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The Connection SPRING 2018
ENGLISH, SPANISH AND
FRENCH EDITION
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE EVANGELICAL METHODIST CHURCH
The Gospel
is about
People
Education with a
Christian Worldview
T op
15
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Contents
5 General Notes 16 Book Review: The Emotionally
Dr. Edward Williamson Destructive Relationship
General Superintendent Ms. Leslie Vernick
6 Out of a Far Country: 17 OMS Spotlight
A Gay Son’s Journey to God Mrs. Mary Sutherland
Dr. Christopher Yuan
18 The Power of a
8 Three Essential Ingredients Good Story
for a Healthy Marriage Rev. Brian Gordon
Ms. Leslie Vernick
10 Something Greater 20 History for the Quadrennial (2014-2018)
Than Marriage Dr. Harold Thompson
Dr. Christopher Yuan
& Rosaria Butterfield 22 How Much Greater is His Plan
Mrs. Gilda Williamson
12 Why Can’t the Pentecost
be Repeated? 24 M.E.D.S. Medical Teams to
Rev. José Macías Flores Southeast Asia
Connection Staff
14 Hildegard of Bingen: 26 Spanish Translation
Abbess with a Mission
37 French Translation
The Connection
The Connection is a publication of the MAGAZINE STAFF Printer: Country Pines, Inc., Shoals, IN
Evangelical Methodist Church. Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Edward Williamson SUBMISSIONS
Pre-Production Editor: Ms. Deborah Mitchem Send articles to:
International offices are located at the Graphic Design: Rev. Nathan Williamson Ms. Deborah Mitchem
Editor: Rev. Elias P. Stinson, Jr. dmitchem@frontier.com
Hamblen-Bruner Headquarters Building
Editor: Mrs. Nancy Utt
6838 South Gray Road ADVERTISING SALES
HQ Executive Secretary: Mrs. Teresa Grove
Indianapolis, Indiana 46237 Department of Prayer: Mrs. Gilda Williamson publications@emchurch.org
Telephone: [317] 780-8017 Translator: Rev. José Macías Flores, Spanish
Fax: [317] 780-8078 All quoted Scripture is from the
NIV Bible, 1984, unless otherwise
www.emchurch.org noted.
publications@emchurch.org
MISSION
MISSION
Connecting
Connectingpeople
peopleof
ofall
allcultures
culturesand
andpromoting
promotingthe
thework
workof
ofthe
theKingdom
Kingdomby
bycommunicating
communicatingour
ourstories
storiesof
ofchanged
changedlives.
lives.
The Connection SPRING 2018 3
32nd General Conference
April 19-23, 2018 www.emchurch.org
Wyndham Indianapolis West, 2544 Executive Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46241
Dr. John Oswalt Dr. Christopher Yuan Ms. Leslie Vernick
Keynote Speaker Guest Speaker Guest Speaker
The Talleys
Saturday Night Worship
Deeper in Christ. Further in Mission.
GENERAL
NOTES
Dr. Edward Williamson
International General Superintendent
The Evangelical Methodist Church is about People
The Gospel is about people, beginning with The Evangelical Methodist Church is about
the promise in Genesis 3:15 that Jesus (the seed people. The church seeks to provide quality trained
of the woman) will crush death, sin and the devil pastors who care for people. The EMC partners
(head of the serpent). Revelation 13:8 proclaims the with other groups to address the physical needs of
provision for the salvation of people existed before people.
our creation: “…the Lamb that was slain from the The 32nd General Conference guest speakers
creation of the earth.” The Triune God focused on and teachers are focusing on the needs of people,
people and their salvation, “For God so loved the those bruised from abuse and sexual addictions
world…” John 3:16. and lifestyles. The EMC is about people, for their
Jesus affirmed this truth with the great healing and restoration to be everything Christ died
commandment to love God with all our being and for them to be.
our neighbors as ourself. God’s people are to love We will celebrate in worship and receive
people. testimony of the acts of God in our midst during
When I observe the pastor and church, both the last four years. The ordination service will
in love with Jesus and obeying His command in include our international conference pastors ready
the Great Commission, the anointing Presence for ordination. Sunday evening will feature the
of the Holy Spirit operates in their congregation. graduation ceremony for the Haggard School of
Unfortunately, I have also observed beautiful people Ministry and the Evangelical School of Ministry.
in love with Jesus, but not in love with the Great We, the EMC, are about people becoming
Commission. The Great Commission to share the disciples of Christ and reproducing themselves
Gospel with everyone on earth is about people in in reaching people who are yet to hear about the
our immediate neighborhoods and the world, they Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Discipleship is not
fulfill the purpose of Genesis 3:15. to get people to heaven. It is to glorify God in all we
do and to show to the world who God is.
The Connection WINTER 2017 5
Out of a Far Country:
A Gay Son’s Journey to God
By Dr. Christopher Yuan
I had a secret that I kept hidden through high An answered prayer
God answered her prayer the day I opened up
school, college and even the Marine Corp Reserves.
Then, when I entered graduate school, I no longer my door to twelve federal drug enforcement agents,
kept it a secret. the Atlanta police, and two big German shepherd
I came out of the closet. dogs. I had just received a large shipment of drugs
I broke the news to my parents and told them, and was charged with the street value equivalent
“I am gay.” The news devastated my mother, who to 9.1 tons of marijuana. With that amount, I
was not a Christian at the time. She was confused was facing ten years to life in federal prison. I had
and angry, but God used it to draw her to himself. started with a bright future among societies finest
Through a little pamphlet on homosexuality that in academia and I found myself in the ditch among
shared the plan of salvation, she came to realize societies despised in Atlanta City Detention Center.
that if God can love her in spite of her sin, then she I called home from jail, and my mother’s
could love me, her son. Within a few months, my first words were, “Son, are you okay?” No
father became a Christian, as well. condemnation, just unconditional love and grace.
