The Kerusso | 2023 May May

The Kerusso – May | 2023

Five Denominational Priorities (A Continuing Series by International General Superintendent Edwards)

As you know, I’ve been writing about the focus word for 2023 - PEACE. It represents a set of priorities that will continue as targets for the Conference Superintendents for these next several years.

1 - Planting Churches

2 - Educating Ministers

3 - Aspiring to Holiness

4 - Connecting People and Churches

5 - Equipping Leaders

The fourth element in the peace acronym is “Connecting People and Churches.”

Organizationally, we are “Connectional.” The EMC is not simply an association of churches that are loosely tied together by our affinity for Christ. No, we are structurally connectional. Affiliating churches agree to be bound together by policies and procedures established in what we call “The Discipline” - our Constitution and Bylaws.

In the opening section on church government, paragraph 60 includes this statement: “All local church boards, conference boards and general boards are connected to one another under the Constitution and By-laws enacted by the General Conference in the Discipline of the Evangelical Methodist Church. Our local churches and conferences are not independent affiliates. Together we have one purpose and vision as outlined in [our six] basic denominational principles.”

We are also “Congregational,” in that each local congregation has both the privilege and responsibility of calling and supporting its own pastoral staff, as well as owning and maintaining its own property and physical facility. But the fourth element of the Peace acronym is not simply about our organizational structure. That is already our status quo, and that will not change. But “Connecting People and Churches” as a priority for the next several years is about engaging the people of the denomination to go beyond the structure and connect with one another in life-giving ways. It is our hope that we can find creative ways to encourage churches to partner together toward a common goal, and in the process of partnering, they will form bonds with one another that foster creativity, and bring encouragement.

EMC Churches that are geographically close might very well plan and host youth events, missions banquets, and community outreach events. We would love to see that happen, and will be encouraging it among our pastors, church boards, and general church leadership.

The writers of the New Testament use the phrase “ONE ANOTHER” over and over and over again to emphasize the calling we have to be united together in love and fellowship. If we fulfill that calling, and remain united, we can accomplish incredible things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

During the coming months and years, our Conference Superintendents will be working with you to see if they can help foster a more vibrant connection among our churches and our people. They want to encourage creativity and innovation in looking for ways to enhance partnerships that will strengthen us, and broaden our fellowship opportunities.

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

District “Journey” Meetings 2023

COMING UP:

Peninsula Community Church

Moses Lake, WA | May 25-26

To register and find more Moses Lake information click here: District "Journey" Meetings 2023

Please register and make payment by May 11th

Crosslink|Rutherford College, NC | June 8-9

Crosslink Church

400 Malcolm Blvd. Rutherford College, NC 28671

Registration continues for the two remaining district "Journey" meetings.

To register, find information, and for a printable flyer, click here:

District "Journey" Meetings 2023

Registration and Payment Deadlines: May 11 for Moses Lake, WA May 25 for Rutherford College, NC

FEATURED SPEAKERS: James Coulston, Jim & Dori Halbert, Mark Smith, Max & Judy Edwards

HOTEL INFORMATION/SUGGESTIONS:

Comfort Inn 1607 Fairgrove Church Rd SE, Conover, NC (828) 465-1100

Fairfield Inn & Suites 1950 13th Ave Dr SE, Hickory, NC (828) 431-3000

Hilton Garden Inn 1320 17th St Dr SE, Hickory, NC (828) 327-1000

Hampton Inn 1956 13th Ave Dr SE, Hickory, NC (828) 624-2000

RESTAURANTS CLOSE BY THE CHURCH:

JD's Smokehouse, Subway, Bojangles, Twin Brother's Pizza, Myra's, Longhorn Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel

AREA ATTRACTIONS:

South Mountain State Park, Grandfather Mountain, Biltmore, Linville Falls, and more!

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.

An Invitation to

Support Bill and Lisa Walker (by

I know ... not a very flashy article title!

