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The Connection

WINTER 2018/2019

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EVANGELICAL METHODIST CHURCH

Developing a Passion for Prayer

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Contents 5

General Notes

Why We Fail to Pray.

Rev. Max Edwards General Superintendent

Rev. Nate Williamson

Department of Prayer

The Contributions of Anne Bradstreet

Mrs. Judy Edwards

Mrs. Nancy Utt

The Spiritual Devotion of Prayer

EMC Short-term Missions:

Annual Thanksgiving Offering

Rev. Kevin Brouillette

Mary, How Did You Know? Rev. Tad Stinson

One Mission Society Partnership Spotlight:

Chuck and Luci Long

by Susan Loobie, One Mission Society Director of Communications We continue our series of missionary spotlights in which the Evangelical Methodist Church presents EMC members serving with One Mission Society. Please keep these missionaries and our strong partnership with OMS in your prayers. Chuck and Luci Long served with One Mission Society for more than 25 years. In 1982, the Longs began their first assignment of four years in Colombia, where Chuck filled vital roles as professor, administrator, and treasurer for the Biblical Seminary of Colombia. He also coordinated Men for Missions (MFM) work teams. Luci showed hospitality to OMS personnel and guests visiting Medellín. They then spent 15 years serving with MFM, encouraging men and their families to use their God-given talents and abilities for worldwide, short-term mission opportunities. Since 1999, they have been making disciples of Jesus Christ with students at Asbury University and Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. A graduate of Houghton College and Asbury Theological Seminary, Chuck has 43 years of experience in construction and is an ordained pastor. He often uses a meter stick he carries in his pocket every day to demonstrate the good works that God is doing in the world. Luci graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College with a degree in history and music. She traveled for a year with a contemporary Christian music group and has taught elementary school. The Longs recently helped build a chapel in a small town in Hungary during their last mission trip before retiring in May 2018. Chuck and Luci have taken nine trips to Ireland and have worked alongside the Bantry Christian Fellowship church. They say that one day they hope to live there in their retirement and serve with the people of Ireland to bring the Gospel to the lost people in the country.

I am nothing, Christ is all. Rev. José Macías Flores

Are You Called to Go This Year? Rev. Bill Walker

This is our second in a series of missionary spotlights in which EMC will present several EMC missionaries serving with One Mission Society. Please keep these missionaries and our strong partnership with One Mission Society in your prayers. When people think of “Aunt Millie,” the words children and compassion quickly come to mind. Millie faithfully served as a missionary teacher in Colombia for 49 years. Today, despite being retired, Millie continues to tirelessly travel throughout the U.S., raising prayer and financial support for the Christian schools in Colombia. Millie served at the OMS-related Bible institute in Cristalina. She taught and oversaw the girl’s dorm. On the weekends, she took students to the village to do evangelism and teach the children. The students learned a lot from her and still talk about it today. She was loved deeply, and she loved generously. During this time, a young U.S. intern came to Cristalina to teach children. His name was Vernon Young. He and Millie hit it off. After a short time, Millie and Vernon were married and later had three children: Colleen, Joyce and Howard. They moved to Magangué to be closer to the river ministry. One tragic day in 1975, Vernon, was traveling on horseback along a dangerous river. While crossing it, Vernon’s horse stumbled in a hole; Vernon fell and drowned. Even after Vernon’s death, Millie remained in Colombia. When asked why Millie didn’t return to the States, she said, “I was called to Colombia. I think the Lord wants me to continue the work He called me to.” Gail Leroy, OMS missionary and former Colombia missionary colleague shares, “I remember her working on VBS materials until late at night and getting up in the wee hours of the morning. Her devotional life gives answer to how she accomplished all she did—raising three children by herself, running the Compassion International program, teaching Sunday school, counseling teachers, pastors, young missionary candidates and so much more.”

OMS Spotlight

Chuck and Luci Long

The Longs have three adult children: Roderick, Juliana, and Jonathan. Jonathan and his wife Corinne serve as OMS missionaries in Hungary.

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

Printer: Country Pines, Inc., Shoals, IN

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.

