Snapshots of South Georgia

Here’s a recap from the Disciple Covenant Conference from the South Georgia Advocate (thanks, Kara!).

Inaugural Disciple Covenant Conference draws nearly 900

Held at the Macon Centreplex, the event was designed to help individuals and teams develop plans for disciple formation.

“I expect every United Methodist – everyone who says they believe in God – to develop a disciple plan for themselves and for their team or congregation,” said South Georgia resident Bishop James R. King, Jr. during the conference’s opening worship and presentation.  “The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  You’re not going to do that without a plan.”

The purpose of the event, according to Bishop King, was to “focus together on what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.”  After each presentation, attendees were given time for personal reflection, team discussion and disciple plan formation.  Development of discipleship plans should happen when attendees return home, he said.

“Not all Christians are disciples,” Bishop King said. “There is a big difference between being a Christian and being a disciple of Jesus Christ.”  That difference, he said, is between affiliation – being a Christian – and formation – being a disciple.

Bishop King also spoke about ten timeless values of the Christian faith: prayer, scripture, the Lord’s Supper, fasting, Christian conferencing (fellowship), baptism, witness, justice ministries, Sabbath and stewardship.

“All of us are called to exercise these values regardless of the programs we use to employ them,” Bishop King said.  “Practice these daily to bring the vision of God to reality.”

Each of the event’s three speakers, Bishop King, Dr. Eddie Fox and Dr. Lovett Weems, spoke about one of the ten timeless values.

Preaching on the importance of Sabbath, Bishop King stressed the importance of renewal, saying that even Jesus snuck away at times.

“Isolate to regulate your life, look for warning signs, and take a vacation moment every day,” he said.

Friday evening’s events closed with a healing service.

On Saturday, Dr. Lovett Weems, executive director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, discussed the importance of stewardship.  Contrasting two congregational cultures, the “Pay the Bills” church and the “Live the Vision” church, Dr. Weems outlined 12 specific ways churches can help their congregants give more generously.

Dr. Eddie Fox, world director of evangelism at the World Methodist Council, preached on the value of witness.

“We are the ambassadors of God,” he said.  “We will bear witness by our word, deed and signs.  It’s together that the world would know who Jesus is.”

Worship music for the weekend was provided by Chapel Hill United Methodist Church Praise Band from Henderson, Ky.

Bishop King closed the conference with an exhortation to focus on disciple-making efforts.

“A disciple is one who has been convinced that Jesus is Lord and is now committed to follow Him, to learn from Him and to be like Him.  There’s still much to do before we see the kingdom of God on earth!”

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To the beautiful people of South Georgia,

Hello, beautiful people of South Georgia,

Do you remember the song that includes the words, “What am I living for if not for you? Oh, nobody else will do.”? Well, this song probably dates me, but these words also transcend the generations as we seek to find a meaningful path on our earthly journey.

Although the first month of the year has come and gone, we are still here by God’s grace. Therefore, it is not too late to examine old agendas and project new goals with fresh hope and determination to live closer to the things that really matter to us.

With that in mind, this remains an appropriate time to ask – what are you striving for?

Paul writes in Philippians 3:12-14: “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal. But I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own … forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As a bishop I have the opportunity to see clergy and the laity at their best. I see men, women, boys and girls who are deeply committed to God and are filled with the love of Christ. It is so inspiring to witness so many faithful Christians who are preaching, teaching, serving and living out the love of Christ in the world.  I am also aware of the ever increasing number of persons who are isolated and unfulfilled. There are far too many who are searching for skills to address issues related to faith, family, finances, health, etc.

If the isolation of clergy and laity are not addressed we will suffer the consequences. Look at the world … look at the church. If we do not sow the things of God we should not expect to reap the wonderful and awesome promises of God.

Jesus has a plan to guide us on this earthly journey into heavenly experiences. I am asking us as people of God to return to the one whom we are named after for Christ’s sake.

Our name is Christian. That comes from Jesus Christ.

Our name is Methodist. That comes from our Wesleyan heritage.

What are you striving for? What goals are you pressing toward?

I recommend the Jesus Program. Slice it in a style and size that fits your situation … but partake.

Until next time remember, God’s will for us is good. We must do the rest.

With love,

Hello, Beautiful People of South Georgia.

As we take those first steps into a new year we do so hopefully, with a sense of gratitude and great expectations. Some are grateful for the gift of life and hopeful that life will be more because unfulfilled dreams are realized. I would not be surprised that for many, the first days of a new year are met with a sigh of relief simply because one has survived another year. On the other hand, there are those who are so excited about the promises that the future holds and are just eager to get started.

How do you start the New Year? Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Have you grown disgusted over the years because you have not seen your hopes come to pass? I would suggest if you have a sincere desire to accomplish anything in the future you will need a plan.

