LLMF
EB
20
13
2 8 11feature history news
women in
ministry
A fellow member of a local Christian organization
sent me an email criticizing “liberal churches”
that ordain women. The email struck me as
ironic because I’ve never considered the Free Methodist
Church to be on the liberal side of the theological spectrum
even though key FMC founder B.T. Roberts wrote an 1891
book supporting women’s ordination.
I later heard a radio program in which a theology pro-
fessor answered questions about difficult-to-understand
scriptures. When the discussion turned to women serving
as pastors, the professor declared that the Bible allows
only men to preach. Oddly enough, the professor and the
radio station are affiliated with an institute founded by D.L.
Moody, whose ministry was influenced by two Free Method-
ist women. (Read more online at fmchr.ch/fmmoody.)
As members of a church with a legacy of women serv-
ing as teachers, evangelists and pastors, how should we
respond to other Christians who accuse us of being unbibli-
cal? Perhaps we should mention that the church’s position
is based on the Bible, not on shifting societal standards.
Like Roberts, this issue’s authors make a biblical case for
women in all areas of ministry.
This magazine is designed to be
interactive. Please share your ministry
stories at facebook.com/fmcusa and
comment on articles via Facebook or
at llcomm.org. Whatever your gender,
let’s serve God together. [LLM]
Managing Editor Jeff FinleyLead Designer Erin EckbergWriter/Photographer Michael MettsCopy Editor Dawn McIlvain StahlInternal Communications Andrea Anibal Project Manager Julie InnesPublisher Jason ArcherBusiness/Operations Ben Weesies
Spanish TranslationEzequiel Alvarez Jazmin Angulo Janeth Bustamante Carmen HoseaJoe Castillo Karen KabandamaJennifer Flores Samuel LopezGuillermo Flores Rodrigo Lozano, Coordinator
LLM: Light & Life Magazine (ISSN 0024-3299) was established in 1868 by the Free Methodist Church. Pub-lished monthly by Light & Life Communications. © 2013 Free Methodist Church – USA, 770 N. High School Road, Indianapolis, IN 46214. Views expressed in articles do not necessarily represent the official position of the Free Methodist Church. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations, no portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version unless otherwise indicated.
Whole No. 5248, Vol. 146, No. 2Printed in U.S.A.Member: Evangelical Press Association,Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster, send address changes to:Light & Life Magazine, 770 N. High School Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46214
1 [openers]
LLML I G H T & L I F E M A G A Z I N E
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” — John 1:4
D e v e l o p i n g E a r n e s t C h r i s t i a n s S i n c e 1 8 6 8
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Based on the Bible
To receive Light & Life in Spanish, please contact our office: (800) 342-5531 or [email protected].
LLM | Feb 2013
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Read more about women in ministry at llcomm.org
1] Do you use QR codes?
Scan this box with your smartphone to
read more articles on this issue’s theme.
2] More Discipleship
Each week in February, find a new article by
Henriët Schapelhouman.
CORRECTION:
Laureen Livingston’s first name was
misspelled on Page 10 of the January
2013 issue. LLM regrets the error.
Jeff FinleyManaging Editor
i
B Y J O Y M . O . I R E L A N D
LLM | Feb 2013
The unexpected road to ordination led me to the Free
Methodist Church. Any denomination with “free” in the
name would surely free a woman for joyful obedience,
right? Indeed! The integrity of both word and deed has
provided encouragement and empowerment to follow the call
of God above all else.
As I reflect on several life experiences, I realize that ordina-
tion should not have come as such a surprise to me. uuu
My experiences have included concep-
tion under conditions deemed
“miraculous” by medical professionals,
understanding and receipt of saving
faith at a young age, teenage attrac-
tion to the beauty of priestly and holy
living described in Leviticus, empower-
ment in the Spirit to break bonds of
generational sin, and encouragement
toward ministry even by Christians
who oppose women in that arena.
The words of God to the prophet
Jeremiah come to mind: “Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart”
(Jeremiah 1:5).
