Conference Corner - Four Focus Areas
Connectional Table meeting this Fall was inspiring and frustrating at the same time. Inspiring because we had stories of churches who were actually doing some things related to the four focus areas of our church (UMC) mission. Lay people took the initiative to get Disciple Bible study started in prisons. I love Disciple Bible study and I know how life transforming it can be. I gave God thanks for these two men from North Carolina who took this initiative. We had an inspiring witness from a pastor who asked to be appointed to a ministry with homeless people and started a church in downtown Ashville, North Carolina. (We never hear about homelessness in Ashville. We hear about the Biltmore Estate most of the time.) What a walk of grace, service and love this young man does every day.
I felt frustration because it’s taking so long to get going. I still have people asking me why our church adopted these four new goals. Folks, they are not new. You’ll find them in the gospels, in the models of and for ministry that Christ gave us. Christ spent his ministry inviting people into relationship with God, a life giving relationship (that’s making new places for new people) while sharing the truth of Christ’s love. Christ carefully modeled and taught what discipleship should be to His followers (raising up principled leaders). Christ healed the sick, brought hope to those without hope and called us to minister to the oppressed and those in prison. (Ministry with the poor). Christ was the great healer and it didn’t matter the race, gender or nationality of that person in need. (Global health initiative).
So, if it’s not new and we have the models Christ provided, why are we dragging our feet and assuming someone else will do this. Already, several annual conferences around the world have adopted a country in Africa to blanket with bed nets. It was reported that there had been a drop of 62% in malaria cases in those countries that have been saturated with bed nets treated with insecticide. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria in Africa. Could you imagine a world without malaria? That’s our goal by the year 2015. It takes $10 per net. You could do this with just one basketball shooting contest!! That’s the easy one, but it’s a starting place.
Can you identify hungry people in your community? Would you ask them to help you work with them to alleviate hunger? Try offering a hand-up (literacy classes, ESL classes, job skills training). I’ve been told repeatedly, “there’s no one in our town that isn’t going to church if they want to do so” so we can’t invite anybody. Really!!! It’s still a given fact that 60% of the folks in our counties have no relationship with a church. How about a different place that is more welcoming to “unchurched” folks, a store front, a bible study in your home.
Are you providing classes to help folks study God’s word for guidance in their lives? Are you watching for folks who just need a little encouragement but have the gifts for church leadership, lay or clergy? How can you help them develop into the principled leaders God’s church needs?
Every issue of “Circuit Rider” and “Interpreter” has provided stories of successful ministries developed around these four focus areas. I pray you’ll open your hearts to God’s leading and try to get involved in some of these areas of focus. If you need ideas or training, don’t hesitate to call us in the Conference Service Center. We probably know someone or some church that is making a difference and would be willing to help you get started.
Make it a matter of prayer and ask God to lead you and your church.