The Connection

WINTER 2018/2019

Journey 2019 Further Together Arizona City EMC,

Arizona City, AZ | January 9-10

Refuge Ministries EMC,

Copperas Cove, TX | March 19-20

Kingdom EMC,

Westover, WV | May 7-8

Crossroads Community Church, Nampa, ID | May 20-22

We know that connection is vitally important. The Word of God describes it’s beauty: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” The EMC is hosting four Journey locations in 2019 so that they are more accessible to more people at less cost. Plan now to attend one of these four conference meetings!

GENERAL

NOTES Rev. Max Edwards

International General Superintendent

Learning to pray … God’s way The Greek word most often translated “pray” is

“proseuche,” and the etymology of the word informs us that prayer should be consummately intimate. It is best understood as a means to draw close to God, rather than a technique for achieving results. From the pen of Andrew Murray: “We think of prayer as the power to draw down good gifts from heaven; Jesus [understands it] as the means to draw ourselves up to God.” Indeed, we do not secure God’s attention when we pray. He is always attentive! When we take time to seek God in prayer, it is He securing OUR attention. “Lord, teach us to pray,” the Disciples of Jesus asked. They felt inadequate; unlearned. Our feelings of inadequacy are at least on par with theirs, but our God is kind and patient with us as we learn. From Andrew Murray’s classic book, “With Christ in the School of prayer”: “Prayer [is] the quiet, persistent living of our life of desire and faith in the presence of our God.” One thing I have been learning is that a proper understanding of prayer relocates the center of attention to God and oﬀ me. I have often been guilty of thinking of my prayer life as emails, drafted and sent to God for His consideration. But even an unselfish prayer list, in which I’m faithfully lifting the needs of others may not be truly God centered. As a child, I remember reading from James’ letter that some prayers are not answered because they are asked amiss. (James 4:3) I understood that to

mean entirely wishful and covetous prayers, such as a request for millions of dollars to fall from the heavens. But this lesson I’m presently tracking through is teaching me that even a selfless prayer might be prayed amiss if it is oﬀered without a moment’s thought as to whether or not it is in God’s heart. But if we would just take the time to align ourselves with Him, our faith could soar. “This is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:4). Intercessor Rees Howells understood this secret, and would attempt to discern whether or not he SHOULD ask God for something. Just because he could didn’t mean that he should. You could say Rees had learned to pray about his prayers. Jesus said that our “Father knows what we need before we even ask” (Matthew 6:8). Therefore, when we pray, we are not making Him aware of needs. Instead, we are drawing close to the mind and will of the Trinity so that God’s will may be done “on earth as it is in heaven” (6:10). One other lesson I’m learning is that prayer does not begin when I start talking and end when I stop talking. Prayer is a two-way conversation. And if I’m talking more than I’m listening, that is an indication that I arrogantly think that what I have to say is more important than what God has to say to me. And that is something that can never be true.

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Why We Fail to Pray. by Pastor Nate Williamson “If you need wisdom, if you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do” James 1:5-8 NLT.

It would make sense that prayer for a Christian

would be the most natural thing in the world. I mean, in its simplest terms, it is talking to God, the same God who created the world and yet made a way through His own death and resurrection for us to be in the kind of relationship with Him where He invites us to call Him, “Abba, Father.” But the exact opposite is often true. Prayer is not easier for the believer. Many believers go days without any sort of in depth conversation with their heavenly Father besides the routine prayers at meal times and bed. There are three reasons why I believe we fail to pray. The first reason we fail to pray is because we don’t understand the truth that God has our best interest in mind and wants to bless us. How many times have you said in your heart about someone else, I wish they would just figure it out on their own. God never says that! Because He knows we can’t figure it out on our own! He wants to speak to you! He wants to tell you the answers to your questions! The other side of conversation is listening. Make sure you are not demanding how God answers your questions. He is the master of all forms of communication and it is His pleasure to answer your questions in His own way. How do you know