Yet, years of study and experience
have taught me that the ministry
freedom I currently experience would
not have been mine had I been born
even one generation earlier. Only
two years after the Free Methodist
General Conference of 1974 (when a
resolution to give women equal status
with men in the ministry of the church
passed unanimously), God brought
me into being.
Tireless AdvocacyIt is no small thing to be part of
a denomination’s first generation of
female pastors who have not known
ordination restrictions. I find myself
not only grateful for those faithful
1974 delegates but also indebted to
countless others who fought toward
that end for prior generations. B.T.
Roberts, one of the founders of the
Free Methodist Church, was a vocal
proponent well over a century before
the historic 1974 vote. The church’s
“Statement on Women in Ministry”
(online at fmchr.ch/wministry) clearly
states this truth:
As early as 1861, when the
church was just one year
old, the minutes of the Gen-
esee Convention report the
discussion of women preach-
ing. … Bishop B.T. Roberts
believed strongly in the
equality of men and women.
He argued that women
should be working shoulder
to shoulder with men in
building the kingdom of God.
He tried to lead the denomi-
nation toward the ordination
of women.
Roberts advocated for women’s
ordination until his death. He asked
this thought-provoking question in
“Ordaining Women” (1891):
If those who stood high
as interpreters of Reason
and Revelation, and who
expressed the prevailing
sentiment of their day, were
so greatly mistaken on a
subject which we now think
so plain that it does not
admit of dispute, that every
man has a right to freedom,
is it not possible that the
current sentiment as to the
position which woman should
be permitted to occupy in the
Church of Christ may also be
wrong?
It’s a fair question. If church lead-
ers were wrong about slavery, could
they also be wrong regarding women
and the church? Roberts was bold
enough to acknowledge human frailty
and was willing to ask this question
and explore its implications, evidenc-
ing that ours is an impassioned
history founded on a conviction of
equality and tireless advocacy.
Yet Roberts was not the first to
3 [feature]
LLM | Feb 2013
Jesus thoroughly
and intentionally
empowered women.
challenge the societal status quo of
women. The Gospels illustrate how
Jesus’ life and ministry did the same
through:
l the embryonic Christ within
Mary’s womb that made her
the only human source of Jesus’
DNA
l the ministry of wholeness and
healing without reservation (Mark
5:21–42; Luke 13:10–13)
l parables featuring women wor-
thy of emulation (Luke 15:8–10;
18:1–8)
l the inclusion of women among
disciple ranks (Luke 8:1–3,
10:38–42)
l women’s capacities in theological
discussion, understanding and
evangelism (Matthew 15:21–
28; John 4:4–42; 11:21–44)
l a woman providing burial anoint-
ing (Matthew 26:6–13; John
12:1–8)
l women being the first people to
witness and proclaim the resur-
rection (Matthew 28:1–10;
John 20:11–18)
The list could continue, but the
point is clear. Jesus thoroughly and
intentionally empowered women. In
the book “Beyond Sex Roles,” Whea-
ton College professor emeritus
Gilbert Bilezikian terms Christ’s
work in relation to women
as “the fullness of redemp-
tion” inaugurated most fully
through “the community of
reconciliation, God’s family:
the church.”
Within this new covenant
community, the effects of
the fall are fully reversed, as
most poignantly exemplified
through the men and women
(Acts 1:13–14) present for
the fulfillment of Joel’s proph-
ecy at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–21). This
common anointing paved the way for
Lydia
(Acts 16:11–15); Priscilla
(Acts 18; Romans 16:3–4; 1 Cor-
inthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19);
Phoebe, Mary, Junias, Tryphena and
Tryphosa (Romans 16); Nympha
(Colossians 4:15); “the lady chosen by
God” (2 John); and countless others
called to exemplify Galatians 3:28.
In the BeginningWhy did Jesus live so radically
in relation to women? He was fully
committed to following the lead of
His Father as best illustrated in
the Creation narrative. We read in
Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the
man should be alone; I will make him
a helper as his partner” (NRSV).
