The Kerusso – July | 2024
Journey Meetings 2024 Are Complete
By: Max Edwards
The four Journey meetings held across the country from February to May are now complete. We finished the last of them in Copperas Cove, Texas, on May 16-17, where our registered attendance was over 60! Our combined attendance from the four locations was 289 pastors, church leaders, and servants. That doesn’t include evening worship attendees. Those numbers were not tracked, but I am sure that our combined evening attendance exceeded 400.
In Texas, we heard from some of our newest members who are pastoring in Louisiana and Texas. Pastor Lynn Malone preached a stirring message on Thursday night that those of us who were there will not soon forget. He challenged us to think about the fact that we, in Christ’s service, are not on a CRUISE SHIP, but are rather on a BATTLESHIP and ought to outfit ourselves accordingly.
We also heard from Pastors Tiffany Barber, and Jon Tellifero. They also admonished us to lean into the work of the ministry with fervor, stamina, and great patience.
The overall theme for the year was “Leadership” but the flow of the Journey presentations was tracking with the encouragements of the Apostle Paul to Timothy in his second letter: “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5
It helped us to remember these truths this way: Be Watchful, Be Steady, Be Winsome, Be Ready.
The most recent June 25th Tuesday Brief shared the four dates and locations for 2025’s Journey meetings:
March 13-14
March 20-21
April 3-4
April 10-11
Riverside EMC - Salem, Virginia
Crossroads EMC - Marshfield, Missouri
Estrella EMC - Eloy, Arizona
Crossroads Community EMC - Nampa, Idaho
As you can see, the sessions will be held nearly back-to-back, covering them all in just 5 weeks. It will be exciting, for sure!
MISsiON EXPOSURE MONTERREY MEXICO TEAM INTRODUCTION
Bill & Lisa Walker, EMC Board of Missions, Co-Chairs
In late 2023, we started talking about a mission trip to Mexico, and it is just around the corner. Although Lisa and I travel internationally for the EMC, it has been quite a while since we’ve taken people on a “mission trip.” We have re-initiated the EMC mission trips, calling them MISSION EXPOSURE! Our Monterrey, Mexico trip dates are July 22-30, 2024.
Now that our team is complete, Lisa and I are excited that these individuals have joined our team:
Isaac Withrow is the eldest son of USA Conference Superintendent Aaron (and Annette) Withrow. Isaac testifies to God’s call on his life as a missionary, possibly in aviation.
Susan Brooks has been on many mission trips and has even led trips. She thought her traveling days might be over, but now God is leading her to serve for a few days in Monterrey! Susan also helps us plan mission trips.
Joe Brubaker is the interim youth leader for Raeford EMC in Raeford, NC, and is excited to contribute by sharing God’s word. Joe has been on two mission trips outside of the USA already.
Addyson Healy is our niece, the daughter of Lisa’s sister. God has been drawing her closer in recent months, and she is venturing out of her comfort zone and learning to trust God!
Andrea and Priscila Ramirez are from Torreon, Mexico. We knew these sisters when we were missionaries in Mexico. They’re all grown up now, and in addition to being followers of Jesus, they have also mastered the English language. They will help us with interpretation and other aspects of the ministries and will travel from Torreon to join us in Monterrey.
Mission Exposure will not be a vacation. Our days in Monterrey will be filled with things like clearing a city lot where the young Elim EMC hopes to construct their building, painting the parsonage for Eben-Ezer EMC, serving breakfast and doing crafts in a nursing home where Getsemani EMC regularly serves and shares Jesus’ love, sports ministry and open-air evangelism with youth and young adults from several EMCs, helping Sinai EMC clean and decorate their church building for a wedding, participating in a marriage enrichment workshop with couples from all the churches and some unsaved couples (numerous roles for team members), fellowshipping with Getsemani EMC on their church family outing and participating in a baptism service.
This is not just us going to do things for our fellow EMCers in Mexico. Everything we will do, our Mexican brothers and sisters can do just as well, maybe better. We will serve God and the community in partnership. The pastors of our hosting EMC congregations in the Monterrey area are building a counterpart team to partner with us as we SERVE JESUS AND LEARN AND GROW TOGETHER as equals and mutual servants. We expect God to do at least as much in our hearts as He will do for the people we encounter on this trip.
Follow us on Facebook as we will post regularly on the EMC Missions Page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088687148752
Prayer List
Please pray for us in these ways:
•Travel safety from our various points of origin, around Monterrey, and back home
•Final fundraising for some members
•Spiritual preparation for all involved, both American and Mexican
•Learning to trust God for EVERYTHING
• A humble and teachable spirit in each person
•Health we all need to stay healthy and uninjured from start to finish
•Unity and harmony of the team
•Nervousness
•Final details in Monterrey to be worked out
There is still time to prepare for the Philippines mission trip being planned for December 26, 2024 – January 2, 2025. Specific details are still being worked out, but you can fill out an application to get started now by clicking the link below.
