The Kerusso – March | 2023
Asbury University ~ First Hand Accounts
(EMC Elder & Salvation Army National Ambassador for Holiness)
On February 8, 2023, at Asbury University, the risen, living Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, came to offer His heart of Holy Love to the student body. To “revive” means to “re-life.” The Father had heard their cries; He’d seen their pain, fear, anxiety, sin and captivity. and to bring them into His very Life. into those who would receive Him. Many did.
I was ministering on the prayer team at the altar ... Never did people stop coming to the altar. The sense I got during worship was mutual giving and receiving He seemed to hear our hearts ... Emotionalism could have driven the music, but the student team never went there. They indeed led us continually to focus on the Person of Jesus Himself, our King and Redeemer.
By the time I arrived it was day 9. The response of the Asbury University students openly coming to Jesus, worshiping Him with abandon, testifying to cleansing from sin, deliverance from anxiety, and fullness of joy unleashed the latent, but fully human created longing for God, in young people all over the country and the world! to “Come and see!” what Jesus was doing in the lives of kids their own age. I asked each person if they’d ever given their lives to Jesus. Many had not and would say, “But I want to!! I don’t know how to do that! How do I do that?!” Together, I walked with them into the goodness of Who He is and what He has done for and will do in their lives. *
(* Excerpted - You can read the entirety of Rev. Ury’s account in the Spring issue of “The Connection”)
Rev. Aaron Withrow (EMC Elder & Conference Superintendent)
On Friday, February 17th from 9pm - midnight, I served by praying with those who were waiting in the line to get into Hughes Auditorium. Some of those I prayed with had been waiting for over 4 hours. I prayed with people from all over the country, most of whom were bringing their children and teens. I found many young people earnestly longing to know Jesus and who He really is. I saw many hearts healed and set free from sin, just from our prayer meetings in line as they gathered to enter the main auditorium. The last 2 hours of the night I was able to go inside and serve at the altar as individuals were seeking repentance, change of heart, and a desire to live and walk in holiness. During those 5 hours I was participating in prayer ministry, my daughter Hannah was inside Hughes Auditorium. Some of her thoughts: “It felt like a taste of what heaven will be like. Nobody planned it or anything, and they had to open 6 different buildings to fit everyone. God is moving, and He cares about every single person. He wants to show them who
He is and who they can become.”
Upon my arrival home, as our family viewed the service online, my 7 year-old son, Levi, looked at me and said, dad, if I was there I’d like to go forward and accept Jesus. I reminded him that he did not have to be there, he could do that right where he was. After a few days, Levi said that He was ready and wanted Jesus to forgive him of his sin. He wanted to be a Christian. After praying to receive Jesus, he said he couldn’t wait til he could go to heaven and see Jesus face to face!! My son’s salvation is one fruit of this amazing move of God.
Dr. Ben Williamson (EMC Elder & Associate Professor of Theology at Ohio Christian University)
I returned [to Ohio Christian University] from Asbury and told them I heard that our own chapel had gone on for hours the day before. I shared what I saw God doing at Asbury, and then a student asked me if we could go pray in the chapel for revival to come here. Suddenly, talking about Ulrich Zwingli and the Swiss Reformation seemed to take a lower priority in my mind. The Spirit of God met us in the chapel. I was there for the next 5 1/2 hours as we prayed and sought God's Presence, forgiveness and healing.* (Excerpted from Dr. Ben’s Facebook post about this move of God spreading to OCU.)
Five Denominational Priorities (A Continuing Series)
~ by International General Superintendent Edwards
This month I’m continuing to expound on the elements of the PEACE acronym. Personal PEACE is an amazing gift from the Lord (John 14:26-27, & Philippians 4:7) who is the very Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We are admonished to pursue relational PEACE with others (Hebrews 12:14), and we must do so. For us across the EMC, I’m suggesting that we use the letters P.E.A.C.E. to call to mind five denominational priorities throughout this quadrennium.
1 - Planting Churches
2 - Educating Ministers
3 - Aspiring to Holiness
4 - Connecting People and Churches
5 - Equipping Leaders
Remember, these priorities are subsidiary goals to the timeless goals of the church, to glorify God and to preach the Gospel. The five elements of the PEACE acronym are not to supplant those goals, but to enable
EDUCATING MINISTERS.
Dr. J. H. Hamblen was a strong advocate for an educated ministry. Preaching the timeless truths of the Word of God is no light assignment, and educational preparedness is an indispensable essential of pastoral preparation. Ministerial education must therefore be one of the consistent priorities of the denomination. While “on the job training” is a fixture in the pastorate, it mustn’t be the only education we receive. A pastor can learn how to be an encourager in day-to-day and Sunday-to-Sunday relationships with people, but they will not learn sound theology simply by osmosis or by shaking hands with folks.
The launch of the church in the first century, and the teachings of the Apostles included an emphasis on education and learning. Paul instructed his preachers to prepare themselves through study of the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15) so they might “rightly divide the word of truth.” The Apostle Peter also encouraged education, challenging us to “supplement [our] faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge ...” (2 Peter 1:5)
The General Board of Ministerial Education has established the “Haggard School of Ministry" as one of the vehicles for an internal education of our ministers. “It was established by the Evangelical Methodist Church in 2012 and is named after Dr. Cornelius P. Haggard, the 13th President of Azusa Pacific College, now Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Haggard was a highly respected academician, theologian, and a key leader in the earliest days of the Evangelical Methodist Church. It was his commitment to theological education and ministry that the Church sought to memorialize in the naming of the Haggard School of Ministry.” (Taken from the HSOM General Catalog, 2022)
But in addition to preparatory formal education, we also want to continue our learning in order to sharpen ourselves and enhance our effectiveness in preaching, teaching, administration, counseling, discipleship, and ministry leadership. Consider the fact that medical professionals, academic teachers, peace officers, and military personnel all require continuing education and practical training in order to remain certified and qualified in their respective fields. If they need ongoing training, should the professional ministry be any less strenuous in its educational requirements? Surely those who deal in matters of eternal life and death ought to have the most serious mind when it comes to the need for lifelong learning.
