Faithful Leaders As Mission Evangelists
The 16th Conference of the Order of the FLAME, a ministry of World Methodist Evangelism, gathered at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, Georgia, March 24-28, 2014. One hundred young (in ministry) pastors of the World Methodist family, African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, Church of the Nazarene, Methodist Church of the Bahamas and United Methodist experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit and promised to “do the work of an evangelist, to carry out the ministry fully.”
Listen to their testimonies:
“Ignited a flame to go deeper…life-changing experience…a new vision…awesome…inspiring, renewing, empowering, amazing blessing…feel capable to teach my people to share their faith in Christ…lifted me…to do the work of an evangelist with passion and every breath… encouraging…wonderful sharing with the Methodist/Wesleyan family…revived… seldom have I been around a group of leaders who were so humble…it is clear that the leaders were all in for Jesus and their only agenda is building His kingdom.” One young leader said, “I asked Bishop Michael Watson what he expected of the pastors who are commissioned as mission evangelists. He said he expected them to be mission evangelists and teach their congregations how to share their faith.”
The Order of the Flame which began in 1996 now has hundreds of pastors who celebrate and share the joy and passion of being part of “One family with One Mission-That the World May Know Jesus Christ.”
Leaders in the conference included the President of World Methodist Evangelism, Bishop B. Michael Watson, Bishop Darryl Starnes, AME Zion who serves as World Methodist Evangelism Regional Secretary of North America, Bishop Ivan Abrahams, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council, evangelism leaders of the AME, AMEZion, CME, Free Methodist, Nazarene, and outstanding leaders in the Wesleyan/Methodist Movement. The faculty included pastors who are members of the Order of the Flame from earlier conferences: renown Bible teacher, Dr. Grace Imathiu; outstanding worship/music leader, Dr. Matt Hook; and vital church leaders, Dr. Jim and Jennifer Cowart, pastors of a growing dynamic congregation.
Dr. H. Eddie Fox, the World Director of World Methodist Evangelism, declared that we are raising up a new generation who are committed to “holding fast to the doctrine, discipline and spirit with which we first set out in this movement which began more than 275 years ago.” We are passionate to live into the vision of World Methodist Evangelism: “To see the Methodist/Wesleyan Movement alive, vibrant, growing and yearning to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.”
