A Mountain Top Experience
We were privileged to host the Wisconsin District Conference at Hayward Wesleyan Church this week. What an amazing event!
Representatives of all our congregations across this great state attended, as well as several other national and international leaders, including General Superintendent, JoAnne Lyon, who chaired the conference; Henry Smith, president of Indiana Wesleyan University; Mark Gorveatte, president of Kingswood University in New Brunswick; John & Marge Connor, directors of the Jesus Film Project; C. K. Chitty, Director of Hephzibah Ministries in Macon, GA; Perry Hubbard, missionary to Panama; Rich Avery, Director of Wesleyan Native Ministries; Arnie Eastburn, representative of World Hope International; Filipe Macaringue, president of Xai Xai Bible College in Mozambique; and Osman Zamora, National Superintendent of Nicaragua.
We've heard glorious victory reports of happenings across Wisconsin. I am glad to be a part of this team, under the outstanding leadership of Dan Bickel.
The highlight of the conference was the ordination service last evening, when pastoral authority to "preach the word and administer the sacraments" was conferred upon Jason Rhoads, Lonnie Selje, and Andi Wittwer. There was hardly a dry eye in the place.
I was honored to speak the "prayer of enduement" over Andi. It was a rewarding milestone in my own life -- a heartfelt moment of deep joy and gladness. Having walked so many years with Andi along her faith journey, this was certainly a mountain top experience. This is why I am a pastor!
What a journey! What a privilege! What a life!
Just this morning, I read Jose' Luis Navajo's definition of ministry (in his precious little book, Mondays With My Old Pastor): "Sit every day at the feet of Jesus, and then tell the world what you have seen."
Or, as the Psalmist said, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:23
Representatives of all our congregations across this great state attended, as well as several other national and international leaders, including General Superintendent, JoAnne Lyon, who chaired the conference; Henry Smith, president of Indiana Wesleyan University; Mark Gorveatte, president of Kingswood University in New Brunswick; John & Marge Connor, directors of the Jesus Film Project; C. K. Chitty, Director of Hephzibah Ministries in Macon, GA; Perry Hubbard, missionary to Panama; Rich Avery, Director of Wesleyan Native Ministries; Arnie Eastburn, representative of World Hope International; Filipe Macaringue, president of Xai Xai Bible College in Mozambique; and Osman Zamora, National Superintendent of Nicaragua.
We've heard glorious victory reports of happenings across Wisconsin. I am glad to be a part of this team, under the outstanding leadership of Dan Bickel.
The highlight of the conference was the ordination service last evening, when pastoral authority to "preach the word and administer the sacraments" was conferred upon Jason Rhoads, Lonnie Selje, and Andi Wittwer. There was hardly a dry eye in the place.
I was honored to speak the "prayer of enduement" over Andi. It was a rewarding milestone in my own life -- a heartfelt moment of deep joy and gladness. Having walked so many years with Andi along her faith journey, this was certainly a mountain top experience. This is why I am a pastor!
What a journey! What a privilege! What a life!
Just this morning, I read Jose' Luis Navajo's definition of ministry (in his precious little book, Mondays With My Old Pastor): "Sit every day at the feet of Jesus, and then tell the world what you have seen."
Or, as the Psalmist said, "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:23
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