The Connection Magazine Fall 2021 - 75th Anniversary Edition

The Connection

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EVANGELICAL METHODIST CHURCH

years of ministry in the

Evangelical Methodist Church

Contents 3

Shall the People have the Truth?

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General Conferences

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Just One

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The 24th Anniversary of the Mexican Evangelistic Mission

Dr. J. H. Hamblen Superintendent

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General Notes

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Shall We Be Great?

Rev. Max Edwards International General Superintendent

Dr. Ralph Vanderwood

Dr. Edward & Loretta Williamson

Dr. E. B. Vargas

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Shall Not Prevail

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Whence Our Help?

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The Search for Truth

Dr. C. P. Haggard

Dr. Dennis Kinlaw

Dr. Edward Williamson

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Our EMC Partners Around the World

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75 Years of Youth Ministry...

Pictured on the cover: The original chapel for our Elizabeth City EMC church. They are also celebrating 75 years in ministry this year.

The Connection The Connection is a publication of the Evangelical Methodist Church.

International offices are located at the Hamblen-Bruner Headquarters Building 6838 South Gray Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46237 Telephone: [317] 780-8017 Fax: [317] 780-8078 www.emchurch.org publications@emchurch.org

MAGAZINE STAFF

Editor-in-Chief: Rev. Max Edwards Pre-Production Editor: Ms. Deborah Mitchem Graphic Design: Rev. Nathan Williamson Editor: Rev. Elias P. Stinson, Jr. Editor: Mrs. Nancy Utt HQ Executive Secretary: Mrs. Karen Parsons Department of Prayer: Mrs. Judy Edwards Translator: Rev. José Macías Flores, Spanish

SUBMISSIONS Send articles to: Ms. Deborah Mitchem

dmitchem@frontier.com

ADVERTISING SALES publications@emchurch.org All quoted Scripture is from the NIV Bible, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

MISSION MISSION Connecting Connectingpeople peopleof ofall allcultures culturesand andpromoting promotingthe thework workof ofthe theKingdom Kingdomby bycommunicating communicatingour ourstories storiesof ofchanged changedlives. lives.

“ Sha󰇰󰇱 t󰇬󰇪 P󰈥o󰇵l󰇪 H󰈜󰇽e 󰇺h󰇪 T󰇶󰇼󰇺h?”

Dr. J. H. Hamblen ~ 1947 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) “Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth.” (Galatians 4:16) Do we really want the truth? Or shall we go blindly on ‘til the designing Modernists rob our youth of their faith in the Bible as the inspired Word of God? We must answer this question here and now, or meet the penalty of our neglect at the judgment bar of God. The real battle of Christianity today is whether the Bible is the infallible Word of God, or merely contains the Truth of God. The two groups at variance with each other over this question are members of the church, and are known as Fundamentalists and Modernists. What is the real difference between them?

The Modernist believes that the Bible [merely] contains the Word of God; but denies in whole or in part the following Bible teachings: FIRST: The Bible account of Creation and the Fall of man.

SECOND: The Diving Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures (claiming that much of the Bible is Myth and Legend.)

THIRD: The Virgin birth, Deity of Jesus, and His place as Second Person in the Triune Godhead.

FOURTH: The Miracles of the Bible.

FIFTH: The Blood Atonement, and full salvation of man through sanctification by the Holy Ghost.

SIXTH: The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus.

SEVENTH: The Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Fundamentalist believes in the plenary inspiration of the Bible - - that every word, verse, and chapter therein is the inspired Word of God. [They believe] in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, [that He was indeed] conceived of the Holy Ghost,

born of a Virgin, [and] that He redeemed us by shedding His precious blood on the Cross of Calvary. We [Fundamentalists] believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave; that He alone can save our souls from death and hell. We believe in a real Heaven of eternal bliss, and a real Hell of eternal punishment. We believe in a full and complete salvation from sin by faith alone in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Finally, we believe that a Spirit-born, and a Spirit-filled life is God’s will for His children in this world.

“What can we do?” is on the lips of thousands of anxiously concerned people of our great country.

Some say, “Stay in the [Old Methodist] Church, and [strive to] bring back the ‘Faith of our Fathers.’”

But … how can you hope for reformation in the Church so long as its leaders are sold out to [Modernism]? In Luke 6:39, Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch together.” [This is still true.] With the plain facts before us, how can we continue to support, with our money and our influence, a church that continues to preach, teach, and practice Modernist doctrine?

A large group of preachers and laymen of the country [have become convinced that they] should “follow the plain Word of God, and come out from among the opposing group.” Accordingly, we believe that God has raised up the Evangelical Methodist Church to take care of the people who are tired and sick at heart on account of Modernism and its practices, and with so much needless formality in the Church. [We also believe that] the teachings of Fundamentalist principles as laid down in the Evangelical Methodist Church doctrine will be the means of saving lost souls that would never find God in the Modernistic church.

Are we willing to pay the price of our earnest, honest convictions? Or shall we compromise, and lose God’s favor? May God give us wisdom and grace to do His Holy Will.

J.H. Hamblen (1877-1971) is the founding pastor of the EMC and the first General Superintendent.

General Notes I

n the opening sentences of his gospel, the Apostle John aptly declared Jesus to be “full of grace and truth.” And John was able to be so certain of Christ’s commitment to truth because of His personal testimony before Pontius Pilate; He said that He had come “… into the world to testify to the truth” (John 18:37 nlt).

