The Kerusso | 2023 November

The Kerusso – November | 2023 Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”

Events on the Horizon for Fellowship, Education, and Ministry By: Max Edwards Over the next seven months, we will enjoy a variety of events that offer opportunities for learning, encouragement, fellowship, worship, and outreach.

The Haggard School of Ministry (HSOM) class taught by the Superintendents “HI-101 This is the EMC” is being offered in November. If you are new to the EMC or are enrolled in the Haggard School, you must complete this class on our history, doctrine, and structure. Anyone 18 years of age or older may take it for personal enrichment as well ($50 fee). Contact HQ to register or for more information.

Two online options are available: an evening class at 6 p.m. EDT on Thursday, November 9, and a morning option at 9 a.m. EDT on Friday, November 10.

Right behind that is not a gathering, but it is a great chance to expand the reach of the gospel!

The EMC has a long tradition of receiving a special denominational mission offering in November. The goal in the past has been $10/person in each of our churches. That goal hasn’t been adjusted for many years and I believe we can do better, but it will take pastors and churches asking, and receiving a designated offering for EMC Missions.

Pastor, please make this a priority this year. THANK YOU. (Read more about this on Page 3, Missions page) In December, Bill and Lisa Walker (co-chairs of the Board of World Missions) and Judy and I will be traveling to the Philippines to help conduct a Leadership Camp for our pastors and lay leaders of the Asia-Pacific Global Conference. The dates are December 13-15, plus our travel days. The theme of the event is “Leadership with a Purpose.” It will be a great opportunity to reconnect with our friends and partners there. As always, if you would like to be an active part of one of our international trips in the future, we would love to talk with you and make that happen if possible.

It would bless us greatly if you would add our trip to your daily prayer list for that second full week of December. We hope to be back home by December 20th.

The dates and locations for our annual regional meetings are set for 2024. We can’t wait to gather again with our pastors, credential holders, and lay leaders. Based on the feedback we received in this year’s leadership summit, we have decided to again hold four meetings across the country. All of the EMC Superintendents will be at each meeting, and we are working now to set the programming that will include something of interest to both credential holders and lay people alike.

Almost all of our churches will be able to drive to these meetings, and we are hoping for a record-setting attendance in 2024.

Leadership Camp

The Kerusso - November | 2023

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

Page 2

General Board of Christian Education

G B C E

The EMC Resource Library Jesus told his Disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 that as they went into the world, they were to make Disciples of all peoples, passing on His teaching and baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But what does that mean? And how exactly are we to do it?

The concept of Discipleship has been core to God’s design from day one. Every generation is responsible for training up the generation that follows, pouring out their lives into the lives of others (cf. Deuteronomy. 6:4-9). The transference of the Faith does not come primarily through programs or projects but through people in relationship. We have been entrusted with the sacred Covenant-Trust that we must likewise entrust to others who are trustworthy enough to receive it and entrust it to still others themselves (cf. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 & 2:1-2).

Board of Christian Education

But this is not fundamentally the same thing as education. Though education is a necessary part of Discipleship, education only provides the tools for learning that make Discipleship possible. This is an important distinction where the General Board of Christian Education is concerned. We are here to help you fulfill your calling to be a Disciple and to Make Disciples. To that end, we have developed a new Resource Library to help you find and choose tools tailored to your unique context.

In the Resource Library, you will find categories of resources, such as Children’s ministry, Christian living, Lay Leadership, etc. Within each category is an array of resources our members and friends in the EMC have submitted. Each resource has information to help you find and use it, such as the media type and how much it should cost. Furthermore, our contributors review each resource to help you determine how hard it is to use, how much value it brings, and how closely it aligns with our official EMC positions theologically. Most of these entries have only one review so far, but with time, as these tools are used and then reviewed by you, the Resource Library will become a treasure trove of aggregated reviews that will give you even greater confidence when searching for just what you need.

So here is what the GBCE needs from you to make this a success. If you have a resource you love, or for that matter, one you hate, submit that review to us at the link below. If you look through the Resource Library and cannot find something that fits what you need, then use the link below to submit a request for a resource recommendation. We will see what we can do to help you out.

As I said, our purpose is to equip you with the tools to fulfill your calling. However, as a hybrid denomination that is Congregational-Connectional, we do not want to simply push stuff down to you in the way that the older Ecclesiastic denominations do. Instead, we want to facilitate the sharing of knowledge from the ground up and allow you to choose what works best in your context.

Grace & Peace, Rev. Dr. Joshua C. Strunk Pastor @ Pine Run EMC Apollo PA & Chair of the GBCE

For The Board of Christian Education Webpage Click Here

Submit A Resource Review for our Resource Library By Clicking Here Submit A Resource Request By Clicking Here

The Kerusso - November | 2023

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

Page 3

Annual November Missions Offering Bill & Lisa Walker, GBWM Co-Chairs For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. Hebrews 6:10 (ESV)

At the end of September, I was at EMC Headquarters and had time to go through old Board of World Missions papers. My task was to decide what needed to be kept and what could be shredded. One afternoon of sorting, and I barely made a dent. Financial account statements from the 1980’s? SHRED! Letters written by my parents when they were missionaries in Bolivia?

