At the 2023 Annual Conference session in Tifton, Ga. June 4-6, South Georgia United Methodists passed a
resolution focused on evangelism and church planting.
The resolution reads in part,
“Now, therefore be it resolved that the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church commit itself to evangelism and church planting in areas where disaffiliations have occurred and in new areas of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.”
Church planting is one of Bishop David Graves’ four priorities, and the conference has already seen fruit from this intentional emphasis. Seeing new things sprouting up all over the conference, Rev. Mike Bankston, pastor of Wrightsville United Methodist Church, and a diverse group of clergy and laity throughout South Georgia wrote the resolution for the conference to continue church planting as a priority throughout Bishop Graves’ tenure in South Georgia and even well into the future.
“South Georgia United Methodists are a Holy Spirit led people who desire to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” said Rev. Bankston. “Therefore, the resolution is both an act of reclamation and an embodiment. The resolution makes Bishop Graves’ initiative on church planting and fresh expressions a South Georgia Annual Conference-wide initiative throughout Bishop Graves’ tenure and beyond.”
This resolution isn’t so much a new approach to church planting and making disciples as it is a return to the heart of Methodism.
“After John Wesley’s Aldersgate ‘warmed heart’ experience, he fully lived into the understanding that evangelism is the primary, necessary, and perennial task of the church,” said Rev. Bankston. “Wesley even incorporated the fresh expression of field preaching to reach people for Christ. Part of our core identity as United Methodists is that we are evangelists.”
Mrs. Kelly Roberson, Director of Communications/Conference Ministries, sees first hand every day the evangelism taking place across South Georgia.
“Through the people called United Methodist, God is on the move,” said Roberson. “I’m thankful for Anne Bosarge who is helping guide our new church initiatives and am excited to have on board three new cultivators – Revs. Stephanie Smith, Matt Waldron and Jeremy Alexander – who will help in our renewed efforts of evangelism, church planting and revitalization. Focusing on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world is at the core of who we are as United Methodists, and I see this lived out every day.”
While there have been many distractions in the last few years, God has not been distracted. God has continued to do new things in South Georgia and beyond. People are stepping up and taking the commission to “go and make disciples” seriously as they embrace this challenge as their own personal mission. Home churches have launched that are reaching and discipling new people who might never go to church. There is a renewed interest in being the church outside the walls and meeting people where they are. There are laity stepping up to start new congregations and lead new initiatives. God hasn’t been distracted; God has been at work through it all, inviting each person to take part in this important work.
Mrs. Anne Bosarge, Director of Leadership Development and Local Church Resources, reminds us to pause and reflect on the passage from Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples” and to challenge ourselves with these questions: Have we lived this passage? Have we lived it individually as a disciple who makes disciples? Have we embraced this calling personally as one who is sent out to all nations and people everywhere? Are we
going to make disciples? Or are we simply
coming to church to become a disciple?
“Unfortunately, there are many believers who think this passage is only a commissioning for the institution of the church, not the individuals in the church,” said Bosarge. “Many assume this is for trained and equipped people, not everyday, ordinary lay people. As much as we try to exempt ourselves individually from this commissioning, it was given to everyday, ordinary fishermen, including a tax collector and a political zealot. This commissioning extends to each and every one of us, too, and that means it was given to every believer in the South Georgia Conference.”
If you are interested in engaging in the conference's priorities to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, reach out to Anne Bosarge at abosarge@sgaumc.com. The South Georgia Conference team is ready to have conversations about the new things God is doing in South Georgia and can’t wait to see what is in store for this next season.