Understanding the Hebrew word
ezer (translated as “helper” here) is
key. Though some assume subordi-
nation of helpers, the term actually
denotes alliance or partnership. Help-
ers provide assistance to people in
need as evident when ezer is used to
describe God’s action (Psalm 30:10,
54:4, 72:12) or to name those who
become Israelite leaders (2 Chroni-
cles 12:9; 25:4, 31; Nehemiah 3:19;
Psalm 89:19; Ezekiel 11:1). In the Old
Testament, presence of an ezer is
good (1 Kings 20:16; Daniel 11:34),
while the lack of one is bad (2 Kings
14:26; Psalm 107:12; Isaiah 31:3,
63:5; Jeremiah 47:4). God’s origi-
nal intent for joint rule and oneness
(Genesis 1:26–30) is beautifully and
powerfully displayed through this little
Hebrew word.
[feature] 4
LLM | Feb 2013
God’s original intent
was for joint rule
and oneness.
Grateful RecipientThanks to the gracious intent of
our Creator, the redemptive mission
of our Savior and Lord, and Roberts’
unwavering conviction, a sacred
space existed for me — as a sopho-
more at Seattle Pacific University — to
explore divine nudges as I evaluated
discontent over my initial major. As I
continued to discern the call, I
received opportunities resulting in
election to spiritual leadership posi-
tions. I had a place to go when God
transformed my graduate-study aspi-
rations from law school to seminary.
Professors dared to confirm within
me the presence of pastoral gifts and
graces hidden by dissenting voices.
A man was ready to love me and
empower my ministry call all the way
into marital partnership. A pastor and
a denomination willingly guided me on
the unexpected road to ordination.
The blessed result of all of these
influencing people and places is a
woman gratefully freed for joyful
obedience. [LLM]
5 [feature]
www.fmfoundation.org
i Joy M.O. Ireland, a Free Methodist elder in the New South Conference, serves as assistant chaplain at Asbury University.
Connect to
the Free
Methodist
Church on
iPhone,
iPad, or
Android.
Use your
phone or
tablet to
search the
Apple App
Store or
Google Play.
LLM | Feb 2013
Our church celebrates when God calls women to ministry and leadership in
the church.
First, the whole gospel for the whole person and world restores the place
of women to God’s intent in creation. God created humanity — male and female — in
God’s image. God gave this humanity responsibility to care for creation. God then called
this arrangement — the man and the woman together reflecting God’s image, repre-
senting God’s presence, and acting on God’s behalf — “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
When the man and woman sinned, this creative intent suffered sabotage. As a
result, for the woman: “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you”
(Genesis 3:16). Under the power of sin and death, the woman became subordinate.
But now, under the power of grace, there is new creation as far as the curse is
found. This gospel envisions the man and the woman assuming their God-designed,
complementary responsibilities in the world.
Second, Jesus’ life and ministry lead us to welcome women as full partners in His
ongoing mission. For example, Jesus related to foreign and unclean women as He
did to men (Mark 5:25, John 4:1–42), accepted women as disciples (Luke 10:38),
allowed women to support His ministry (Luke 8:1–3), and appeared to women first
after His resurrection.
Third, Paul, whose writings are often interpreted to oppose women in ministry,
likewise clearly follows his Lord in partnering with women. Paul declares that in Christ
the common social categories that exclude some no longer apply (Galatians 3:28).
He cites Junia as a prominent woman apostle of his day (Romans 16:7) along with
other women (Romans 16:3,6).
Paul also adopts the common social models of his day. He calls the husband head of
his wife, but he cites the headship of Christ as the husband’s example (Ephesians 5:23).
Christ, as head, sacrifices self and dies for His subordinate (Ephesians 5:25–29). Paul
endorses the model but then qualifies it to transform the relationship entirely.
Paul makes two statements (1 Corinthians 14:34–35; 1 Timothy 2:11–12) that
seem to contradict the entire flow of the salvation story, the example of Jesus and
Paul’s other statements on the role of women. Whatever Paul meant should not nul-
lify the clear indications from elsewhere in Scripture. [LLM]
Women — Servants, Pastors, Leaders
[bishops] 6
Bishop David Kendall
To read more from Bishop Kendall, visit fmcusa.org/davidkendall.
i
LLM | Feb 2013
This gospel envisions the man and the woman assuming their God-designed, complementary responsibilities in the world.