Linked to such a strong declaration is Jesus’ description of God’s nature in his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He noted to His Father, “… Your word is truth” (John 17: 17). Finally, as if we needed an exclamation point, Jesus literally described the Holy Spirit as “The Spirit of Truth,” affirming that He would be a “guide into all truth” (John 16:13).

In that light, it is an understatement to say that truth is important.

The Evangelical Methodist Church came into being in 1946 out of a desire to stand on the side of truth in an era when modernism was rampantly eroding the Methodist church’s commitment to Scriptural Truth. While celebrating the EMC’s 25th anniversary, founder, Dr. J. H. Hamblen spoke to the Conference in 1971, noting that he was often asked, “Why an Evangelical Methodist Church?”

When giving his answer, he consistently centered on a relentless desire to defend the truths of Scripture.

He affirmed that he was not angry at anyone, nor did he hold any of the men trying to change his mind as enemies. But God’s truth must be nonnegotiable.

Dr. Hamblen knew that many in his beloved denomination were rejecting the authority of the Bible as God’s inspired Word, and he felt he could no longer tolerate it. Soon after his decision to exit, he heard from others around the country who were feeling the same resolve, and an assembly gathered to discuss the formation of a new, theologically conservative church that would stand for truth upon the authority and inspiration of Scripture.

The historical section of our Discipline includes this brief notation:

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“On May 9, 1946, in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, a small group of preachers and laymen met together for consultation and prayer, endeavoring to cope with the growing apostasy of the church. After long hours of waiting before God in prayer, they felt definitely led of God to organize the Evangelical Methodist Church.” ~ EMC Discipline ¶11 This year, the Evangelical Methodist Church celebrates its 75th anniversary. This issue of “The Connection” is dedicated to our heritage, our history, and our unswerving commitment to God’s truth.

The question of whether we will revere the Scripture as God’s inspired truth has not become less critical. In the 75 years since our founding, most mainline denominations have not tightened their stand on Scriptural authority. The reality is fewer and fewer hold an orthodox view, which is why our conservative witness and voice is vital. Truly, the Evangelical Methodist Church is not best described by listing things we are against. Our non-Christian culture does not primarily need a list of sins to avoid - - that’s like giving a dead person a to-do list. No, the most important thing we can do for this dark culture is to ensure that when a person is ready to seek for truth, we have true truth ready to share, not some watered-down version of the gospel that is devoid of the kind of costly discipleship that Jesus modeled and taught by saying that unless we are prepared to take up our cross, we cannot be His disciple. (Luke 14:27) The Evangelical Methodist Church should be known for what we stand for! We believe that Jesus Christ is THE SON OF GOD; that He is indeed the world’s ONLY HOPE; and that just as He said, He is “THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE” (John 14:6); and therefore His Word “IS TRUTH” (John 17:17). Jesus is the founder of the New Testament church, of which we are a small part. Together we have one purpose and vision, that

When Truth is the Critical Issue

is to be faithful disciples and ambassadors of his, carrying the pure Gospel with us into the world.

Throughout our seventy-five years of history, faithful lay-persons, church leaders, pastors, and denominational leaders have ensured that the denomination has remained faithful to its initial calling, and its commitment to an orthodox view of Scriptural authority.

In this issue, you’ll find an article from Dr. Hamblen’s desk, passionately pressing the issue of truth. He writes, “The real battle of Christianity today is whether the Bible is the infallible Word of God …” Sixty-five years from the publishing of those thoughts, our long-time General Superintendent, Dr. Ed Williamson wrote an article for “The Connection” in which he makes the very same point: “… The public arena does not have a point of reference for truth outside itself [and] when people live like there is no constant, unchanging truth then evil and tyranny fill the vacuum. Truth is hijacked by relativism, and destroys churches, cultures, and nations.”

From Dr. Hamblen’s words in 1947 to Dr. Williamson’s in 2012, clearly the issue of truth remains a critical point of commitment for us. And here in 2021, we declare that we will not waver. As

you read through the articles of this issue, please celebrate with us our 75 years of commitment to truth. But also celebrate women and men who have faithfully advocated for a vibrant church that isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty … who exemplify a spirit of humble service, loving God and loving people.

Celebrate our being EVANGELICAL. We know that sharing the gospel is mission-critical.

Celebrate our being METHODIST. Without apology, our theology and soteriology is WesleyanArminian. We believe in salvation by faith through grace, and that a sanctified life is accessed by faith as well, not by works, but is the natural outgrowth of a true and inward faith.

Celebrate our being the CHURCH. The ekklesia is an organism, not primarily an organization. We are each called to give our time, talent, and treasure as our reasonable service. The church is only as alive as its members. Jesus is the head of the church, and we are the body! His work is too critical for us to be lazy about our mission.

Rev. Max Edwards

International General Superintendent

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“ SHALL WE BE GREAT?” Dr. Ralph Vanderwood ~ 1958

T

he EMC has the possibility of greatness.

Within the next few years, the membership of the church could be multiplied several times. If such growth takes place under the power and control of the Holy Spirit, all who have a part in His leadership and blessing may well rejoice.

