Those of us in North America have 5. The Church is diverse, dispersed, I've Been Thinking such enormous resources available dynamic, and despised. It is power­ by Dr. H. C. Wilson, General Director to us by comparison to so much of ful , persecuted, proclaiming, and the world. If you have an annual prayerful. It is magnificent, moving, n just a few months, I will income of $25,000, you are in multiplying, and multifaceted. Some complete my term of service the top ten percent of the of its people are sometimes divided, I at GP. What a high and holy world's wage earners­ petty, and mean. But they are few privileged responsibility has $50,000 a year puts you in the and far between. But the Church­ been mine for these five years top one percent. Capacity yes, the Church-is altogether c to serve Christ and the Cause ~ brings with it responsibility. amazing! If you have not seen this or ~ as general director. ~ With one-half of the world's experienced this, you should get out It has been an honor for me ~ people eking out an existence more--out of your culture and your to serve the Church in a variety ~ on $2.00 per day, it is graphi­ comfort zone. The Church is the of ministry positions across 0 cally apparent that we have stunning bride of Christ, no doubt these last four decades. While l incredible capacity to give a about it. every assignment, without cup of cold water in the name 6. Those who have little actually have Dr. H. C. Wilson exception, has been an opportu­ of the Master. much. The Church in those portions nity, a challenge, and a stretching 3. Some things have to be seen to be of the world that have limited experience, the brief season here at GP has understood. The Grand Canyon can earthly resources both expect and without doubt been a capstone on this be described to a person who has experience the moving of God in forty-year ministry journey. never been there; photos and videos ways that go far beyond what we in From pastoring to church planting to can be shown. However, nothing the rich Western world generally various administrative positions, the "lines takes the place of standing on the experience. Everyone should read have fallen to me in pleasant places." south rim as your eyes send images about the rise of the Church in the Gloria and I owe a great debt of gratitude to your brain as it tries to process Global South. May God deliver us to so many people in so many places­ the vast grandeur before you. It sim­ from a "form of godliness but from the Maritimes, the Deep South, ply must be seen to be understood. denying the power thereof." Indiana, and literally around the world­ The world and the overseas ministry 7. The accident of birth has had for such consistent support and kindness realities are just like that. Those immeasurable impact on our lives. shown to us over the years. who have never gone and have not continued on page 2 In reflection on these years, I would seen just don't get it fully. Photos, like to share a few musings that I believe videos, and the report of the mission to be true and that these ministry decades team are at best secondhand experi­ have taught me. ences for those who have not gone. 4. The Scandal of Particularity is 1. To love Christ fully means to love under increasing attack. This Gl obal Leadership Roundtable the world fully also. The Master's belief-this particular belief holds Pass ing the Torch of GP's command to go into all the world that there is only one way to peace JESUS Film Partnership was simply that-a command. with God. Jesus is "the way, the 6 Found: One Lost Sheep Ministry that fails to reach beyond truth, the life." He said so Himself. Longing for Purpose is incomplete in some significant The increasing pressure to embrace 7 way. To have a heart for the world other paths to God is growing and 8 Europe Area Church Planting Projects is an echo of the heartbeat of God is powerfully felt by our missionary 9 Do You Have a Christian Will? Himself. tribe in many parts of the world. 10 International Wesleyan Churches 2. Our capacity to make a difference in This will only become more intense Celebrate 50 Years of Ministry the world is rarely fully understood. in the days ahead. 12 A Decade of Growth: 2000-2010 I've Been Thinking continued hy would thirty-one district super­ This quality face-to-face interaction Wintendents, nearly two-dozen between the key leadership of Global immeasurable impact on our district directors of Global Partners Partners and the districts and churches lives. So many blessings and (DDGPs), fifteen mission pastors (MPs), was an invaluable time for intentional so much possibility is mine and the Global Partners Leadership connection in serving our international simply because of where I Council invest prime days of their Wesleyan family of missionaries and was born. I could have been September calendar around tables at The national leaders. born in the foreboding mountains of Afghanistan or Wesleyan Church's headquarters? Because The International Conference of The the steaming jungles of the Jesus said, "Go into all the world!" On Wesleyan Church (ICWC), to be con­ Amazon basin or in any one September 20-22 , 2011, more than 90 vened outside North America for the first of thousands of obscure, leaders experienced the first ever Global time in January 2012, was highlighted as poverty-stricken places-but Leadership Roundtable that inspired new Dr. Marlin Hotle (Tennessee district I was not. I was born in levels of "ends of the earth" synergy for superintendent) was awarded an all North America (Saint John , our international Wesleyan tribe. expense paid trip to participate as an New Brunswick, to be pre­ observer in Panama on January 27-29. cise) and because of that, I A detailed update was provided on am a person most blessed. So behalf of the Rebuilding Haiti efforts that are you. This reality carries have generated more than one million with it humility for the 8 ..c:0 Master's grace to us in this dollars of support through The Wesleyan a. and a powerful understand­ Church since the January 2010 earth­ ~ ing that "to whom much is quake. The Global Leadership Roundtable given, much will be concluded on the final morning with a required." dual track for 8. To serve Christ and the DDGPs and MPs to Church is the highest honor. share best practices For me , this is the irreducible and ideas for effec­ kernel of my worldview. Mingling before the opening banquet: tive leadership. 9. Memory is selective. For (I to r) General Director H. C. Wilson and DS Max Colaw (Tri-State District) The multiple­ those of you who think this and (I to r) Caribe Atlantic Area day event began list, or at least some of it, is Director Dan Irvine and DS Joseph with a banquet unrealistic and a bit Jennings (Western New York) Pollyanna, it has been my featuring the senior experience that as you age Great Commission partnerships were pastor of the largest Wesleyan church you have memory loss. If life celebrated as we heard reports from outside North America. Rev. Juan de la in the Kingdom is faced with GP's seven area directors and the JESUS Cruz Pineros leads the Norte Bogota gusto and deep commitment, film director. The decadal growth rate of 6,500-member congregation in the Master somehow filters our global tribe outside North America Colombia. He spoke with conviction as our memories, and we Jose was nearly 50 percent. This rapid expan­ he implored the North American Church or relegate to the upper sion included a 92 percent baptism rate to keep sending missionaries to support reaches of the attic of our of reported conversions, which reflects a the international Church. He reminisced mind those things in the healthy commitment to discipleship and about the early investment in his life by Church that were hurtful or GP missionary Rev. difficult. follow-up. An 10. The best is yet to be! average of 1.4 Mitchell Cotrone, churches was and he spoke about I have always liked lists. They planted per week the essential foun­ have helped my linear processing to over the past ten dation laid for the function better. There are many lists years, with the Colombian Church to which I subscribe. There are most effective by many mission­ many lists with which I am in tool being the aries over decades agreement. The list above is a list JESUS Film of sending and set apart. It is a list I passionately Partnership. supporting. Rev. believe. I trust you embrace it as Participants at a morning session During several Pineros' passion for well. It is part of the musings after forty years of Kingdom work­ breakout sessions fo llowing their church planting and for holistic and what an honor it has been!! • reports, each area director had the transformational ministry in his commu­ opportunity to field questions and cast nity invoked a clear rally cry for all vision for next-step partnership needs. leaders present. Global Leadership Roundtable participants General Director Dr. H. C. Wilson quadrennium (ending August 31, 2011) was offered the keynote presentation at the over $50,000,000--to God be the glory! fiscal year, Dr.