It has been a "fantastically full fall" (say that three times to loosen your jaw)...I have not had an "office day" to do things like Partners in Ministry since Oct. 4th. But the fall has also been full of fantastic experiences of God's ways and wonders. This month's travels have taken me to our denomination's Global Ministries Board meeting, visiting twenty two churches in Vermont, another amazing District Day with laity and clergy doing a "John 3:16 mission walk" out into the community, a District "Alleluia Sunday" with 400 plus in attendance singing, dancing, and testifying to God's transforming work in their lives and churches, preaching in five alive churches in three states, and spending ten days on a Holy Land journey with 55 laity and clergy from the conference (plus, we worked in seeing all eight of our grandchildren one weekend....whew). But "God is good all the time....All the time God is good." Here are just a few highlights:
Grace and Peace,
Pete
THE CHINA GIFTS God's Spirit is moving throughout China. Some predict that by 2050, China will have more Christians than any nation on earth....in spite of severe restrictions still imposed by the government on Christian churches. Most "churches" are house churches and cannot be larger than 25 members....but, then maybe that's why the Christian movement is growing so quickly! It's what Wesley did, small groups, primarily led by laity supported by periodic visits from circuit riding preachers, multiplying quickly, with no church buildings to worry about....they met wherever (that's our early history in New England,...and maybe our future, too).
Among the seventeen new missionaries we commissioned at the Global Ministries Board was a Chinese missionary, Fuxia Wang. What a gift she is. Then, while we were in the Holy Land visiting the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized, I was preparing for a service of remembering our Baptism using various modes of sprinkling, wading in the Jordan, and immersion. Our guide, who is a Palestinian Christian, was approached by the guide for a Chinese group that was touring the Holy Land also. She said that three of the Chinese tourists had been so moved by what they had seen and heard of Jesus during the touring, that they had become believers and wanted to confess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and be baptized. Would I be willing to baptize these three men, she asked. The three Chinese men shared with me their faith and their commitment to join one of the Christian house churches when they returned home. With prayers and singing and tears of celebration, they were baptized in the Jordan along with us New Englanders remembering and celebrating our baptisms. Three of our group gave their Bibles to these new brothers in Christ. The Spirit descended upon us all....connected in Christ....one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Eph. 4). God's gifts are amazing!
THE VERMONT GIFTS Our Conference Lay Leader, Dr. Oscar Harrell, the Vermont District Superintendent, Rev. Brigid Farrell, and I had a great time visiting twenty two of our United Methodist congregations (some federated) in Vermont. The weather was wet and cold (it was snowing in the mountains) but the welcome was "sunny" and warm. Here are just a few of the creative ministries that are happening in these churches:
- An anglo church has started having prayer time at 5:30 a.m. every morning at the church....it has turned their church around, they say.
- One church has a beautiful hand made banner with Jesus, the good shepherd, on it....for each child/adult who is baptized there, a lamb with the person’s name on it is added to the "flock" of lambs around Jesus.
- Several churches offer a free meal to the community every week....and build relationship with those who come.
- A large plant is growing in the sanctuary of one church which is the "family plant".....clippings from it are given to new members or for special occasions.F
- ollowing Jesus' and Wesley's concern for physical health, as well a spiritual health, one church has a multifaceted "health care ministry.".....physical and spiritual.
- Four congregations in one area are doing Disciple Bible Study groups together that draw from all four churches....and strategizing on how to work together more.
- Several other churches are working together on "NIGHT LIGHT", a lively youth gathering one Sunday a month with worship, study, fellowship....youth designed and led. A lot of young people from those churches....and outside the church....are involved.
I continue to be convinced that God has given us abundant gifts of talent, creativity, faith, and passion for the Gospel in the laity and clergy of so many of our churches in the "new" New England Conference. What we need to do is connect more with each other as "partners in ministry" and, as I like to say in these church visits, "listen, learn, and love God together." May God bless you and your congregation as you serve Christ in your community.
I'm "on the road again" from Nov. 1-11 in Panama for the Council of Bishops meeting and meetings with Methodists Bishops from around the world. Pray for us....even as I will continue to pray for you. This is God's work...not ours. Let us trust God to guide and sustain us.
Grace and Peace,
Pete
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