Light & Life Magazine

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Catching the Vision Together

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elcome to the August issue of LLM. We hope you enjoyed our new format’s July premiere and are now sensing momentum from General Conference 2011. This issue is dedicated to casting vision from our leadership about where the church is headed.

As you’ll read in this issue, the Free Methodist Church is alive and growing. Free Methodism truly is a global movement. Recent statistics put global membership at 962,000.

Of those, the Free Methodist Church — USA has about 74,000 members, roughly 7 percent of the total FM population. This is a staggering statistic.

As we become more aware of the big picture, we need to gather together around the vision. Last month we rolled out a new website, fmcusa.org, to begin to connect us to Not sure what these boxes are?

They’re QR codes.

Here’s what to do with them.

1] Download the app QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes that can be read by smartphone cameras.

Search “QR code” to find a free QR app for your phone.

2] Scan the code Hold your phone over a box. The app will use your camera to read the code.

3] Enjoy The code will direct your phone to a site with a video, some music, a photo or other goody.

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What’s this?

This symbol means there’s more info at llcomm.org.

our church’s vision and to each other. A big piece of the site revolves around telling your stories. How is God moving in your life, your family and your church? You can also share the site’s stories on your favorite social networks. Our new iPhone, iPad and Android apps provide even more opportunities to connect.

Enjoy the articles from this issue.

Anchor your hearts to the vision set at GC11. Go deeper with additional articles at llcomm.org/llm. As you read the stories, don’t forget to tell yours. [LLM]

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“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” — John 1:4

LLM LIGHT & LIFE MAGAZINE

Developing Earnest Christians Since 1868

Lead Writer Lead Designer Writer/Photographer Copy Editor Art Director Circulation Project Manager Web Director/Rich Media Publisher

Jeff Finley Erin Eckberg Michael Metts Dawn McIlvain Stahl Andrea Anibal Kelly Sheads Julie Innes Peter Shackelford Jason Archer

Spanish Translation Janeth Bustamante Joe Castillo Jennifer Flores Guillermo Flores, Lead

Joel Guzman Carmen Hosea Karen Kabandama Rodrigo Lozano, Coordinator

To receive Light & Life in Spanish please contact our office: (800) 342-5531 or kelly.sheads@fmcna.org.

Jason Archer Executive Director of Free Methodist Communications

Website: www.llcomm.org Email us: www.llcomm.org/staff News and submissions: jeff.finley@fmcna.org Advertising: jason.archer@fmcna.org Address all correspondence to: Light & Life Magazine, P.O. Box 535002 Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002 (317) 244-3660 LLM: Light & Life Magazine (ISSN 0024-3299) was established in 1868 by the Free Methodist Church. Published monthly by Light & Life Communications. © 2011 Free Methodist Church - USA, 770 N. High School Road, Indianapolis, IN 46214. Views expressed in articles do not necessarily represent the official position of the Free Methodist Church. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations, no portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version unless otherwise indicated.

Whole No. 5229, Vol. 144, No. 3 Printed in U.S.A. Member: Evangelical Press Association, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster, send address changes to: Light & Life Magazine, P.O. Box 535002, Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002

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ore than 150 years ago, a ragtag group of seriously put-out church people organized themselves as the Free Methodist Church. uuu

or t

by bishop david roller

3 [feature] The rugged pioneer spirit of the early American Methodists had morphed into the comfortable life of the middle class, and our founders

Free Methodists have always believed in an

activated holiness, not a hidden holiness. refused to accept that the church should also morph into the comforts of sloppy discipleship. They refused to accept the class and race distinctions that divided this new world. They refused to accept the worldliness of ministers who had lost their saltiness.

They demanded that the church be more open than a club and insist on much more than a club. Because they were put-out, they were put out.

They decided to walk together, to

submit to each other and join forces for their common goal. They found a good place to stand between “Free” and “Methodist” — an interesting juxtaposition that balanced the Methodist intent to disciple every believer with the spunk and expectation that they could and would deliver the whole gospel to every man and woman, regardless of station, race or class.

