A New Vision for Renewal Among the People Called Methodists

PREAMBLE

On the final weekend of August 1999, a prayer summit was held at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, Georgia. A group of eighteen pastors and laypersons gathered for a twenty-four hour period, seeking God through worship, prayer and supplication. Under the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit, we joined in covenant with one another to seek renewal through prayer, fasting, and a bold proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Believing God is moving among the people called Methodists, calling them to come together, in like-mindedness, to seek his face, we invite all who love the Lord Jesus Christ to join with us in suffering for him; in prayer and fasting for a spiritual awakening; and in a bold and unashamed witness for the Gospel into all the world.

GOD IS CALLING US TO GIVE THE CHURCH BACK TO HIM

(Psalm 2:8, NIV)

The Methodist movement was birthed out of great suffering and hardship. The original Methodists, including our spiritual founder John Wesley, endured insults, slanderous accusations, and threats to life and limb. However, God rewarded their faithfulness with a great awakening which spanned two continents. For over three decades, believers have been seeking another such awakening among the people called Methodists. Many of them, like their forebears, have been subjected to persecution and ridicule. Such is the price we must pay if we want to see rebirth. God has heard the prayers of his people. Already there are signs that a great spiritual awakening is underway. The fact that it is not taking place within a particular denominational setting should not discourage us. Instead, the current awakening should serve as a humbling reminder that God is bigger than denominations and desires not just a select few, but all people to surrender their lives to him through repentance and faith.

God desires that believers of all denominations experience this outpouring of his Holy Spirit. If the people called Methodists truly wish to drink of the refreshing waters of revival, we must give our church back to God. Revival is not brought about through dialogues, resolutions or political strategies. The battle belongs to the Lord. The victory will be won on our knees.

We repent, therefore, of our reliance on political strategies, dialogues and resolutions, as though such human inventions were capable of bringing revival. We commit ourselves anew to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). Trusting fully and completely in God, we joyfully anticipate the gift of spiritual rebirth.

GOD IS CALLING US TO A BOLD PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

(2 Timothy 1:7-12, NIV)

It is our firm belief that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed in its fullness from our pulpits and through the witness of all believers. This means not only declaring the good news of salvation to those redeemed in Christ but also warning sinners of the Christless eternity which awaits them if they continue in their destructive lifestyles. The Gospel cannot be moderated for fear of offending persons who try to live between the two extremes of death and life. The message of those entrusted with preaching the Gospel must be a clear and unequivocal call to forsake the ways of the flesh, which lead to eternal death, and to fully embrace the way of the Gospel, which leads to eternal life.

Such boldness will inevitably bring hardship and suffering at the hands of both the world and the religious establishment. But the lives of millions of lost souls are at stake. We dare not forsake our calling for the comforts of career advancement or some favored position within a religious establishment which is itself in need of a spiritual rebirth.

The most obvious sign of revival is the conversion of the lost. God is calling his people to be his faithful, courageous witnesses, seeking and saving the lost with boldness and conviction.

GOD IS CALLING US TO SHEPHERD THE FLOCK WITH RENEWED CONVICTION

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

(Colossians 3:12-17, NIV)

To find true fulfillment in our lives, we must place Jesus Christ first, allowing him to inhabit the very center of our being. It is only then that we will begin to exhibit those qualities of courage tempered with compassion which will enable us to endure the suffering inherent to our calling as servants of Christ. We must possess the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) in order to exhibit the character of Christ. For pastors, especially, it is easy to lose sight of this most important aspect of ministry while serving in a denomination whose hierarchy often places "the company" before Christ and the party line before faithful and honest Christian stewardship.

God is calling pastors to a renewed conviction about their role as shepherds of his flock. This requires both the courage and the compassion which reflect the mind and character of Christ. Christ was willing to lay down his life for the sheep. Pastors today ought to be willing to do the same. Genuine, Christ-centered pastoral care, however, does not mean simply trying to please the congregation. Pastors must be courageous enough to correct and rebuke errant sheep; yet compassionate enough to guide them back into the fold. Conversely, errant pastors need to be humble enough to accept the correction and rebuke of their flock when they themselves fall into error.

Christ-centered pastors and Christ-centered congregations are a living and visible witness to the world that God’s kingdom is near.

THE COVENANT

Therefore, in light of God’s call to give the church back to him; to boldly proclaim the Gospel; and to shepherd the flock with renewed conviction, we join together in covenant:

• to pray earnestly for an outpouring of God’s Spirit not only upon the people called Methodists but upon all people who call upon the name of the Lord.

• to pray each Thursday at noon for revival and spiritual awakening, believing that God is already moving among us and that we are in the beginning stages of a spiritual rebirth in the church and the nation.

• to form and promote active prayer ministries within our local churches. Prayer is the key which unlocks the door to revival. We must be obedient to God’s call to humble ourselves before him and seek his face.

• to pray daily for the unsaved in our local communities. We believe a blanket of prayer around our neighborhoods, towns and cities will lead to a profound transformation of thousands of lives throughout our nation.

• to a monthly period of fasting, as led and prompted by the Holy Sprit, in order that we may better seek God’s presence in our lives.

• to be bold in our proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not for our own benefit, but solely for the glory of God.

• to endure suffering and hardship, knowing that it is for the sake of Christ and his Gospel; and for the lost, that they may be saved.

• to pray for and support one another. Mutual support and encouragement are a divinely instituted means of grace which will strengthen the Body of Christ and comfort those who suffer for their faith.

[Clergy] to administer genuine, Christ-like pastoral care. With courage and compassion, we will shepherd those committed to our charge, feeding them with the fullness of the Gospel; encouraging them in their boldness for Christ; teaching them to distinguish truth from error.

[Laity] to support and encourage those entrusted with the care of souls. We will pray for them daily, offer them encouragement and, when necessary, correct them when they are in error.

RATIFICATION OF THE COVENANT

For the ratification of this covenant, trusting our ministries, our lives, ourselves to the final vindication of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we join with one another in this covenant prayer:

["A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition, UMH 607]

PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRAYER SUMMIT

Rick Bonfim
Athens, Georgia

Ronald J. Burbank
Baxley, Georgia

Karen Covey Moore
Newport, Delaware

John Davis
Newnan, Georgia

John Freeland
Newnan, Georgia

James A. Gibson III
Marshallville, Georgia

Elizabeth Knight
Bainbridge, Georgia

Richard T. Mitchell
Macon, Georgia

Allen O. Morris
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Mary K. Robinson
Bainbridge, Georgia

James H. Rush
St. Simons Island, Georgia

Eric Sizemore
Colquitt, Georgia

David Tart
Donalsonville, Georgia

John C. Warrener
Albany, Georgia

Curtis R. Williams
Marshallville, Georgia

Anne Williams
Marshallville, Georgia

Robert Flanders, Musician
Griffin, Georgia

Dennis Duncan, Musician
Atlanta, Georgia