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it is God speaking to you? Nothing He tells you will ever contradict His inspired words in Scripture. In fact, most of the time the answers you seek have been written and preserved for you thousands of years before you were even born. That is how much He wants to answer your questions! “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” Matthew 7:7-11. NLT Many times I have read this passage and believed that it was telling me that I needed to pester God to get what I wanted. But, in fact, it states the exact opposite. We have already established that God is a good Father. No good father wants or requires his child to pester him in order for him to bless his child. When Scripture says to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep

knocking, it is saying to live a life of dependence upon God where we are unafraid to ask God for our needs and trust that He will give it to us. This is the second reason why we fail to pray. How you approach Jesus in prayer says a lot about who you are and perceive Him to be. Do you believe that He wants to bless you and has your best interests in mind? Are you sure? Because if you feel the need to try to repeat prayers, say them a certain way, or convince Him of why He should give you what you are asking for, your perception of God is probably wrong. And if you feel the need to constantly pester Him with prayer, you probably resemble a bratty child, more than you realize, who probably needs to learn patience and trust, which is why God is making you wait. A good parent/child relationship is where a child needs to ask only once of their parent for their need, trusting that in good time, their request will be answered. “What is causing quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is

wrong, you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:1-3 NLT The third reason why we don’t have the things we desire is that we are simply not asking God for it. We fail even before we begin. God invites us to ask for our needs. He wants us to do it every day. We aren’t bugging Him. He delights in blessing us. But too often we have our heads down, looking around thinking the only way to get ahead is to do what everyone else is doing: fighting, clawing, scraping and cheating to get ahead. We forget that we are diﬀerent! We aren’t strangers to the almighty God. We are His eternally adopted sons and daughters bought by His blood! I have learned in my prayers to just be honest with God. “Father, I want this, but I don’t know if I need it or if it is the best thing for me, so please give me what I need and keep me from anything that might hurt me or my relationship with you.” Ask for the little things and ask for the big things. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Right? We all know that consistent communication clears up confusion. So take the time to talk to Him today. He is a perfect and loving Father who cares for us, His children. What’s keeping us from talking to Him today? Pastor Nate Williamson is senior pastor of Covenant EMC in Morgantown, WV.

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The Spiritual Devotion of Prayer The Interaction of Speaking to and Hearing from God by Rev. Kevin Brouillette

I grew up in an Evangelical Methodist home with a sanctified praying mother. I witnessed faith in God, who was and is our very present help and strength. Mom would call on God for every need we had. She built within her family a strong belief that God answers prayer. I have fond memories of my mother praying over me and my siblings. I witnessed daily miracles of answered prayer through a simple faith in God. This was my introduction to prayer. From those early years, I knew I could call on God and He would answer my call. So how do we speak to and hear from God? Hearing God’s voice is something we all long for, but did you know that God wants you and me to hear his voice! He is a loving Father who wants to speak to and hear from His children. Hearing from God is as natural as hearing your spouse or your best friend talk to you. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life. If we truly want to hear God’s voice, then we must be willing to listen. Now indeed our motives are important in anything we do. Hebrews 4:12 tells us: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

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joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” If you have the desire to hear God’s voice, it’s very probable that you are hearing Him, for He is the one giving you the desire to hear Him. We hear God through his Word. God has spoken to man, through the bible which is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto Salvation. The Bible declares: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). In another verse we read: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is not just a book written by men, but the Bible is God’s inerrant inspired and infallible word. We have the evidence of history, fulfilled prophecy and personal testimony that gives witness to the truth and trustworthiness of God’s word. If you want to hear God speak to you, then you must read the Bible daily. It is his daily counsel for your life.

We hear God through praying. Anytime I want to begin a conversation with someone, I don’t stand in front of the person and hope they will talk to me; I normally begin the conversation by talking and engaging them in conversation. It’s the same way with God. Praying is speaking to God and admitting to God our utter dependence upon him. He knows all about us and he wants us to get to know him as well. The beautiful thing about prayer is that we can share our needs and walk away with the confidence that He will speak into our hearts about every need we have. Once we have prepared our hearts to listen through prayer, we’re more likely to hear His voice, sometimes audibly, but most often through His Word, through our thoughts, in conversation with others and through our circumstances. We hear God through the teachings of Jesus. Jesus is God in the flesh. John describes Him as from the beginning, which we have heard, we have seen, and our hands have touched. (John 1:1) You see, you must have a personal relationship to really know someone, and it’s the same way with God; and we know God through a relationship with Jesus.