The Free Methodist Church roots its stance on ministry leadership and gen-
der in scriptural precedent.
Jesus elevated women by rejecting relational double standards
(Matthew 19:1–12; John 8:1–11). He contradicted the rabbinic teaching that women
earned God’s favor vicariously through husbands and sons. He argued instead that
blessings came from obeying God’s Word (Luke 11:28).
Jesus taught mixed-gender crowds (Matthew 14:21, 15:38), affirmed Mary as
His student (Luke 10:38–42), and talked theology with Martha (John 11:20–27).
He revealed His Messianic identity to a Samaritan woman who became an evangelist
(John 4:4–42). At Jesus’ instruction, women announced His resurrection to other
disciples (Matthew 28:9–10; John 20:17).
Cleopas and his walking companion acknowledged “our women” in Jesus’
entourage (Luke 24:22–24). Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke
4:38–39), Mary Magdalene (Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41; Luke 8:2), Mary
and Salome (Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41), Joanna and
Susanna (Luke 8:3), and Martha (Luke 10:40; John 12:2) were called
diakonos, the same word used for male church leaders (Acts 6:1–6).
Philip’s daughters prophesied (Acts 21:9). Other women led
during worship services (1 Corinthians 11). Priscilla taught Apollos
(Acts 18:24–26) and earned Paul’s commendation along with Phoebe
the deaconess and Junia the apostle (Romans 16).
While some say Paul constrained women’s ministry roles, others
argue he was addressing specific problems. As Paul wrote, “There is
neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and
female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). [LLM]
Beth K. Armstrong, a Gonzaga University doctoral candidate, serves as an associate pastor at Opportunity Christian Fellowship (Spokane Valley, Wash.). Her dissertation addresses clergy gender equity.
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 8:14, 14:21,
15:38, 19:1–12,
27:55–56, 28:9–10
Mark 1:30, 15:40–41
Luke 4:38–39, 8:2–3,
10:38–42, 11:28,
24:22–24
John 4:4–42, 8:1–11,
11:20–27, 12:2, 20:17
Acts 6:1–6, 18:24–26,
21:9
Romans 16
1 Corinthians 11
Galatians 3:28
Pro-Women Precedents
7 [foundation]
B Y B E T H K . A R M S T R O N G
LLM | Feb 2013
covered
“Mary Magdalene” by Leonardo Da Vinci
Jessie Ragatz Booth ordination, 1974 (Photo courtesy of Marston Memorial Hisorical Center)
A t a time in U.S. history when women could not vote and few women
worked outside the home, the young Free Methodist denomination
made a radical statement of biblical gender equality by supporting
women evangelists. As the denomination grew and developed, women began
to take on the additional roles of annual and general conference delegates,
deacons and ordained elders.
The first two women delegates, Clara Wetherald of Michigan and Anna
Grant of Indiana, were appointed to the 1890 General Conference and
became the standard-bearers for women in ministry. Wetherald preached
several times during the conference, but women’s ordination was still defeated.
As a result, B.T. Roberts wrote “Ordaining Women,” an 1891 book that still
speaks to debates regarding gender roles in marriage and ministry. Roberts
emphasized, “Men had better busy themselves in building up the temple of
God, instead of employing their time in pushing from the scaffold their sisters,
who are both able and willing to work with them side by side. All restrictions to
positions in the church based on race have been abolished; it is time then that
those based on sex were also abolished.”
Roberts died in 1893, and when the “woman issue” was again brought up
at the 1894 General Conference, it was again defeated. It wouldn’t be until
1911 that women were ordained as deacons and 1974 that women were
ordained as elders.
Despite being denied ordination for more than 100 years, women worked
tirelessly to promote the gospel. Women evangelists established churches
around the country, and women missionaries traveled the world, often dying
on the field. The spread of Free Methodism is largely due to women’s service.
