First Friday Letter The World Methodist Council
August 2023
Greetings from the General Secretary Dear Friends, There is an air of excitement and anticipation as we count down to the 22nd World Methodist Conference, On the Move, in Gothenburg. Do not miss the Early Bird and Super Saver registration rate for this historic event in this idyllic setting. Register here: https://cvent.me/lLNkeZ The next few weeks will be quite busy as the Steering Committee meets with the Host Committee to finalize arrangements for the Council and Conference. As we plan for the upcoming events, it became noticeably clear that we cannot do the same things and hope for a different result. We cannot be wedded to structures and ways of working that no longer seem fit for purpose; hence we will propose a document, New Patterns of Working, to the Council for adoption. It is my hope and prayer that we will seize the opportunity so that the Council can become more resilient, agile, and effective in responding to the volatile dynamics and challenges of the twenty-first century. Please pray for our Host Committee as well as the Nominations and Steering Committee as we prepare a slate of officers to give leadership to the World Methodist Council from 2024-2030. The Korean Methodist Church will host a Roundtable Meeting from 28-30 August to consider peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula. The WMC supports the “Korea Peace Appeal” https://en.endthekoreanwar.net/ and stands in solidarity with Korean churches toward permanent peace. The World Methodist Council will hold a Consultation on Migration in Manila, Philippines, from 4-7 September. We have also been invited to the 13th General Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation in Krakow, Poland, from 13-19 September. I will participate in a discussion on the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ), which effectively resolved a 500-year-old debate on justification at the heart of the Protestant Reformation. The landmarked agreed text was the result of a Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue in 1999. The World Methodist Council adopted the Declaration in 2006, followed by the Anglican Consultive Council in 2016 and the World Communion of Reformed Churches in 2017. Geneva Secretary Bishop Rosemarie Wenner will represent the Council at the New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA), GEM School for young adults in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 21 August to 1 September. Our President, Rev. Dr. JC Park, will represent the Council at the Sant Egidio Community International Meeting for Peace in Berlin, Germany, from 10-12 September. We will share more about these events in upcoming First Friday Newsletters. This edition offers a reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 10:39: Project Restoration’s response to hurricane victims in Pennsylvania, All We Can’s Emergency Relief Fund in the face of global crises, and the Nazarene Youth Conference in Tampa, Florida. All these events speak to how the sons and daughters of those in the Wesleyan tradition are On the Move. Blessings, Ivan
World Methodist Council
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Register NOW for WMC Conference
The 22nd World Methodist Conference of the WMC will be held 13-18 August 2024 in Gothenburg Sweden. Be part of this historic event. This is an oppurtunity for all Wesleyan, Methodist and Uniting Churches to come together. The WMC is the only place for all of John Wesley’s family to join at one table in a common bond. Worship will feature world renowned speakers. Choose your program from the many academic sessions, seminars, meetings,receptions and tours as you complete the registration form. The exhibit hall will feature a variety of displays from around the world or you can choose to have a booth and pitch your own ideas. Register NOW to recieve the best attendee rate and hotel room choices. Join this worldwide celebration of cultures, music, and learn from people who will share their knowledge, allowing you new experiences.
