“In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” ― John Wesley, The Journal of John Wesley – Enhanced Version
This past summer I travelled to England for a Welseyan pilgrimage to major sites within our tradition. One of which, was the place where John Wesley encountered Christ and when his heart was [famously] strangely warmed.
Our whole trip and the previous year, focused on the revival, renewal we are seeing in our communities as leaders within the United Methodist Church. We culminated our year long sojourn together to the very roots and starting points of the Methodist movement. And I cannot speak for others but for me, it was with a prayer in my heart to sense renewal and revival again. For our church and for the kin-dom of God here on earth.
What I found most lovely about the place of Aldersgate that beyond a beautiful plaque–and there is one—the central point is a park. A gathering place for friend meet-ups, lunch breaks, 70 young clergy and everything in between. It was a striking image of the place that continues to gather people together, and a place that is a third place for encountering the holy.
This is how we will begin the 26-27 conference year, “Rooted in Revival”. Exploring our Wesleyan Theology, heritage and roots. Then looking ahead to how we continually connect and share this with the community. In the coming conference year, there will be opportunities for reading our faith, communal events, service opportunities and our District Training will focus primarily on how we live out our theology in new and revived ways.
My prayer is that are hearts aren’t just warmed but warming—continually ablaze and attuned to the Spirit’s guidance in our lives, our churches and our communities.
Rev. Lindsey Baynham Freeman
District Superintendent
Learn more about Lindsey.