Reaching Nations within our Nation!

Miami Trip Update

2009-06-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the trip to Miami (actually Homestead) was productive! Bill had a great first visit with Hatian Pastor Johannes Bazelais. He is interested in joining the EMC. He has a vision to reach the Hatian community of southern Florida with the Gospel. His congregation isn't very old, but he already has a good group of men who are growing leaders in the church.

The vision is that these men will become church planters. The EMC can help the church in this way--offering ministerial and leadership training in conjuction with their discipleship in the local church.

Pray over the next few months as this a plan is developed to see this from idea to reality. The spiritual need among Florida Hatians is great, and we thank God for raising up a man like Johannes! He seems to be a good leader who has the respect, love and admiration of his people.

There will be some more trips upcoming before the end of 2009. Pray as God guides our steps in this new multicultura ministry venture!

Facebook Username

2009-06-26T18:25:00.001-07:00

Hey all

You can now access Bill's facebook page by going to facebook.com/billwalkeremc

Ministry trip to Florida

2009-06-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

Bill is flying to Miami, FL this week to meet with Brother Johannes Braselais. He is a Hatian immigrant pastoring a congregation in Homestead (near Miami). Some time ago, he requested information about the Evangelical Methodist Church, and is interested in joining our denomination.

This trip is an initial visit. I am going with Rev. Vernon Perkins, the national director of Multicultural Ministry for the EMC. We pray this will be a productive visit, and will be the beginning of a path that will end in a Hatian EMC in Homestead, as well as new ethnic outreaches in southern Florida.

Pray for saftey and also for wisdom as we go.

GREEN LIGHT

2009-05-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord! Multicultural Ministry takes on a new angle! We have been cleared by the Easteriling Prison chaplancy to start teaching Bible and Theology courses via correspondence to the spanish speaking inmates there.

There are presently two men who are interested, so please pray for them. Elias and Ruben. I will be organizing the courses and evaluating their placement over the next few weeks, then I plan to send them material and start them working on their studies. They are both anxious to to get started!

I will be using the cirriculum from the Life and Truth Bible Institute, with some modifications to fit their needs.

The Multicultural ministry will be glad to accept donations for materials to keep these men supplied and moving forward. (Funds will be appreciated for paper, postage, text books, etc.) Please send all such money to PO BOX 116 Franklin Springs GA 30639 and please designate it for "Prison Bible Institute".

KEEP THE FORK

2009-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. There's one more thing,' she said excitedly. "This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor. The young woman explained... “My grandmother once told me ‘In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.’ Something wonderful and with substance!”

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come..."

Author Unknown (to me)

CREDENTIAL COORDINATION

2009-04-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

We have been asking God for at least four places to develop multicultural ministry here on the Southern District; the first of these looks to be in conjunction with the Gospel Light EMC in Marietta, Georgia. That church has been hosting a Hispanic congregation for about two years, and the pastor is interested in affiliating with the EMC.
Receiving this man and his congregation into the EMC will be a blessings for the denomination and could open up more avenues for ministry among Hispanics in other locations. Please pray as we work though this process and continue to cultivate this relationship. May God guide our steps and give us wisdom.
Although small, this is a stable and growing congregation with a capable minister. They are financially independent and have demonstrated considerable responsibility as they have been sharing the Gospel Light facilities.

Circit Riding

2009-02-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

Bill and Rev. Dewey Fleming are traveling the district together, and will be away from home for a couple of weeks. Please pray as Bill shares the multicultural ministry vision with each district congregation. Pray that God will open new opportunities for ministry to open (several have already).

Pray for our safety on the road.

Praise for a vehicle that is being donated for Bill's ministry use.

Pray for the needed funding for our ministry.

