This has led me to wrestle through the following notion – the times when the first two rules of Methodism – “do no harm” and “do good” seem to be at odds.
At its most basic level, Christian faith is a centered, personal, relational response involving trust and obedience.
Whether you’re reading this at home or at work, let me ask you a question. What sort of signal do you give your neighbors? Do you extend welcoming hospitality or have you constructed walls for your personal safe haven? Go Home Ranch My wife and I once hired a handyman to build a lattice fence that would enclose a giant
Human identity is formed as we navigate a process of separating and joining. We become most fully who we are, not when we reach independence, but when we understand our interdependence and recognize that we are both separate and connected to those around us.
From the seven depictions of Christ’s crucifixion story, to the mother of Jesus holding her infant son as she stretched out her arms to the weeping worshipper, the entire chapel was an invitation to see our sufferings – our very humanity – in light of the fact that neither Jesus nor Mary were exempt from suffering, pain, or death.
The Holy Spirit is present, active, and involved with all of creation in a life-giving way.
As Christians, we have a great deal to say about the meaning of suffering.
Christ’s self-giving love overcomes human hatred while at the same time creating space within Christ to receive estranged humanity.
We live in a world where people need to meet Jesus. I guess that’s always been the case. There’s never been a time, in human history, where people have not needed that relationship with God. God created us for relationship with him. Everything in our life flows from that relationship. Here’s the thing. Once we have entered into relationship with
A few days ago I visited a mercy ministry in another town as part of our preparation and planning for building a capacity-building ministry in our community. Talking with the director of the ministry I visited, I was reminded again of just how many beautiful souls there are in the world. I keep running into people who care deeply about
The Methodist Church in Cuba (IMECU) is blessed with exceptional men who are committed to their calling and ready to serve wherever the Lord needs them. One such man is Bishop Ricardo Pereira Díaz. For over two decades, he has been the leader God has used to guide the work on the island. He has walked at the forefront of
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.
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