We hear God through His Holy Spirit. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”(John 14:26). On the day of Pentecost, with the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s presence, after Jesus ascended into Heaven, verse three says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the promise of Jesus. Now this time, Jesus came not as someone they could see or touch, but rather He came to live inside them. He came to teach them, to talk to them and to live within them. He came to be a very present helper. So we have the Bible, prayer, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and our own conscience to help in hearing the voice of God. I have always believed that God responds to people with an open heart. Jesus says, “Hear I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Pastor Kevin has served two churches in the Evangelical Methodist Church over the past 30 years. He now serves as Conference Superintendent for the USA Conference of the Evangelical Methodist Church.

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Mary, How Did You Know? (Mary’s interaction with Gabriel as a model for our own prayers) by Rev. Tad Stinson

he annunciation is one of the most amazing and important events in all of history. Mary the mother of Jesus was told of her divine destiny. Her interaction with the Archangel Gabriel has been a model through the centuries for our own communion with God in prayer. Mary’s example shows us the way in her honesty, humility and desire for God’s will to be done. Although economically poor and far from the political center of her people, Mary and Joseph were aware of their royal linage. They were of the ancient, glorious and noble house of David. Even at such a young age, Mary would have had a maturity and inner strength that comes from being part of a strong social community, having a sense of her own past, and possessing a deep devotion to God, all qualities that serve any young person well, in her time or ours. She knew her place in the world and had a clear vision of what her life would be like in the decades ahead. Bursting into her unchanging, consistent, day-by-day routine of hard work, kinship obligations, prayer and worship of God in the synagogue came a glorious angel of the Lord… “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’ (Luke 1:2628)” God sent His chief messenger Gabriel to a small Galilean town to talk with a young, innocent, recently engaged Jewish girl about her divine destiny. He knew everything about her, where she lived, her ancestry, her relationships, just as God knows everything about each one of us. One can sense, in Gabriel’s words, an excited joy in sharing

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with Mary the amazing and wonderful news: “You are the chosen one!” He essentially told her she should be happy; being favored by God, she was the most blessed women in the world! But, her response was not the elated cheering of one who had just won a sweepstakes: “But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. (Luke 1:29)” Mary felt her emotions and honestly questioned in her mind what was really going on. When Gabriel saw her distress and fear he said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” He then explained to her God’s plan for her life, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:31-33)” Gabriel then shared with this innocent young woman that she would become pregnant with a king who would rule over Israel for all time. Mary then asked another honest question, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’ (Luke 1:34-35)” Gabriel continued to support his amazing prophesy by giving another example of God’s miraculous power. “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible. (Luke 1:36-37)” With Gabriel’s last argument, focusing on Mary’s cousin Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy in her advanced age, and his aﬃrming God’s power to do

the impossible, Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” With humility and a great desire to do God’s will, Mary consented to becoming the Mother of God. She aﬃrmed that she was a servant of God and proclaimed her desire that God’s will should be accomplished in her life. In her remarkable encounter with the Archangel, Mary’s example teaches us how we might interact with God in prayer. How she interacted with Gabriel gives us permission to honestly question God when things don’t make sense in our lives, or we don’t understand what is happening. Mary’s emotions show us it is alright to be afraid at times, that God will be patient with us and will comfort us. She does not demand her will to be done, nor does she have an arrogant attitude that God is obliged to do what she wishes, rather, Mary is humble and sees herself as a servant of the Lord. Mary said yes to God, becoming an integral part of God becoming flesh. Her humble submission to God’s will is a perfect example of how each of us should say yes to God in our own lives. In our prayers may we always be honest, humble and above all else desire God’s will to be done. Rev. Tad Stinson is a 9th degree ninja in the Pacific Judo Guild.

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I am nothing, Christ is all. by Rev. José Macías Flores The Gospels describe a strong spiritual relationship between Christ and the Father. Vital to that relationship was the priority of solitude and prayer. Jesus was in continuous communication with God. It could be noted that Jesus was never harsh with sinners, but often was with religious leaders entrenched in a system that had lost its spiritual life. Jesus referred to them as ‘hypocrites;’ ‘whitewashed tombs;’ and a ‘generation of vipers.’ His resentment was toward the religious system that retained the form but had lost the essence. Something similar is evident today. We often find that organized Christianity has the form but is losing the essence. How did we get to this point? Perhaps it began with World War I, when positivism received a heavy blow followed by the Great Depression of the 1930s. In this era, Christianity moved away from a dynamic trust in God. Additionally, philosophers such as Emmanuel Kant, and Soren Kierkegaard introduced an existentialism in which the center of reality is the self and its experience. This led to an overarching personal emphasis in which what matters most in our relationship with God is the experience. This ushered in multiple dysfunctions in our forms of worship, Including verbal imitation of animals and other odd and sometimes abominable practices in worship. It has also contributed to an overexaltation and veneration of spiritual leaders. This excessive emphasis on the human being as the center of existence has led to treating God as an object; a servant whom we can command. We see this in the growth of the doctrines of prosperity, positive

