Since joining the Global Methodist denomination, our church now has more control in making decisions to best carry out our missions. Our church will now pay fewer apportionments which will enable our church to fund local ministries, church planting and global missions. Joining the GMC also means that there is no Trust Clause. Our church now owns its property and there is no obligation to the Global Methodist denomination.

These are a few of the changes since joining the GMC, but let me address changes specifically for my church. My church has seen an increase in new members since joining the GMC. Our ministry has expanded to two campuses: the Lakeside Campus at Lyman Lake and the Downtown Campus at Lyman. Each of these campuses continues to grow in membership and programs. Several new Sunday school classes have begun to better offer our members different teaching/learning style choices for Bible study. Small groups have begun for both men and women in order to facilitate the formation of deeper Christian friendships and help develop a greater sense of Christian community. Our church has employed additional staff to assist with implementing and developing these new areas of spiritual growth.

It’s exciting to see and be a part of this growth: to try new things, to build new relationships, to learn more about one another, and to delve deeper into God’s word.

These changes do not happen without visionary, spirit-filled leadership. Our church is blessed to be led by a pastor who exemplifies these qualities. His leadership, along with a dedicated staff, has guided our church through the process of disaffiliation from the United Methodist denomination to affiliation with the Global Methodist denomination as seamlessly as possible. Again, a very exciting time as we, the church, begin this new season!

Isaiah 43:18-19 reads: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”