Yet, the EMC may be just one among many denominations, with nothing outstanding. This is our danger - - that we simply be ordinary, lacking the supernatural presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What will bring God’s glory to the EMC? FIRST, we must not desire honor for ourselves, but only the Kingdom of God. Only as we glorify Jesus Christ and magnify His ministry among men will the Holy Spirit honor and bless us.

The words of John the Baptist marked him as spiritually great: he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) If our primary concern is the increase of the EMC, we shall decrease spiritually, but if our primary concern is that the glory of Jesus Christ shall increase, then the church will abound in spiritual grace and strength.

SECOND, we must not seek our [own comfort]. We must be determined to lose ourselves for Jesus’ sake and the Gospel. The EMC must exist for the salvation of souls, or it has no right to exist. But the EMC cannot save a single soul. This is the work of THE SAVIOR, and only as we lose ourselves in Him will the EMC be an effective soulsaving agency. Christ living within our flesh and blood means self-denial and sacrifice. His Spirit demands such. He desires to give Himself through us in seeking and saving the lost. He does not force

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such service upon us. We must let down all the barriers and invite Him to take possession. Then we must absolutely obey His every command. He gives the Holy Spirit “to them that obey Him.” (Acts 5:32) THIRD, we will [only] be as great as our faith in God. No man, or mass of people ever rises higher than the measure of faith exercised. Men of faith in God easily overcome the difficult, and scoff at the impossible. The faith that links us to God takes away our insignificance and makes us sufficient. A focus upon the Almighty leaves no room for morbid introspection upon our own weaknesses, or for fearful contemplation of the forces or circumstances which stand against us.

A strong faith in God not only gives us courage and confidence in ourselves, as we are linked to Him, but it unites us with other Christians. In many parts of the world today, a person who has experienced the saving power of Jesus Christ is called a “believer,” not simply a “Christian;” for tragically enough, many list themselves as “Christian” who know not His word or its power to save. Yes, every person who is truly identified with Christ is a BELIEVER, a person of faith.

We of the EMC need a strong faith in God, in ourselves as His children, and in one another.

A people united in their faith in the Almighty will march from victory to victory - - and even in seeming defeat, will rise triumphant.

FOURTH, our service will go no further than our love. But, if Christ has our hearts, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. God’s love is for the whole world. God’s love is commended toward the most sinful. God’s love for His own is such that nothing can separate us from it, except ourselves and

our sins; and even then, He broods in compassion upon the back-slider.

The EMC must have a love that reaches around the world. The love of God in us will give us a concern for our neighbors, those in the next towns, in other states, and in other countries. The EMC must grow primarily through the winning of the lost. Any church which grows through proselytizing is failing to add to the Kingdom of God through such activity. A love for the lost and unlovely should send us forth into the highways and byways of life, around the world to seek and to save those without God and without hope.

FIFTH, to be truly great, we must not think of ourselves as being great. There are many denominations or groups of people who think of themselves as being members of the “only true church.” They look down upon others, for they are “the chosen people.” God save the EMC from ever coming to the time when its people should think

that they are “the church.” The EMC exists to serve. The more we realize that we are the servants of God and mankind, the more humility we will possess. Jesus Christ is “meek and lowly in heart.”

(Matt. 11:28). All who are truly great must bear these spiritual marks. “God resisteth the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) GOD NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN. HE ALSO CALLS THE YOUTH. This is the time for greatness. The glory of God needs to be revealed. His Spirit stands ready to possess those who are humble of heart. The more EMC members who yield their hearts unreservedly to Jesus Christ, the more of God’s glory we will experience in our midst.

Dr. Ralph Vanderwood was elected as the second General Superintendent of the EMC in 1962. He also served in distinguished board positions for the National Association of Evangelicals, and World Gospel Mission.

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Dr. C. P. Haggard ~ 1959

Just one month ago, I turned a corner in the heart of Beirut to be confronted by the most enormous mob I have ever seen.

Thousands upon thousands of howling, screaming people “packed” one of the main streets of the city, not just curb-to-curb but from buildingto-building on either side. All were shouting and screaming in a language I could not understand.

Just at that moment when they were less than fifty feet away, a truck-load of soldiers drove up at high speed, slammed on their brakes, and jumped out in front of me with their guns ready – and the rioting mob was shunted off to my left around a traffic circle. I was impressed.

That scene was symbolic of increased antagonisms all over the world.

Earlier, I had stood on the Mount of the Ascension and watched marching soldiers deploying on the Mount of Olives. Before me was noman’s-land. I was impressed at that time also.

Again, the scene was symbolic: symbolic of what is happening all over the world to everything the Mount of Olives has represented for nineteen hundred years.

For hours that day, I was to drive alongside barbed-wire entanglements. I could see the shape of things to come. One spark in the powder keg of the Middle East would bring Armageddon in a moment.

And time is [short]. What we do, we must do quickly. [Truly, many lives hang in the balance].

Just before I arrived in Beirut, Communists took a theological student and cut his face in shreds as they held a mirror before him. Then they [dismembered] and burned him in the streets of the city. Such scenes are to become more common.

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They could occur here in America.

[But] even for a time like this - - a time of jet planes, atom bombs, and guided-missiles …

[THERE IS AN ANSWER]. That answer can be summarized in just two words; the church – the Church of Jesus Christ.

But if the Church of Jesus Christ is to prevail against the “gates of hell,” it must be different from the nominal - - and usual - - church of today. For too long we have tended to rest upon past blessings.

