April 20th, 2023
by WV Webmaster
by WV Webmaster
By Pastor Mark McAdow
Last night we hosted a Willow View Church informational meeting featuring Dr. Keith Cressman volunteering as “organizer” for the Global Methodist Church in Oklahoma. As I mentioned Sunday, “No ID’s, no voting and no speeches." Praise God.
We had also invited other Methodist churches from the area to attend as well. We were amazed at the response. We had church members from Fairview, Lamont, Covington, Medford, Blackwell, Pond Creek and Stillwater. More than 140 people gathered to hear the presentation. Thanks to each of you who prayed for the meeting and were able to attend as well. It was a “taste of heaven” to hear so many singing “Blessed Assurance” with heartfelt enthusiasm.
As you remember, last fall 29 Oklahoma United Methodist churches disaffiliated including Willow View. This weekend, another 55 churches are seeking disaffiliation from the Oklahoma Annual Conference. As predicted, it is more costly and more difficult for churches to disaffiliate now. Our Willow View leadership and majority of our people made the wise decision last October to disaffiliate. More than 2,000 churches nationwide have now disaffiliated, and over 1,200 of those have joined the new fresh expression of conservative Methodism, the Global Methodist Church. As Keith shared, “the real Methodists!” Methodism refers to John Wesley’s model of small group meetings, personal accountability, Bible study, Scripture memory, service to others, etc. The “method” is basic Christian discipleship, which we all support.
The mission of the Global Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly.” I love that, don’t you? A simple, clear, biblical mission. In the next months, we’ll be seeking the Lord to discern His will for us at Willow View. We’re currently serving as an independent local church without the benefits of a worldwide mission presence or biblical accountability beyond ourselves. I believe it’s important to have both spiritual authority and accountability. It’s so easy to get off track without godly boundaries in place. That’s why God’s Word is critical to all we think, say and do. It provides the framework for Christian living for us all.
I closed the meeting with these important words for graduates and all of us from Jeremiah 29:11-13: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Please be in prayer for the 55 Oklahoma UMC churches seeking disaffiliation this weekend and pray for us as we continue to seek the Lord for our promising future – “His will, His way!” A member dropped by today and shared with me how much he appreciates the new enthusiasm and spirit of unity at Willow View these days. Praise God! Thank you for your active involvement at Willow View – “on Purdue!”
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
PS: Our Trustees spring workday is this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Please come by and lend a hand picking up tree limbs, replacing ceiling tiles, sweeping, etc. Many hands make light work as we spruce up the Lord’s house and property. Thanks.
Last night we hosted a Willow View Church informational meeting featuring Dr. Keith Cressman volunteering as “organizer” for the Global Methodist Church in Oklahoma. As I mentioned Sunday, “No ID’s, no voting and no speeches." Praise God.
We had also invited other Methodist churches from the area to attend as well. We were amazed at the response. We had church members from Fairview, Lamont, Covington, Medford, Blackwell, Pond Creek and Stillwater. More than 140 people gathered to hear the presentation. Thanks to each of you who prayed for the meeting and were able to attend as well. It was a “taste of heaven” to hear so many singing “Blessed Assurance” with heartfelt enthusiasm.
As you remember, last fall 29 Oklahoma United Methodist churches disaffiliated including Willow View. This weekend, another 55 churches are seeking disaffiliation from the Oklahoma Annual Conference. As predicted, it is more costly and more difficult for churches to disaffiliate now. Our Willow View leadership and majority of our people made the wise decision last October to disaffiliate. More than 2,000 churches nationwide have now disaffiliated, and over 1,200 of those have joined the new fresh expression of conservative Methodism, the Global Methodist Church. As Keith shared, “the real Methodists!” Methodism refers to John Wesley’s model of small group meetings, personal accountability, Bible study, Scripture memory, service to others, etc. The “method” is basic Christian discipleship, which we all support.
The mission of the Global Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly.” I love that, don’t you? A simple, clear, biblical mission. In the next months, we’ll be seeking the Lord to discern His will for us at Willow View. We’re currently serving as an independent local church without the benefits of a worldwide mission presence or biblical accountability beyond ourselves. I believe it’s important to have both spiritual authority and accountability. It’s so easy to get off track without godly boundaries in place. That’s why God’s Word is critical to all we think, say and do. It provides the framework for Christian living for us all.
I closed the meeting with these important words for graduates and all of us from Jeremiah 29:11-13: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Please be in prayer for the 55 Oklahoma UMC churches seeking disaffiliation this weekend and pray for us as we continue to seek the Lord for our promising future – “His will, His way!” A member dropped by today and shared with me how much he appreciates the new enthusiasm and spirit of unity at Willow View these days. Praise God! Thank you for your active involvement at Willow View – “on Purdue!”
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
PS: Our Trustees spring workday is this Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Please come by and lend a hand picking up tree limbs, replacing ceiling tiles, sweeping, etc. Many hands make light work as we spruce up the Lord’s house and property. Thanks.
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