Meanwhile, I spent most of Romans 2:4 says, “God’s kindness leads us to
God was repentance.” Even on that miserable day, God was
my free time in the gay clubs
convicting and began experimenting with pouring out his irresistible grace and drawing me to
me, but I drugs. Eventually, I supported himself through the words of my mother. My mom
was actually excited to get that call because I hadn’t
didn’t want my habit by selling drugs. I called home in years, and she knew without a doubt
thought I could be a student by
to let go of day and a drug dealer by night, that this was God’s answer to her prayers.
my sexual but three months before I was Three days later, I found a Gideon’s New
Testament on top of a heap of trash, which is what
identity. to receive my doctorate, the I felt like, and read through the Gospel of Mark. I
administration expelled me. So
I moved to Atlanta, Ga., and became a supplier to started reading the Bible because I had an enormous
other dealers in over a dozen states. In addition, it amount of time on my hands. But a Bible is not just
was nothing for me to have multiple anonymous ink on paper. It is the very breath of God, sharper
sexual encounters each day. than any double-edged sword, and it exposed my
My parents didn’t know the details of my life, sin.
but they knew my greatest need was to make Jesus A couple of weeks later I was called into the
Christ my Lord. Along with more than hundred nurse’s office. They handcuffed me, chained my
prayer warriors, my mother began to pray, “God do hands around my waist, and shackled my feet
whatever it takes to bring this prodigal son to you.” together. I shuffled in and knew something wasn’t
In her desperation, my mom fasted every Monday right. She was uncomfortably struggling with the
for seven years and once fasted 39 days on my words to say and finally scribbled on a piece of
behalf. paper: HIV+. The days after this diagnosis were dark
and lonely. I was sentenced to six years, certainly
much better than ten years to life, but the news of
6 The Connection SPRING 2018
my HIV status felt like a death sentence. places. God did another miracle too—he shortened
Lying in my bed one night, I noticed among the my sentence from six years to three years, which is
profanity on the metal bunk above me, “If you’re almost unheard of in the federal system.
bored, read Jeremiah 29:11.” “For I know the plans I was released from prison in
that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
Our goal,
July 2001, and I started school
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you as Christians, at Moody Bible Institute the
hope and a future.” At the most hopeless point in no matter very next month. I graduated
my life, God told me that regardless of whom I was
and what I had done in the past, he still had a plan
what feelings from Moody in 2005 and
went on to get my Master of
for me. we have, Arts in biblical exegesis from
A gradual transformation must be Wheaton College Graduate
My transformation was gradual. God was
convicting me, but I didn’t want to let go of my
holiness. School and recently received
my Doctorate of Ministry from
sexual identity. I went through every verse and Bethel Seminary. I also had the immense honor of
chapter of the Bible looking for the blessing of co-authoring a book with my mother called Out
a monogamous gay relationship. I couldn’t find of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God. A
anything. I also realized that unconditional love is Broken Mother’s Search for Hope, and I am now
not the same thing as unconditional approval of my back at Moody teaching in the Bible department. I
behavior. went from prisoner to professor, how about that for
My identity is not gay, ex-gay, or even a resume?
heterosexual for that matter, but my sole identity Christian parents of LGBT or same-sex attracted
as a child of the living God must be in Jesus Christ children often feel alone and sometimes racked with
alone. A decision had to be made: either abandon guilt. But, it’s not their fault. Perfect parenting does
God and pursue a gay relationship; or abandon not guarantee perfect children. The job of Christian
pursuing a gay relationship — liberating myself parents is not to produce godly children but to be
from my same-sex desires — and live as a follower godly parents, love their children, and point them
of Jesus Christ. My decision was obvious. I chose to a life of costly discipleship. Without my parents
God. living out the gospel in relationship with me, I
I used to think that to please this Christian would not be here. Church, let us come alongside
God, I had to become straight — I had to become our parents and our children—no matter what sin
heterosexual — but even those with heterosexual they’re struggling with — and point them to the
feelings still struggle with sin; that should not be life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ.
the goal. Our goal, as Christians, no matter what
feelings we have, must be holiness. As I began to Christopher Yuan is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute
live this life of surrender and obedience, God called and Wheaton College Graduate School and is currently
pursuing his doctorate at Bethel seminary while teaching at
me to full-time ministry while I was in prison of all Moody. He is an international speaker and author.
The Connection SPRING 2018 7
Three Essential Ingredients
for a
Healthy Marriage
by Ms. Leslie Vernick
Maintaining good relationships is essential better spouse or having a good marriage, you may
be a godly spouse but you do not have a healthy or
to our long-term well-being. Study after study
demonstrates that long-term happiness rests in thriving marriage.
our ability to find and keep loving connection Reciprocity means that both people in the
with one another. For example, one of the longest relationship give and both people in the relationship
studies conducted by Harvard University confirms receive. Power and responsibility are shared, and
what the Bible says about the importance of good there is not a double standard where one person
relationships. gets all the goodies in the relationship while the
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/11/ other person sacrificially does most of the work.
how-this-harvard-psycholo_n_3727229.html ) The apostle Paul validates reciprocity when he
But what has gone wrong? Many seem to find gives guidelines about how to give our resources
love, but have trouble keeping it. Why? Because sacrificially but not foolishly. He writes, “For I
we argue and fight. We expect to get all of our do not mean that others should be eased and you
needs met from our spouse and have unrealistic burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your
expectations of marriage. We want our way and abundance at the present time should supply their
don’t get it. We get hurt and say ugly hurtful things need, so that their abundance may supply your
in response. Our pride and selfishness get in the need, that there may be fairness” (2 Corinthians
way and our relationships get damaged. 8:13-14 ESV).