How are we doing now, 151 years later?

Let’s start with the assumption that we’re trying to grow. For much of our history, however, growing was not the goal. Staying pure from the stains of the world was the goal. The sign of “God among us” was that we were a peculiar people. In fact, often the assumption was that not many would join us on the narrow road.

But at some point, the church growth movement overwhelmed us with techniques and theories that applied scientific method and American optimism. “Growing” and “planting” became part of our lexicon, and sometimes became the goal — the sign of God among us.

Our goal should be signs of God among us, not growth per se, but being a worthy branch of His people, living to bring Him pleasure and to

bring others back into His embrace.

Our goal includes being God’s kind of people and doing what God’s kind of people do.

We are growing — compared to ourselves, compared to U.S. growth curves and compared to other denominations. The Free Methodist Church — USA has seen steady, consistent growth from 2005 on, with an exceptional surge of 2.2 percent in 2010. On any given Sunday, FM churches worship in 27 languages.

Women comprise 12 percent of our elders and deacons and more than a quarter of conference and local ministerial candidates.

Globally, our story has been incredible. We have nearly doubled our international membership since 2000.

We soon will celebrate 1 million members, only 7 percent of which are in the United States.

There is cause for celebration, but we don’t celebrate because we did better than some other church or because we beat a baseline. We celebrate because in each life represented, Jesus’ wholeness and healing invaded a new disciple.

We should confess that membership, attendance and finances aren’t actually the best things to count.

[feature] 4 We’re interested in making disciples, but it’s difficult to measure that kind of holistic endeavor. We don’t really know how we’re doing in things like marriages saved, addictions broken, relationships restored, justice attained, creation husbanded and the kingdom elevated through ministry partnerships. Be encouraged, church. We can’t yet measure all we’d like to, but measurable areas are showing fruit.

But let’s not get carried away with our celebration. How do we report a “victory” of 2.2 percent to Jesus? We can’t. We are obligated to keep leading the church into the brokenness with the message of the resurrection.

Deep and Wide A large class in American Christianity carries this basic assumption: The pastor does the work of the church and we attend services.

These people want spiritual content in their lives. They are hungry for community and love Jesus, but they see themselves as receptors, not as contributors.

Against this lay-clergy divide, the Free Methodist Church sings a different song, the simple chorus “Deep and Wide.” To reach their potential, FM minis-

ters must broaden the base of those in ministry (width) and deepen those in ministry (depth).

Church laity has been reduced to mere representation on boards and committees. That wasn’t what lay involvement was originally about in the FMC. Laypeople served on boards because they were leading and planting churches and living exemplary lives of holiness. It wasn’t so much a system of checks and balances as it was recognition that the vibrancy of Methodism has always resided in an activated laity. The FMC champions the ministry of the laity.

One in the Spirit We see a great deal of suspicion toward denominations today. Fed by the well-earned American distrust of power, many believe the only good church is local church, and communities are where the church plays out.

But the urge to shun denominations is a manifestation of the same urge that built the Tower of Babel. It’s a desire to make a name for oneself.

In an age where everyone wants to be a title and no one wants to be a footnote, it’s countercultural to submit to a larger group of believers.

Free Methodists believe that one of the key evidences of God among us is our unity, our ability to sacrifice and celebrate for others, sometimes others we don’t even know.

Denomination can elevate the trajectory of a local church and hold us all to a higher standard. It is the laboratory for demonstrating that we are one in the Spirit, even as we are many across this country.

Jesus Loves the Little Children Everybody believes that God loves them, just as we believe that God loves us, but we Christians are different.

5 [feature] We believe: Act like God loves them through us. Free Methodists have always believed in an activated holiness, not a hidden holiness.

This is a good time to remind ourselves not just where we’ve been, but where our founders were going. “Push on,” they would See Bishop say, to “maintain the scripRoller give the state of the tural standard of Christiandenomination ity and to preach the gospel report. to the poor.”

www.fmfoundation.org

We sing: “Jesus Loves the Little Children” — little children who are little and little children who’ve grown old and stale; little children with turbans on their heads or rainbows on their T-shirts; little children in a Lexus with a Darwin bumper sticker.

