It’s great to go away and it’s great to get back home! Bill and Leslie Parks and myself just returned last night from Annual Conference at Boston Avenue UMC in Tulsa. For those of you new to United Methodism, this is our Annual Conference held – well annually – in either Tulsa or Oklahoma City. Next year we’ll be back at OCU and St. Luke’s for Annual Conference. Several meetings will be held at First Church as well!

There were many “firsts” at Annual Conference this year. The first “first” was that the Conference was reduced one full day from previous years to save time and money. This year for the first time ever the entire Conference was also shown live on the Internet. Several comments were made about the “millions” watching as we shared our reports. Though it is primarily a church report meeting, worship services are held in the mornings and the evenings. It was also the first time we heard officially from our Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr. that he would seek a third term as our bishop. He is currently in his second and last 4 year term, but he will ask for special permission to remain for a total of 12 years. This was great news! We have an exceptional Bishop. We also heard great testimonies from a host people – especially former convicts. One woman now works in our Prison Ministry who originally was given 600 years and 2 life sentences. I don’t understand that, but God has certainly done a great work in redeeming her life!

Two new church starts are also planned in the next year – both in Edmond, OK. The Conference budget for 2011 is $16,534,735 an increase of 3.4% primarily due to rising health care costs. Oklahoma United Methodists have given over $613,000 for Haiti earthquake relief. Oklahoma currently has 529 churches and 238,056 members. The South Oklahoma City District, which we’re a part of, was one of two Districts that gained members this last year. Way to go First Church!

The Bishop concluded his remarks at our Sending Forth Service by citing Acts 4 where Peter and John were arrested for preaching and healing in the name of Jesus. They were warned by The Sanhedrin to no longer speak in the name of Jesus. Here was their response, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20). How about us? Are we unable to live our lives without giving witness for Jesus? I pray we are!
It’s my joy to serve as your Senior Pastor. I look forward to a new year together serving our Lord Jesus Christ!

Yours in Christ,
Mark

P.S. MAD Week is upon us. What a wonderful opportunity to be The Church and give witness to Jesus Christ! See you this Sunday. Our Talent Show and ice cream social will be this Sunday evening at 6:00! Be here or you’ll miss some big-time fun! Blessings!