Let’s look at three foundational ingredients There may be seasons in every marriage where
necessary for a marriage to thrive. one person gives more than the other due to
illness, incapacity or other problems but when
Essentials to Thriving Relationships: that happens, as soon as the individual is capable,
the relationship is rebalanced and power and
Mutuality means that both individuals responsibility are again mutually shared.
contribute honesty, caring, respect, responsibility Freedom means that in your marriage you are C
and repentance, which are qualities essential for the allowed to make choices, to give input, and to M
care, maintenance and repair of the marriage. In a express your feelings without fear of being badgered, Y
thriving marriage, both individuals make efforts to manipulated and punished. When freedom is CM
grow and change for the welfare of the other and present, we’re not afraid to be ourselves nor are we MY
the preservation of their relationship. pressured to become something we’re not. CY
The apostle Paul emphasized mutuality Freedom is an essential component in all healthy CMY
throughout his teaching on marriage. Husbands adult relationships. We’ve all witnessed the results K
and wives may have different roles and in world history, in fundamentalist religious
responsibilities, but he calls both to mutually groups and in families where freedom is squashed.
fulfill them. When you are the only one in your Members are not free to question, to challenge,
marriage caring, repenting, being respectful and to think differently than the group. They are not
honest, sacrificing and working toward being a free to grow or to be themselves without fear of
retaliation. Instead they have to do and say and be
8 The Connection SPRING 2018
what the group or person in charge tells them. That freedom present? If not, what can you do to start
is not healthy nor is it God’s plan. the change process?
Although God wants unity in a family and in the
family of God, He created great diversity. We are
Ms. Vernick is a licensed clinical
to be ourselves and be of one mind all at the same
social worker with a private counseling
time. This one mind idea doesn’t mean melding practice, has authored numerous
ourselves into the desires or demands of another books, including the popular How
individual, but together living for a common to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts
purpose and goal, the Kingdom and glory of God. Wrong. She completed postgraduate
work in biblical counseling and
Take some time to check on the status of your
cognitive therapy.
marriage today. Are mutuality, reciprocity and
“WHAT IS EMOTIONAL ABUSE?
Whenever I do a radio or television interview on the topic of emotionally
destructive relationships, the moderator always says something like, “We all do
hurtful things at times to people. We all make mistakes and do or say things we
regret. When is the line crossed? When does it become destructive? How do you
define emotional abuse?”
Emotional abuse systematically degrades, diminishes, and can eventually destroy
the personhood of the abused. Most people describe emotional abuse as being far
more painful and traumatic than physical abuse.”
Excerpt From
EMC Degree AD.pdf 1 10/22/17 12:37 PM The Emotionally Destructive Marriage
Leslie Vernick
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Something Marriage
greater than
A Response to the SCOTUS Decision by Dr. Christopher Yuan and Rosaria Butterfield
The Supreme Court of the United States of in power and majesty, and one day, every knee will
bow and every tongue will confess Him.
America has made gay marriage legal in all 50 states,
and much of our country celebrates. The world with We affirm that God has ordained marriage to
its rainbow flags waving proudly and plentifully was be the union of a husband and a wife, which Jesus
our world. We locked arms with our LGBT loved Himself restated in Mark 10:6-8 and Matthew 19:4-
ones and friends and believed that they were truly 5. But even though some in our culture believe as
and honestly our family of choice. Justice Kennedy wrote, that marriage “embodies the
This is the world that we, Christopher and highest ideals of love,” we disagree. Earthly marriage
Rosaria, helped build, a world pursuing dignity and does not have a monopoly on love. God is love (1
equality. The people you see celebrating the recent John 4:7-19). The pinnacle of love is God’s love for
SCOTUS decision to redefine marriage (and with us in Christ. Nothing is greater than that.
marriage, personhood) would have been us, not
very long ago. Mystery and Reflection
In 1999, when Jesus Christ In actuality, marriage is a mystery and a
The revealed His saving grace and reflection of a greater reality. Truly, the highest ideal
of love is Christ’s love for his bride, the Church.
pinnacle of love to each of us, we learned In Ephesians 5 and Revelation 21, marriage is
love is God’s that our unbelief, and the
idolatrous sexual lusts that analogous to Christ’s redemption: the marriage
love for us flowed from it, were no longer consummation between the bride (redeemed
sinners) and the Groom (Christ) shows that all
in Christ. matters of personal choice. We redeemed people are married to Christ. Only in
Nothing is accepted that following Jesus
meant giving up everything. Christ can anyone experience the full definition
greater than We understood that repentance of love and acceptance. As important as earthly
marriage and family are, they are both fleetingly
that. meant fleeing from anything
temporary, while Christ and the family of God (the
that embodied the temptations
that we knew best and loved most. But even prior Church) are wondrously eternal.
to our conversion to Christ, God provided the love We have failed to show the LGBT community
and care of Christians, people who became for us a another option to marriage, which is singleness,
new family, new brothers and sisters and mothers lived out in the fruitful and full context of God’s
and fathers in Christ, who knew and loved us before community, the family of God. This does not
we were safe to love. Christians loved, accepted, mean as Justice Kennedy wrote that singles are
included and surrounded us with biblical truth “condemned to live in loneliness,” but that singles
while we were still sinners, thus modeling the Lord can have intimate and fulfilling relationships full of
Himself. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit changed love. This is not a consolation prize. It can be just as
our hearts, we came to know this: the gospel is rewarding and fulfilling as marriage.
costly and worth it. Defining marriage as being between a husband
The days after the Supreme Court’s ruling are and a wife appears unfair to the LGBT community,
like the days before it: God is seated on His throne in part because a life of singleness is viewed to
be crushingly lonely. Have we in the Church
10 The Connection SPRING 2018inadvertently played into that lie with our idolatry and caring more for unborn babies and for women
of marriage while being pejorative and silent toward with unplanned pregnancies just as they were, a shift
singleness? If singleness is unfair, then it is no in focus brought about an important change. The
wonder that marriage has become a right. Just as the question stands: will we begin caring for the LGBT
LGBT community appealed to the rest of the world community just as they are?
for dignity and respect, it is time for the Church to This is a defining moment in history. We have
fight for the dignity and respect of single women a faithful opportunity to shine for the gospel. Will
and single men. we point people to marriage as the “highest ideal
of love”? Or will we point people, whether married
Defining Moment or single, to a life of costly discipleship pursuing
Some are now comparing the Supreme Court’s the embodiment of love, Jesus Christ Himself? The
decision on gay marriage with the 1973 Roe v. decision is ours to make.
