Hello SunRise:
I am safely back from Annual Conference. Thank you for your prayers. This conference is required to conduct the business of the United Methodist Church, in Missouri. There were presentations, reports, celebrations, workshops, learning sessions and an inspirational Sunday worship. Some of the finest leaders in the Missouri Conference had a public role in the 3 ½ day event. With that being said, if one invests in the opportunities made available, 75% of the time works on renewing one's faith. Renewing faith in our God who foresaw how manifesting himself in human form and walking among us, would turn this world upside down.
The Sunday School session before worship was very inspirational.
T
he leader was the Rev. Junius Dotson. He is currently the
General Secretary Discipleship Ministries for the United Methodist Church. Prior to this appointment, he led a UM Church in Wichita, KS. He has a very impressive resume. He is an engaging speaker and brought great insight to the auditorium. He spent a portion of his hour taking about our church . . . not by name, but by personality.
SunRise is like many churches in our denomination. He reviewed the "Why", the "How" and the "What". And if executed well, it provides the foundation of a healthy church that is assists the faithful to become Disciples of Jesus Christ by venturing outside the church walls to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the unchurched. It struck me that I had read those same 3 words in the book, 10 Prescriptions for a Healthy Church. The quick refresher is the "Why" is our Mission and the "How" is our Vision. "What" is the mission and ministries living into the vision, to help support the mission. Many churches are struggling with these.
SunRise has adopted a new Vision Statement with powerful words like illuminate, cultivate, passionate, impactful, relevant and inventive. For some of us, the words speak volumes. For others of us, the words are still just words. The Rev. Dotson spoke to this by connecting the "Why" to the "What". He offered an explanation with a video he presented to the room on Sunday morning. This video clearly contrasted the "Why" and the "What". I implore you to watch it. It may just be the best 3:38 minutes of your day and possibly your week. Please watch before reading further.
(Michael Jr. What vs Why)
In the video, the first time the Musical Director was asked to sing, he knew what he was singing. The second time he was asked, with some visioning suggestions on why, he sung with such passion that he turned the auditorium upside down. "When you know your Why, your What has more impact!
That presentation made me look in the mirror. Do I have that kind of passion for our "Why", the mission of our church? That kind of passion that can turn a room upside down for Jesus Christ? A kind of passion that gets me out into our mission field? A kind of passion that can just help an unchurched soul see a new clear path walking with Jesus Christ, better than any other path he is walking?
I thought I was an inspired disciple before I left for Annual Conference. Turns out God has shown me I have another gear. How about you, are you sure you know your "Why"? Send me a note. Let me know what you think of the video. Then let me know if you have a better understanding of why you are a Disciple of Jesus Christ and "what" you may do differently today and tomorrow to live into your "WHY".
Until we meet, sharing the Love that is Christ.
Steve
SunRise Church Lay Leader
PS: Thank you to all that attended the Church Conference at our Wright City campus. I was told the voting results for the Accountability Leadership Team. Your leadership team will continue to work on "transparency" and "intentionality" of helping to support our new Vision Statement (How), in support of our Mission (Why), as we continue to Populate the Kingdom of Heaven.
