Greetings!
 | | Rev. Darneather Murph-Heath |
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said, "I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it. Great encouragement have I, therefore, to be faithful in fulfilling the work He hath given me to do... As I read these words by Wesley, my spiritual imagination begins to operate and I see John Wesley as he touches his heart because it is still "strangely warmed."
I imagine Wesley reading the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV) Then Wesley flipped the pages back to Matthew 22:36-40: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
As Wesley looked over the land, he imagined and saw new places for new people in new ways; and this is the Vision of the Harvest 20/20.
Will you join with us as we imagine new places for new people in new ways? Friend, in order for this vision to leave our imagination and become a reality, we need to expand our horizons and move into the forefront of "newness" with the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as the fuel empowering us as a Conference.
We are again being called to act upon what we believe, as we seek new people in new places with new ways. New Ways indicates moving beyond the status quo and this is what Harvest 2020 is about. It is about opening up different avenues where people can meet Jesus in new and fulfilling ways. New Ways is about opening up new places where people can see Jesus manifested in ways only imagined before; and bringing new ways as technology is expanded and dreams are unfolded in new places before their very eyes.
Harvest 2020 can be as broad as we can imagine; as deep as we can dream and as fulfilling as we can conceive, if we answer the call to be people of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
~Rev. Darneather Murph-Heath
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About the Author
Darneather Murph-Heath is a servant of God appointed as Pastor of Our Saviour's in Schaumburg, Illinois. She is in her first year at Our Saviour's. Darneather has served three other congregations in the NIC since being ordained in 1996: Norwood Park in Chicago, now known as New Hope, Gorham in Chicago and First in Crystal Lake. She serves on the Elgin District Committee on Ministry and is active in the I-290 Cluster and the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Clergy Groups.
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