Free Methodists see everyone as that lovely child — hopeful, with a whole world of opportunity and health before them. Jesus loves the little children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, gay and straight,

Muslim and Jew, legal and illegal, friendly and dangerous, perfumed and smelling like vomit ... they are precious in His sight.

These are the songs of the redeemed.

T. Roller served i David Let’s sing in Latin America for 17 years before being them with joy. elected bishop. His blog [LLM] is www.fmcusa.org/ davidroller.

[bishops] 6

Actively Involved in God’s Work

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outh African Free Methodists’ theme for 2009 to 2013 is “Go therefore and make disciples.”

The inspiration comes from Matthew 28:19, and our mission is “to make known to all people everywhere God’s call to wholeness through forgiveness and holiness in Jesus Christ, and to invite into membership and to equip for ministry all who respond in faith.”

One pastor put it so well when he said, “Our aim in life is not to be comfortable but to be obedient to the Lord.” Obedience is our aim.

We realized that evangelism is what we are very good at as a church, but research showed us that we were not good at retaining converts. Our approach was, therefore, to embark on teaching our members discipleship.

Research also showed us that most of our people in urban churches come to church only on Sundays. Very few are able to attend Bible study and other evening activities during the week. Because most members rely on public transport, safety is an issue in the evenings, so most activities taking place on Sunday and, in certain instances, on Saturday.

The situation and safety factors are different in rural areas. Even though attendees have to walk long distances to church, a lot of activities take place during the week.

We decided to implement cell group meetings. These are convenient because people do not have to travel long distances for meetings. Training on how to hold these is ongoing. The inspiration also came from the book “Successful Home Cell Groups” by Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho. Having cell groups is starting to bear fruit and result in growth both numerically and spiritually. Cell groups also help us to “go, see and have compassion” as Christ did. This way, we also get to be involved in comi Bishop Zwelisha passion ministries. [LLM] Lincoln Shembe

Our aim in life is not to be

comfortable but

to be obedient to the Lord.

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SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

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Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

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Church Isn’t a Solo Act b y tim h u ff

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bout 150 years ago, Dan Rice owned a small circus that included only a single horse. Because equestrian tricks were the mainstay in circuses of the time, his competitors mocked his “one-horse show.”

But the talented showman thrived. He turned the insult into a boast, and the onehorse show out of Girard, Pa., became one of the most famous attractions of the century. He went on to pull together one of the finest equestrian troupes anywhere, which was immortalized in Chapter 22 of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” but that may be getting the moral before the story.

Surely Rice loved that old one-horse performance. He wasn’t merely important; he was the show. It worked! The naysayers and bigger-is-better crowd failed to understand that even in small quantities, quality rises to the top.

I mean no disrespect when I apply a circus analogy to the church (although sometimes our Tuesday soup kitchen does have a three-ring atmosphere), but I fear that many Free Methodist churches revel in the solo act of a talented minister. The praise band warms up the audience, the light show sets the mood, and then it’s time for the main event: a Spirit-filled sermon delivered with passion and style.

Such a pattern may work for a while — perhaps even very well — but what about coming together to share in the spiritual gifts given to each person?

1 Corinthians 12 teaches us to respect individual Christians with their various gifts, services and workings. Ministry ought to be a partnership, participated in by all believers. The most humble and unassuming person brings something to share at the table of the Lord.

Let us admire, appreciate and use God-given talent while recognizing that God gives talent to everyone, and Christians grow by serving. A healthy church may find nostalgic comfort in the one-horse show, but its real mission is fulfilled as its number of ministers equals its membership. [LLM]

[history] 8

Challenges Didn’t Stop Visionary Evangelist b y ch r ist y m e sa r os - w inc k l e s

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lara Leffingwell was born in 1862, the youngest of 10 children.

Her early life was plagued with illness, but Leffingwell felt called to ministry and pursued divine healing to meet that call. As her writings note, she felt another illness coming in 1885 and sought God’s power to overcome it.