We have failed in perfect obedience to God. We have let our spiritual lives become mechanical. The multitudinous cares of this world have choked the vine of His planting in many instances. Professing Christians have [exchanged] an inward union with Jesus Christ for a [hollow] connection with the church. And the church has betrayed Christ, and a lost world. The world is lost because we haven’t cared enough, and sacrificed enough.

The world can be saved. … The hosts of evil and the powers of darkness can be driven back. In the strength of our Christ, the world can again be turned upside down - - but it can only be done by the church with the experience, and vision, and passion, and power of the New Testament Church. Nineteen hundred years ago, the church had nothing that we have today for the promotion of the Gospel. It had no buildings or equipment; it had none of our modern technological advantages of radio, the printed page; etc.; it had none of our “know how” in organization and administration; it had no knowledge of techniques and methods; it had no well-trained workers; it had nothing that we have today, but it turned the world upside down for Jesus Christ.

The answer is simple: the New Testament Church had some things that we do not have.

It had great grace, and I am constantly amazed as I read the first chapters of the Book of Acts to observe the grace with which they bore persecution and death.

It had great faith. As Peter stood at the Gate Beautiful, he expected the lame man to arise.

It had great love; love for another, love for its enemies, love for a lost world.

It had great power. We can have the same grace, and faith, and love, and power. God is no respecter of persons. The procedure is clear. We must have a repetition of Pentecost which can only occur when we as a people will “go all out” for Jesus Christ and let Him transform and empower us: when we will volunteer again to carry the banner of Christ against the hosts of evil and powers of darkness; when we will be sacrificial and give ourselves un-reservedly to Him. The Evangelical Methodist Church was brought into being “for such a time as this.” The need is desperate. The possibilities are infinite. But the

time is short. There are two-and-one-half billion people in the world today, but fewer than one third of them are even nominally Christian. To reach them, we must have more missionaries. But to have more missionaries we must have more churches to recruit, train, send, and support them. The need for more churches is equally critical from the standpoint of our own United States. In the next eighteen years, we will have sixty million more people in the United States. This will mean sixty million more souls who one day will face God - - sixty million souls who will be lost or saved according to our own and other Christians’ efforts to reach them for Christ and give them a church home.

We have marked time long enough. Let us arise in the might of our God and go forth to conquer for Christ!

Dr. Cornelius Paul Haggard (1911-1975) served as President of the Training School for Christian Workers in Azusa, CA, which came to be Azusa Pacific College. He served as Assistant General Superintendent under Dr. J. H. Hamblen.

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“ Whence Our Help?”

Dr. Dennis Kinlaw ~ 1964

The author of Psalm 121 was in need of help …

“I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence shall my help come?” The depth of need is clear.

He wanted a place where his foot would not be moved (vs 3). He needed someone who could keep him night and day (vss 3-4). He needed help by day, lest the sun should smite him. Night evidently brought no relief, for the moon seemed to hold terrors of its own (vs 6). He wanted help which could protect him in his going out and in his coming in. He wanted protection from all evil.

Perhaps a true understanding of this Psalm is found only by remembering the kind of world in which the psalmist lived. It was one that did not share Israel’s understanding of the nature,

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transcendence, or glory of the one true God. Israel’s neighbors were victims of the darkness that comes when the light of revelation has not broken in.

The result was that the pagan neighbors of the writer worshipped only that which they could see and experience in their unenlightened human search. Thus, they capitalized the word “Earth” and called it their “mother.” Heaven and its bodies, the sun and the moon became deities to be feared, worshipped, and [prayed to]. Those were the deities that Abraham’s fathers worshipped from the “other side of the flood.” When we remember that the “high places” were the sites used for such worship, we can understand that this Psalm is not an ode to nature.

It is an affirmation of faith in One who transcends all nature. Others may go in their superstitious fear to the hills to bow down to the sun, moon, and heavens, but the psalmist does not find his help there. His help is the LORD who made heaven and earth.

It may seem strange to modern man that men could ever have worshiped natural forces and objects. Yet is not this always what happens when men are without the light of Scripture? They inevitably seek their hope in the natural, the created order.

Today, we capitalize sex and think that our fulfillment is there only to find that it is delusive and destructive when taken out of God’s ordered plan.

We capitalize the political man and trust that the United Nations may yet save us, or the scientist, or the psychiatrist, or the scholar. Or else in our religiosity we look to the church as our hope. (It is significant that the New Testament glories in the

bridegroom and not the bride.)

Yet are not all these but parts of the same natural order as sun, moon, and stars? Have we not made gods where there are no gods? Our hope should be in Him who made all these.

This, of course, is the Biblical word of hope!

There is One who is able to save!

He is not part of our natural life. He comes to us from without. We may even shut our lives and keep Him out. But if we let Him who made us enter, we find He is able to protect our going out and our coming in. And where others quake in fear, we may confidently wait in hope. For what is a god of demonic power and frightfulness to others is but a creature of the Father’s hand, and can be used by Him for our own good and His glory.

Dr. Dennis Kinlaw (1922-2017) was President of Asbury College from 19681981 and 1986-1991 and Chancellor of the school in 1992; he was a professor of Old Testament Languages and Literature at Asbury Theological Seminary (1963-1968). He was the founder of the Francis Asbury Society.

