Praying Power by Karen Bates
Karen Bates
July 20, 2019
“I do not always understand the mystery of prayer, but I know its power.”
“I do not always understand the mystery of prayer, but I know its power.”
World Methodist Evangelism is excited to launch the Residency In Mission program with the placement of our first Resident, Eliza Edge. Eliza will serve in Auckland, New Zealand at the Millwater Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand. As a part of our ongoing commitment to raise up the next generation of leadership in Evangelism and Mission, RIM seeks to foster
On my office shelf is a 200-year-old brick from Bethel Academy, the first Methodist school in the United States west of the Appalachian Mountains, established by circuit riding Methodist preacher Francis Asbury in 1790. From those roots sprang Asbury College in 1890 and Asbury Theological Seminary in 1923. You might look at that brick on my shelf and think it’s
Today’s reading is from Acts 27: 13-38: When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned head-on into the wind,
“Nehemiah is faced with the news that the walls and gates of Jerusalem have been destroyed, leaving the city’s inhabitants vulnerable. What are some things in your life that need to be rebuilt? Are you ready to ask God to show you something that is in need of repair?”
A crucial source of guidance for WME comes from our Regional Secretaries who are located across Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Europe, North America, Pacifica, and South America. These global leaders help us identify the challenges facing the church in their part of the world. We recently gathered the WME Regional Secretaries in Seoul, South Korea to create strategies for WME’s ongoing
“I’ve discovered that there is a tremendous difference between easiness and simplicity.”
“More than just building a tower, the people of Babel wanted to build a reputation for themselves. They wanted others to recognize their intelligence and skill and to admire them. Abraham, on the other hand, didn’t seem that interested in making a name for himself. He was happy to follow God, to obey God’s calling, and to entrust his reputation
God fulfills his promises. We know this. But we often struggle to see how. Because the promises God makes and the promises we would like aren’t always the same. His wisdom is not ours.
“God’s strength becomes available to us when we are rooted and established in his love. In what other things are you tempted to root yourself? What in your life makes you feel secure and established?”
What started with one Antiguan man’s encounter with John Wesley’s writing grew into a Methodist movement spanning the Caribbean and the Americas. Today, the MCCA brings together diverse languages, cultures, and communities around a shared commitment to loving, serving, and transforming through Christ.
God, the Father, loves you. I mean, really loves you. Why Is It Hard to See God as a Loving Father? The idea of God as Father is difficult for some people. We may have trouble seeing God as loving and good due to a difficult relationship to our own earthly father. Perhaps we misunderstand God as being angry, vengeful,
Established in 2000 to re-anchor local ministry in historic evangelical Wesleyan roots, the WMCANZ has quickly become one of the country’s dynamic church planting movements. This diverse denomination focuses heavily on multiplication, next-generation leadership development, and practical community outreach.
Early in my ministry, I served as pastor of three small country churches. Members of those congregations deserve “praise and thanksgiving.” Their pastor was also a college student. Their grace abounded as I wrestled a lot with time problems. I sometimes think that arrangement of pastoral leadership should not be allowed. But when I reflect, I would not trade my
Born out of a bold stand against racial discrimination in 1816 Philadelphia, the AME Church was the first fully independent Black denomination in American history. To this day, it continues to model an inseparable blend of personal holiness and social justice.
I have been in and out of jail more times than I can count. The first few times were intimidating. But before long, I became comfortable with the surroundings, the women I met, and the conversations I never expected to have. When you read the above sentences, what was your initial thought? Did your mind go to Jesus’ words in
New experiences and endeavors can help us see things we did not see before we took that step. Taking action forces us into new positions and literally re-frames our perspectives. These can happen at any moment and most often in big decisions. We recently bought a house, one you might call a fixer-upper. Did you know that remodeling does not
The Methodist movement was first encountered by African slaves in the United Kingdom. When slavery was abolished and believers returned to Nigeria, they requested the help of missionaries. In response to this call, Rev. Freeman championed the first Christian mission in Nigeria. Since 1842, MCN has spent nearly two centuries planting churches, building hospitals, and standing in the gap for
The Free Methodist Church started with very strong convictions and it is still spreading in places far beyond where it started. For every four Free Methodists in the United States, there are 96 in the rest of the world.
I’m behind on my deadline. Well, I’m behind on several deadlines, actually. This article was supposed to be on the editor’s desk quite some time ago, as a matter of fact. I am thankful for his grace. I have tried, really. Missing a deadline is hard for someone like me who prides himself on planning and getting results and producing
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