Ministry Underway

2009-01-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

With several visits to churches complete, I can say that from the interaction and feed back, there are definitely some great situations for ministry. ("Situation" being a combinatino of opportunity and a local church that is willing to invest itself in the outreach and build build relationships.) One church congregation recognized the lack of a "visitation committe" and one-upped the call for this by establishing an evangelism committee. You might think--"oh, another committee"--but I could tell in their hearts they are concerned about the fact that their church isn't reaching out evangelistically. Praise God--this was the most important point of business handled in that church conference.

Soon will begin the follow up and meeting with church boards/evangelism committees to strategize and being learning about cultural differences.

Pray, Pray, Pray!!! Satan doesn't want this, but we know that God does! Acts 17:27 (read it!)

Great meeting and looking forward!

2009-01-12T05:00:00.001-08:00

I met with Vernon Perkins Friday, January 9, in Norcross, GA. He was there for the leadership retreat of EAN (Ethnica America Network) and invited me to join him. I gained some insight in to the thought process of those who have been working in cross-cultural ministry for years here in the U.S.

Additionally, I made several key contacts with people there who are great resources for information and learning. I felt they were warm and genuinely receptive to my being there as well as networking with us in some way in the future.

Wednesday is the first church visit, so I am looking forward to what will come as Dewey and I go around to the churches. Please pray for strategizing and for God's guidance as the ministry begins. We want to set good precedents for the future.

Let's Roll!

2009-01-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

Well, the waiting period is over, and the new Multicultural Ministry of the EMC Southern Conference is ready to start.

I (Bill) meet with Vernon Perkins in Atlanta, GA this weekend for the leadership retreat of Ethinc America. I am privileged to be invited to this event. Pray that new contacts will be make and I will gain some valuable insight.

Next week, I begin traveling with Dewey Fleming (D.Supt) preaching and casting the vision among the churches.

We have a good prospect already for a Hatian ministry. Please pray that this contact will go well and God will open the door for this opportunity if it is His will.

Traveling for Multicultural Ministry

2008-12-03T20:33:00.001-08:00

I (Bill) will be traveling on the Southern District with Rev. Dewey Fleming during January and February 2009 to visit each church, promote the MCM.

While visiting, I hope to be able to establish some direction for this ministry, that is beginning to discover how we can help the churches begin to revolutionize their outreach and begin to evangelize the nations within our nation.

Please spend time with me praying that God will lead us specifically.

New Multi-Cultural Ministry!

2008-12-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

After several months of prayer, study and waiting on the Lord, we have accepted the invitation to serve as Multicultural missionaries on the EMC southern district.

Go to our website to get our latest newsletter http://www.inside-edge.org/, click on "eletter".

Thanks to God for leading us in a new direction for ministry. We are excited and look forward to seeing God do some great things in the years to come.

We are trusting God to provide our needs, and expect to dedicate ourselves full-time to this work. If you have been supporting us in Mexico, please continue. It will be necessary to change where you send your support. Now please send send your gifts to:
"Evangelical Methodist Church"
PO Box 116
Franklin Springs, GA 30639

If you send support to EMC headquarters, it will not reach us and will be redesignated for other ministries. We are thankful for the years we were able to serve in Mexcio under the EMC Board of World Missions. Due to circumstances no one wanted or was able to anticipate, this working relationship has ended. However, we are on good terms, and plan to dovetail our ministry with EMC Department of Multicultural Ministry as much as possible, since we are one the same team.

RELOCATION

2008-10-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

The EMC Board of World Missions has recalled us from Mexico and we are living in Danielsville, GA. International security issues was the circumstance, but we believe God has sovereingly orchestrated this move.

We expect to transition to the EMC Department of Multicultral Ministries. This could include:

multucultural evangelism and discipleship
mentoring ethnic leaders
teaching in Spanish (still)
facilitating multicultural ministry with Evangelical Methodist Churches in different regions, including the Southern District
Networking with other organizations to reach the lost of differnt cultures here in the USA.

As a result, we still need our supporters to stand beside us and continue giving. We hope do this ministry full time.

Welcome

2008-10-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks for checking out our new blog!!

We still have our website--don't forget it! www.inside-edge.org