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Gothia Towers (above) Photo 282416133 | Gothenburg Sweden © Dreamnordno | Dreamstime.com
Gothenburg, Sweden Photo 70704550 | Gothenburg Sweden © Anderm | Dreamstime.com
World Methodist Council
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Let It Go “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” (Matthew 10:39 NLT) I promise you this talk was not inspired by the movie “Frozen”, even though I still catch myself humming to the song… Do you wanna build a snowman… (my three girls were little when the movie came out!) Success is something we value a lot in western culture. We place high value on achieving, on pushing forward and climbing higher and grasping at what we perceive as success. We might say this comes from a “spirit of conquest” or our “competitive natures.” In the U.S. we claim the “American Dream.” Sometimes even in the Church, we can confuse this idea of success for something holy. And while there is truly no problem with a pure entrepreneurial spirit (the Bible is full of godly people who were like that), there is ONE big problem with the way we dream up, go after, or simply measure our success: Our understanding of success is at odds with how God defines success. God’s Kingdom flips our values on their heads. You see, this might come as a surprise to you, but the Western way isn’t necessarily the Kingdom Way. Jesus put it this way to his bewildered followers, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” (Matthew 10:39 NLT) Talk about an upside-down way of seeing things! Or maybe not so much. The Bible is filled with stories of people who wanted to live by their own definition of success. Here are some examples: - Adam/Eve: Adam and Eve thought they were somehow missing out by not eating from a certain tree. They ate from the tree at the expense of a perfect relationship with their creator! - Jacob: Otherwise known as “deceiver”, Jacob tried to find success all of his life by his own means. Finally his ways caught up with him. It wasn’t until he finally quit trying, and put his situation in God’s hands (by force!), that he finally discovered true success. - Peter: Peter thought success was going out to battle and winning by force. At one point he cuts off the ear of a soldier. Jesus, by contrast, defined success as dying. At the end of three days, Peter was the beat down remorseful soul, while Jesus was raised from the dead! There isn’t anything wrong with succeeding, unless our pathway toward success takes us away from the life God intended for us to live for Him. While we focus on forming and chasing a big dream, God ultimately calls us to lay our dreams on an altar and pursue Jesus and His Kingdom instead. Sometimes, pursuing Christ instead of personal success actually leads to our old idea of success as God places us in positions of influence for God’s glory’s sake. Except when that happens, we tend to not care anymore about our positions, our own glory, or our comfort. If you’re living for the next promotion, the bigger house, the higher position, the image you have in your mind of what “success” looks like, you may miss the very best pursuit of all – the pursuit of knowing your Creator intimately. But if you loosen your grip on your life and surrender to God’s will and desires for you, your relationship with God will become far more fulfilling than any position you could ever occupy. The way to find your life is to lose it, to let it go. What kind of success are you aiming for? Submitted by World Methodist Evangelism
World Methodist Council
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“Share Our Food With The Hungry” (Isaiah 58) Weekend Prayer and Action Against Hunger on 14-16 October 2023 Since several years we partner with many other Christian communions and organizations to raise awareness for spiritual and practical steps to overcome hunger. Hunger is avoidable, there is plenty of food for all. Yet because of human failure, climate change, armed conflicts, exploitation of mother earth and unsustainable food production for the benefit of global companies instead of ordinary people, as many as 783 million people faced hunger worldwide in 2022. I worked with a team of Ecumenical leaders to provide material for local churches, house groups and families to engage in prayer and action against hunger around World Food Day (October 16). We recommend the liturgy available soon in various languages at https://www.wvi.org/emergencies/hunger-crisis/weekend-of-prayer to be shared with those who do worship planning. In addition, you are also encouraged to reflect on the Ten Commandments of Food https://www.oikoumene.org/sites/default/files/Document/TenCommandmentsFood. pdf, to which we add a child friendly version. Several of our member churches and affiliated organizations engage in programs to overcome hunger. Consider supporting these initiatives locally and globally. The biblical reference for this year’s Prayer and Action Against Hunger campaign is Isaiah 58:6-12: “to loose the chains of injustice, untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free...and share our food with the hungry… Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” Let it be so! World Methodist Council
Submitted by Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, World Methodist Council First Friday Letter page 4
Ida hurricane victims not forgotten in Pennsylvania When Brenda Wyatt got an email offering help to repair her home after it had been damaged by Hurricane Ida, she figured it was a scam. “I wasn’t sure if it was true or not, because you get so many spam emails and so many scam things,” Wyatt said in an interview in the small, tidy living room of her row home just outside Philadelphia. “When you respond to (such an email), in the end, you end up losing something.” But something stopped her from deleting the email. She even started filling out the application a couple of times, but got scared about all the personal information she would have to divulge. “I did a little research through the Better Business Bureau just checking things out, and it showed that (Project Restoration) was legit,” Wyatt said. She filed her application on the last day of the deadline. That led to a telephone call and a visit. Wyatt finally felt reassured that the offer of help was genuine. Project Restoration, a ministry of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, was on the case. Funded by more than $670,000 in grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief and donations from individuals and churches, the project has led to the repair of some 20 homes damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021, with at least 40 more to come.
Burnt Factory volunteer Rick Leonard said they’re going to finish the basement floor at Wyatt’s home, but added that the job’s in progress. But completing all the work was not the goal of the volunteers, Darcy said. “We call it pushing a rock up the hill,” Darcy said. “So we got a couple revolutions up the hill and someone else will come in, and they’ll keep pushing till we get to the summit. That’s the value of connectionism. That’s what this group is all about.” Jeffers said some of the need for affected homeowners like Wyatt derives from the relative low value of their homes compared to those in tonier neighborhoods. A big aspect of what’s going on here is that the national disasters are based off of financial damage,” he said. “So if a really wealthy district were to be damaged, that could be a national disaster, but a lot of Philadelphia flooded and a lot of these were cheaper row homes. There wasn’t a big financial damage, so it wasn’t a national disaster.” That meant less help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and insurance companies, Jeffers said. In cases like that, a damaged home may need more work than the home is worth.