Philippines Mission Trip Application
RESURRECTION OFFERING UPDATE:
Thank you to everyone across the EMC USA who gave to the 2024 Resurrection offering!
The offering total is $9,569.73. That amount is being matched by an anonymous donor again this year, for a grand total of $19,139.46!
This will be shared with our Global Conferences and partly used for the Walker’s ministry travel.
EMC Summer Camp – Weatherford, TX
Submitted by – Samantha Wilson, Refuge Ministries Admin. Assistant
Starting off the summer strong, five EMC churches from Texas and Missouri came together in Weatherford, Texas and had an unforgettable church camp. They learned and studied the theme, “Knew You, New You,” inspired by Ephesians 1. With 107 campers and a total of 150 attendees, the camp was a resounding success, fostering spiritual growth and deepening relationships with Christ.
The theme, “Knew You, New You,” encapsulated the transformative journey each camper embarked upon. Throughout the camp, we explored four key subpoints drawn from Ephesians1: Chosen, Adopted, Redeemed, and Sanctified
The camp was not only a time of learning but also a time of joyous celebration with vibrant worship, fun activities, and meaningful fellowship. Meaningful fellowship was the cornerstone of this year’s camp. Campers and leaders alike formed deep connections through small group discussions shared meals, and evening campfires. These moments of fellowship allowed for open conversations about faith, struggles, and triumphs, building a strong sense of community.
Many campers made life-changing decisions to follow Christ, while others deepened their faith and commitment. Testimonies shared during the final night of camp, highlighted the profound impact of the week’s experiences. Stories of salvation, rededication, calls to ministry, and personal breakthroughs were a testament to God’s work in the hearts of those present.
The “Knew You, New You” summer camp in Texas was a testament to God’s love and power at work.
DustinPhipps– Texas
Excerpts from Pastor Dustin’s 2023 Ministry Report
I have been serving as Refuge Ministries Topsey campus pastor [since Easter, 2023] and have spent time [investing in the members through visitation, ministry, fellowship, etc.]. My wife and I are mentoring/discipling a married couple who we continue to meet with every two weeks after Sunday service. I have also been mentoring/discipling others who God has grown immensely over the last year. I can see where God is working.
We held our first ever Live Nativity in which we were able to include many of our children and youth throughout Refuge Ministries. This was a great opportunity in which God used us to reach into our community and share such a crucial part of the historical significance of the birth of Jesus.
I also minister at an Assisted Living facility in Copperas Cove every Wednesday, visiting with residents and holding a short church service. God has richly blessed this ministry. I volunteer at our local Pregnancy Resource Center every week. On Thursdays, I bring the morning devotional in which God uses me to minister to members of many other denominational backgrounds. I also get the opportunity to pour into the lives of expectant fathers, many of whom don’t know the Lord. It has been a great challenge and blessing to have the opportunity to share the gospel story with those whom the Lord brings through the Center.
I plan to continue to pour into the Topsey campus. My desire is to be faithful to what God has entrusted me with while also continuing to challenge the congregation to grow in the Lord. While we have limited space in the Topsey campus, there is a plan to offer a children’s ministry on a more consistent basis. I also continue to work toward completing my coursework in the Haggard School of Ministry.
MikeCherry–NorthCarolina
Excerpts from Pastor Mike’s 2023 Ministry Report
I began serving at the East Bend EMC as Pulpit Supply in July 2023. East Bend is a town of about 650 citizens and has 3 other churches near the city center. Our folks are faithful to the Sunday services every week and enjoy the fellowship we share as we worship and hear the word of God proclaimed. At our Annual Conference, I presented a vision for our church for the coming year. I rejoice each Sunday I have the opportunity to stand in the pulpit leading in the singing and proclaiming God’s word. It is wonderful to see the faces in the congregation as the Word of God ministers to them.
LarryHand– California
Excerpts from Pastor Larry’s 2023 Ministry Report
After graduating from Vennard College in 1979, my wife, sons and I moved to San Diego, CA. We attended the San Diego EMC. I worked in the Church as youth pastor and began selling insurance. Five years later we moved to Marysville, CA where I again worked with the youth and went to Nursing School. When I received my nursing license I moved home to Mt. Shasta, CA, my hometown, and attended Hope Community Church (EMC). For the next 33 years I would fill in for pastoral vacations and vacancies. In January 2022, after 32 years in nursing, I retired and in February, 2023 our pastor resigned. With the need for a pastor, I began filling in. I was then asked if I would become the pastor of the church and through much prayer, soul searching, and a few miracles, my wife and I agreed to accept this opportunity to serve. On December 27, 2023, I was installed as pastor of Hope Community Church. It is an honor to be able to serve God in this capacity. [We have struggled] but have experienced many miracles in our church family. God is blessing us with new members – with people I did not even dream would come to worship with us. What a blessing they are to His kingdom at Hope Community. We are experiencing blessings as we all study God’s Word together. At age 68 I am looking forward to serving God for as long as He needs me.