Voices From the Annual Conference

This year’s Annual Conference was much more spiritual than many I have attended over the years. There were no controversial issues, no voting that needed to occur outside of the standard order of business, and a commitment on the part of those who set the agenda to return to our Wesleyan roots. On the whole, I found myself inspired, renewed, and strengthened as both a pastor and as a United Methodist – which (when you think about it) should be the point of such a gathering. I thought I would share with you some of the statements and words that particularly touched me.

• When it suits his purpose, God will not remain invisible, indifferent, or inactive. If a cause is just or a ministry is benevolent, it will triumph in spite of our best efforts to sabotage it.
• The devil uses discouragement as a tool against us. We sit around and worry about the bad things that can happen; which either never will, or will happen without our help.
• When a church is on fire, the inquisitive will be drawn to the light.
• No dump truck is going to unload fantasy Christians at your doorstep that look like you, sing like you, and want to serve on the Trustees.
• Methodism was founded on a theology of grace and a methodology of practice. Today’s problem is that we have great theology, but our methodology is broken.
• Sometimes we participate in church stuff, but leave God on the front porch.
• In a post-Christian, post-modern world, evangelism is by compassion and service. What we do carries more weight than what we say.
• As Christians we need to be like sharks. We either keep moving or die.
• Jesus asked us to be fruitful – fruit is new life, fruit is growth, fruit is future.
• While the rest of the world lives in an instant coffee society, we as Christians need to percolate in the aroma of Christ.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Dave