– 2007 Free Methodist World Conference — São Paulo, Brazil

Bishop Samuel Kayinamura reported for the Rwanda General Conference:

In spite of terrible genocide that killed over a million people in Rwanda, the Free Methodist church is alive and growing! It is comprised of 1,570 churches in 20 districts in 6 conferences with an adult membership of 83,222 members. The church is deeply involved in people’s lives.
Here are just a few of the ways:
* they take 10% from the offerings to the churches and reinvest that money to help the congregation begin micro-enterprises.
* they’re working with people with HIV/AIDS
* they own and operate 54 primary schools. They are committed to evangelism in their schools.
* they own 9 secondary schools
* they’re working with mentally retarded children
* they own 1 hospital and 5 medical centers

Bishop Keith Elford and Pat Duncan, chair of Canada’s B.O.A., reported:

There is unity among the churches and support of the Vision, which is, “To have healthy churches within the reach of all people in Canada and beyond.”
The church currently ministers in 13 different languages. The Lord has sent 6 French-speaking pastors to minister in Quebec. Less than 2% of Quebec’s population is evangelical Christian.
Over the past 10 years there’s been a 16% increase in the number of congregations. But there is still much to do. Canada is becoming increasingly secular. In 1945, 67% of Canadians said they attended church weekly. In 1990, that number was down to 20%.

India is one General Conference, divided into 3 areas.
All three Bishops from India report:

* the Immanuel area, lead by Bishop Joab Lahara, includes 750 churches plus 100 plants.
* the Agape area, is lead by Bishop John Gallapalli, includes 250 churches plus 50 plants.
* the Alpha area, lead by Bishop Norendra John:
For 100 years, the Free Methodist church in India was in only 1 of the country’s 14 states. But in recent years, the doors have opened and amazing growth is taking place!

In the Immanuel area, their goal in the past year was to plant one church every week. The Lord blessed and they actually planted 108 churches in one year!
In the Agape area there are 32 Agape Homes where tribal boys and girls are nurtured to become responsible adults. They also have a Bible Institute and have planted 350 churches among 40 different tribal groups. Their goals are to double their membership in the next five years. They will do that by having:
* 1 pastor prepare another pastor
* 1 church plant a second church
* 1 believer produce another believer.

Amazing statistic…India is a country of 1.2 Billion people. 850-million are Hindu. 100-million are Muslim. Only 30-million are Christian.

Bishop Hiroshi Imai, Japan reported:

In 1984 there were 20 Free Methodist churches in Japan. Today, there are 28, plus three in formation. The Japanese church is a giving church. They’ve donated $30,000 to International Child Care Ministries. And they’ve been providing financial support for World Evangelism. They sent their first missionary to Cambodia 4 years ago.
The challenges they face include:
* a shortage of ministerial candidates– out of 29 churches, 9 are pastored by pastors who are over 70 years of age
* aging congregations. Many Japanese became followers of Jesus in the 10 years following World War II. Now, many of them are quite old.
* financial support is down across the board in Japan.
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Japan.

Bishop Ossea Jeremias, Mozambique, reported:

The Free Methodist Church began in Mozambique in 1885. 100 years later it included 6 provinces of the country.
In 2005 the church began a new work in Angola. That has resulted in a church plant, but is in need of financial help. In 2006, a number of refugees committed to starting a church which now has 365 members.
Across Mozambique, the FMC has 3 schools and 2 hospitals. Because of 16 years of civil war, much of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed. Today, 1 of the hospitals has been repaired and is again open. Yet, it still needs qualified personnel, an ambulance, and medicine.

Life expectancy in Mozambique is 47.6 years. The country has 20-million citizens, but 1.4-million of them are living with AIDS. 54% of the people are living in poverty. 54% of the population is illiterate. Even so, our church has been growing! Between 2005 and 2006, total membership increased from 11,587 to 12,479! The number of churches grew from 83 to 103!

Bishop Jim Tuan reported for the Philippines General Conference:

1. Leaders are pursuing a life worthy of the call
2. Increased awareness of being and making disciples
3. Active involvement of laity in the ministry
4. A clear vision and strategy to meet our goals
5. International Child Care Ministries, a blessing to many
6. God’s financial provisions

Some God-inspired dreams of the Bishop and Church:
1. That every local church sees the result of our evangelistic thrust
2. To increase to 450 churches
3. A school to produce 200 new pastors
4. 3,000 lay people involved in ministry
5. 50 missionaries being sent abroad
6. 50 praying, fasting leaders
7. Rapid multiplication of churches and disciples
8. Publication materials for lay leadership

Bishop Matt Thomas , FMCNA, reported:

During the last four years FMCNA adopted and executed a strategic plan called, “One More Soul”, focusing on:
* increasing the number of successful church plants
* investing in growing churches
* identifying and training key leaders for effective ministry; and
* producing discipleship materials for broad distribution.
We believe that to battle the forces of evil, “we can’t add…we must multiply!”
Worship attendance between 2004 and 2006 grew from 100,000 to 102,000. The number of existing churches declined form 820 to 806, but more than 200 new churches were planted.

Additional statistics from Art Brown, Director of Free Methodist World Missions:

1950 1970 1990 2006
World membership 71 131 302 729
US/Canada 51 70 79 87
Africa 5 23 120 344
(All figures are thousands.)

It´s fun to learn the different ways that people do things in different countries.

Did you know there are many ways to greet each other?

In India, our Indian brothers put their hands together with a slight bow. Here’s Bishop Nerendra John showing us how to do it. (Families hug each other and parents hug their children in India.)

The greeting in DR Congo, Africa, is not just a hand shake. The person showing respect uses their left hand to hold under their right fore arm when they greet someone. The smallest children learn to put their left hand just so to greet the adults like their relatives, teachers, and pastors.