Wade decision on abortion. There is an important
lesson for us to learn from the pro-life movement. In Christ’s love,
Today, there are more pro-life millennials than Dr. Christopher Yuan and Rosaria Butterfield
others from previous generations who champion Lovingly endorsed by our families:
pro-life. When pro-life people, made up of more Kent Butterfield, and Leon and Angela Yuan
rosariabutterfield.com
than just evangelical Christians, began fighting less christopheryuan.com - twitter.com/christopheryuan - facebook.com/christopheryuan
The Connection SPRING 2018 11Why can’t the Pentecost be repeated?
by Rev. José Macías Flores
The people of God left Egypt about 1500 BC. Mount Sinai was fifty days. Upon arriving at Mount
It happened on the first moon of spring, in Nisan, Sinai, God gave them the Ten Commandments.
the first month of the year. On the tenth day the From the sacrifice of the lamb until the giving of the
lamb was chosen and kept until the fourteenth day, law was counted as the fiftieth day or Pentecost.
the day the lamb was to be sacrificed between the On the first Passover, the blood of the lamb was
two afternoons. Since the Jewish month begins with shed and the sacrifice was consumed in its entirety;
the line of the new moon, and with the testimony what remained of it was to be burned in the fire.
of two witnesses who saw the moon, it was declared The spilled blood was placed on the two posts and
that the new month had begun. By the fourteenth lintels of the houses. The protection was secure since
day there was full moon, which facilitated the it will be a sign, said God, “… and when I see the
departure of the Israelites on that night. Every year blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not
Easter is on a different date, as it depends on the be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of
moon. On that night, the Lord said to them that Egypt” (Exodus 12:13 NKJV).
they should eat a lamb without blemish, a male of When God gave the law, there were four very
a year old, and you will eat it thus, said the Lord, important elements; first, there was thundering and
“…with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your lightning at the top of the mountain. There was
feet, and your staff in your hand. So, you shall eat it fire and the law was received on stone tablets. At
in haste. It is the Lord´s Passover” (Exodus 12:11). that moment Judaism was born. One thousand five
The journey from the land of Goshen in Egypt to hundred years later, on the first moon of spring, the
12 The Connection SPRING 2018Lamb of God was sacrificed, His blood shed, “And thundering trumpet-like noise that was hard to
according to the law almost all things are purified bear (Exodus 19: 18-19). At Pentecost, the thunder
with blood, and without shedding of blood there is covered the city and the crowd gathered to see what
no remission” (Hebrews 9:22. NKJV). had happened (Acts 2: 26). At Sinai, God gave the
Why did our Lord have to go through a violent law written on tablets of stone. At Pentecost God
death? Why so much suffering, beatings, insults, gave the law written on the hearts of men.
wounds and finally death? Why didn’t He die by With the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
a single blow to His head or pierced by a spear? the relationship with God ceased to be external,
Apart from demonstrating His will and love by written in stone, but now our relationship is
dying for us, His sacrifice had to be complete, He personal. It is no longer based on works but on a
had to go through the fire in its totality. He allowed personal relationship with the Lord.
them to jerk His beard (Isaiah 50: 6), let them give Why can’t we repeat the
Him 39 lashes with a whip called the cat with nine Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2?
The similarity
tails, strips of leather with bone or metal on the Because there are only two between
tip (Matthew 27:26); to be beaten in His face, to covenants of God with man.
be spat upon and made fun of. His sacrifice was The covenant under the law
Mount Sinai
complete. It was no coincidence that the Lamb was completed at Calvary, and the Upper
of God was slain on Friday, “between the two ending salvation by works.
evenings.” While inside the temple in Jerusalem, the At Pentecost He began the
Room is
blood of hundreds of sacrifices was shed. Outside covenant of grace. It was the remarkable.
the city, at exactly the same time, the blood of the inaugural entrance of the
Lord was shed as well. Holy Spirit. Although in the Old Testament He was
On the fiftieth day after the death of the Lamb present in special times, in special people, and with
of God at Pentecost, four very important elements special purposes, He now came to dwell with men
happened, as the Disciples in the Upper Room in an intimate, personal and permanent relationship
were seated: flames of fire appeared on their heads, (Acts 2:17).
there was a great noise that moved the city and at The Lord’s command, at the first Passover,
that moment the Spirit was poured out upon the was to be celebrated perpetually. So, we must
disciples. At that moment Christianity began. The do it. Celebrate the Passover with thanksgiving,
new covenant of God with men, based on grace, for it contains the atoning sacrifice of our Lord,
began; not on tablets of stone, but written on the an historic event worthy of commemoration
tablets of the heart. and appreciation. “So, this day shall be to you a
The similarity between Mount Sinai and the memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the
Upper Room is remarkable. In both events there Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep
was fire, a great noise, a new law given and the it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance” (Exodus
beginning of Judaism in one and of Christianity in 12:14 NKJV).
the other. At Mount Sinai the fire was at the top
of the mountain, at Pentecost the fire was on the Jose Macias Flores is currently pastoring unreached tribal
groups in Sonora, Mexico.
heads of the disciples. At Sinai there was a great
The Connection SPRING 2018 13Hildegard
of Bingen:
Abbess
with a
Mission
by Mrs. Nancy Utt
T he little girl, who would become known At 42 years of age, she felt God’s hand heavy
in Church history as Hildegard of Bingen, was upon her. She began to overcome her reluctance to
born into medieval Europe when the Roman speak out, having begun to experience numerous
Catholic Church held sway in most aspects of life. visions and receiving a direct command from God
During this time, men were the absolute authority to act on these visions. She proceeded to share her
over women. Nonetheless, in the tradition of the experiences with her spiritual advisor, the Monk
Apostle Paul who called to account the leaders and Volmar, who was impressed with her experiences.
congregations of the early churches through his He told the Church authorities, who gave her
pastoral letters and missionary visits, Hildegard of permission to begin keeping a record of her visions.
