DATES TO REMEMBER
Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated April 4, 1968. Though vanquished, some of his ideals, ideas and examples permeate my ministry. Hi-jacked jumbo jets slammed into New York’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania turf on September 11, 2001. 9-11 served as reminder that even the mightiest nation on earth is still vulnerable. My wife and I were married August 14, 1969. Our second child came into the world December 6, the same date her late maternal grandmother was born. When our four year old granddaughter entered this world September 22, 2003, I became a grandfather as a Northwest Jet was flying me over the Pacific Ocean to Seoul, South Korea. Family events have shaped me: births, deaths, in-laws, the next generation and the marriage covenant. These personal and corporate experiences became dates to remember. Above the mundane, they have shaped aspects of my body, soul, mind and spirit.
March 1 and April 5, 2008 incarnate the same potential. Saturday, March 1, 2008, the Bishop’s major training event on Evangelism and Stewardship will be held on every District inspired by the mantra “Do it again; and do it better.” Over 3400 hundred folks attended last year. Many attendees called it the best continuing education event they‘ve attended in years. I’ve challenged my District Superintendents to feed 5000 this year. To help them reach that goal, I’m asking pastors and laity to sacrifice the time and attend. Beyond the numbers and the training, I dream of a present day Aldersgate in 2008 for several reasons. First, I want attendees to go away changed if not convinced that the same Christ who issued the charge to the eleven disciples in Mt. 28:19-20 “to make disciples” and transform the world has done so with them. Second, I want attendees to believe in the faith-filed words of the apostle Paul. “Now to him/her who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.” (Ephesians 3: 20-21) Through Christ personified, the miracle of transformation has been placed in our hands. In essence, transformation of the church in Michigan and the world are guaranteed should we choose to do the hard work of seeking first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness.
For the past two years, the Michigan Area Transition Team has done the hard work of crafting a proposal to create a new Annual Conference. Weighing the risks and benefits of coming together has proven to be a daunting task. During the first week in February, the business world mirrored the same kind of difficulties. Microsoft and Yahoo have talked about merger. Both have suffered losses at the hands of Google. Coming together might help them fulfill their internet mission more efficiently.
Will the marriage work? No one knows. Neither do pastors know when a wedding ceremony is performed if the couple will stay together ‘till death do them part. But couples marry anyway. Perhaps faith, fact or a combination thereof convince them marriage is the way to go. They believe the benefits of marriage outweigh the risks. Those who vote on the proposed creation of a new annual conference will decide the question. Hence, April 5, 2008 will be a date to remember. Only God knows what will ensue. Whatever happens March 1 or April 5, I’m going to entrust those dates to God as well as the future.