Mr Mahango Lubembela and Rev Dr Lubunga w’Ehusha demonstrate this greeting. Wouldn’t you like to be greeted by an African friend like this?

Our kind hosts, Bishop Ildo and Cristina invited us to their home. We got into the elevator. Up, up, uuuup, the elevator started and then slowed. Down, down, down, the elevator came.Too many of us had tried to go up at once. The lights went out and the elevator wouldn’t go up or down. For a moment we wondered if we would be trapped inside. At least we could get to know each other! Finally the door opened to allow us to spill out. We laughed and laughed (…but Bishop Ildo looked a bit worried)!

submitted by Yvonne Roller (FMCNA)

God deserves our praise…no matter what language we speak!

Here is a little video clip of 3 different songs in 3 different languages:

FREE METHODIST BISHOPS

Back row, left to right: B. Tuan, B. Chauke, B. Thomas, B. Sartele, B. Jeremias, B. Lahara, B. Peña, B. Chembe
Front row, left to right: B. W’elongo, B. Nerenda, B. Buconyori, B. Elford, B. Imai, B. Kendall, B. Kayinamura, B. Roller, B. Gollapalli

FM WORLD CONFERENCE DELEGATES

There are many outstanding delegates. Many heroes of the faith. They do not tell you about themselves. The delegates are intent to carefully serve the Worldwide Church.

Against a backdrop of the history of FM World Missions, executive director, Dr. Arthur Brown, made several suggestions, all of which helped us see the current forces which are molding the future of the worldwide church:
1 - suggested a coordinated stewardship plan for both the rich and poor.
2 - suggested that our future will involve systems and relationships of high accountability but low control.
3 - suggested that AIDS intervention will be key for us.
4 - suggested that our development efforts should focus on development that helps the poor help themselves.

Bishop Ellie Buconyori of Burundi reports…

Primary accomplishments:
1. Churches growing (From 1997 to 2007, membership increased from 75,000 to 84,000)
2. Leaders are being raised up
3. Churches have been planted in nearly every province of the 3 countries within the General Conference.
4. The church in Kenya has begun work in Uganda.

Primary needs:
1. Teaching resources.
2. Funds for ministry.
3. Pension for their pastors.
4. Strengthening new churches, especially in Uganda.

Primary dreams:
1. Church plant in each mega city in Kenya and Uganda.
2. A church within 10 km of all people in Burundi.
3. Each pastor having a bicycle to reach his parishioners.
God is doing a great work in Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya.

Bishop W’elongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo reports…

The country has experienced war which has killed many people and displaced others as refugees. There’s also been a breakout of AIDS and HIV.
In spite of this, the church has grown from 139,000 members in 2003 to 147,000 in 2007!
They have also started a work, for the first time, among members the pygmy tribe.
Their challenges include: the consequences of war, poverty, displacement, sickness, deaths destruction, a lack of funds and the spiritual decline of the country. (And we thought WE had problems!)

Going forward, their goals are:
* Pursuing sanctification
* Opening more training schools and a university
* Developing work in the DRC, Tanzania and Congo Brazzaville

They thank God, wholeheartedly, for the wonderful work of Child Care Ministries and for the continuing support being provided for needy children.

God is doing a great work in the Democratic Republic of Congo!

Bishop Elias Peña of the Dominican Republic reports…

The General Conference in the DR has 148 FM Churches, 92 additional churches in formation, and baptized 1,277 people during 2006 and 2007. Dominican immigrants minister in the U.S. and other countries. Most churches have daughter churches. Some have 3. Some have as many as 10!

The DR Free Methodist Seminary offers classes in 5 locations and hopes to add both Masters and Doctorate degrees. 112 students currently attend the seminary. There are 7 centers caring for children. One center cares for 550 children, some of whom have AIDS, some of whom are street children, and most of whom are very poor. Through this children’s ministry, many parents have come to know the Lord. They currently have 14 Schools throughout the country and 2 Book stores.

The dream of the FMC in the DR is to take the message to every town and city. By 2009, they hope to have 300 churches! 24 church buildings are currently under construction. God is doing a great work in the Dominican Republic!

(submitted by Larry Roberts, FMCNA)

In 1978, Pastor Isaac Shembe and Bishop John Ellis met in South Africa. Their two sons, Bishop Lincoln Shembe and John Ellis have worked together over the years and meet again at World Conference in 2007.

Bishop David Kendall thoroughly elevated hearts and minds by taking us deep into the complexities of church, as the miracle which God does in the world. The church is an inexplicable miracle, aside from the power and presence of God. God invites the church to participate in His eternal and universal plan, this is His wisdom.
According to Ephesians 3:10 God shows his wisdom through the church. The church must choose and follow the way of Jesus in these 3 ways:
1. The privileges Jesus enjoyed, became the gifts he offered to others
2. The Jews and Gentiles were no longer divided. For us that means that no human divisions can stand before the cross of Christ.
3. Our focus is Praise and our Priority is to Pray. Otherwise the evil powers will supply false solutions.

God wants the powerful to know that privilege and power become an opportunity to bless others.
God wants the powerful to know that all people are welcome, are cherished by God, and are candidates for his blessing.
God wants the powerful to know that the way of self-sacrificing love is the only path to true victory.
This is the way of Christ, expressed through the church to the world.

submitted by Bishop David Roller (FMCNA) and Larry Roberts (USA)

European Area Director, Jerry Coleman, asks us to pray for Europe, one of the younger areas of Free Methodism. The European Church Leaders’ Conference , a semi-annual leadership gathering will be held November 16 - 20, 2007 in Budapest, Hungary. Jerry asks, “Will you pray?”

For more information, visit the Europe FMC website.