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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 goodnewsmag.org Leading United Methodists to a Faithful Future THE TIGHTROPE OF FAITH What is the Transitional Leadership Council?, page 20 ND20.indd 1 6/16/21 9:53 AM Call: 844.GO.TO.ATS Click: asbury.to/degrees Visit: asbury.to/visit Learn More: asburyseminary.edu “Jesus commands us to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves, so I want to see us personally-Rev. Donna Covington start to speakVice out. President Let’s of Formation, speak Asbury out Seminary for Visit asbury.to/thrive to hear our podcast interview with Rev. Covington. justice and what’s right.” KENTUCKY • ORLANDO • MEMPHIS • TULSA • COLORADO SPRINGS • ONLINE Download your free ebook, Called at asbury.to/GN ND20.indd 2 6/16/21 9:53 AM Call: 844.GO.TO.ATS Click: asbury.to/degrees Visit: asbury.to/visit Learn More: asburyseminary.edu Contents Essentials Features 2 Editorial 10 God is in Control, Even When Choose Kindness You’re Not Tightrope daredevil Nik Wallenda 4 Tightrope over a volcano describes talking his sister into a death- defying act. 6 News from United Methodism Doing Something New is Hard in the 14 The Long Wait in Hope Best of Times Shannon Vowell writes about the Katy Kiser on the message unique timing of Advent. of forgiveness in Emanuel, 8 Mortals & the Divine page 39. Brokenness, Burgers, and Redemption 24 The Goal of the Christian Life Phil Tallon and Justus Hunter explain 42 Navigating Troubled Times the steps of Wesleyan discipleship. Jim Ramsay on lessons we can learn from missionary training. 27 Being a Remnant Marilyn N. Anderes distinguishes 44 Hear the Corn Grow between the church being a luxury Yep, BJ Funk refl ects on the strange and liner or a troop carrier. mysterious crackle of growing corn. 30 Amazing Grace for Storm Survivors Kathy L. Gilbert and Mike DuBose News & Analysis chronicle the United Methodist clean Phil Tallon and Justus up efforts after Hurricane Laura. Hunter on the point of Wesleyanism, page 24. 18 Groundbreaking First Steps for Methodist 34 A New Eye on Jesus Radio in Nigeria Courtney Lott reports on The Chosen, a The Rev. Ande I. Emmanuel and Micah new video depiction of Jesus Christ. Terah report on important ministry news from Nigeria. 39 The Power of Forgiveness “Jesus commands us to love God and Katy Kiser explains the spirituality of the 20 What is the Transitional Leadership documentary, Emanuel. to love our neighbors as ourselves, Council? The Wesleyan Covenant Association so I want to see us personally-Rev. Donna Covington start explains the function of the group that to speakVice out. President Let’s of Formation, speak Asbury out Seminary for will help develop a new Methodist “After this I looked, and there before Visit asbury.to/thrive to hear our podcast interview with Rev. Covington. denomination. me was a great multitude that no one The story behind the tight- justice and what’s right.” could count, from every nation, tribe, rope, page 10. 36 Full Communion with Episcopalians on people, and language, standing before Hold the throne and before the Lamb. They Heather Hahn reports on the delay were wearing white robes and were between United Methodism and the holding palm branches in their hands.” KENTUCKY • ORLANDO • MEMPHIS • TULSA • COLORADO SPRINGS • ONLINE Episcopal Church. – Revelation 7:9 Download your free ebook, Called at asbury.to/GN November/December 2020 | 1 ND20.indd 1 6/16/21 9:53 AM Rob Renfroe [email protected] Editorial CHOOSE KINDNESS It’s not news that our country was divided before the election. This isn’t only true when it comes to national elections. It’s valid It’s not news that our country will continue to be divided after when it comes to church politics and to differences regarding the election. And, hopefully, it is not news to you that this na- how we address issues like racial justice or same-sex behavior. tion desperately needs the people of God to model a different, Nothing is gained by demonizing the person who disagrees with better way forward. The world needs to see in us that it’s possible us. We do not create a better future by becoming cynical of the for people to be passionate about their beliefs and at the same other person’s motives. We do not honor Christ by demeaning time compassionate towards those who hold different views and the worth of another human being made in the image of God. values. And we will never win people over to our side by showing con- tempt for their intelligence or beliefs. In his journal, dated October 6, 1774, John Wesley wrote, “I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and I took some time this summer to do some reading I should have advised them, done long ago. One book I enjoyed immensely was Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book on Abraham Lincoln titled Team of Rivals. In 1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged the midst of our country’s most divided hour, he found himself most worthy: not only trying to hold a nation together, but also the factions within his own political party, some of whom demanded the 2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against: And, immediate and complete abolition of slavery and others who wanted to go slower for strategic and pragmatic reasons. Lincoln 3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that encouraged people, regardless of their views, not to attack others voted on the other side.” with “thundering tones of anathema and denunciation.” Wesley knew that politics could bring out the worst in people. Why not attack your opponents and their beliefs? According And he knew that when we allow our differences to become per- to Goodwin, Lincoln believed denunciation would inevitably sonal and we let our spirits become embittered, we are no longer be met with denunciation, “crimination with crimination, and able to be salt and light in the world – or he might say, we are no anathema with anathema.” He believed that it is the nature of longer able to spread scriptural holiness across the land. Angry man, when told that he should be “shunned and despised,” and people – even if they are right, even if they are Christians – can- condemned as the author “of all the vice and misery and crime not heal an angry nation. Believers who make their differences in the land,” to “retreat within himself, close all the avenues to with others personal and who attack the integrity of those with his head and his heart.” whom they disagree cannot elevate the conversation or build a bridge that takes society to a better day. Lincoln believed it was better to employ the approach of “erring 2 | Good News ND20.indd 2 6/16/21 9:53 AM Attack, condemn, and recriminate and we may enjoy the feeling of being morally superior to those we despise. But we will never change someone who sees things differently for the better. man to an erring brother” – following the old adage that a “drop If I love you, I will respect your dignity and care about your of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.” opinions. I will listen to you and value what you have to say. I will be kind to you even when you are cruel to me. I will not impugn Attack, condemn, and recriminate and we may enjoy the feeling your motives or attack your intelligence or try to embarrass you of being morally superior to those we despise. But we will never in front of others. I will take care that my spirit is not sharpened change someone who sees things differently for the better. Con- against you because you voted differently than I did or because vey contempt for the other person with our words, our actions, you are more liberal in your understanding of the Scriptures or our tone of voice – and we won’t build bridges, we’ll burn than I am. If I love what I believe to be true more than I love you, them; we won’t create relationships, we’ll destroy them; we won’t I have failed you, myself, and my God. help a person change, we’ll move him or her to become defensive and we will lose any influence we might have in his or her life. Our nation is deeply divided and dangerously close to coming apart, perhaps more so than at any time since Lincoln served Paul told Timothy: “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome as President. And there are times when we must battle for our but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Oppo- beliefs. But Paul’s words remind us that we are not fighting nents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant against people; we are fighting for people. “For our struggle is them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the Timothy 2:24-25). authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians When we engage with others who hold different views or who 6:12). We fight against ignorance, deception, and darkness be- attack us for our beliefs, we have a decision to make. Do we re- cause we are for people, even those – especially those – who we spond in such a way that we prove ourselves right and in the believe to be in error.