The Kerusso | 2023 June June

The Kerusso – June | 2023

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

Thanks for your time and interest as I’ve been sharing these last months about the focus word for 2023 ... PEACE. As you know by now, “peace” is a mnemonic tool for remembering five denominational priorities that will continue to be foundational targets for us in EMC leadership:

P Planting Churches

E Educating Ministers

A Aspiring to Holiness

C Connecting People and Churches

E Equipping Leaders

The last of the five priorities conveyed through the peace acronym is “Equipping Leaders.”

God’s WORD is crystal clear that this is something that we MUST do. In profoundly straightforward terms, the Apostle Paul admonishes us who are in ministry roles to EQUIP GOD’S PEOPLE.

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)

We must be duplicating ourselves, empowering people to do the work of ministry. And implicit in the word “empower” is the task of giving power to ... which means releasing control. That’s hard, especially when we so badly want to ensure excellence and attention to detail. But if we don’t release power, we will never adequately train. One of the hardest things to do is to give others the freedom to make mistakes. Sure, we want to prevent catastrophic errors that deeply injure people and dishonor Christ, but proper discipleship and training will always involve taking some risk.

Over the next several years, we hope to find increasingly better ways of empowering pastors, and lay people in our local churches. We welcome your thoughts and ideas as to how best to do so. In all of our District meetings around the country this year, we have been asking for specific feedback on just that subject.

As soon as we have time to process the information we have gained from attendees in Tennessee, California, Washington, and North Carolina, we will report back to you about what we hope to see happen in this regard in the coming years in the EMC.

Thanks! Max Edwards

EMC International General Superintendent

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

“Proper discipleship and training will always involve taking some risk.”

From the Desk of the General Secretary-Treasurer

Growing up, my mother and father taught me the importance of sharing and having a heart set on giving, not greed. I have always tried to live up to that godly counsel in many ways personally. I modeled that behavior in my ministry as well. As a pastor, if I read a book that ministered to me, I would pass it on to others. If I attended a meaningful conference or event, I would try my best to pass on what I had learned to my congregation. As a Superintendent, I passed on from time-totime relevant articles or online podcasts to pastors. And now, as General Secretary-Treasurer, I see the importance of continuing that practice.

Below are links to important information regarding church financial matters and board governance that I think will help you as pastors and local church leaders.

How Well Does Your Church Prevent Financial Misconduct? | Church Law & Tax (churchlawandtax.com) - This link will take you to a webpage with a collection of nine articles on safeguarding financial misconduct in the church and advice on how to deal with it if it unfortunately happens.

What Can Churches Do in Response to the Recent Bank Failures? - CapinCrouse LLP - Here is a short article from our auditors on how churches and non-profits should respond to the recent U.S. bank failures. I will discuss these with the Board of Finance in the coming months.

Ten Questions Every Church Board Member Should Ask - Brotherhood Mutual - Ten good questions suggested by Brotherhood Mutual for the Board of Stewards and staff members to answer. Have a blessed day!

District “Journey” Meetings 2023

ONE FINAL MEETING COMING UP:

CrossLink Church

Rutherford College, NC | June 7-8

Church Clippings

Jared Winslow - North Carolina

Excerpts from Pastor Jared’s 2022 Ministry Report: “2022 was my first full year pastoring Community EMC. Some church events that I led in 2022 were: Creating and distributing Easter baskets with Gospel and church information to children throughout the community; Distributing goody bags with glow sticks, tracts, and church information at a Fourth of July fireworks event. Holding our church’s 83rd Anniversary homecoming service on October 2nd. We took up special offerings for the Myanmar refugee relief as well as relief for hurricane victims and the November Missions Offering.

“For the first time, our church entered a float in the Thomasville Christmas parade, with a live Nativity scene, with church members walking alongside the float passing out bags of candy, church information, and gospel tracts. I am praying our church members grow closer to each other and to God through our Bible study and prayer time each week, and that we can bring new members in.”

Roger Burns - North Carolina

Excerpts from Pastor Roger’s 2022 Ministry Report: “Our motto for the year of 2022 was the acronym of REM which is, Reaching, Evangelizing, and Making disciples one heart at a time. We are cultivating a ministry through Crumpler’s Funeral Home. This past year I’ve done many funerals in hopes to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of that ministry we have won families back to the church. This year we took in 9 new members.

“Our prayer was for a children’s ministry. Wow! God is Faithful. We tried a one day VBS and we are thankful for Sister Taylor Angel and all who volunteered for this past Summer Outreach. Rick and Kathy Angel put a focus on our children and now we have an active Children’s Ministry. We now have a Children’s room decorated and painted for our kids. Children are coming back to the church and we MUST continually keep our focus upon them.

“In 2023, our verses are Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

A New EMC is Born

The Tall Timbers of God’s Grace - Mercy Chapel

By Rev. Jon E. Tellifero, EMC Elder, pastor of Mercy Chapel EMC

On April 30, 2023, the miracle of birth happened in the piney woods of DeRidder, Louisiana among Christian Methodist people. Mercy Chapel, a new Evangelical Methodist congregation was birthed.

In the Spring of 2022 a Methodist lay leader, Peggy, felt God’s Spirit say, “It is time ‘for traveling on. Your heavenly home is bright and fair.’” Then by a Spirit-filled key stroke, a private message was given to Beverly, the wife of a Methodist pastor. In that private message the question was asked, “What should we do about a church that has lost its way and refuses to talk about it?” Beverly handed the question to her husband, pastor Jon and he answered, “You are not the victim. You need to act to be true to yourself and the gospel.”