During our District “Journey” meetings over these coming months, we will be brainstorming as to how best we fill out this value of EDUCATING MINISTERS in this quadrennium. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions.
District “Journey” Meetings 2023 COMING UP: Grace Community Church Memphis,
TN | March 23-24
To register and find more Memphis information click here: District "Journey" Meetings 2023
Please register and make payment by March 10
Lakeview Chapel | Lake Elsinore, CA | April 20-21
Registration is now open for all four district "Journey" meeting locations.
To register, find information, and for a printable flyer, click here: District "Journey" Meetings 2023
Lakeview Chapel
32700 Mission Trail
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Please register and make payment no later than 2 weeks before the meeting you plan to attend.
FEATURED SPEAKERS: Jim & Dori Halbert, Jeff Stockett, Mike Ghoslin, Max & Judy Edwards
HOTEL INFORMATION/SUGGESTIONS: locations are within a 10 minute drive to the church.
Quality Inn Lake Elsinore - 31808 Casino Drive, Lake Elsinore (833-650-0455)
Best Western Plus Lake Elsinore Inn & Suites - 31781 Casino Drive, Lake Elsinore (951-674-3131) free breakfast
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - 31573 Canyon Estates Drive, Lake Elsinore, Front Desk (951-674-4333) Reservations (888-465-4329) breakfast included
RESTAURANT SUGGESTIONS: Denny’s, KFC, In-N-Out Burger, Olive Tree (Italian), Emilio’s (Mexican), and several other options close by each hotel.
AREA ATTRACTIONS: Historic Downtown, Canyon Hills Park, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, & more! Once your registration has been received, a detailed information sheet will be emailed to you.
Please remember, we REALLY want you to bring your lay leaders. We deeply value our connection to the laity and especially look forward to them participating in the Leadership Summit on Friday morning.
Keeping in Touch with our Global Partners
Submitted by, Revs. Bill & Lisa Walker, GBWM Co-Chairs
For more than 10 years, Asia Pacific EMC Global Conference has been using MEDS to open new areas of the Philippines to church planting. We praise God for another successful Medical Evangelistic Surgical Dental trip (MEDS) in The Philippines. From January 25 to February 7, seven EMCers from three states participated, as well as many from The Philippines and Australia. Nearly 40 in all!
Mission trips usually impact the participants as much as the people served in the host nation. Below are some testimonies from some who went on the trip:
Sandra McKinney, Riverside EMC in Salem, VA
I was blessed in January to be able to go back to the Philippines as part of the MEDS 2023 Missions group. It was amazing, it was exhausting, it was beautiful, and it was heartbreaking. The Philippines is truly a country of contrast with the hi-rise buildings and urban business to the tiny mom & pop storefronts and pieced-together shacks. But the people are the ones that have my heart! Their warmth is evident in their smiles and laughter--no matter the circumstances. I assisted in the pharmacy group, filling prescriptions that the doctors recommended, reaching out to ease some pain and financial hardship from everyday ailments. We showed them JESUS, in a way they may not have seen before.
Rev. Donna Lucas, EMC elder in Kennesaw, GA
I was beyond blessed to be a part of MEDS 2023.
We had a total of 7 different mission days at 7 different sites. On average, over 500 people came daily seeking help with their various needs. Although the medical assistance was offered and gladly accepted, the primary focus of our mission days was evangelism to the lost. Every person that came, first had to come through our prayer and counseling station before receiving any medical help.
Our message was clear and very simple… “God loves you! Jesus loves you so much that He died for you! Around 60% decided to receive Jesus into their hearts. GLORY!
Pastor Jun Mateo and his wife, Marlene, were wonderful hosts and made sure that there was adventure to help balance out the ministry time. But the focus was primarily on winning the lost to Jesus! We saw first-hand in the Philippines that the field is ripe unto harvest!
SPRING RETREAT IS HAPPENING AGAIN!!
All EMC Youth (6th - 12th grade) are invited to our Annual Spring Gathering at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley WV
APRIL 14-16 2023
Registration begins 7pm, Friday
Last Worship Service closes at 11am, Sunday
THEME: Spring Retreat Boot Camp - Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36
SPEAKER: Rev. Aaron Withrow, Conference Superintendent WORSHIP LEADER: Ashley Bruner, Kingdom EMC
COST: $85 for youth | $80 for leaders | Includes 2 nights lodging, 3 meals Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.
GROUP RSVP: By March 8
IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS:
1. PRAY FOR THE RETREAT
DEADLINE TO REGISTER STUDENTS: March 29
2. GROUP REGISTRATION: Leaders, please respond via email by March 8 to Pastor Russ Van Nest (revruss2004@gmail.com) to let him know your church youth group is participating. He just needs the church name and the email of the group leader. He doesn't need any numbers right now. All future registration information and details about the retreat will go ONLY to the leaders of the churches intending to come.
3. REGISTRATION FORMS: The registration form for students is attached to this email. Each student must complete the form and return it to their group leader. Leaders will bring them on the day of the retreat with one check payable to EMC or online receipt of payment.
4. Contact Pastor Russ Van Nest if you need any other resources or have any questions or concerns. (724-944-8343) (revruss2004@gmail.com)
REMEMBER - - RSVP YOUR GROUP BY March 8!
May the Holy Spirit be poured out on all of us especially, our youth!! Use these clickable links for further information: Cedar Lakes Conference Center | Directions via Google Maps