Denver, CO – World Methodist Evangelism is launched when the World Methodist Council declares: “It is time for all the people called Methodists to go on World Mission and Evangelism together! We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ’s Commission to His church to preach the Gospel and to make Disciples is the supreme business of the Church. God through the Holy Spirit is calling the Methodist people everywhere to a strengthened and sustained thrust in world mission and evangelism.”
It was an honor to be invited by World Methodist Evangelism to go on an evangelism mission to East Kenya in 1999.
I knew I would be considered an evangelist coming from the United States, however, I didn’t consider myself an “evangelist,” but I wanted to go and at least be part of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Another pastor and I were assigned to preach at the end of a week-long revival. We could hear the drums and the singing from quite a distance as we walked up the hill to the schoolhouse. We wondered why so many people were outside the building until I looked in the doorway and realized that the building was completely full with everyone standing! I squeezed my way to the front and knelt down at a bench and prayed. I was overwhelmed by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit! My first thought was “What am I doing here, they already have the Spirit!”
After more than 20 years thinking about my experience, I have concluded that God is always working and nudging and touching people in every country. So, where do we fit in? I believe it is important that we “come alongside” the evangelism work already being done. It is important to see that each of us has Christian brothers and sisters all over the world. We need to connect and encourage each other and share with each other our faith stories …why we have put our trust in Jesus!
My thanks to World Methodist Evangelism for my experience in Kenya!
– Pastor Walter Snook, retired United Methodist pastor currently living in Washington, USA
About ten years ago, I was blessed to be chosen as a participant for the ICYC (now Metanoia) event in South Korea. I will never forget the life-enriching experiences I gained from my interaction and close fellowship with my fellow youth from all corners of the world.
Christianity is indeed a huge brotherhood of men and women of varied colors, persuasions, socio-economic background, political ideologies, etc. but cemented by a common denominator, which is the fervent love for the Lord Jesus Christ and compassion for the lost souls. I will forever be grateful to God, and to the organizer of the conference – World Methodist Evangelism.
– Romme Sampang, The Philippines
Truro, England – World Methodist Evangelism holds the first International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism. Over 800 young adults gather from 47 countries and for the first time, black and white young adults from South Africa are permitted to travel together to attend.
Nassau, Bahamas – 2nd International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism
Sydney, Australia – 3rd International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism
Mexico City, Mexico – 4th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism
Hamburg, Germany – 5th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism. 750 young adults from 48 different countries gathered, including 100 from former Soviet Bloc countries in Eastern Europe
St. Simon’s Island, GA – 6th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism and home to the annual Order of the FLAME gathering.
Newtownabbey, Ireland – 7th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism
Meru, Kenya – The Order of the FLAME launched in Africa
Teresopolis, Brazil – 8th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism
Seoul, South Korea – 9th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism
Alajuela, Costa Rica – 10th International Christian Youth Conference on Evangelism – renamed Metanoia
Auckland, New Zealand – Residency in Mission (RIM) program launched with the first resident
Metanoia India – In 2018 WME hosted Metanoia in Costa Rica. Due to the visa rejection of five young people from India who wanted to attend, Metanoia India began.
The five young people thought their hopes and aspirations had come to an end when they were refused visas. Their rejection, however, was God’s redirection. Although they were unable to attend the event, they were determined to follow their calling and the focus of Metanoia, so they organized a Youth Camp where they would begin a journey to live out the Great Commission as defined in Matthew 28.
They took the concept of the WME event, and together with other young people they gathered from their community, they sat, prayed, and planned for the building up of God’s Kingdom. Since 2018 these young people have continued to gather and grow in their numbers. So far, the program has touched over 500 young adults.
