it to EMC Headquarters, PO Box 17070, Indianapolis, IN 46217.