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The Search for the Truth

by Dr. Edward Williamson

The battle for the mind of America lies in the definition of truth. The new spirituality in the public arena does not have a point of reference for truth outside itself. It produces a religion that revolves around individuals, making them selfmade gods. Everything is justified because there is no outside reference point for truth, no standards, no boundaries for conduct. In the terms used by Christian apologists, this makes truth “couched in jellylike terminology” and reshapes truth into whatever a person wants it to be. When people live as though there is no constant, unchangeable truth, then evil and tyranny fill the vacuum. Truth is hijacked by relativism, and destroys churches, cultures and nations.

I find lay people and even pastors unable to answer the question, “What is truth?”, and they are unsure why it is important, although they believe the Bible to be true. If you were asked, what is truth, what would your answer be? Pontus Pilate asked, “What is truth,” and without waiting for an answer, impatiently walked away! The note of irony is that he was face to face with the one Person who is the embodiment of truth and could have given him the definitive answer.

Our answer: Jesus is the personification of truth, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Truth is found in the creator God, in his revelation of himself in world history through the biblical redemptive history found in the Bible. This issue of the Connection discusses, “What is truth?”

Reprint from Spring 2012 Connection Magazine.

Dr. Edward Williamson is the International General Superintendent Emeritus and Global Vice President at Large with One Mission Soceity.

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General Conferences Our conference-wide gatherings of pastors, lay delegates, speakers and guests have been a highlight of our history. From our earliest days, these meetings have been a vital source of information and inspiration, and have been critical to our ongoing mission. At these General Conferences, faithful leaders have been elected, defining resolutions have been adopted, and foundational legislation has been debated and passed as the church endeavors to know and follow the will of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

1954 General Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas Ordering an updated copy of the EMC Discipline after the ’54 Conference would have cost you $1.50 plus 5 cents postage.

25th Anniversary Conference 1971 in Wichita, Kansas The registration fee was $1

General Conference 2022 will be amazing - especially if you are there!

Featured speakers: Dr. Ed Stetzer Rev. Jim Harriman Lois Tupyi Jonathan Moore

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Just One

by Ed & Loretta Williamson

God is calling The Evangelical Methodist Church to a two-year Sacred Assembly of Prayer. The goal is a Pentecost that thrusts us into harvest, a Pentecost that empowers us to experience godly repentance of our sins, sins of spiritual complacency, sins of turning a deaf ear and nonconformity to the Spirit’s admonishments, sins that hinder our reaching our communities for Christ with new ministries. The Kingdom of God is expanding by millions around the globe, yet in our communities people continue to live lives of increasing wickedness and immorality. Jesus says the problem is not in the street or with the harvest, but in the church. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38). Every local church needs just one person who becomes desperate in his or her prayers for revival and outreach.

Isaiah 59:1 states, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” The problem is not with God, the problem is us! God is ready to pierce the darkness of our communities but our satisfaction with a powerless church life makes that impossible. God is saying, “Change my circumstances so I can bless you and remove the darkness that keeps the church from spiritual health and missional focus.”

Isaiah writes in the same chapter, “The Lord looked and was displeased...He saw that there was no one... to intercede....” God completed His salvation for us in and through Jesus Christ. The result is that a man can have a perfect love for God and for the people around him. He can be delivered from self-centered living. How appalling it must be to Him when there is no one in the local church willing to intercede for the people!

September 23, 2007 was the 150th anniversary of the Fulton Street Revival, sometimes called the Wall Street Revival or Layman’s Noontime Prayer revival. This lay-led revival began with just one person, one man with a burden to pray. This noontime corporate prayer went from 1857-1860, and is estimated to have resulted in over one million conversions across the nation. The population of the USA was 35 million in 1860.

The Fulton Street prayer revival began in1857 in the North Dutch Reformed Church, just a few blocks from ground zero in New York City. This prayer meeting extended from one local church into many denominations across the country and around the world. Jeremiah C. Lanphier was hired as a lay missionary in connection with the North Dutch Reformed Church. He felt it would be profitable to challenge “men engaged in active business to devote a portion of the time usually given to rest and refreshment at mid-day to devotional purposes.” So Wednesday, from noon to one o’clock, was set aside in a building on Fulton Street to give “merchants, mechanics, clerks, strangers and businessmen generally an opportunity to stop and call upon God amid the daily perplexities incident to their respective vocations.”

The first person to join Lanphier was a half-hour late; several others came even later. Five denominations were represented. Prayer and praise were offered. “No local The following week, twenty attended, the third week, forty. By the fourth week, church in they decided to hold a meeting every workday. Within months, meetings were being held throughout the city; the movement soon spread to cities from coast the country to coast. is too small One of the lessons from the historic 150th anniversary of the Noon Time Prayer Revival is never to despise small beginnings. No local church in the for God to country is too small for God to begin a fresh work of the Spirit. begin a fresh The goal for the prayer time was straight forward and simple, the salvation of the soul. They would pray for the souls of family members, neighbors and work of the co-workers by name. Others would join in agreement. Every person prayed for the people in their sphere of influence, family, friends and neighbors. They Spirit.” prayed for salvation and praised God when it happened. The absence of a speaker and theological discussion made these meetings unique and attractive.