Bingen’s letters would become her principal means Famous churchmen like Pope Eugenius, Archbishop
of influence. Though a 1000 years later, Hildegard Philip of Cologne and Bernard of Clairvaux, lent
became the voice of accountability for the hierarchy their endorsements, which caused the Church to
of her society in both the sacred and secular spheres look to Hildegard as a prophetess. As a result, her
of life. wisdom was sought by many.
Born around 1098 to a German nobleman Convinced that her wisdom came directly
and his wife, Hildegard was put into a cell for from God, Hildegard shared her counsel in letters
religious contemplation with her reclusive Aunt with the many people who sought her wisdom
Jutta of Spanheim. This was not unusual for and advice. The hundreds of letters she wrote to
a child exhibiting special spiritual insight and high-born and low-born alike, including kings and
characteristics, having herself seen her first vision emperors, bishops, priests and abbesses, contained
before the age of five. Fortunately, Aunt Jutta was advice, prophecies and sometimes, severe warnings
a mystic in her own right who attracted many about the life styles and personal behavior of the
others to join her in the contemplative life. From recipients. She wrote to the city of Mainz, warning
this small cell, Hildegard became a nun at age 14 the officials to stop tolerating heretics in their
in the convent in Mainz, Germany. She remained society before their “city [should] perish.” To an
as assistant to Jutta until becoming abbess at Jutta’s abbot she wrote a scathing criticism that he was,
death in 1136. “foolish to delve into other people’s private affairs
14 The Connection WINTER 2017without amending his own life” (paraphrase). The Hildegard composed seventy vocal works which
Bishop of Prague did not escape her warning that he were rediscovered in the 1980’s. Since then, some
should, “not flee from the light or shun it because of of these works have been recorded. Not only did
the severity of your sins.” she compose the music for all these works, but she
Over the span of her life’s work, Hildegard wrote her own lyrics as well. Her love and hunger
influenced and recruited many women for her for Christ was revealed in the music and lyrics that
convent until the society became so large a new poured out of her.
convent had to be built. It was here, at Rupertsberg Twenty-two years before her death, Hildegard
near Bingen, Germany, that she became known embarked on her final career as preacher and teacher
as Hildegard of Bingen. Around 1141, she to the most influential men in the Church. The
began to write and produced several books and respect she had gained as Hildegard of Bingen
illuminations about her wide-awake visions. Her enabled her to speak to corruption in the Church
works included many varieties of medical lore and and its need for cleansing,. She called to account
treatments used in monasteries and convents in that the clergy guilty of “lukewarm and sluggish” service
period; diagnoses of mental and physical illnesses, to God’s justice, and negligence in expounding
including diagnostic methods. The natural science the Scripture. When she died in 1179 at the age of
encyclopedia entitled, “Physica,” made her one of eighty-two, she had pushed the limits of restrictions
the top naturalists of her day. She even challenged on women during the middle ages by seizing her
her male counterparts by writing in Latin, the opportunities to become one of the most influential
language of educated men, without having been women in God’s service during the medieval era.
trained in it.
One of Hildegard’s most notable contributions Mrs. Nancy Utt is an editor for the Connection
Magazine and lives in Morgantown, WV with her husband
to the Church was her astounding collection of Ronnie.
hymns and singing responses to be used in worship
services. She wrote the first morality play set to
music, probably to be used at the dedication
of her new abbey in 1150. Over her lifetime,
The Connection WINTER 2017 15Book Review: Author Leslie Vernick introduces her book
by setting the stage with a glimpse into her own
The Emotionally
Destructive
experience of living in a toxic environment and
experiencing a long-term emotionally destructive
relationship. She refers back to her own experiences
upon occasion in the material that draws largely
from her clinical experience as a social worker,
Relationship tending to personalize her subject matter in a most
by Mrs. Nancy Utt & helpful way.
Ms. Deborah Mitchem The book is divided into three parts: Seeing
It, Stopping It and Surviving It. Part One
defines the relationship as characterized by abuse
(physical, emotional or verbal), overprotection and
overbearingness, overdependence, lying (deceit)
and/or indifference and neglect. She points out
that because all people sin, all of us are capable
of committing destructive acts in any of our
relationships. But what makes these sinful acts
destructive in the long term is “their repetitive
pattern, lack of awareness and remorse (on the part
of the perpetrator) and the absence of change in
behavior.”
She addresses the foundational elements
necessary for relationships to flourish, i.e.
commitment, integrity and mutual respect, and
by Angela Chandler Communications Department One Mission Society
then follows with a questionnaire to be applied
to any relationship as an assessment tool. She also
cites the consequences and specific effects of these
relationships on all people involved in them: self
and others. This section also identifies attitudes of
the heart: pride, anger, envy, selfishness, laziness,
evil and fear, all of which can cause emotional and
physical destruction in our relationships.
Part Two deals with the elements of identifying
the problems, facing the realities involved and
learning what avenues can be taken to affect change
in oneself and the other person in the relationship.
In this section in particular, the author uses
scripture to explore biblical truth about authority,
headship and submission. She explores the choices
available to victims in light of their identity in
Christ, and encourages victims to take action by
speaking up and using their voices to advocate for
themselves.
In section three, Surviving It, our view of God,
16 The Connection SPRING 2018our relationship with God, and how we see ourselves and releasing negative emotion. Finally Ms. Vernick
is addressed. According to Ms. Vernick these closes with several tools to sustain the person who
concepts and beliefs are foundational to our healing finds themselves on the road to healing.
which flows from our relationship with God. Throughout these three sections, the author
The relational healing for victims of destructive richly infuses biblical references to help victims see
relationships is found in an abiding relationship not only destructive behaviors involved in their
with God who tells us “Remain in my love” (John relationships, their own and others, but to learn that
15:9). She states that “one purpose of the church they have a right to become the persons God made
is to promote interpersonal and individual healing them to be and how to make that happen. There
as we learn to love one another” and that healing virtually is no situation or destructive behavior dealt
our identity is rooted in understanding who God with in these chapters that is not described and
says we are rather than our perception of who we treated in the Word of God.
are or even who others say we are. True healing is
the result of living a holy life in the identity God
gives us. She addresses our own expectations and Ms. Vernick is a licensed clinical
the process of letting go of our beliefs of what we social worker with a private counseling
practice, has authored numerous
are entitled to in any relationship. Without moving
books, including the popular How
away from this dream-like vision of how the people to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts
in our lives should treat, us we will not be able to Wrong. She completed postgraduate
move on to healthier relationships. The author looks work in biblical counseling and
at forgiveness, identifying the lies we tell ourselves cognitive therapy.