“I opened my Bible and my eyes rested upon these words, ‘O Lord, my God. I credit unto Thee and Thou hast healed me.’ The Spirit bore a clear and definite witness to it. ... I knew I was on a solid foundation. I did not shrink from testifying to it, nor tremble at the thought of that active life I knew was before me.”

Leffingwell never shrank from testifying. By 1886, she was a licensed Free Methodist evangelist and was preaching to large crowds. However, she continually felt called to missions, particularly China.

At the time, the Free Methodist Church had no mission in China and wasn’t financially prepared to establish one. Leffingwell wasn’t dissuaded. She joined Hudson Taylor’s China Inland Mission and left for China in 1895.

She had a deep love for the Chinese people, and, when home on furlough in 1903, she pursued establishing a China Free Methodist mission. She spoke at the 1903 General Conference and gained support to send herself and eight other missionaries to China. Leffingwell spent the next two years speaking and raising funds. By the time she left for China in early 1905, she was exhausted. Nevertheless, her enthusiasm pushed her onward.

After arriving in China, she worked tirelessly to establish the mission, but the toll of the previous two years made her susceptible to dysentery. She became ill in July 1905 and died two weeks later, less than a year after her return. Although her ministry was cut short, her impact lived on. Leffingwell was a female lay leader who felt a call to serve her denomination and God, and she pursued it with all her heart. [LLM]

Clara Leffingwell and Leland Griggs

Leffingwell felt called to ministry and pursued divine healing to meet that call.

Photo by Michael Metts

by michael metts

[action] 10

Photo by Michael Metts

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im and Martha Kirkpatrick live on a quiet street on the outskirts of Indianapolis, but after spending more than 40 years in central Africa as missionaries, this retirement-age couple actively works in inner-city ministry.

“We like to go where we’re invited, where there’s a need and where people are not standing in line to work,” Martha said.

Jim and Martha currently serve as associate pastors at Indianapolis First Free Methodist Church, located in the heart of the city. Jim describes some of the biggest challenges of urban ministry as drugs, poverty and hopelessness.

“It’s a place that fewer people like to go because to see results in the inner-city, it’s a big job,” Martha said.

The Kirkpatricks have been drawn to ministry since they were young.

Jim’s parents were missionaries to Kenya, and Martha desired since childhood to serve in Africa.

Martha and Jim both emphasize the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives as the sustaining force that kept them on the field for over 40 years.

Jim grew up United Methodist, while Martha was Wesleyan; holiness teaching was a big part of their heritage.

The Free Methodist teachings about holiness and the reputation for treating missionaries well drew them to the FMC. “I said that if there’s any church that’s got it right, it’s [the Free Methodists],” Jim told Martha when they were approached by the Free Methodist mission board about serving in Africa.

After joining the Free Methodist Church, they were asked to serve at Pulaski FMC, near Spring Arbor, Mich., for two years.

“During that second year, we had a real moving of the Holy Spirit, a real revival,” Jim said.

They left for Africa after two years of ministry in Michigan. While serving at the Mweya Bible Institute, they trained church leaders from all over Burundi, Congo and Rwanda.

“That was probably our most fruitful time,” Jim said.

Revival broke out in 1970. Martha described how Elie Buconyori, the current FM bishop of Burundi, was filled with the Holy Spirit during the revival. He proclaimed a desire to be completely God’s, right down to his left pinkie. In the culture of Burundi at that time, professionals kept their left pinkie nails long, indicating they weren’t common laborers. Even

though Buconyori was an educated professional, he decided to give up his status and belong completely to God. After witnessing so many revivals during their ministry, the Kirkpatricks have a strong desire to see revival sweep the United States.

“Any revival, any moving of the Spirit comes from deep, soul-searching prayer.”