While the names of many of these women have been forgotten, their work
lives on. Their impact on Free Methodist education, ministry and missions
continues to be immense. [LLM]
A Legacy of Women in Ministry
[history] 8
B Y C H R I S T Y M E S A R O S - W I N C K L E S
LLM | Feb 2013
For more of Christy Mesaros-Winckles’ extensive research into FM women’s history, visit freemethodistfeminist.com.
Sabra Dyas is a Free Method-
ist pastor with a calling to the
marketplace.
Dyas is the president and founder
of Main Street Ministries. The Pella,
Iowa–based organization helps people
integrate their faith into all areas of their
lives — including their careers. uuu
B Y J E F F F I N L E Y
LLM | Feb 2013
ministermainto
street
“We’ve separated the workplace
and God’s place for too long,” Dyas
said.
The ordained elder previously
volunteered as a chaplain at the
Kansas hospital where her husband,
Cliff, worked as the facilities director.
“One day I was walking the hall-
ways and realized our workplaces
are places that are hurting places.
People have a really difficult time liv-
ing out their faith,” she said.
Dyas started workplace Bible
studies that resulted in a Tribune,
Kan., church plant. She sensed the
Lord taking her pastoral ministry in a
new direction.
“I just realized my heart was for
the workplace,” Dyas said.
When Dyas and her husband
helped friends Todd and Niki Burch
move from Kansas to Iowa, they
believed God was calling them to
Pella too.
“We knew the Lord was leading
us out, and we thought at that time
it was probably going to be a church
plant,” Dyas said. “I went to Pella,
spied out the land and realized that
it was a really entrepreneurial town
that was open to new ideas and new
thoughts.”
After three months of seeking
God’s direction through prayer, she
decided to launch Main Street Min-
istries in Pella. Instead of serving a
traditional congregation focused on
Sunday gatherings, Dyas leads an
organization that reaches workers
on weekdays through programs
such as Lunch-n-Learn in which
small groups of people meet over
the lunch hour or at breakfast. Main
Street provides a year’s worth of
material discussing a variety of
topics.
“Our first lesson is faith versus
success — what it takes to be suc-
cessful in the business world versus
what it takes to be successful in your
walk with the Lord and how those
two intertwine,” Dyas said.
Since Main Street Ministries
began in November 2010, discus-
sion groups have formed in multiple
states. Two books, “Faith at Work”
and “Faith at WorkBook,” have
spread Main Street’s message of
integrating faith and livelihood. The
group’s Power Text ministry sends
scriptural encouragement via text
message to hundreds of people.
“It’s actually been amazing watch-
ing people come alive spiritually and
to begin to see their places of work
as a field that God has given them,”
Dyas said. “When they’re called to
work, they’re called to be His
ambassadors right there in the
midst of their work.”
Dyas shared Main Street’s vision
and training material with five Free
Methodist annual conferences last
summer.
“This is something
that every single
church could use as
an outreach tool to
set up in their own
communities,” she
said. [LLM]
[action] 10
LLM | Feb 2013
main When we’re called to work, we’re called to be God’s ambassadors right there in the midst of our work.
For more information about Main Street Ministries, visit msministry.org.
Phot
o co
urte
sy o
f Ins
pire
d St
udio
s Cr
eativ
e
11 [news]
Free Methodists will join
female pastors from other
denominations April 11–14
at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes
Park, Colo., for Come to the Water
2013.
Gateway Conference Superinten-
dent Lucia Delamarter will speak on
the theme of “Run With the Spirit”
during the closing worship service
April 14. The following day, she is
scheduled to become president of the
event sponsor, Wesleyan Holiness
Women Clergy.
Deborah Somerville, senior pas-
tor of McPherson (Kan.) FMC, will
participate in a panel discussion on
preaching. Workshop leaders will
include Kathy Callahan-Howell, pastor
of Winton Community FMC in Cincin-
nati, on “Exploring Publishing: Sending
Your Ideas to a Wider Audience”; and
Linda Scandrett Green, assis-
tant pastor of Cornerstone
Christian Fellowship in Omak,
Wash., on “Responding to
the GLBT Community.”