The distinguishing marks of these prayer meetings were fourfold: 1) Spontaneity: the beginning meetings were the pattern, but soon the meetings conducted themselves with everyone participating.

2) Interdenominational: people from every evangelical faith participated, and issues that distinguished them from one another were not discussed.

3) Promptness: the meetings started promptly at noon and closed promptly at one. Those who prayed were held accountable to the five minute per person rule.

4) Their focus: the agenda was prayer – specific prayer for salvation and for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment.

What is in store for the Evangelical Methodist Church? We want to learn from history and join thousands of churches across the USA that are focused on prayer for revival and renewal. This is the beginning of our vision for the local church.

• Lay people and pastors will begin holding prayer meetings specifically asking God to anoint them by His Spirit and bring revival to local churches and our nation.

• Churches will open their doors for early morning or noon time prayer meetings.

• These prayer meetings will prioritize prayers for the lost, for the Presence of God, and for the empowering by the Holy Spirit for ministry in their community.

• Pastors and churches will join across denominational lines with like-minded people to pray for revival in their city, neighborhood and our nation.

God is seeking just one person through whom He can change a local church into a healthy ministry that impacts its community for Christ. You can be that one!

Reprinted from the Jan/Feb/March 2008 Connection.

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24th ANNIVERSARY OF THE

MEXICAN EVANGELISTIC MISSION. (1950) On November 4 of this year, the Mexican

Evangelistic Mission celebrated its 24th anniversary.

The author of these lines will never forget the force that made this advent possible, nor the cradle where it first saw light. “A voice, like coming from heaven spoke to my heart ordering me to leave the church that I loved more than my life: to separate myself from people that were part of my own existence. Abandon privileges and prerogatives that had been mine, thanks to the kindness of my superiors, the welcome that the people of God had given to my work and, above all. to the intervention of a Providence that manifests Its power through weakness and that uses the vilest instruments to carry out its inscrutable designs.

Eleven of us formed that group and counting the Lord, whose presence was so real, there were twelve of us. My own mother, Mrs. Aurelia C. de Vargas, Sister Juanita de Hernández, her daughter Miss Rebeca Hernández, Ezequiel B Vargas Jr, Rubén V Austin, Lolita Orozco, Miss Herminia Bustamante, Miss Carolina Sepúlveda. Sister Merceditas A. de Aguirre, Miss Blanche Gilbert. And the one who writes¨. This small group of delusions, according

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By Dr. E. B. Vargas. to the world, undertook an undertaking that, due to its stupendous nature, surpassed the mental capacity of those present. Its cradle was the room of the parsonage adjoining the temple.

As known, it is silent that the omens were all contrary to the company that was going to start. The most mournful failures and even horrifying tragedies were predicted. The demon focused its darts on the director of the play and specialized in torturing and causing bitter pain to the founding members. Some lost their placements, others the affection of their loved ones. There was no shortage of people who had to leave the city and face situations that were more difficult. But the Lord. did not leave any of His own.

After 24 years of struggle we can raise our Ebenezer and without fear of being wrong we can say: “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” The devil has not lost hope of destroying the work. With his proverbial subtlety, he even uses those who have been conduits for so many blessings to come to the Mission, to hinder the victorious march of the Gospel. In many cases these instruments do not understand it, thus: discrepancies arise as between Paul and Barnabas whose justice only the Holy Spirit can elucidate

and settle. However, we can say: ¨one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”¨. Or, “However, I consider my life wort nothing to me: my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God´s grace.” To deny the blessings that the Lord has given us would be to deny the light of day. He has given us much more abundantly than we ask for or understand by the power that works in us.

His hand has reached out for us and has removed all stumbling blocks and defeated all our enemies.

He has given us beautiful temples, very faithful brothers, dedicated workers, a mission among the Tarahumara, a newspaper, a printing press still in the making, a Bible School for Laymen, etc. We started with about 45 few members and at present, we have about 1500. Above all, we have a nucleus of Christians who are willing to continue in the struggle, even if life is involved.

Among our values that form the asset of the Mission, we count on the prayers of many brothers and sisters that in different parts of the world are taking us to the Throne of Grace. Recently an African wrote to one of our workers, announcing that he was going to make her the special object of

his prayers. An immense number of faithful people in the United States, from the East to the West, are constantly praying for us. If it is true that the devil has used invective to hurt us, it is also true that the faithful have been used by Him to pour balm on the wounds of our hearts.My most fervent prayer is that he will give us such grace that we may be joyful to be counted worthy to suffer outrage for the unequaled Name of Christ. Thanks to Him, our pulpits continue to preach the Gospel in its purity and we are determined to lose everything, even life itself, rather than add or add not a jot or a tittle of God’s Word. We will continue to insist that Christianity is Christ in the heart of the individual and that it is necessary to be doers of the Word and not just hearers of it. With the help of the Lord we will never neglect a single of its doctrines and we will preach them in time and out of time no matter who opposes it, or the cost, or the sacrifice that this implies. Our desire is to dwindle so that Christ may increase and that His coming will find us diligently busy carrying out His designs and fulfilling His sovereign will.

Pastor Ezequiel Vargas was the superintendent of the Mexican Evangelistic Mission, becoming a part of the EMC in 1948.

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From the earliest days of its existence, the EMC has been globally minded.