“Any revival, any moving of the Spirit comes from deep, soulsearching prayer,” Jim said. “Not just formal prayer, but really heartfelt seeking after God.” Jim believes there is a great need for Christians to surrender fully to God. “[We need] willingness to Watch more die to sin, willingness to go all of the interview out for God and willingness to with Jim spend time in prayer and Bible and Martha Kirkpatrick. study,” he said. [LLM]

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Print Shop Fills Vital Need for Churches b y jeff fin l e y

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Free Methodist pastor is helping U.S. churches find affordable printing while supporting Christians in Ethiopia.

Vital Printshop opened for business last fall at vitalprintshop.com after a year of planning by J.R. Rushik, lead pastor of Storehouse Church in Plymouth Meeting, Pa. Rushik developed the concept of a Web-based print shop while assisting fellow pastors with printing projects.

Through connections in the printing industry, he helps churches gain access to high-quality, fast and affordable printing that doesn’t require them to print more than they need.

“I thought, ‘Is there a way I could create what everyone needs in ministry today — printing postcards, banners and things like that — to make a kingdom impact?’” Rushik said.

Willie Kirchhofer, pastor of Crossroads FMC in Clifton, N.J., is among the shop’s satisfied customers.

“I have tried other printing services, and the quality of work from

Vital Printshop is as good as any at a much more reasonable rate.

It is a partner in ministry,” Kirchhofer said.

Vital Printshop is not a source of income for Rushik. He gives away 100 percent of the net profits. “The idea is taking that profit and turning it around for global needs, particularly ministry in Ethiopia,” he said.

Rushik’s trips to Ethiopia have included the African nation’s capital city of Addis Ababa and churches in remote villages. He hopes to raise money to build a church in a hub community, Beta Genet, that also would serve as a training center for Ethiopian pastors.

Rushik’s creation of Vital Printshop impresses David Harvey, superinten-

p Church members in Beta Genet, Ethiopia

dent of the Acts 12:24 Churches of the Mid-Atlantic Region.

“Vital Printshop is really a model for a new way that Christians can have a positive impact in the world,” Harvey said. [LLM]

[news] 12 FREE METHODIST CHURCH — USA Indianapolis

The Free Methodist Church of North America has a new name. Although the legal name remains the same, the Board of Administration voted in April for the denomination to do business as the Free Methodist Church — USA to reflect its growth and structure. The name change extends to the to the church’s website with a new url, fmcusa.org.

MEADOWRIDGE FMC Joplin, Mo.

Multiple FM conferences sent work teams and donations after a rare EF5 tornado, the deadliest in the last 60 years, hit Joplin May 22. One regular Meadowridge FMC attendee lost a house and a car, and one member had two cars destroyed by falling trees.

PARK STREET FMC Hamburg, Iowa

As much of Hamburg, Iowa, was evacuated in June because of rising Missouri River floodwaters, only one local church remained open — Park Street FMC. Another local congregation worshiped at the church, and the Hamburg Reporter newspaper relocated to the church office, Pastor Donna Woods said.

BUTTERFIELD MEMORIAL FOUNDATION Oklahoma City

The Butterfield Memorial Foundation, an FM-affiliated charitable organization, announced June 10 the awarding of 13 grants totaling $600,000 to Christian universities and a Christian organization for scholarships to nursing students. Spring Arbor University received a $50,000 award.

i The Rest of the Story Want to find out more about the stories of these remarkable FM churches? Visit llcomm.org.

We want to hear from you!

Tell us what your church is doing to impact lives in the U.S. and around the world. Submit your story at fmcusa.org/ yourstory.

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BRI E F

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ree Methodist World Missions has formed a partnership with the Mission Society to help local churches chart a course for maximum global impact. The Mission Society offers a six-hour Global Outreach Seminar, which a church can incorporate with other services and activities into a Global Outreach Weekend.

“Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as a missionary God — a God who wants all people groups to come to know Him, love Him and worship Him,” said Roger Wright, a Mission Society trainer and mentor.

For more information, visit www.themissionarysociety.org or contact Jennifer Veldman at (800) 342-5531, ext. 264, or ExploreMissions@gmail.com.

Kendall: Learn from International Church b y jeff f i nle y

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ishop David Kendall recently visited Ethiopia, Egypt and Jordan, where he found Free Methodists’ faith thriving despite challenging circumstances.