A plan gives your dreams an anchor, a stake in the ground that serves as a steady reminder day in and day out as you juggle all the other important things of life. The greater the hope, the more challenges you will face as you move toward accomplishing your goal.  I find it helpful to remember that as soon as Jesus was baptized he was led into the wilderness to be tested (Luke 4:1).  Soon after we make our plans we too will find that there are more opportunities and invitations to go in the opposite direction of our heart’s desire. Therefore, every sincere hope must be cemented in a solid plan if it is to have a chance to succeed.

Not long ago I asked a young person what they were excited about in life. I continued with the question, “What are you passionate about?”  The first response was met with laughter and the comment, “I do not know.”  I reminded the young person that I believe all of us are here on this earth for a reason and that God has given each of us the talent we need to fulfill God’s plan for our lives. In the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verses 11-13, we hear again that God has a beautiful plan for us.  “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

Just as you need a plan for better health, managing finances, finding more family time, or starting a new business, you also need a plan for being a disciple of Jesus Christ. And every congregation will need a plan in order to help members grow in disciple making.

The Disciple Covenant Conference is my invitation to the people called Methodist in the South Georgia Conference to meet me in Macon on February 11-12, where we will work on individual and congregational plans in order to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

As we enter a new year, I pray that God’s plans for your life will be fulfilled and that God’s grace in your life will be met with a fresh commitment to follow through with a solid plan.

Make it a great new year!

Until next time remember, God’s will for us is good. We must do the rest.

With love,

Your Bishop,

James R. King, Jr.

I had the pleasure of being with the wonderful children and youth at The Methodist Home in Macon for their annual Birthday Party for Jesus. What a blessing! This is a picture of me and a precious young lady, Tramaia.

Hello, beautiful people of South Georgia.  This is the Christmas story I shared with the wonderful people at the annual Methodist Home for Children and Youth Birthday Party for Jesus last year.  It is my prayer that you have a most blessed Christmas.

Until next time remember, God’s will for us is good. We must do the rest.

With love,

Your Bishop,
James R. King, Jr.

Hello, Beautiful People of South Georgia.

When you think about your best Christmas ever, what do you recall?

Was it during your childhood, during your youth or as an adult?

What made Christmas so special for you?  Was it the amount of gifts you received or the number of gifts you were able to give? Were you laughing and playing or shopping and sharing?

Was your best Christmas ever due to who you were with or what you were doing?  Was your house filled with laughter and gleeful noise or was it quiet with a deep sense of peace?

Was it finding the right gift just in time, the joy of feeding a homeless person, or the giving a gift to a child who was feeling isolated and lonely?

The real question is, how much does it cost to experience the wonderful presence of Jesus Christ in your heart?  For a disciple of Jesus Christ, should not the essence of Christmas be about duplicating and introducing the experience of Christlike birth moments in our lives and in the world?

As a bishop in the church, I get the opportunity to see and experience the best of the church. I see faithful Christians both near and far who are committed to growing a Christlike world. And yet I am also painfully aware of so many people who are hurting, not only in the world in general but particularly in the church. The source of unhappiness varies, but the source of true peace comes from the same source and that is the love of God through Jesus Christ.

I love the prescription for the best Christmas ever that is rooted in the book in Luke 2:8-20. The birth of Jesus comes first to the least.  What was their status in society?  They heard the greatest news anyone could ever hear – that is that the God of the universe, the maker of heaven and earth, has come to them!  “To you is born this day … a Savior …”

Wow! What an awesome love.  What does it mean to you and the world to be a disciple of Jesus Christ with the gift of love in your heart?

I hope that sales are up this Christmas and the market place is flooded with financial success. I hope that all families will be blessed with delightful news regarding health, jobs, and bundles of goodies during this Christmas season.

However, when we think about a person, family, community or nation that receives the life and love of God through Jesus Christ, our values change and what we could not afford before is now obtainable to all.

With the love gift of Jesus in our hearts we become different people.

Our gratefulness extends love to others!
Our high blood pressures decrease!
Our sorrow becomes joy!
Our aching hearts are healed!
Our credit cards are not abused.
Our schedules have space for fun, sharing, and rest.

This Christmas we may not be able to give silver and gold, but all of us can afford to give the gift that does not cost a cent – the gift of love which is priceless and its source endless. This is Christmas all of us can afford.

Until next time remember, God’s will for us is good. We must do the rest.

With love,

Your Bishop,
James R. King, Jr.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Hello, Beautiful People of South Georgia!

