By: Bishop Scott Jones On 5/21/2010
Rebuilding after an earthquake in Haiti. Educating children in Mozambique.
Evangelizing atheists in Russia.
Healing disease and promoting health.
Caring for senior citizens.
Providing resources for the homeless.
Educating a new generation of pastors for the church.
Starting new congregations in growing communities.
Providing camping experiences for children and youth.
I want to participate in all of those ministries!
When I hear about all of the wonderful things God is doing in the world, I get excited and I think, “I want to participate in that!” I want so much to make a difference—to be used by God for God’s purposes. I know that God has a plan to save the world and that God is actively working on that plan. How can I be part of it?
But, then I think about the obstacles that prevent my participation.
How can I really make a difference in places where I don’t live, like Haiti, Mozambique and Russia?
How can I be involved in ministries that do not need my talents?
How can I be in multiple places at the same time?
The answer is to belong to a worldwide church. When I pray, give money, go on a Volunteers In Mission trip or pay my apportionments, I am participating in mission projects all over the world.
The United Methodist Church is one of the few Christian churches united by a single doctrine, discipline and mission working on four or more continents. We have congregations in Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
All of these United Methodists are mutually accountable and united by a common desire to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Christians who belong to an independent congregation may build relationships with other Christians in the world, but our connectional church organization gives us stronger relationships with greater mutual accountability.
Those relationships become important when we ask deeper questions about how we want to participate.
How can I know where my money is going? Will my money be used well?
If I am going to work at the project, will I truly make a difference?
Our United Methodist connectional system provides the highest possible levels of integrity and transparency with the greatest effectiveness I know.
All of us who have tried to make a difference somewhere know that sometimes things go awry, and corrections need to be made. Sometimes we fail to live up to our potential, or we miss opportunities that would have increased our missional effectiveness. Yet, in a church with a common mission and systems of mutual accountability, such problems can be addressed and progress can be made.
This spring, the Kansas West Annual Conference will hear about a proposed covenant relationship with the Zimbabwe East Annual Conference. The Kansas East Annual Conference will hear about a proposed covenant relationship with the Haiti District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas.
These new and deeper relationships will build on work we have already done with Methodists in these two countries and add to many other international relationships our Kansas congregations have had over the years. The proposed covenants will not replace or prevent these other relationships but will add to them by giving new opportunities for people to participate in what God is blessing.
When people hear the stories of what God is doing, I trust many will say, “I want to participate in that!”