Within weeks, on Saturday June 11, 2022 at 6 p.m. the first gathering of what would become Mercy Chapel met in Peggy’s living room. They prayed that God would lead them. And they believed the good news that Jesus is Lord! On the following Monday, longtime friends of pastor Jon called and said, “We have a worship center for you to use on Saturdays to begin a church called Mercy Chapel and maybe a permanent future location! By June 18 Mercy Chapel had begun. Today there are more than 30 believers who are members or friends of Mercy Chapel!

On Saturday March 4, 2023 the church board of Mercy Chapel met and was convinced it needed to associate with a larger body of believers that would help “bring the reign of Jesus on earth as it is in heaven.” By unanimous vote the board chose to petition to join the EMC! Easter weekend, Saturday, April 8 would be Mercy Chapel’s grand opening to DeRidder. We gathered and shared the gospel with our friends who are residents of Westwood Manor, a nursing home, and heaven came down! God touched our friends. God changed our lives. We felt like we were “traveling on” with Jesus.

On Saturday night April 30, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Superintendent Kevin Brouillette and his wife Carolyn conveyed the charter members of Mercy Chapel. By unanimous vote, Mercy Chapel EMC was born! Another part of the wondrous and mysterious body of Christ has begun. Colossians 2 tells us that Jesus has begun a parade of grace that is “making a public display raising us from the dead, nailing our sins to the cross” and “triumphing over” evil through the power of Christ dwelling in us! (Col. 2:11-15) This is now taking place in DeRidder, Louisiana at Mercy Chapel! We are traveling on.

EMC Evangelist Visits India and The Philippines

Submitted by Bill Walker, GBWM Co-Chair

In John 6 we have the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000. You know the story… Andrew asks Jesus a rhetorical question: “What are these among so many?” Jesus’ response transforms Andrew’s despair into a demonstration of God’s power. As Jesus accepts five loaves, He utters five words: “Have the people sit down.” Then the miracle happened!

The EMC has been missions-minded since its inception. We are perhaps the tiniest in the “small denominations” category. We are not even five loaves and two fish, only 2 loaves and half a fish! Yet God takes what little we are and does great things for His kingdom. Here’s an inspiring account about one of our own Elders.

Rev. David Hayes (evangelist) of Sevierville, TN, felt the Holy Spirit urging him to go preach in Asia. God provided the way, the means, the health, and the place for him to do it. So, for five weeks from March to April of this year, Brother David preached daily in India and The Philippines under the hospices of local, established ministries. His theme was RIOT (Revival in Our Time)!

Brother David spent three weeks in Visakhapatnam, in southern India with Pastor Jaya Prakash and his wife Esther. This is not an EMC conference, but David has cultivated a friendship with Pastor Jaya over several years. Pastor Jaya shares that Rev. Hayes preached in the local church and in street ministry. Many were saved, healed, and delivered from demons. They will be discipled in a local church.

David also spent some time with pastor Sam Goddam, who oversees 100 churches. He is pictured to the right behind the pulpit with David.

EMC

Evangelist Visits India and The Philippines (continued)

After a fruitful ministry in India, David transferred to the Philippines and ministered for two weeks in the EMC Asia Pacific Global Conference together with General Superintendent Rod Reyes and other EMC pastors. Using a rented facility, chairs, and sound system, they offered themselves to the Master as “loaves and fish,” and God did great work in several locations through Brother David’s preaching ministry.

Rev. Reyes shares his perspective: “Indeed, it was blessing for Filipinos to hear the importance of the GOSPEL. It was a two-week activity from north to south including Metro Manila. Praise the LORD many have come to know JESUS as their LORD and Savior.”

“Also, it is a time of refreshing and revival to our local EMC churches that once again they have been equipped and edified through Pastor David's teaching ‘The Calling of the Twelve’ was a refreshing move of the HOLY SPIRIT in the lives of our pastors and leaders.”

Superintendent Reyes also invited David to teach in the EMC School of Ministry. The Conference has an ongoing school for pastors and laity. Usually it’s on Zoom, but they also meet in person if possible.

Rev. Reyes testifies further about something that God accomplished after David returned home: “[Pastor David] said he hoped our church would be enlarged so that many souls will know JESUS and to be discipled. That came TRUE when the owner of the building allowed us to use the other room to be an EXPANSION of the church. All these things happened through the help of our God.

Many have been saved, healed, restored, and have re-dedicated their lives to GOD'S GRACE. Thank GOD for this victorious mission trip. All for GOD'S GLORY.”

How fitting for this to happen just in time for Pentecost Sunday! Below is a clipped image from Superintendent Reyes’ Facebook post showing the new area they are using at “Touching Word Community Mission” (EMC Asia Pacific). You can see it for yourself here: https://www.facebook.com/rod.reyes2

Superintendent Reyes says, “TO GOD BE THE GLORY!” This is not to glorify Rev. Hayes. He would not want that! This is God’s doing; He will use and bless ALL who seek Him with a pure heart and clean hands, are sensitive to His Spirt, and willing to step out in faith and obedience.

After returning home, Rev. Hayes noted: “I am still in awe! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. RIOT has started in The Philippines!”

My friend, you might not be able to go to the other side of the world, but you don’t have to. Just walk in step with the Holy Spirit and look for the opportunities He places before you right where you live!

Bring your loaves and fish, admit your dependence on Him, and He will do the rest!