A Methodist clergy who serves on a general church agency was telling me during lunch how a letter to him from his bishop appeared like a mandate to meet in a small group.  I did not tell him that I had just met with a group of my pastors about meeting in small groups also.   Asking him more about his thoughts, he shared the following information:

1.        I do not have time for another meeting.

2.        I would miss doing important ministry in order to be part of a small group.

3.        I do not have enough family time now.

4.        My congregation does not want to hear about my problems.

This caring clergy seemed to become angry the more he talked about how busy he is and how his resentment was growing as more church mandates seemed to be placed on his life.

In response I said to him, “I thought the purpose of a small group was for you. And it provides a time to be in a safe place to share the burdens of your heart, celebrate the joys of your life, cry over painful experiences, laugh over common frustrations and find strength as you pray and encourage one another.”  As I summarized my expectations I said, “Small group experiences offer something for you.”

Beautiful people – God wants us to be a joy-filled people expressing love and peace with kind and generous hearts.  To be a place of love, support and edification comes out of our Methodist and biblical heritage. It is supposed to help keep us from being so angry and mean because we are tired, lonely and guilty. So why is the church, the very place that should be shaping the culture into heavenly experiences, finding itself at odds with the timeless values of our faith?

Some possible reasons are:

1.      We have replaced a sense of calling with job and career concerns.

2.      We have placed more energy on the appointment process rather than the faithful promises of God.

3.      We look more at salary comparisons than the uniqueness of our call.

4.      We have replaced great Bible knowledge with good textbook information.

5.      We are focused more on temporal matters of the church rather than the spiritual values of the faith.

Some of you are participating in small groups and that is wonderful. Keep going and growing!  For those who are not, please give serious consideration to either joining an existing one or creating one.  It is so important for us to remember that as a people of faith our preaching, teaching and witness should come with fresh and overflowing experiences of love and joy which are nurtured in the spiritual disciplines and Christian fellowship.  We must return to the basic values of our faith in order to live into experiences of love and goodness. Remember that a genuine witness grows out of personal experiences with a loving and living God.

Until next time remember, God’s will for us is good. We must do the rest.

With love,

Your Bishop,
James R. King, Jr.
South Georgia Area Resident Bishop
The United Methodist Church

A few Sundays ago I was involved in a worship service that included the Apostles’ Creed. Over the years, I have observed that many congregations do not include some of the traditional components of worship service associated with the United Methodist Church. My assumption is that as pastors and their worship leadership teams prayerfully sort out the elements which lengthen worship service along with what is appealing to a new generation of seekers, some very important aspects of the faith get eliminated.

Teaching Moments

What was particularly noticeable and meaningful in this worship service was that a very brief explanation (a teaching moment) occurred with the congregation to help them understand the rationale for using the Apostles’ Creed to affirm our faith. How could we as Christians in the 21st century repeat so glaringly the same old errors of all those who have gone before us? If we no longer remember why we do what we do and fail to explain to each other over and over an explanation that relates, we will fall away from the lifeline that gives us our very breath.

I am profoundly concerned about the disappearance of many of the values that define who we are as Christians and United Methodists. Essential faith values must be taught if they are to maintain a significant role in our lives. I believe that there is a direct correlation between membership declines in our denomination and the lack of teaching the values of the faith. Rituals lose their meaning and power when we take for granted that everyone understands why we are doing certain acts and saying certain things with intentionality.

Assumptions

We cannot assume that people will automatically know what is appropriate. Going to the movies is one of my favorite getaways. I find it interesting that multiple reminders regarding personal behavior are necessary in a public place.  Before the movie begins, the audience is reminded to be quiet and turn off their cell phones so others can enjoy the movie.  Now there’s even a reminder to not “tweet” during the movie.

The point is that people have to be taught, and the more important a value, especially to those who are a members of the household of faith, the more intentional we should be about nurturing the essential faith elements that help to keep us centered in God’s plan for us and the world family.

Conclusion

Preachers, teachers, parents, relatives, members, friends, neighbors, and concerned citizens – we must take responsibility for explaining why we do what we do if the values that make a difference will continue to exist in the lives that belong to the future. We have assumed that what is important and fundamental to the faith will have a life of its own and will be able to withstand the rebelliousness and innovations of a new generation who feel its great contribution to society is to dismiss and ignore anything that preceded it. Sometimes the isolating focus on missing a bump in the road can land us in a ditch. Jesus said in Matthew 23:24 “You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Jesus was always teaching the disciples and explaining the why, and we should follow the example as disciples.

We must not only practice the core values of the faith, we must explain over and over to every newcomer and to every generation why we do what we do if we want to continue to experience the same holy spirit explosion which ignited the Methodist revival that swept across North America years ago.

Remember, God’s will for us is good. We must do the rest.

With love,

Your Bishop
James R. King, Jr.

The first of nine Bishop’s Hour was held in the Americus District this past Sunday, August 22 at Perry First UMC.