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.