Past participants said
Come to the Water pro-
vides valuable information in
workshops and meaning-
ful connections with other
female pastors.
“I live in a rural area
so worshipping with hun-
dreds of other women
ministry leaders makes
me feel not so alone as a
woman pastor and as a
Free Methodist,”
Scandrett Green said.
Callahan-Howell
also said she has been
blessed each time she
has attended the event
because of the opportu-
nity to worship with so
many other women who
share a call to ministry.
Other participating
denominations include
the Brethren in Christ Church, the
Church of God (Anderson, Ind.), the
Church of the Nazarene, the Evangeli-
cal Friends Church International, the
Salvation Army and the Wesleyan
Church.
Callahan-Howell said Come to the
Water is unlike other conferences for
women in ministry.
For evangelical ordained women,
she said, “This venue stands unique.
So many of our sisters who believe in
women’s ordination come from much
more liberal viewpoints. I enjoy dia-
loguing with women who understand
the Bible to affirm women’s role in
ministry, yet still hold an orthodox
view of Scripture, from a Wesleyan
Holiness perspective.” [LLM]
Women Clergy to Meet in the RockiesB Y J E F F F I N L E Y
For more information, visit fmchr.ch/cometowater.
LLM | Feb 2013
[news] 12
WALKEMEYER ENERGIZED TO SERVELong Beach, Calif.
Larry Walkemeyer, the lead pastor of Light & Life Christian Fellowship North, was
recently elected as one of three stationed superintendents in the Free Methodist
Church of Southern California. The Azusa Pacific University alumnus will oversee
the conference’s central region. Visit fmchr.ch/walkemeyer for Michael J. Metts’
feature story about Walkemeyer.
FULBRIGHT SELECTS WACHTERRoscoe, N.Y.
Allen Wachter — a veterinarian, State University of New York associ-
ate professor, Free Methodist pastor, and correspondence instruc-
tor for the denomination’s Ministerial Credentialing Services — has
been selected as a Fulbright Specialist by the J. William Fulbright
Foreign Scholarship Board. He is being considered for two projects
in Sub-Saharan Africa. Visit fmchr.ch/fswachter for details.
MANDARIN AT MOUNDFORDDecatur, Ill.
Moundford FMC is reaching out to the Chinese-American population of central
Illinois while also educating other community members who would like to write
and speak Mandarin Chinese. The church basement is home to the Sunrise Chi-
nese School, which recently received extensive coverage by the Herald & Review.
Visit fmchr.ch/moundford to read the Herald & Review story.
FM CHARITY HELPS SANDY SURVIVORSGarfield, N.J.
Takin’ It to the Streets, founded by FM Pastor Ron Hampton, served
more than 1,200 residents of Garfield and surrounding townships
with clothing, toiletries, blankets and other donated items following
Hurricane Sandy. Many FM congregations contributed to the effort,
which received coverage in The Record (online at fmchr.ch/njservice).
The Rest of the Story
Want to find in-depth stories of remarkable Free Methodists? Visit fmcusa.org.
We want to hear from you!
Tell us what your church is doing to impact lives in the United States and around the world. Submit your story at fmcusa.org/ yourstory.
i
LLM | Feb 2013
13 [world]
Free Methodists in the southern Philippines
reported extensive losses from a devastating
typhoon.
Super Typhoon Bopha (also known as Pablo within the
Philippines) killed more than 1,000 people and left thou-
sands more homeless. The island of Mindanao suffered
the heaviest damage from the storm.
Bishop Jim Tuan received reports of severe damage to
many FM church buildings and parsonages in the Agusan
Del Sur, Surigao Del Sur and Davao regions of Mindanao.
The typhoon destroyed one church and parsonage while
blowing the roofs off six other church buildings.
“It is sad to hear about the situation of our church
buildings, parsonages, members’ homes and rice fields.
We are giving priority for the local churches rather than
our members since, at this time, our funds are very lim-
ited,” Tuan said.