Over our 75 years, many missionaries have followed the call of God to carry the gospel to countries across the globe in evangelistic efforts to places such as Mexico, Bolivia, Ukraine, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, and Russia.

In addition to countless outreach efforts that were initiated from within the U.S., four global or mission conferences have joined the EMC as fully affiliated conferences. There is far too much to tell in the space we have in this issue, but here are a few highlights from each of the four.

MEXICO (The Mexican Evangelistic Mission, or M.E.M.)

Dr. Ezekiel Vargas, with the support of family and a few others, founded the Mexican Evangelistic Mission in 1926 out of a desire to stay true to orthodox theology. Twenty years later, Dr. Vargas was present in Memphis when Dr. J. H. Hamblen met with others to discuss the forming of a new movement in the United States.

In the Summer of 2016, “The Connection’ devoted an entire issue to the MEM Conference, and it is a tremendous read.

You may access the historic archive and read that entire issue to learn so much more about the M.E.M.

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Myanmar (The Myanmar Evangelical Methodist Church) In 2006 a second officially affiliated Conference was added to the EMC network, that being the Myanmar Methodist Church. Rev. Dar Rothanga was its first General Superintendent, with Rev. Lalduhawma as Conference Secretary, and Dr. Rual Thankuma as Chairman of Ministerial Education.

Myanmar is a wonderfully organized conference, with churches in four districts, most of them located in the northwest part of the country in Chin State. While Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist, Chin State is almost entirely Christian. The nation has struggled under military rule for several decades, and while recent strides have been made toward a democratic government, a coup was organized last year by the military as they ruthlessly reclaimed absolute power. This has made things extremely difficult for the people of Myanmar, and the situation there has grown even worse by the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Affordable, quality health care is largely unavailable. The men and women of the Myanmar Evangelical Methodist Church are amazing Christ-followers, and we are overjoyed to be co-laborers with them.

The current General Superintendent of Myanmar is Rev. Dr. Lalduhawma. From his report to General Council last year, he shared: “I had the privilege of visiting local churches in Chin State along with Rev. Lian Sailova, General Secretary. There are restrictions on public gathering because of Covid-19. Therefore, we did not have a chance to worship in the church, but there were tremendous times we spent together with the local churches. We experienced the work of the Holy Spirit and we had the opportunity to see the unity and strength of the churches in the midst of the Covid-19.”

The future is bright for our global partnerships, because two additional conferences were affiliated in 2018.

Asia Pacific EMC (Philippines) and Christ for All Nations EMC (CFAN) Our Asia Pacific Conference was founded by Rev. Dr. Jun Mateo. Primarily through medical missions trips in various areas across the Philippines from yearto-year, Rev. Jun and his wife Marlene initiated a church planting movement that has grown exponentially. The network of churches was formally affiliated by the General Conference as the Asia Pacific Conference. Their vision is to plant churches in New Zealand, across the Pacific Rim and elsewhere as God guides.

The C.F.A.N. Conference is led by Bishops Rev. Albert Budiaki in Canada, and Rev. Dr. Patrick Mubobo in Greensboro, NC. Dr. Mubobo reported to the General Council that evangelistic work was being done in Greensboro, NC (at Change the Nations Church), and globally in Montreal, Toronto, Paris, West Africa, Central Africa and South Africa.

He wrote: “The great news is that Jesus Christ is still on the Throne and changing lives on earth. Throughout our conference, we are experiencing the power of God and witnessing transformation of lives.”

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75 Years of Youth Ministry …

Youth and Children’s Ministries have always been a priority in the Evangelical Methodist Church. In these pages you’ll see articles from our 75-year history which highlight the importance and the investment the EMC has made in our youth.

God has given parents the role of primary spiritual shepherds for their children, and churches are to come alongside parents and families to help solidify the truth of God’s Word they are teaching. For those who may not have parents who are believers, the church also provides spiritual mentors to shepherd and model a relationship with Christ.

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Two primary ways the larger body of the EMC has come alongside church ministries and ministered to Youth and Children are Youth Camps and Quiz Team programs.

It’s likely that several reading this Connection issue were campers at a church youth camp – maybe a few times or maybe every year. For those who attended, many can point back to a major spiritual decision(s) made at a Youth Camp altar… salvation, sanctification, a call to ministry… and the list goes on. The EMC has faithfully provided camp opportunities for children and youth to come away from their normal distractions and gather to witness the love of Christ. We hope you enjoy these historical pictures, articles, and camp and quiz team reports. ~ Judy Edwards

From “The Voice” | 1961

The Big Bid for Youth - “The man that said, ‘The youth of today are the church of tomorrow’ spoke a fallacy. The truth is that the young people of today are, at this very moment, a part of the church of today. Woe be unto that church that looks like the ‘Old Timers Sunday School’ class. There is no more lucrative or fruitful field than that presented by the millions of American youth. They come in all sizes, shapes, colors and dispositions. They are everywhere – in, behind, on top of, around, over, in front and in back.

The devil, that old opportunist, is making his biggest bid today for the youth of this nation.

He is using every avenue of approach: appetites, glamour, sex, money, thrill, amusement, in fact the list is endless. He is offering ‘everything in the book.’ He is making it hard for a youth not to submit to his wiles and ways. On the other hand, what is the church (your church) doing to put its bid in for the youth? They are at our door; they are our opportunity; their future is, to a great extent, in our hands. What is your bid for youth?”