No gimmicks, no slick pitch designed to slip a request under your nose before you even know it’s coming. This article is asking you for donations. It is my direct appeal to raise missional support for Revs. Bill and Lisa Walker, our devoted (and exclusively EMC) missionaries.

If you know that isn’t possible for you right now, you certainly can just skip to the next page, but before you do please take a moment and pray earnestly that those who can include some additional funding for missions in their regular monthly budget will do so. Thanks!

Max and Judy Edwards)

We have been looking forward to writing this article for some time! One of our beloved pastors and long-time Board of World Missions Chairpersons, Rev. Ken Swearingen made a public appeal at our 32nd General Conference in 2018 - - it has been on our minds ever since. His plea was that in future years, the General Conference might consider adding some funding to its operating budget for the travel and support of the duly elected chairman of the Board of World Missions. He wasn’t asking for himself, as he had previously decided not to seek another term in that office. He was thinking of all those who would come behind him.

Ken’s request for funding mirrors the spirit of the Apostle Paul. Paul himself was supported financially in his missional work by sending churches, but further - he clearly believed in encouraging folks to support others who were devoting their lives to the advance of the gospel and the building up of the church.

“I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.” (2 Corinthians 11:8)

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.” (Romans 16:1-2)

Bill and Lisa Walker were elected by the 33rd General Conference in July of 2022 as Board of World Missions cochairs. They are the only EMC missionaries not also affiliated with another sending agency such as OMS or WGM. As it has always been since their initial assignment to the Mexico field many years ago, their salary support comes from designated funding from churches and individuals like you and me. Partly because they were instructed to come back to the US for safety reasons several years ago, their funding account has been lagging, and consequently the Board of World Missions has not been able to increase their monthly support draw (or salary) from their fund for 10 years.

So we are coming to you now, asking for both individuals and churches to consider supporting (or increasing their support) for the Walkers. We are making a personal commitment of $100 of monthly support for the remainder of the quadrennium, and if a few dozen other individuals and/or churches would do the same, their need will be met.

And remember, an anonymous donor has offered to match the first $10,000 raised this year in support of the Walkers through the EMC’s Resurrection Offering. There is still time for you to take advantage of this matching gift, even though Resurrection Sunday has passed. The donor will match gifts received for the Resurrection Offering through the end of May.

Send your gift, designated "2023 Resurrection Offering" through your local church, directly to EMC Headquarters (PO Box 17070 Indianapolis, IN 46217), or online https://engage.suran.com/evangelicalmethodist/s/give/gift/resurrection-offering.

Thank you! Max and Judy Edwards

Keeping in Touch with our Global Partners

Theological Education for Myanmar Pastors

Submitted by, Rev. Bill Walker, GBWM Co-Chair

For some time now, the EMC, through its Board of World Missions, has sponsored several EMC pastors in Myanmar in pursuit of a Master of Theology degree. This was a deep desire and vision of the late Rev. Dr. Lal Duh Awma (former General Superintendent of EMC Myanmar). Generous EMC donors make this possible.

I am pleased to announce that Rev. Malsawm Sanga has just completed his graduate degree at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies in India (SAIACS). https://www.saiacs.org/

The following are excerpts from a recent email he sent to me.

“First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Triune God for guiding me throughout my theological education journey and enabling me to earn the degree of Master of Theology. I will always be indebted to the Evangelical Methodist Church (USA) for its financial and prayer support throughout this process. I appreciate that the EMC places a high value on quality and doctrinally sound theological education.”

“I hope that what I have learned from my specialized discipline will enable me to preach and teach sound Christian theology and doctrine to the people whom I serve. It will also help me be able to defend the church from false teachings and guide the church to the right doctrine.”

“My prayer is to become an effective pastor and to have a fruitful ministry in my country (Myanmar), and that God will not let all that I have learned be in vain, but rather will use it for the glory of His name and the extension of His kingdom in the country of Myanmar.”