KEEP! (for sentimental value) Historical documents? KEEP! One of the very first papers to emerge from the drawers I was asked to examine was an EMC Missions newsletter from September 1998, promoting the “John and Mabel Kunkle Thanksgiving Offering.” We simply call it the November Missions Offering these days. Either I never knew or had forgotten that the Offering was formerly named in honor and memory of the Kunkles.

It occurred to me that many younger people in the EMC probably have no idea who John and Mable Kunkle were.

The short version is they were EMCers who served as pioneer missionaries in Bolivia under World Gospel Mission.

Rev. John Kunkle later became the EMC Board of World Missions Chair and eventually the General Superintendent. I have never seen anyone raise money for missions like he could. They traveled the US with a talking blue Macaw (from Bolivia). Uncle Kunkle, as everyone called him, was unmatched as a storyteller! I could listen to him all day! John and Mabel were instrumental in opening the Bolivia EMC mission field in 1979 and impacted my life in ways I have not pondered until now.

Here, amid many papers to be shredded, was a letter that paid tribute to this very faithful missionary family: a legacy possibly forgotten by some, but not by me, and certainly not by God! Eventually I, too, will pass on and the names of John and Mabel Kunkle might pass from all knowledge in the EMC. I hope not but it could happen.

Here's the lesson: Though we shred papers here on earth, nothing gets shredded in heaven! “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown…” What you do for God, what you pay in tithes, what you give for missions, what you do for others, the sacrifices you make, and the people you love in Jesus’ Name may one day be forgotten by people. I hope not, but it could happen. But God remembers and there is a reward coming one day for the faithful!

Please give to the November Missions Offering, not to be remembered or recognized by people, but knowing that you will be rewarded. “…your Father, Who sees in secret, He will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:4).

So, give generously because your gift will result in souls saved and discipled in the EMC around the world! Give through your local EMC or online at https://emchurch.org/online-giving.

Bill and Lisa Walker - BWM Co-Chairs billwalkeremc@gmail.com lisawalkeremc@gmail.com

The Kerusso - November | 2023

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

Church Clippings

Page 4 Trey Harris - Louisiana Excerpts from Pastor Trey’s 2022 Ministry Report

“The Circuit EMC continues to meet weekly and hold occasional fellowship gatherings. Our church is dedicated to growing as Jesus followers and in vital worship. Each week Excitement we participate in traditional worship while meeting in a nonfrom around traditional setting. Our worship is rich in Wesleyan heritage the EMC and steeped in Scripture, prayer, song and the celebration of Holy Communion. Our worship space is adorned with classic Christian symbols and serves our purposes well. Our services are live streamed on our Facebook page and are visited by numerous persons who might never attend, but benefit from hearing not only the Gospel preached, read and shared, but also witness a faithful community of Jesus Followers gathering each week to worship. We support several missions each year including certain EMC outreaches (including a generous donation to Myanmar) as well as other local, national and international ministries.”

George Coble - Illinois Excerpts from Pastor George’s 2022 Ministry Report “Emory Street Church has a devotional ministry on WNOI Radio station – a 2-3 minute message, that runs for one week – and we have done about 15 devotions for 2022. I am actively involved with the Clay County Ministerial Alliance meetings and encourage church participation with other community activities. I also work at the Health Department as Hospice Chaplain and we cover 6 counties.

“This year our prayer is for Church members to get well and for church growth. We started again having [outreach] worship and preaching services at Chestnut Corners on 11-13-22. [It houses people most churches wouldn’t welcome inside.] Most of the residents came out of prisons, and hospitals - it’s like a safe house. [In addition to regular morning worship services] we made 135 hospital, jail, Hospice and nursing home calls on members and non-members of the church… May God's will and purpose be fulfilled in us in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Byron Wilmoth - Alabama Excerpts from Pastor Byron’s 2022 Ministry Report “Attendance has remained constant with [some] ebb and flow. This last year has been filled with personal ministry opportunities as there have been many sick, dying, and in personal faith trials. We had four professions of faith and baptisms.

“As [we transitioned to more of a teaching style on Sunday], the feedback from the congregation as a majority has been very positive. The core of the body is healthy and eager to move forward to being the living hands and feet of Christ. This last year has not been without its own trouble and controversy; however, it is encouraging to see a greater number of believers stirred to be the church that Christ has called us to be. We are still actively exploring methods to grow our youth. Online presence is positive and consistent. The financial status of the church is consistent and without fear. We have adopted a heart to press forward harder and harder into missional ministry within our community. We have a very successful food pantry, and we serve the homeless and the hopeless. My prayers are for a full realization of the gift of Christ within each member and a growing desire to serve to the utmost of their abilities.”