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thinking and declarations of faith. These forms twist worship to involve getting favors from God by forcing him with shouts and demands. We should stop to ask ourselves these questions: where is the principle that we are clay and God is the potter? Or that we are useless servants and our best works are filthy rags? That without God we are nothing? That everything I am and what I have I owe to Him? That if I lack the Lord, I lack everything? We must return to the truth conveyed in the motto of George Fox, founder of the Quakers, “I am nothing, Christ is all.” If indeed Christianity has been seduced by secular existentialism and Christ has been displaced, leading us to behave as if we are the center of everything, what must we do? We must first come to our senses, and realize that when God is not in the center, there is a gnawing emptiness in the noise of “the music and dance.” We must return to an emphasis on a true and “quiet” relationship with God. Those who cultivate a deep spiritual life with God are the ones with a vital hunger and thirst for the Lord. Truly Christ-centered believers will have signs and miracles following them, not the other way around. Let’s worship God in the stillness of a spiritual life like Christ’s. As Saint Francis of Assisi said, let us “Preach Christ, and if necessary use words.” Jose Macias Flores is currently pastoring unreached tribal groups in Sonora, Mexico.

Denomination of

Prayer by Mrs. Judy Edwards

“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that - it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” - Charles Spurgeon

We know prayer is critical to any spiritual

renewal or transformation in individuals, in churches, in communities or in nations. Therefore, we want to be a denomination of prayer as we seek God’s face for revival and renewal, first in our own hearts, and then for our leaders and churches in the USA and around the world. When I was a pastor’s wife in a local EMC church, it was a great encouragement for me to know I was being remembered in prayer. The EMC Department of Prayer has always been about undergirding us with prayer, and we want to continue that, adding more regular communication letting leaders know they are being undergirded with prayer. To accomplish that, we are establishing a systematic method for focused prayer for our churches, boards, credential holders and international conferences throughout the year. A member of the Prayer Department will be

contacting pastors and leaders to let you know when we will be having focused prayer for you and those you lead. We also want to involve more laity in our prayer eﬀorts. I know there are laypersons in each of our churches who are passionate about prayer. I’d like to identify them, and create a “Prayer Warrior” group that can intercede with us throughout the year. It would be great to have at least one layperson from each EMC church as a part of this group, and I’d like to have that group established before our 7 Days of United Prayer in April, 2019. If you are interested, ask your pastor to send me your information or email me directly at emcprayerdept@ gmail.com. I’m excited to have the opportunity to pray for you and unite in prayer with you! Mrs. Judy Edwards is the head of the Department of Prayer

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The Contributions of Anne Bradstreet by Mrs. Nancy Utt

Anne was born in Northampton, England,

most probably in the year 1612, to parents Thomas and Dorothy Dudley. Anne and her parents were among some 1800 devout Puritans who sailed from England to America with their leader John Winthrop in search of freedom to worship God in their own way. Winthrop represented the Massachusetts Bay Company, which appointed him leader of the group. Simon Bradstreet, Anne’s Puritan husband of two years, was also among the emigrants. Anne, who was only 18 years old at the time, left behind a life of wealth and privilege, including education in the arts and academics, in the household and estate of the Earl of Lincoln, for whom her father worked as steward. Simon was the son of a Puritan minister and was also a member of the Earl’s household. In the Massachusetts Bay Colony where they settled, both Anne’s husband and her father were active in aﬀairs of the government, each serving several terms as governor as well. At this point in the history of the British Empire, writing was an activity pursued by few women, since it was considered inappropriate for a woman. Anne, however, was a gifted poet who used her gift to express her desires, her hopes, responses to her life’s circumstances, her great love for her husband and, above all, her devotion and thanksgiving to God for His love and wonderful plan for her life. These works of poetry gave expression to her tested and tried but unconquerable faith in the Almighty, in times of prosperity and joy as well as tragedy and hardship. Anne and Simon were blessed with eight children, and even under the time constraints of motherhood and management of the household of an important community leader, Anne’s writing abilities prospered and developed to include not