“Project Restoration has emerged as a community leader in supporting unmet needs,” said Katherine Hills Uzoka, interim director for U.S. disaster response at UMCOR. The relief agency also supports the ministry’s efforts through disaster case management training and technical assistance. Daniel Jeffers, the construction project manager for Project Restoration, said he meets “a lot of definitely traumatized people who have gone through a lot. A lot of these homeowners start out the project really depressed or distressed still years later, and talking about they won’t enter that side of their house or (walk on) that floor,” Jeffers said. As the work progresses, there is usually a total shift in attitude, he said. Dave Darcy, a volunteer from Burnt Factory UMC in Stephenson, VA, who was working on Wyatt’s home and another Project Restoration site, said the physical work he was doing is secondary. “The biggest thing that we look to do when we come to the site is relationship building, providing hope,” Darcy said. The volunteers from Burnt Factory, lodged at Drexel UMC, about 15 minutes away from Collingdale.
World Methodist Council
Denise Shelton (center), disaster recovery director for Project Restoration, assists volunteers as they work June 30 in the basement of Brenda Wyatt’s home in Collingdale, Pennsylvania. Project Restoration’s work is financed by donations from individuals and churches and grants from the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Photo by John Coleman, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. First Friday Letter page 5
All We Can Launches Emergency Relief Fund, for World Crises All We Can, a pioneering international development and humanitarian organization, has announced the launch of its Emergency Relief Fund. This ground-breaking initiative is designed to enable All We Can to respond swiftly and effectively to crises occurring around the world.
refugees encounter in accessing psychological support due to their work schedules and transportation constraints. Natalia expressed her willingness to adapt and provide online counselling if necessary, emphasizing the importance of mental health support for the displaced population.
In today’s rapidly changing world, emergencies and disasters strike without warning, leaving vulnerable communities in urgent need of support. By establishing a separate pool of emergency funding, All We Can will be able to provide immediate assistance, ensuring that help reaches those affected by crises without delay.
The launch of All We Can’s Emergency Relief Fund serves as a beacon of hope for individuals like Natalia and countless others impacted by crises worldwide. It enables the organization to respond swiftly and effectively, providing essential aid and support to those in urgent need.
The Emergency Relief Fund is a direct response to the growing demand for a rapid humanitarian response in times of crisis. By having a separate pool of emergency funding, All We Can hopes to create a way for regular givers to specifically support with emergency relief and disaster risk reduction. When disasters strike, the ERF means All We Can is well-equipped and prepared to respond immediately, making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected. Natalia, a 43-year-old psychologist from Kiev, shared her first-hand account of the impact of the Emergency Relief Fund. She recounted her journey from Ukraine to Poland, fleeing the conflict and seeking refuge with her children and pets. Natalia explained the challenges faced by refugees, including the difficulties of communication within families, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among displaced individuals, and the desire of some to return home despite ongoing dangers. Currently, Natalia works with people with disabilities, particularly children with Asperger’s and autism, as well as adults suffering from post-traumatic stress. However, she highlighted the technical challenges
Individuals and organizations are encouraged to contribute to the Emergency Relief Fund through All We Can’s website at https://www.allwecan.org.uk/ appeal/emergency-relief-fund/. Their donations will empower All We Can to continue making a lasting impact and providing hope in times of crisis. Graeme Hodge, CEO of All We Can, said: “All We Can recognizes the critical importance of immediate humanitarian response in the face of global crises. Stories like Natalia’s show how the ERF helps us to support vulnerable communities and individuals, providing essential aid and psychological support during their darkest times. We urge everyone to join us in this crucial work by becoming a regular supporter of the fund and making a difference in the lives of those affected by emergencies.” For more information about the Emergency Relief Fund and to donate, please visit allwecan.org.uk/ emergency. Together, we can make a lasting impact and provide hope in times of crisis.
Bytom near Katowice. Community centre for Ukrainian refugees. Psychologist Natalia has an interactive session with her children’s group.