Rev. Sanga is assigned to serve in the village of Tuingo, near EMC Myanmar headquarters in a region referred to as “the Chin hills,” and will be moving there very soon.

This area has recently seen intense fighting between the Myanmar military and a “people’s defense force” (PDF, something like a civilian militia). The fighting filled the headquarters property with nearly 100 refugees for several weeks.

Pray for all EMC pastors in Myanmar. We are featuring Rev. Sanga because of his recent graduation, but each of our faithful pastors are highly valued; they all need our prayer and deserve our respect. The people of Myanmar desperately need well-trained and spiritually sound ministers.

Thank you to all who give for advanced theological education!

EMC Myanmar Conference

Church Clippings

Excitement from around the EMC

Lynn Malone - Louisiana

Philip Dulin - West Virginia

From Pastor Philip’s ministry report: “This has been an exciting year for Victory EMC. The Daycare is up and running and growing at a steady speed. There are already discussions of building another building specifically for the daycare. The Victory Lovely Ladies women's ministry is thriving and growing under the partnership of Beth Stone and Christine Dulin. At this time, they are holding monthly events and a yearly retreat. Our weekly Bible Study led by Candy Wolfe has a steady and consistent attendance and continues to be a blessing to all.

This year I plan to focus on discipleship… Hosea 4:6 tells us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Specifically, this year's focus will be on getting to know God and His true nature. We are starting to see growth in attendance.”

Pastor Lynn, moving to the EMC from the United Methodist Church, has been instrumental in helping EMC leadership field and answer questions from UMC congregations seeking out their options. He has been willing to talk with congregations and helped create a brochure for churches curious about both the disaffiliation process from the UMC and how the EMC and UMC differ. He also shares this in his Individual Ministry Report:

“The year 2022 saw me end my service as the pastor of Beulah Community Church in Calhoun, LA. We were, by God's grace, able to complete the process of disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church [and to secure their property]. After a period of prayer, discernment and consultation with my Conference Superintendent, we decided it was time for Beulah to locate a pastor who had closer proximity and time to devote to the vision of the congregation (I live over an hour away).

My wife Vanessa and I are currently in a period of continuing prayer and discernment as to where the Lord is calling us to serve in the future. I have been contacted by three churches in my local area that are former United Methodist congregations seeking pastoral leadership. We will continue in prayer to see if the Lord may be calling us to fill one of those positions. We are also praying diligently in the new year about The House Church Movement, and whether now is the time to re-launch in our new home.”

Sean Scribner - North Carolina

Here are a few excerpts from Pastor Sean’s Individual Ministry Report for 2022 … “The Lord continues to bring new families with young children into the church… Wednesday nights in particular are a graphic demonstration of what Jesus is doing here. Our youth and children’s programming ends at 8:00, but that’s when the real fun begins. It’s amazing when families love Jesus and their church family so much that when events are over, they stick around. It’s not uncommon to find people still lingering in the gym as late as 9:30!

2022 was also our first full year in a decade and a half that our church was debt free. What a relief to no longer have a giant mortgage payment hanging over us. We have been more free to dream about the future, as well as meet urgent needs in the present with an even greater degree of financial generosity - take the $42,840 Ukraine offering as an example. Our church has always been generous, but being free of debt has unleashed us to give in ways I have not seen in my tenure here before. My prayer is that Jesus would continue to show us ways that we can be even more sacrificial and free in our “missional living, giving, and going” in 2023 and beyond!

We had another successful Vacation Bible School - nearly 80 kids attended, and the Thursday night program had 220 in attendance. The VBS ministry continues to be a fruitful ministry resulting in new families with children attending the church.

I was SO pleased with our church’s representation at General Conference. We sent 24 delegates to represent our church, the maximum number we were able to send according to the formula determined by the EMC Discipline. From what I could tell, ours was the largest delegation at the entire conference. After a meeting together on July 12, we were prepared to participate in our denomination’s business sessions in one accord. What a blessing!”