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only poems of a personal nature about her family and love for God. Her brother-in-law, without her permission or even her knowledge, published a volume of her poetry, “The Tenth Muse” (perhaps her first published work), a collection of pieces that were lengthy, poetic treatments of academic subjects like the epochs of history, the four kingdoms involved in the Book of Daniel and the seasons of the year. These were scholarly poems of equal quality and standard of a poet employed by any European court, the first of this quality to be written by an American, and the first enduring collection produced in the English language by a woman. Her prose as well as her poetry were a clear witness to her faith in Christ, and His eﬀect on her life through all its episodes of child-rearing, homemaking, hardships of various kinds and repeated illnesses during her 40 years in the American colonies, a witness that rang true and was greatly needed in an age fraught with religious controversy and wars. “There is but one Christ,” she wrote,” who is the Sun of righteousness, in the midst of an innumerable company of Saints and Angels…. [who] receive their luster (be it more or less) from that glorious sum that enlightens all in all.” Part of an account of her spiritual pilgrimage written for her children, athe end of her life, reads: “Upon this Rock Christ Jesus will I build my faith, and if I perish, I perish, But I know all the powers of Hell shall never prevail against it, I know whom I have trusted, and whom I have believed and that he is able to keep what I have committed to His charge.” Anne died of consumption in 1672. Nancy Utt is a former member of the EMC Board of World Missions and a member, with her husband Ron, of Covenant EMC in Morgantown, WV.

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WINTER 2018-2019

EMC Short-term Mission Trips: One of the best ways to learn what God is doing around

the world is to see it for yourself. But don’t go on vacation; go on a mission trip to one of the EMC’s international conferences. Mission trips are a great way to let God impact you for his Kingdom and serve your brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. Additionally, mission trips are a great way to begin learning intercultural skills; these are increasingly necessary for the serious Christian, since more and more of our societies are culturally and ethnically diverse. The EMC Board of World Missions is pleased to oﬀer several trips over the next year, so make sure your passport is current, and get ready to go! Mexico, December 26-31, 2018: Participants will join Bill and Lisa Walker to Monterrey, Mexico for service and ministry in a new mission that is fruit from the Train and Multiply (Satura)program. This trip will cover a Sunday, so you will also be able to experience a worship service in a Mexican EMC congregation. Estimated cost: $1,400 per person based on travel from Atlanta, Georgia. Contact Bill Walker (billwalkeremc@gmail.com). M.E.D.S. in The Philippines, February 1-15, 2019: MEDS stands for Medical Evangelistic Dental Surgical. Jun and Marlene Mateo have been leading these trips for over ten years. MEDS is a great blend of medical and dental help combined with Gospel outreach, and has been instrumental in opening areas of the Philippines to new EMC church plants. Medical and dental professionals are welcome, but there is plenty to do for non-medical personnel also. You will work hard on this trip, but Jun and Marlene usually plan a day of well-deserved R&R in a beautiful location. Estimated cost: $3,000 per person. Contact Jun Mateo (junmateo@ yahoo.com). Annual Conference, Myanmar, February 2019: Myanmar International Conference has an annual conference each year. This is the ideal setting to meet EMC pastors and their families and experience true Methodism in the Chin culture of western Myanmar. Estimated cost: $4,000 per person. Contact EMC International Headquarters (317-7808017, generalsecretary@emchurch.org).