World Methodist Council
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Students challenged to live in God’s power at NYC 2023 Over 10,000 students and volunteers gathered at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, from 5-9 July for Nazarene Youth Conference 2023. The four-day youth conference for students entering 9th grade through graduating high school seniors featured plenary sessions, times of worship, live concerts, and service projects in the community. The conference brought together students from the United States, Canada, and missionary students for an impactful experience. “NYC was such a unique opportunity,” said Crismari Leon, a student attendee from Nall Avenue Church of the Nazarene in Prairie Village, Kansas. “Being in an arena with 10,000 other high school-aged people worshipping God together was unreal.” Popular Christian recording artists For King and Country, Zach Williams and Blessing Offor, and Lecrae performed following the evening plenary sessions. Thanks to the Ministry With Others portion of NYC, students put in over 30,000 combined service hours for various local service projects. Over 78 different projects completed ranged from helping with landscaping and painting at local churches to cleaning up local parks and putting together more than 30,000 Care Kits to be distributed through partner foundations around the Tampa Bay area. The MWO sites made an estimated economic impact of $1.5 million in Tampa. In addition to the plenary sessions, The Experience, an interactive and immersive prayer experience, gave students time to reflect and connect with God in a more peaceful setting.
On Friday morning, Chris Simning preached about God’s goodness and how it can saturate the unworthy or unwanted areas of their lives. Rich Villodas then gave a powerful sermon on how the Nazarene holiness tradition is rooted in love and can help bring justice and restoration to a broken society, encouraging the students to be vessels of that process. On Saturday, Jason Ballard preached about following God’s plans, reminding the students that He has equipped them for the task ahead. Ballard challenged them to think as Jesus would have as they faced certain moments in their life. General Superintendent Carla Sunberg spoke on Saturday night, charging the students to stand in the overflow of the Holy Spirit, so they might be empowered to fulfill God’s call in their lives. And finally, Eric Samuel Timm challenged the students during the final session on Sunday morning to share the hope they find in the overflow and to let it flow out of every aspect of their lives as they return home. “If we allow God to overflow, He will take over our lives and guide us through the right path,” Leon said. To help reorient the conference schedules for NYC and General Assembly, the next two NYCs will take place every three years. It was recently announced that NYC 2026 will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Read more at https://www.nazarene.org/
“The Experience was a break from all the commotion of NYC to connect with God one-on-one,” Leon said. “It allowed for a time of reflection on why we were in NYC and how we could continue to use what we learned going forward.” The conference’s theme, Overflow, was based on Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This was illustrated through the seven sermons the students heard during the conference. On Thursday morning, LaMorris Crawford started the conference by discussing the hope in Jesus Christ, encouraging students to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Carly Bartlett followed up that evening, discussing God’s grace and how it renews and restores through the story of the Samaritan woman. World Methodist Council
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Vice President Harris to Address AME Women’s Missionary Society On August 1, Vice President Kamala Harris will give remarks in person during its plenary session. “Founded in 1874, WMS-AMEC is extremely excited to welcome someone who continues to shatter glass ceilings. We know that Vice President Harris’s presence will be inspirational and motivate our members to continue our organization’s global dimensions of building, birthing, bridging, and branding missions,” states WMS-AMEC International President Deborah Taylor King. Vice President Harris’s address will be live-streamed on the WMS-AMEC Facebook page (@WMSAME) and The Christian Recorder YouTube Channel (@TheChristianRecorder). Vice President of The United States of America, Kamala Harris Over 3,000 women from around the world will gather in Orlando, Florida, July 30 to August 3, at the West Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center for the 20th Quadrennial Convention of the Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (WMS-AMEC)— the world’s oldest Protestant denomination established by persons of African descent.
In addition to holding internal business sessions and workshops, the WMS-AMEC will work with local Orlando non-profits organizations through its “Missionaries on the Move” initiative including: the Olive Branch Food Pantry, United Against Poverty, and the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. WMS-AMEC will also launch an initiative in partnership with Mothers’ Demanding Action (MDA) to fight for gun control legislation. For media inquiries and more information contact Lisa Johnson-Whigham, Connectional Political Action Chair, Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at jlisad64@yahoo.com.
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22nd World Methodist Conference Gothenburg, Sweden 13-18 August
Photo credits: Perkins School of Theology/ R. Hipps
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The First Friday Newsletter is a monthly publication of the World Methodist Council.
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