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North Central Conference Superintendent Mark Adams (Left) chats with Nestor German, the senior pastor of First FMC in Aurora, Ill., during a GROW event at Wesley FMC in Waukegan, Ill. (Photo by Eric Lorenz.)
by Jeff Finley
How can a Free Methodist conference promote fellowship and unity when it stretches from Montana to Illinois?
The North Central Conference has found a way through annual GROW events, which allow congregations in each of the conference’s six districts to “gather to retool for outward focus and worship.” This year’s theme is “iPath: The Path from Skepticism to Christlife.” GROW events include speakers from conference churches (and occasionally from outside Free Methodism) plus breakout seminars.
“I established GROW events three years ago as an extension of annual conference, because we have eight states in the North Central Conference,” Superintendent Mark Adams said. “There were churches that were feeling isolated.”
GROW events were held Nov. 19 at Wesley FMC in Waukegan, Ill.; Dec. 3 at Iglesia Emmanuel in Albert Lea, Minn.; Jan. 14 at Pine Grove FMC in Loves Park, Ill.; Feb. 11 at Central Community Church in Des Moines, Iowa; Feb. 18 atMotley FMC in Motley, Minn.; and Feb. 25 at Emmanuel FMC in Janesville, Wis.
Speakers at the Waukegan event included Jim Charlton, the director of ministry development at Alpha USA. Charlton serves on the leadership team at Resolution Church, a rapidly growing Free Methodist congregation in Oswego, Ill. Charlton shared his practical definition of evangelism: “presenting the gospel in a way that is understandable to the listener and requesting a response.”
GROW participants said they learned a lot at the Waukegan gathering, and they will encourage fellow church members to attend future events.
“I enjoy getting to find out what other people are doing — what’s working,” said Jill Richardson, a Free Methodist elder who attends Resolution Church.
Bolivar Pena, assistant pastor of First FMC in Aurora, Ill., appreciated the discussion about bringing skeptics into life in Christ.
“Many times we are trying to evangelize the people, telling them ‘Jesus loves you,’ but we have to show the love to them first,” Pena said.
For in-depth GROW coverage, visit bit.ly/nccgrow.
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