One Mission Society Partnership Spotlight: Mary Sutherland by Angela Chandler
Mary Sutherland, along with her husband Bob, first served with
One Mission Society in Colombia, teaching at the Cristalina Vocational
Bible Institute from 1964 to 1980. They then served at the Bible Institute
in Carboncillo, Ecuador; in Garagoa, Colombia; at the Biblical Seminary in
Medellin, Colombia; at Rock of Horeb camp in Spain; and finally in Saraguro, Ecuador, until
1998. Through the years, Mary’s ministry involved teaching, home schooling their children,
leading women’s Bible studies, and doing handcrafts. She was also a wonderful hostess and
prepared many meals. All through their years of missionary service, the Evangelical Methodist
Church encouraged and supported them prayerfully and financially.
Today, Mary serves on extended missionary service with the Missionary Care team after more
than 40 years of full-time service. Her responsibilities include writing letters of inspiration to OMS
missionaries worldwide, both current and retired.
She manages to serve Jesus in the midst of physical pain. Steve Christner, the director of OMS
Missionary Care, says, “It is amazing how focused Mary is on Jesus.” Even in the midst of her
limitations due to back problems, she continues to trust the Lord. She wants God to use her life
so that his will is complete, and she desires “to be faithful until the end.”
One Mission Society is an evangelical, interdenomina-
tional faith mission that makes disciples of Jesus Christ
through intentional evangelism, planting churches, and training national leaders in Africa, Asia, the
Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.The Power of a
There is power in a good story. The greatest The story was becomes the arrow that
books or movies are considered great because the points the way to the
story grips you and draws you in. I’ve always been never the point. cross.
a sucker for a great story. I love to be moved by The story was At Riverside EMC, we
a good book, and to experience the breadth of recently put that concept
emotions a great movie can evoke. Apparently the vehicle we to work in a series of
the majority of Americans agree with me, since rode to get to messages and events we
according to a 2016 poll, 64% of Americans see at called “Riverside at the
least one movie in a theater each year.1 More than the point. Movies.” Early in 2017,
55% of Americans regularly watch movies and I gave our talented team of artists and decorators
TV shows on Netflix.2 And get this: the average a list of five family friendly movies (6 including
American watches over 5 hours of TV a day!3 And an alternative option for smaller kids, because one
that is in addition to time spent at the movies or movie had a few intense scenes) along with the
watching Netflix. Statistically speaking, movie biblical point the movie would be illustrating. We
attendance and TV watching are fairly evenly recruited actors for character meet and greets and
divided across all ages, genders and races.4 In short, began to heavily promote “At the Movies” as a fall
we all love a good story! outreach event.
Jesus certainly understood our penchant In early September, our artists transformed
for a good story. He often told stories to engage our lobby into a movie theater theme, including
his audience, using themes and ideas they knew concessions and a red carpet area for character meet
well. How quickly can you recall the parable of the and greets. The sanctuary was decorated to fit the
prodigal son? What emotion does the parable of movie and message theme for that week. Saturday
the lost sheep evoke? How amazingly vivid is the nights were movie nights, and on Sundays we used
picture Jesus paints in his parable of the rich man clips from the movie to illustrate the message. We
and Lazarus? Pastors, youth pastors and teachers developed a complimentary series of messages
need to be aware of the power of a good story to for our children’s ministry so that parents and
engage an audience. We use the story to grab the their children could discuss the message together
audience’s attention, and then the point of the story throughout the week.
18 The Connection SPRING 2018a Good Story. b y R e v. B r i a n G o r d o n
What did we learn? Snow White taught us about people together for fun and fellowship. It was an
the subtlety of temptation, and the power of God to easy outreach opportunity. And it was something
break the curse of sin. A certain ice princess named families could do together.
Elsa taught us about the danger of self-reliance and A quick note for your information. Anytime
the transformational power of God’s love. Pirates you show movies in a public setting you must
taught us about the power of greed. A beast and his have a video license to do so. They are available
beauty taught us about the danger of pride. Luke through Church Video Licensing International.5
Skywalker taught us how to respond when we are You also can not charge a fee for admittance.
faced with a crisis of faith. Most major studios do not allow the use of their
Is there danger in doing a series of messages like characters or specific movie titles to be used in
this? Sure there is, if the point of the message gets outside advertising, which includes social media.
lost in the gimmick of the presentation. We were We published the specific movies in our bulletins
careful to make sure the story was the arrow that and internal advertising, but used general terms in
pointed the way to the cross. The story was never outside advertising and social media posts.
the point. The story was the vehicle we rode to get
to the point. We simply used language and visuals Rev. Brian Gordon has been the Senior Pastor at Riverside
EMC in Salem, VA for 11 years. He has chaired the Board
people understand (movies) in the same way Jesus of Youth and Children’s Ministries since 2010. He is
used the power of the story to make his point. After married to Beth, and is the dad to Hannah and Micah.
