The New Willow View

By Pastor Mark McAdow
Wednesday evening, Aug. 30, we gathered as the Willow View family to discern next steps in our ministry moving forward here in Enid and beyond. I was pleased to see many of you present to pray and discern God’s will as the body of Christ here at Willow View. As we began this process well over a year ago, my prayer was always “His Will, His Way.”  Our future is, and always has been, in His hands. These are exciting days to trust Jesus.

The motion to join the Global Methodist Church was presented by our Administrative Council Chair Bill Shaw and seconded by Irene Clem.  Numbered ballots were distributed, and the vote taken.  It was counted by three non-members:  Joe Jackson, Penny Landeros and Emily Moody.  Our Administrative Council had agreed that we must have 75% in favor to proceed.  The actual vote count was 110 in favor and 2 opposed.  That’s a 98% favorable response.  Praise God!  Thanks to all of you who voted.

What’s next?  The following day we applied online to become the newest Global Methodist Church in Oklahoma.  There are already 42 GMC churches in Oklahoma and over 3,150 nationwide. I’ve focused my messages the last three Sundays on the mission statement of the Global Methodist Church: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly!”  We’ve taken a bold stand as Willow View Church, and people in our community continue to tell me how very proud they are of Willow View.  It happened again just yesterday while I was visiting at St. Mary’s.

If our application to the GMC is approved by Oct. 1, 2023, we will be given the opportunity to participate in the first Convening Conference of the Heartland Annual Conference, which includes Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.  We will have two delegates: myself and one lay person who will vote on our behalf as the new conference is launched.  The conference just released its specific vision statement last week which reads: “The Heartland Area desires to become a gospel-driven expression of Methodism that embodies servant leadership, equips laity, exhorts churches and encourages clergy.”  Sounds like a mission we can actively support.

I keep a personal journal, and I noted on Tuesday that it had been exactly one year since our crucial vote to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination.  Though a painful decision, it proved to be the absolute right one.  I believe we have made the right decision again yesterday to uphold God’s word and in our Experiencing God understanding to “join Him in what He’s doing!”  We have left the wilderness and are entering the Promised Land!

Remember the words of Joshua 1:5b-9: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their forefathers to give them.  Be strong and courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Thanks, Lord, for leading us.  We’re still “Willow View on Purdue,” but we’re also trusting the Lord to “make all things new!”

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark

PS: Thanks to all of you who “tried out” for the choir Wednesday night.
PSS: Looking forward to seeing some of my favorite people this Labor Day weekend Sunday.