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wings
Show me a vibrant church,
I'll show you an active laity
I have just returned from the World Methodist Conference in Seoul, South Korea. I was tremendously impressed with the hospitality shown to us by the people of the two churches in which we met.
The Chong Dong Methodist Church is the first Methodist Church to be established in Korea. This was the host church for the World Methodist Council, which oversees the business of the conference. We met there for two days. The reception was overwhelming, and the lunch was delicious (more than we could eat).
For the next five days, the Kum Nam Methodist Church hosted the conference, serving us lunch each day. Once again we were warmly received with grace and hospitality by the Kum Nam members and others who assisted them.
In each church I was impressed with the involvement and leadership provided by the laity. I was told that the phenomenal growth of these vibrant churches was because lay members take their ministries seriously. Each person is expected to be a witness in service and in word. They are expected to pray for the salvation of others, pray for their leaders, attend weekly prayer and Bible study sessions, and tithe to the work of the ministry of their church.
South Korea began receiving Christian missionaries in the late 1890s, but now has a general population that is 30 percent Christian. I am sure the Methodist Church of Korea is blessed with great preachers, pastors, district superintendents, and bishops, but it is clear to me that their real strength lies within an active laity.
The same is true in healthy and thriving congregations in the United States and around the world. Show me a vibrant church - and if you look closely - you will see laypersons engaging in "the works of Him who has sent them while it is day." Somehow, United Methodists must find a way to get our lay people fired up for Jesus. This is so biblical - for wasn't it a woman who came to the well at noon, who started a fire burning for Jesus in Samaria?
I realize the importance of those who are called to representative ministry, but our ministry is to strengthen those who are already in Christ, that they might do the work of ministry.
We are co-laborers, working together that we might make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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Bishop James Swanson
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