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WINTER 2018-2019

Is Is Jesus Jesus Calling Calling You You to to Go Go This This Year? Year? EMC Youth Camp, Mexico, July 2019: The exact location and dates are TBA. Join Bill and Lisa Walker and the EMC Mexico youth for camp. This will be a spiritually challenging and relationally enriching experience. Many pastors and families attend the camp, so you will be able to get to know them as well as other youth. Estimated cost: $1,900 per person. Contact Bill Walker (billwalkeremc@gmail.com). Annual Conference, Mexico, July 2019: This will follow the youth camp. It can be a separate trip or combined with the youth camp trip. Like the Myanmar Annual Conference, this is also a wonderful opportunity to get to know the pastors and their families. Estimated cost: $1,700, if not combined with the youth camp trip. Contact Bill Walker (billwalkeremc@gmail.com). Here are the testimonies from some EMC’ers who have gone on trips recently: “In February, I was blessed to participate in a very rewarding medical mission trip to The Philippines and Myanmar. Following the medical ministry, I continued in Myanmar for several weeks preaching in the Myanmar Annual Conference and in villages. I enjoyed worshipping with the Myanmar EMC. I prayed for the sick and needs of many; several testified of a healing touch. A big piece of my heart remains in Asia. I am looking forward to returning in the future!” Rev. David Hayes—Kannapolis, NC “This past winter I was privileged to participate in my first medical mission. However, I am not a traditional, career missionary. I have been on multiple mission trips, and believe every Christian leader should do whatever they can to participate in a mission trip. I believe we NEED the experience to mature and better-equip ourselves as leaders. It does not need to be on foreign soil, but it does need to take us outside our comfort zone, a place where we must rely on the Lord.” Lorrie Mackey—Marshfield, MO

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WINTER 2018-2019

Annual Thanksgiving Offering As we gather our families this year to

spend time together and give thanks to God for His goodness, let’s remember what God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:2: “… I will bless you … and you will be a blessing.” Abraham received God’s blessing happily, but understood that God chose him not because he was an awesome man, but because he would be faithful. God has blessed us with so much. We pause this time of year to recognize this. Although sometimes we go through hardships and our family finances might tighten as we approach Christmas, we should all understand that we have so much more than those in other countries. God has indeed blessed America, but this blessing is not just for us to enjoy. It is an expression of His confidence in our faithful stewardship. The Board of World Missions has made a joint five-year commitment with the Mexico international conference (MEM) using OMS’ “Train and Multiply” discipleship-based church multiplication strategy. Your giving in previous years has funded this initiative and we are seeing initial results. Mexico reports having planted three new churches this year. In the past we have helped the Myanmar Conference with ministry and building projects, and we anticipate some opportunities to help

our Asia Pacific and ACE conference. Your generosity through the Annual Missions Oﬀering enables to Board of World Missions to support these and other projects. For the 2018 Annual Mission Oﬀering, the Board of World Missions decided to share the gifts between our four international conferences: Mexico, Myanmar, Asia Pacific, and Christ for all Nations (CFAN, formerly known as ACE conference). Mexico will continue the “Train and Multiply” program with former Mexico General Superintendent as the champion of this initiative. Myanmar needs help to continue the church partnership (formerly known as adopt-achurch) which helps local congregations with new buildings. Asia Pacific requests assistance with church planting, $1500 supports a church plant for one year. CFAN requests funds for their bus ministry. Please send your best gift directly to EMC Headquarters or through your local church, and THANK YOU for helping expand God’s kingdom around the world! Rev. Bill Walker lives in Hull, Georgia and is the Chairman of the Evangelical Methodist Church Board of World Missions.

CMY

The Connection

WINTER 2018 -2019

One Mission Society Partnership Spotlight:

Chuck and Luci Long

The Longs have three adultAD.pdf children: 1Roderick, Juliana, andPM Jonathan. Jonathan and his wife Corinne serve as OMS missionaries in Hungary. EMC Shepard Project 10/22/17 12:37

Kennedy Kirui, Shepherd Project Graduate (M.A. ‘17), Kenya WBS is committed to global education. Every year we equip pastors and Christian leaders from the Majority World through the Shepherd Project. These students earn their M.A. in Christian Studies online, so that they can fulfill the Great Commission in their own nations and communities. Your gift/your church’s gift of: · $450 sponsors one hour of academic instruction · $1,350 sponsors one course · $2,700 sponsors an average semester · $8,100 sponsors an average academic year · $22,500 sponsors a 50-hour degree for a Majority World Christian Leader

"One of the greatest challenges we have in Africa is a church that is growing very fast in numbers but shallow in depth. We need more people with proper grounding that will disciple those who will go and disciple others who will disciple others (2 Tim. 2:2). My prayer is to have a church in Africa that grows deep so that it can grow wide."

Is the Lord leading you to impact the world for Christ in this way? Email development@wbs.edu for more information on how to sponsor a Shepherd Project student.

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