the first week someone said, “Pastor, I’ll never look
1
at Snow White the same again. And when I think https://www.statista.com/statistics/264396/frequency-of-
about temptation, I’ll remember that it looks good going-to-the-movies-in-the-us/
2
on the outside, but it’s rotten underneath.” That http://www.businessinsider.com/percent-of-americans-
statement led me to begin planning another series who-watch-netflix-amazon-youtube-2017-4
3
for 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/business/media/
Was the effort we put into the series worth it? nielsen-survey-media-viewing.html
4
Absolutely! We saw as much as a 25% increase https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/04/26/who-
in attendance during the series, which included watches-movies/
5
many first-time visitors. The movie nights brought http://us.cvli.com/
The Connection SPRING 2018 19History for the Quadrennium (2014-2018) Please allow me a moment of personal observation the desired connectedness, and the churches and before getting into the Executive Summary. I pastors lost ownership and connectivity with their have served in the Evangelical Methodist Church brothers and sisters in their local churches. denomination since 1972 on various boards and The pastors and local churches asked for changes committees, both on the district level and general to renew what they loved in being connected. church level. God has graciously saved and The Discipline revisions are the required revisions sanctified me and given me the privilege to serve necessary to bring about this change. These are the Him at home and abroad. And I will tell you points: that if God can save a Marine, a truck driver and • The first priority returns the decision making a barroom brawler, He can save anyone who will for strategies, budgets, and reporting to the come to Him through Jesus Christ. He allowed me local pastors and church members. to pastor for twenty-two years at Gibsonville, EMC; • The one USA Conference unification of the allowed me to be a superintendent for eighteen general boards remains the same. years, and after a brief six-month retirement, has • The USA Conference divides into a self- allowed me to re-enter the ministry with renewed determining Eastern and Western Conference. energy and zeal to serve Him until my breath is The revisions include nominating a conference gone. superintendent and creating assistant Dr. Williamson was elected for a second term as superintendent positions and committees as the general superintendent in 2002 and challenged desired. the superintendents to focus and identify the growth • Each Conference will determine the site for inhibitors in our denominational structure. The its conference office and the residence for the 30-year experiment, beginning in 1976, with what superintendent and set its budget working started with nine separate districts replacing the with the General Board of Finance. Eastern and Western Annual Conferences, had not • A return to our former districts, whose produced the expected growth and connectedness to strength was a reflection of their specific one another. culture in their part of the country and gave The next step toward returning to the Eastern ownership to people and pastors. It produced and Western Annual Conference was the single faithful attendance at youth camps, etc., for USA Conference with regions and three to four their area of the country. conference superintendents. The positive result was • The Annual Conference will meet yearly as the unifying of the general boards as one group for the Annual Conference (Journey), receiving the USA Conference. Our regions failed to bring financial and pastoral reports and setting 20 The Connection SPRING 2018
INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CONFERENCE
INTERNATIONAL GENERAL INTERNATIONAL
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT COUNCIL CONFERENCE
GENERAL BOARDS
USA CONFERENCE USA A.C.E.
MEXICO MYANMAR
WESTERN EASTERN
ASIA PACIFIC
DISTRICT DISTRICT
* A.C.E. stands for African, Canada, & Europe
strategies for church health. The annual me to live and serve in His kingdom. My spiritual
ordination service is celebrated in the Annual home has consisted entirely of the Evangelical
Conference every year, except when it is the Methodist Church. I was born again and anew into
year for the General Conference. the EMC, and I will be EMC until He calls me
• The first thirty years used our historic home. And I will have lived with but one regret,
Methodist structure that allows the formation that I could not have done more to bring others into
of districts within the Annual Conference, the kingdom and to expand the borders of the EMC
when required by growth. I experienced this further. May God bless and keep all of you in His
model and believe it is the best with our one perfect peace, and supply all your needs according
change from those years being the unification to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
of the general boards.
God has allowed me to meet brothers and sisters Dr. Harold Thompson,
in Christ that I would never have known apart from Conference Superintendent Emeritus
Him. I have enjoyed every moment He has allowed Pastor of White Hall EMC,
Chair of the Board of Discipline Revision.
The Connection SPRING 2018 21How Much Greater is His Plan!
by Mrs. Gilda Williamson
Department of Prayer
22 The Connection SPRING 2018P ersecuted Christians in Myanmar are in
urgent need of our prayers. Some villages are
do not personally own themselves, yet they readily
wish to give them away in testimony you can see,
closing their churches to avoid opposition from the the sacrifice is stronger. Their prayer is that the
government, heavily influenced by the Buddhist baggies will offer a means for positive interaction
community. They continue to worship in house between themselves and their Buddhist neighbors.
churches while construction of Christian education
centers, churches and water wells are halted due to
the strained relations between the Buddhists and
Christians throughout Myanmar. The Buddhists see
many villages converting to Christianity and fear
they are losing their country’s Buddhist traditions
to another religion. Therefore, they have used
their influence within the government as a means
to interfere with building permits and freedom of
Christian worship.
In Kungyangon, the construction of the EMC
Learning Center has been halted twice now,
through the stirring up of the people in the village
by Buddhists priests. The EMC churches in Yangon To give away what you do not personally own
will visit the villages in the Kungyangon region to yourself is God’s love in its purest form. This
distribute the PACKS first aid and hygiene bags. outpouring of God’s love from the persecuted
They will pray with those who allow the Christians Myanmar Christians reminds us of the persecution
to pray for them. Following this delivery of love, of our savior Jesus Christ and the immense love
displaying the benefits of having the church in the God showed to us as His Son died on the cross
village, the construction is expected to resume. for our sins and our salvation. Sometimes when
God presents a task, we fulfill it, thinking there is
one goal, while His plans are far more than we can
humanly imagine (Ephesians 3:20). So is the case of
the EMC’s newly formed PACKS Ministry. Please
join us in praying that the gifting of the baggies will
begin a positive interaction between the Christians
and their Buddhist neighbors that will create a
foundation for opening hearts to receive the plan of
salvation.
