Category: Methodist
Church Blog Grace Church Methodist
Multi Site Revolution
by Over the past few years several churches in the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church have chosen to go multi-site. Meaning, offering worship services and other ministries in more than one location. Why would a church that is highly successful in making disciples in one location attempt to duplicate their ministries in another location? Is this just a passing fad or is it something more? Grace United Methodist Church has been looking into…
Church Blog Grace Church Methodist
El Dorado Springs Campus Launch
by Grace Launches our El Dorado Springs Campus Grace United Methodist Church (El Dorado Springs, MO) Oct 26, 2015 Over 130 joined us this past Sunday to celebrate the launch of our second campus in El Dorado Springs, MO. At 10 am, our worship band (Psalms Prophet) opened the service in song. The Grace Choir, led by our Director of Music Sharon Owen, sang two songs. Pastor Kevin led the service and Pastor Jeremy preached.…
Church Blog Grace Church Methodist
Summer Camp 2015- Central Methodist University
by Summer Camp significantly changed for Grace Church this summer. We’ve camped at Galilee forever. Since 1991 (the year Grace came into existence) we have led, counseled and camped at Galilee. This past year, due to decisions from the Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church Camp Board, Trustees, Mission Council and the Annual Conference, Galilee was no longer an option. Some counselors and campers skipped camp at CMU with us because they were busy,…
Church Blog Methodist
Missouri Annual Conference 2015- Tough Conversations
by We are halfway through with #MOAC15. Discipleship: Growing in Grace We’ve heard some amazing and inspirational speeches/sermons this weekend. Rev. David Gilmore, Rev Willis Johnson, Rev Karen Hayden, Rev. Bob Farr, Bishop Schnase, Brian Hammons, Rev Sue Nilson Kibbey, Rev. Jeff Brinkman and Rev. Alice Fowler and many other voices. To summarize We Need to Reach All We Need to Be A Presence In New Places We Need to Pray More Discipleship Means Being…
Church Blog Grace Church Methodist
We Can No Longer Agree to Disagree
by I recently heard someone say, “We can no longer agree to disagree”. Does this mean that we now have to become disagreeable to each other? I’m not sure. Or are we just not going to talk about the issue we disagree on? For the sake of relationship, something must be decided or worked out, correct? Personal opinions dressed up with facts, figures and polls does not mean someone is “more right” that someone else. It…
Church Blog Grace Church Methodist
Hoping for the Best, but Expecting the Worst
by I am not a cynic or a pessimist. My faith in Jesus Christ gives me abundant hope, even in the face of what are insurmountable odds. Are we called to be bold, courageous and faithful? Or do we give up and give in to fear when we are uncertain about the future? Fear is a funny thing. It can drive us to change everything we believe. It can cause us to abandon our principles…
Grace Church Methodist
Is God done with Camp Galilee?
by I’ve recently had occasion to spend some time at our new South Campus for Grace United Methodist Church. It’s located in El Dorado Springs Missouri. As many of you know, Camp Galilee is located there as well. The El Dorado Springs UMC closed in 2014, and Galilee has been placed in limbo since 2014. I stood outside the gates of Galilee dreaming and wondering what will become of our beloved campsite? So much good…
Church Blog Methodist
Change, Focus and the Local Church
by This week the Heartland District of the Missouri Conference learned that our District Superintendent of 2 years was being appointed back into the local church. Needless to say, many of us are disappointed. It came as a big surprise as we recently developed some big initiatives that I referenced here. Is the Local Church more important than the District? Or the Conference? Are they mutually exclusive in importance? Are the instrumentalists more important…
Church Blog Methodist
Counting or Measuring Fruitfulness
by Our District Superintendent, Kendall Waller, recently asked the pastors of the Heartland District to enter into conversation about Gil Rendle’s new book. In his book, “Doing the Math of Mission“, Gil Rendle proposes radically changing the way in which we count/measure ministry in the United Methodist Church. Up to now, much of our focus for defining fruitfulness and effectiveness of churches has been based on the ABC’s of ministry (attendance, buildings, cash). These numbers as…