Brazilian Nikkei pastoral couple, Takero and Midori Oshima, dreamed of returning to their ancestor’s home in Japan. They had not returned for years. Finances were tight but Jesus miraculously provided for their dream.
Returning to Brazil just days before World Conference, they told of Bible Studies in Japan FM homes and worship gatherings, evidenced by this scene in the hall way.
What is your evangelism dream?
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
Here is a little video clip of 3 different songs in 3 different languages:
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
As the host of a large event such as this, it is common to receive plenty of questions:
“What’s the pin number for going on-line?”
“Where can I get a phone card?”
“Is there a cable available for my computer?
Etc. Etc.
Well, Bishop Ildo, host of the FM World Conference, let everyone know his answer to their questions–
“If you have any problems…ask him!” (pointing to Bishop Elford, president of World Conference)
["Just Kidding!"]
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
Young, fervent, Brazilian musicians lead the World Conference in worship. Two of the musicians are Bishop Ildo and Cristina’s sons (Brazil). The drummer plays smooth. They had been worried about their English pronunciation, but the Lord provided for these Portuguese singers. In fact, try to follow this background story:
Thirteen years ago, Pastor Camilo and Magaly Mora were sent as missionaries from Brazil to Venezuela. After 10 years in the Venezuelan FMC, they went to the United States (New Jersey) to pastor and prepare for future missions. They stayed just long enough for their son, Phillip, to learn English fluently. He just happened to be coming to Brazil to visit his relatives and joined the World Conference brazilian worship band – an answer to prayer!
The musicians sit behind Faithful African Leaders
The Free Methodist Church needs this generation’s emerging leadership.
“They’ve got our back!”
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
The World Conference administers a scholarship program awarding academic grants to International scholars in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America- totaling $35,000 in 2007. Currently, worthy students are pursuing Masters degrees in Leadership and Christian Administration,Theology, and a PhD in Biblical Study of the Old Testament. Committed students finish their studies, return to their countries, and invest in their nation’s church leadership to the glory of God.
Photo: John Ellis (USA) is reporting on the international scholarships.
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
Bishop Keith Elford welcomed the Participants to the World Conference of the Free Methodist Church using a theme from Luke 4:43.
Bishops and Delegates stood to their feet to read in their language, “WE MUST ALSO GO TO THE OTHER TOWNS.”
We welcome you to the World Conference through daily postings. We’re glad you’re our brother and sister. We are one with you. Please commit with us to the challenge, “We must also go to the other towns.”
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
Our church in Haiti and the Dominican Republic suffer flooding.
District Superintendent, Pastor Eliodor Devariste is broken for the churches in his supervision. He feels torn between staying to help and traveling to Brazil to attend the World Conference. He wishes he could stay home. “I will come to see you when I get back”,”he promises.
Pastor Devariste relives the storm beginning Oct 18. “Much, much wind came from the direction of the Dominican Republic. Much flooding. The flooding kills animals. Kills garden. There are broken houses and churches. West and east of Port-au-Prince. Upper Artibonite and Lower Artibonite. All five districts were affected in our Country. Seventeen people lost their homes in my west district alone. The Galet Chambon FMC was damaged. We didn’t have school. Too much flooding. It was dangerous to go outside. We didn’t have church on October 28.
Nov 4 we did have service. I preached from John 4:1-31. The Samaritan woman comes to Jesus and He says, ‘I’ll give you water and you’ll never be thirsty.’ I told my congregation, His Presence is Enough. We may experience flood or die but we cannot live without peace and love. God gives me words to share in the crisis. Money and food are important but if we don’t have peace and love, we cannot exist.
I received a phone call before coming to Brazil from church planter Jean Audinelle Francois. ‘My congregation has nothing to eat. Their gardens are ruined. They cannot go to the ocean to fish. They cannot go out because of the flooding. They cannot get to the market.’ I was sad, very sad. I believe God. I need your prayers. Next Wed. I will go to see these families. I promised, I will come to see you. They wait for me. I need your prayers.
Superintendent Julio Cesar Madrano also tore himself away from Dominicans in need after Tropical Storm Noel to attend FM World Conference. “Free Methodists in the Dominican Republic lost rice, beans, banana plants–their crops. Their animals drown.They lost their belongings–their beds. Bridges collapsed. Roads were destroyed. We went days without communication and without electricity. The Haitian community in the DR suffered tremendous loss. A fellow pastor from another denomination drown trying to save others. We unburied five people who drown. I spent two nights without sleeping before coming to World Conference trying to assist in the evacuation.
Bishop Elias Peña reports the FMC in the Dominican Republic is working to provide food, clothes, and basic living accommodations needed. He said with emotion, “There are people who lost everything, everything, everything.”
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
Bishop Narendra John of India was present when it was formed. As World Fellowship President, he helped to usher in the World Conference.
Q. How did the World Conference of the Free Methodist Church begin?
BNJ. “It began in 1951, as an outgrowth of the Mission Initiative of the Free Methodist Church of North America. The Free Methodist Church had grown in number around the world. An organization was needed to connect the growing worldwide church, to exchange outreach strategy and to network countries. The World Fellowship was formed.
Q. How often did it meet?
BNJ. The World Fellowship met every four years, in conjunction with General Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America. In between, the World Fellowship was divided in Area Fellowships and they met once in between the four years in their respective areas: Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Q. From 1860 to 1951, how many General Conferences had been formed in Free Methodism?
BNJ. There were two General Conferences in 1951. The General Conference of North America and the General Conference of Japan.
Q. When was the first World Fellowship that you attended?
BNJ. In 1974. I remember it was the year Henry and Bonnie Church were commissioned to go to Africa as Missionaries. Mission Director Charles Kirkpatrick commissioned them with tears running down his cheeks.
BNJ. Our mandate remained to reach the nations. The church grew around the world and now, there were more General Conferences. Who would be the custodian of the Free Methodist Church’s Identity worldwide? A jurisdictional body existed within the World Fellowship—the Constitutional Council. But who would keep the General Conferences accountable for the non negotiables in the Free Methodist Church? In 1999, a World Conference Constitution was completed and World Conference was formed, merging the World Fellowship into the World Conference. Bishop Keith Elford of Canada was elected president of World Conference..
The first sitting of the World Conference was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2003.
Q. What has God done in the World Conference since then?
BNJ. It has brought order, co-ordination and higher accountability in the areas of our Common Heritage. We have better communication and purpose throughout the world.
We are more united in times of crisis and rejoicing. Missions is no longer a North American Iniative. The Church Worldwide is reaching the World.
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
This is a synopsis of the address given by Bishop Joab Lahara (India) for the opening of World Conference:
With the echo of translations in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese, Bishop Joab Lahara challenged the World Conference to “Take the hill country” just as Caleb did.
Caleb was 85 years old but he could not stand to live on the plateau, he asked for the high country.
Caleb measured the giants against God, not against his own size.
God sends us to the ends of the earth. This will require power initiatives against evil. We will not be able to coast to new initiatives.
Being faithful is not enough, we must be successful: to energize and evangelize the nations of the world.
Our dreams must exceed our memories. If our memories exceed our dreams we are dead!
(written by Bishop David Roller, FMCNA)
Categories: Thursday, Nov. 8