We encourage you to have a particular prayer
time. As the need is great, you may wish to ask your
congregation or life group to sign up for specific
times to pray so that we are lifting Myanmar up
in prayer hourly throughout this crucial time. We
Among these dire circumstances, God has will be sharing the days to pray as our EMC church
challenged the Myanmar Christians to go further in people enter the villages with the PACKS. Please
the testimony of their Christian God’s love. These commit to pray daily for Myanmar and all those
persecuted Christians will give the gift initially persecuted for their Christian beliefs. Pray nothing
intended for themselves, the PACKS baggies, to stands in the way of furthering God’s Kingdom, and
the very people who are harassing them for their that we all remember that God commanded us to
Christian faith. When you realize these are simple “Treat thy neighbor as thy self ”; always doing unto
items such as a toothbrush or washcloth that most others as we would do for ourselves.
The Connection SPRING 2018 23M . edical E . vangelical 24 The Connection SPRING 2018
l D . ental S . ervices
Medical Teams to Southeast Asia
T he first EMC medical dental mission trip to team pointed out, the MEDS and USA Team broke
Myanmar was successful, thanks to the experienced through the 10/40 window by offering medical care
Philippines MEDS Team, founded eleven years to those in need.
ago by Provisional General Superintendent of There was not a minute wasted in either country
the Asia Pacific Conference Jun Mateo and his with every day filled with health screenings, vision
wife, Marlene. Beginning with training volunteers and dentistry examinations along with prayer and
from the USA Conference in their bi-annual the sharing of testimonies concluding in nightly
MEDS medical mission in the Philippines, the worship services. The final stop in the Philippines
combined MEDS and USA volunteers traveled included a joint service with all of the Metro
on to Myanmar for the EMC’s first medical Manila churches. It had begun with a four hour
mission. Pastor Jun Mateo coordinated both events bus ride, followed by an hour long ferry trip where
while Marlene Mateo, a registered nurse, ordered they supplied medical care to the tribal people of
medicine and supervised the pharmacy. Physicians Mindoro, Philippines. Laurie Mackey served as
serving both countries were from the MEDS Team: a nurse, Lisa Walker served as a dental assistant
Dr. Camille Avancena Habacon, Dr. Eleanor and Bill Walker helped the doctors. Pastor David
Alarcon, and Dr. Ryan Rhinehard Neola. USA Hayes assisted in prayer and ministry. They were
participants included Rev. Bill and Lisa Walker expecting 1000 people to attend the clinics, and
(EMC World Missions), Pastor David Hayes, RN Lisa posted in two days alone she assisted with 200
Lorrie Mackey and General Superintendent Dr. Ed tooth extractions. In another area, Bill assisted with
Williamson and his wife, Gilda. passing out well over 250 sets of eyeglasses!
Marlene Mateo reported the three day medical In Myanmar, Dr. Ed assisted in the chapel and
mission at the EMC headquarters in Tahan, pharmacy while Gilda worked with vision screening.
Myanmar, included medical checkups, diabetes/ The eye test, designed by Rev. Jun Mateo, consisted
hypertension screening, dental consultations and of reading John 3:16 in different font sizes in the
extractions, free eyeglasses, free medication and Burmese language. The team said the Buddhists
prayer counseling along with teaching and sharing were provided clear vision physically and spiritually
of testimonies. The total number of Myanmar by continually being exposed to the Word of God.
patients seen was over 650. The majority were Future plans are to have the EMC medical dental
Buddhist from the Tahan and Kalaymo areas who mission in the Philippines in the odd numbered
would never have entered the Christian church years and Myanmar in the even years. Circle Jan/
except for the offering of free medical care. As the Feb 2020 to join the Myanmar medical team.
The Connection SPRING 2018 25Spanish Translation/ Traducción en Español
Notes générales
Por el Dr. Edward Williamson
Superintendente General Internacional
La Iglesia Metodista Evangélica es sobre “gente”
El Evangelio es acerca de gente, empezando con Génesis 3:15 con la promesa de
que Jesús (la simiente de la mujer) aplastará la muerte, el pecado y al diablo (la cabeza
de la serpiente). Apocalipsis 13:8 proclama que la provisión para la salvación de la gente existía desde antes
de nuestra creación, “… que fue inmolado desde el principio del mundo.” El Dios Trino se enfocó en la
gente y su salvación—“de tal manera amó Dios al mundo…” Juan 3:16.
Jesús afirmó esta verdad con el Gran Mandamiento de amar a Dios con todo nuestro ser y a nuestro
prójimo como a uno mismo”. La gente de Dios debe amar a la gente.
Al observar al pastor y su iglesia que están enamorados con Jesús y enamorados con Su mandamiento
de la Gran Comisión con la espiritualidad y unción de la Presencia del Espíritu Santo operando en su
congregación. Desafortunadamente, también he observado gente hermosa enamorada de Jesús, pero no en
amor con la Gran Comisión. La Gran Comisión de compartir el Evangelio con todos en la tierra es acerca de
“gente” en nuestros vecindarios inmediatos y el mundo. El propósito cumplido de Génesis 3:15.
La Iglesia Metodista Evangélica es acerca de “gente”. La iglesia busca proveer pastores de calidad
entrenados que cuiden a la gente. La IME se une con otros grupos para responder a las necesidades físicas de
la gente.
Los predicadores y maestros invitados de la 32ava Conferencia General estarán enfocados en las
necesidades de la gente, aquellos heridos a causa del abuso y adicciones sexuales y estilos de vida. La IME es
acerca de gente para su sanidad y restauración para ser todo aquello por lo que Cristo murió por ellos.
Vamos a celebrar en adoración y recibir el testimonio de los “hechos de Dios” en nuestro medio durante
los últimos cuatro años. El servicio de ordenación incluirá a nuestros pastores de conferencia internacionales
listos para la ordenación. El domingo en la noche tendremos la ceremonia de graduación para la Escuela de
Ministerio Haggard y la Escuela de Ministerio Evangélica.
Nosotros, la IME, somos acerca de gente llegando a ser Discípulos de Cristo y reproduciéndose a sí
mismos en alcanzar la gente que todavía necesitan escuchar acerca del Salvador del mundo, Jesucristo. El
Discipulado no es para “conseguir” gente para el cielo, es para glorificar a Dios en todo lo que hacemos y
para mostrar al mundo quién es Dios.
26 The Connection SPRING 2018You can also read
