It was not a family of origin reunion. It was a reunion of Free Methodist leaders from around the world. World Conference 2015 concluded a couple of weeks ago in Port Shepstone, South Africa. The FMCUSA was represented by the three U.S. bishops, chairman of the Board of Administration for the FMCUSA, and two other laypersons, Diane Kurtz and Bryan Blankenship. It is hard to explain how an international body, separated by a number of languages and cultures, could be so intimately connected in spirit, form, function and vision. Culture difference was transcended in Spirit-led ways. It defies logic and reinforces the possibilities that exist when Jesus Christ is central to a family.
I found it fascinating that many of the messages that were given seemed to overlap and tie together in a supernatural way. There was no advanced collaboration or rehearsing. Yet, just as a master carpenter can put pieces of wood together in seam-hiding ways, this was a seamless connection of leaders all committed to the truth and grace of the gospel in mysteriously similar ways.
We approved a joint resolution to see this coming decade as a decade of harvest wherein our goal is to see the Free Methodist become a great movement of the Lord. And, it was unanimously agreed upon. Among the delegates were some folks I had never met before. They were from South Africa, Brazil, Egypt, Uganda and Congo. In many cases, I felt joined in spirit in unexplainable ways. For instance, I had the privilege of traveling and sitting with some of our representatives from Uganda, all of whom exhibited a profound joy and commitment to the gospel of Jesus that I was encouraged by the relatively young work they were doing.
For those Free Methodists who read this, I would once again ask that you pray for the brothers and sisters who are doing good work with very little in sometimes difficult situations. None of them can do this; neither can we. Only God can accomplish this good work in the years to come in this decade of harvest. We can do this as a family- the family of God. It was wonderful meeting some of my family for the first time. It could not have been better.