“We have a lot to learn from some of the courageous and faithful ways in which our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world are following Bishop David Kendall (center) ordains an elder Jesus and making a difference in their during Ethiopia’s first Free Methodist ordination service. country,” Bishop Kendall said after he and his wife, Lavone, returned from the two-week March trip.

Along with responsibility for FM conferences in the central United States, Kendall oversees congregations in the African countries that do not have their own general conferences. The Ethiopians are on the verge of becoming their own annual conference, 10 years after the Free Methodist Church began there. During the visit, the church ordained Ethiopia’s first group of elders.

The Kendalls traveled north to Egypt, which has its own general conference, one month after the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak following mass protests that included violence toward some foreigners. After four days in Egypt, the Kendalls spent two days in Jordan, where the FMC is in the formation stage. [LLM]

INTERNATIONAL LEADER SPOTLIGHT Elie Buconyori, bishop of the Burundi General Conference and rector of Hope Africa University, received recognition from Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza during

a large public celebration in May. Nkurunziza praised the bishop, the university and FM health care institutions for their contributions to national development.

elder

[discipleship] 14

Every (Part of the) Body b y r a lph cl a r k

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iscipleship happens in the warp and woof of our everyday lives, not in a vacuum.

Jesus and His disciples wore out many a pair of sandals in the process. They were going places, meeting people, doing life together — healing, teaching, playing with kids, rowing boats, mixing it up with lost people.

Today we tend to think of discipleship as simply a class we take or a small group we join, but knowing certain facts about the Christian walk is no substitute for actually walking. Discipleship involves teaching, but discipleship is not independent of real life.

Jesus never missed an opportunity to teach, but His instruction was more likely to be in a vineyard, at a well or on a hillside than in a temple. Discipleship is more caught than taught.

In his book “Radical,” David Platt relates his experience speaking at a seminary graduation in Indonesia. Each graduate had been required to plant a church with at least 30 new, baptized believers in a Muslim community. Platt notes the ceremony’s moment of silence for classmates who had been murdered in the process. That’s discipleship on a whole different level from our typical Western approach of learning facts and figures in a classroom.

We are not a community of experts and ministers but a body of believers who all must take seriously the radical call of Christ to follow and serve. The Latin root for the word “pastor” means “to feed” or “to pasture” and refers to anybody with a flock.

True discipleship is about doing life together and including everyone in the work of the church as we together grow into the image of Christ and build His kingdom. [LLM]

Discipleship is more caught than taught.

GROUP DISCUSSION: [1] What might it look like for every member of your church to become involved in ministry?

[2] How could this facilitate discipleship — and not merely more programs/busyness?

[3] What mindsets and models of ministry need to change for your church to become more relational?

LLM LIGHT & LIFE MAGAZINE

Consider Asbury Seminary’s Lay Mobilization Institute. Identify yourself as Free Methodist to receive this special discount.

Individual Registration:

$149

$50

Group Registration:

$199

$100

770 N. High School Road / P.O. Box 535002 Indianapolis, IN 46253-5002

periodicals postage paid at indianapolis, In, and at additional mailing offices Publications Agreement No. 40716549 Station A P.O. Box 54 Windsor, On N9A 6J5 Canada e-mail: cpcreturns@wdsmail.com

Reserve your spot now to be part of the second LMI class, beginning a two-year journey toward congregational transformation in January 2012.

Read all about it at asbury.to/layinstitute.

[Brought to you by Light & Life Communications.]

[resources]

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SEED Check out the products from SEED — seedlivelihood.org — that uses global partnerships to create local livelihoods for people who may not have other opportunities.

Free Methodists are flavoring the world for the better while creating high-quality products and services.

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HEAVENLY TREASURES Help Heavenly Treasures — heavenlytreasures.org —- assist refugees, single mothers, widows, orphans and the physically disabled.

VITAL PRINTSHOP Get your printing needs met by Vital Printshop — vitalprintshop.com — while helping Ethiopian Free Methodists. See page 11.

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