Camp Reports | 1962 Southwest District Youth Camp: Exactly 100 campers attended the Youth Camp at Camp-o-Wood near Tucson in August. The camp is located in Peppersauce Canyon on the slopes of 9,000 feet high Mount Lemmon.

Rev. James Perry was the camp director and Dick Lawrence was athletic director. Ministers of the district shared the preaching of the evangelistic services and most of the young people at the camp found help at the altar during the meetings. A number were saved and several testified to having felt a call to the ministry or mission field.

The campers were occasionally treated to the sight of bob-cats, coyotes and other desert animals lurking around the edges of the camp. Hikes were made to old mines and the campers became spelunkers on one trip to explore a large cave, which was complete with stalactites, stalagmites and a bottomless pool deep underground.

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Southern California Youth Camp: The Southern California SubDistrict Youth Camp was held at Camp Evangel, Aug. 20-27. There were 104 registered campers about evenly divided between junior high and senior high age groups. Four ministers taught classes daily in two sessions in Missions and Bible, each camper being in two classes each morning.

Rev. & Mrs. James Ogan, missionaries elect to Ecuador with OMS, assisted, teaching missions and Lois serving as camp nurse.

Several ministers spoke during the evangelistic emphasis and morning 1962 Camp Evangel, Southern California chapels. They included: Rev. Meredith Davis, Rev. Lee DeSaulnier, Rev. Roy Hotchkiss, Rev. Kunkle, Rev. Bill Moore, Rev. James Moore, Rev. Bob Moran, Rev. Robert Rogers, Rev. James Ogan, Rev Harold Brown, Rev. Glenn Streight and Rev. Gordon Johnson. A wonderful spirit prevailed throughout the camp. There were many victories and decisions for Christ with a good response to the Missionary Day on the Friday of the camp.

Characteristic of the spiritual experiences these young people found was the testimony of a young man who came to one of the ministers after fully committing his life to Christ and with radiance on his face, explained “It’s great, it’s truly great!”

“Comments on Camp” from “The Voice” Donald Taylor, Pastor of Wesley Church, Memphis, Tennessee | 1967

For a number of years, I have been hearing about the strong Youth Camp of the Mid-South District but I never had the privilege to visit Shelby Forest until this summer. Upon my arrival in the district, I began to immediately promote the camp and make plans for my entire family to attend. We [attended, ready] to observe the camp program and results and compare them with other camps with which we are familiar.

However, we soon found that our week would not be spent in observation and analyses, but in participation and fellowship; plus, a generous sprinkling of work and responsibility.

216 full-time campers and an undetermined number of part-time campers and visitors enjoyed a fine spiritual, social and recreational program that was well planned. We found a good balance between the planned activities and the informal activities, between the spiritual emphasis and the social opportunities and we were soon caught up in a very contagious and fine camp spirit. The Mid-South District Camp is truly one of the fine camps of the Eastern Annual Conference of the EMC. One young man who was saved at the camp joined [the church] the following Sunday.

So, after my first time to attend, I conclude: Numbered with the best, A heritage worth guarding; Owned of God and blessed, A future unlimited.

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Quizzing Programs

Quiz Team programs were a big part of the EMC Youth Ministry over many years and were instrumental in hiding God’s Word in the hearts of our youth and helping solidify a biblical worldview.

Quizzing made a great impact in the lives of the students and the leaders involved. In these pages we share pictures, information and articles about Quiz Teams spanning 1962 through 2017.

Pictured Right: A Wichita, Kansas, quiz team wins the Western Annual Conference quiz competition in Azusa, California, Summer 1969. Rev. J. Vernon Connor, Conference Youth Chairman

Youth Quiz Champs!

Quiz Champs for the 1962 Texas District Youth Camp was the team from Shreveport, Louisiana. Rev. John C. Morris of Fort Worth, Texas served as the Quiz Master and the 1962 Bible Quiz was indeed a blessing and a source of inspiration to the youth camp this year. The group from the First EMC in Dallas, Texas was runner up in the event.

Pictured Left: Shreveport Bible Quiz Team: Left to right: Leonard Richards, captain; Laura Coulter; Kenny Richards; Joy Wease, alternate; Mrs. Florence Richards, coach. Rev. Jack Wease is pastor.

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Children’s Quizzing Now

From “The Connection,” Fall 2017 | Leah Williamson (Excerpts) Bible Quizzing started off as a program I was passionate about. I knew I wanted our children to know more of God’s Word, but I struggled with Bible Quizzing being memorization and nothing else. I was wrong! Our children have grown in their knowledge of God’s Word, and they have grown deeper in their understanding of the who and why of God’s Word. They have also learned they can’t just memorize the scripture and recall it - they have to understand the Word and answer questions that go beyond just a memory verse.

This past summer we had a world quiz for the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel. There were

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1800 quizzers, just like my group of seven, who achieved the honor of getting to attend. I have never been so proud as to stand in a group with so many little ones who can outthink a lot of adults on Scripture. They encourage one another, pray with one another, study the scripture together and build a lifetime of knowledge in their hearts. Covenant EMC’s team came away with 1 bronze, 2 silver and 4 gold medals! I tell my kids all the time, “I do not care how well you do in competition. We do Bible Quizzing so we can grow closer to God and to hide His words in our heart.”