According to International Child Care Ministries, none
of the ICCM-sponsored children, leaders or staff were lost.
One of the five ICCM projects in the path of Bopha was
dramatically affected. Many families in the area around
Agusan lost houses, belongings and crops in the torrent.
The homes of five ICCM-sponsored children were
destroyed while the homes of many ICCM children and
staff flooded.
Elizabeth Langam, Elim Farm manager, reported the
typhoon damage resulted in 80 percent of the trees being
severely damaged.
“The devastation in the Philippines after Super Typhoon
Bopha ranks with some of the worst I have seen, “Bishop
Matthew Thomas said. “Having lived in the Philippines and
served the Free Methodist Church there, I am familiar
with many of the churches that have been damaged. It
is unimaginable what kind of winds and torrent of rain
poured through there.”
The Bishops’ Crisis Response Fund assisted affected
Free Methodists in the region with relief, temporary reset-
tlement and reconstruction. The fund allows the church to
act quickly when Free Methodists are in distress. Dona-
tions can be made by going to give.fmcusa.org and select-
ing “Bishops’ Crisis Response Fund.” [LLM]
Relief Fund Aids Typhoon Recovery
Residents of the southern Philippines check the damage to a Free Meth-odist Church member’s home. (Photo courtesy of Bishop Jim Tuan)
LLM | Feb 2013
“Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently
manifested.” — Oswald Chambers
Everyone has a unique God-given story to tell. What’s your story
and call?
God called me into leadership and pastoral ministry. Remem-
bering His call steadies me while living through difficulties and trials.
We grow through challenges. After God calls, He often gives us opportuni-
ties to become like Jesus. The greater the call, the more character building
God requires. According to Gary Chapman, “The message of the Bible is that
God loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are.”
Women and men in ministry can learn from Ruth, King David’s great-
grandmother. She experienced character training in preparation for her
life’s calling. After she lost everything, she decided to stick with God and her
mother-in-law, Naomi. They returned to Bethlehem, where she worked the
fields and provided for Naomi. As a woman and a foreigner, Ruth lacked
status, but God called her to be in the line of David and Jesus.
We want the great call but often resist the necessary character workout
to prepare us to answer the call.
Jesus had the greatest call and character. Even though He was perfect,
God gave Him character-building opportunities. After His baptism (His minis-
try commissioning), the Spirit led Him into the desert for 40 days of testing.
Jesus’ call preceded hardcore training. Our call to ministry — whether great
or small — usually leads to intense character training. God’s character devel-
opment continues throughout our lives.
Great character develops in Jesus’ presence — especially during trials. Jesus
victoriously answered His call. We can too when we follow and obey Him. [LLM]
Henriët Schapelhouman, a Pacific Northwest Conference pastor, is the president of Semper Vita Institute and the author of “The Story Lives,” thestorylives.com.
GROUP DISCUSSION:
[1] Do you know your call?
[2] Have you allowed God
to grow your character?
A Great Call Requires Great Character
[discipleship] 14
B Y H E N R I Ë T S C H A P E L H O U M A N
Did you know a new disciple-ship article is posted to our website each week? The four monthly arti-cles are perfect for use in your small group or as a weekly supplement to individual study.
LLM | Feb 2013
“Ruth and Boaz” by Gustave Dore
“THE FEMALE PASTOR”Bishop David Kendall and Karen Strand
Winslow ask: “Is There Room for She in
Shepherd?”: fmchr.ch/femalepastor.
STATEMENTThe Free Methodist Church’s “State-
ment on Women in Ministry” is avail-
able online and as a PDF:
fmchr.ch/wministry.
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Read more about what Free Methodists and other Bible scholars have to say about women preaching and leading.
“ORDAINING WOMEN” B.T. Roberts’ 1891 book reveals long-
time FM support for women serving
as pastors: fmchr.ch/btordaining.
“WHY NOT WOMEN?” This book looks at women’s ministry
roles in Scripture, history and today’s
global church: fmchr.ch/whynotwomen.
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[resources]
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