Dianne Burnett: Hello and welcome to Across the Globe, the podcast where we share stories, updates, and conversations from across the Global Methodist Church. I'm Diane Burnett, the Executive Director of Communications for the Global Methodist Church, and I am so glad that you are here joining us from wherever you might be in the world. And so whether you're listening from a local church, your commuter, somewhere around a... Global Methodist Connection. We are just so excited that you've joined us in this space to stay connected to what God is doing across our connection. And today's conversation is definitely an important one for the life of our church. We are taking a closer look at the work of the Ministry and Higher Education Commission and specifically how they are helping shape and support the formation of our leaders across the Global Methodist Church. And so I am excited to be joined today with Deborah Davis, who serves as the

Brian Ebel: Yeah

Dianne Burnett: Chair of the Ministry and Higher Education Commission and Brian Ebel who is a also a key member of that commission and together they have been part of the ongoing work since the convening general conference to approve seminaries universities educational pathways for ministry while also exploring new and accessible ways to prepare those who have been called to serve so We're going to talk a little bit about what that work is look like why it matters and how it's helping Equip not only just our current leaders but those that are coming up across our connection. so Deborah and Brian, thank you so much for joining us today. And I'm actually going to start with you Deborah, why don't you just take a moment and introduce yourself to everyone.

Debra Davis: Thank you, Diane. ⁓ I am a retired college professor, a graduate advisor, and an academic department head. I retired from Louisiana State University about 11 years ago after a 32-year career there. I primarily taught courses in leadership and organizational effectiveness to graduate students. I serve on the Connectional Council for the Trinity Conference, as well as the GMC Connectional Council representing the Commission. And I'm a member of Feliciana Methodist Church which is a three-year-old global Methodist Church in St. Francisville, Louisiana.

Dianne Burnett: All right, so shout out to Trinity Conference. So thank you, Debra, for joining us. And Brian, what about you?

Brian Ebel: Yeah, Diane, thank you so much for having me today. I have been a pastor in Kentucky for 24 years now. I'm currently serving at St. Luke in Lexington, Kentucky. I've also had the joy of being an adjunct faculty member at Asbury Theological Seminary in the areas of ⁓ theology and preaching. I've been a church planter. I am the Committee on Approval chairperson serving under Deborah's leadership on the commission. ⁓ Yeah, it's just a joy to be here. Thanks so much for having us.

Dianne Burnett: ⁓ Thank you both so much for joining us. I'm excited about this conversation. We as the global operations staff. get quite a bit of email inquiries, right, of questions, and a lot of times those questions, I would say 80%, a lot of those questions probably fall within the work of your commission, just in how it applies to how they can just grow in their leadership or even become ordained or whatever it may be. What school can I go to? So there's a lot of questions that I feel like fall in the realm of your responsibility. And so Deborah, for those that are listening who may not quite be familiar, how would you describe purpose and responsibility of the Ministry and Higher Education Commission.

Debra Davis: Good question, Diane. ⁓ Our goal is to ensure that clergy and laity are well trained. They're equipped, they're supported for faithful service across the globe, whatever that service looks like. We provide leadership and oversight for ministerial education, clergy preparation, and the certification of lay ministers. We are also responsible for developing and implementing standards across all forms of ordained and clergy ordained and certified lay ministry programs and we developed the standards for those programs. so that we can ensure that all clergy and lay ministers are prepared both spiritually and practically for their role that they're going to serve in the GMC.

Dianne Burnett: So just logistically speaking, how big is your commission? Do you have that number off the top of your head?

Debra Davis: Yes, yes we have ⁓ seven clergy and seven laity plus myself plus Bishop Levingston serves on our commission and we have a corporate office a GMC office representative.

Dianne Burnett: Okay, that's great. And so you guys really just have hit the ground running since that convening general conference. And so what would you say has been one of the primary focus that you guys have really ⁓ spent some time digging into?

Debra Davis: Actually, we've hit three big things, three primary focuses since we started on the commission in January of 2025. One of those was establishing the standards for approving seminaries, universities, and institutions for ministerial preparation. That's been a huge focus for us. The second one was establishing and approving educational programs for certified lay ministry. And then the third one has been the establishment of standards and guidelines for the ministerial training fund in accordance with paragraph 511.

Dianne Burnett: And so, and through this work, did you guys have any unexpected challenges or, you know, learning moments that you would say that you guys have, I mean, probably shaped the commission going forward?

Debra Davis: Yeah, that is a really good question, Diane. There have been so many learning moments in the last 15 months. I know Brian will agree with me on that. As my friend Jessica LaGrone said recently in a Connectional Council meeting we had, we've never been this way before. We didn't know what we were doing and where we were going, but I knew one thing. I didn't want to do it by myself. I didn't want to do it alone, and so I've been thankful to have that support team around me with some excellent excellent clergy and lay lady to help support me along with Bishop Levingston and ⁓ our Teresa Marcus in the GMC office. We spent the first couple of months just trying to figure out what we were supposed to do and I think every commission did that. We talked recently about that in a commission meeting that we all had to figure out what our job was and what we were supposed to do. And then we spent some time trying to figure out what each person's gifts and graces were on the commission so we could put them in situations or use that talent and skill to enhance what the commission was doing. in the best possible way. I would have to say that the main challenge we faced, however, once we got past those two things, was trying to figure out how to establish these standards and guidelines for education and certification within the global environment. Because things are not different, I mean things are not the same in every part of the world. So that's been quite the challenge.

Dianne Burnett: Right. Right, yeah, that's what a challenge. Because I can even say on probably just my smaller scale in the world of communications, which is not small by any means. But us trying to figure out how to do things on a global level, yeah, there's no real. ⁓

Brian Ebel: and

Dianne Burnett: What was the old book like? Internet for Dummies, right? There's no figuring this out for all of us. Here's your steps. Trying to figure that out has been very tricky, especially when it comes to the world of higher education and what it looks like for approving seminaries and universities and those. Brian, I'm going to ask you a couple questions. That has been your area that you have helped just lead in some of those approvals, right?

Debra Davis: Right, right, absolutely not.

Dianne Burnett: What are those major responsibilities that you guys have when it comes to approving those seminaries, universities, educational institutions? Can you maybe walk us through what that process looks like?

Brian Ebel: Yeah, you bet. Great question. We've got a great team to ⁓ facilitate that process. And one of the very first things we did was begin to create what is the system for approval. You can find that on the GMC website. It'll walk you through the process. There's a simple diagram that'll share information with those interested potential partners. And really, it's a four-step process. ⁓ The first gathers some survey-based information. It begins to ask the institution questions about accreditation, their theological emphases, ⁓ share with us some of the core syllabi for our Wesleyan core courses that are part of our book of doctrines and disciplines that are necessary to educate our clergy, whether deacon or elder. After the first round survey is completed, our team meets and takes a look at that data. And if it's warranted, we'll pass along an approval from us to ask the commission, is it time to pass them on? They get a vote on this as well. And then we go to a second survey, which is more detailed, more information, more syllabi. ⁓ After the second round, it moves to an on-site visit or potentially Zoom based on location of the institution. And then there's a final approval step. Four key steps. Really, we're trying to measure four particular areas. The ethos of the institution. Do they have the kind of character we want to see in our global Methodist partners? The pathos of the institution. Are they forming and shaping the heart of our pastors in the right kind of way? The logos of the institution, and that is, do they have the courses that are needed as prescribed by our book of doctrines and discipline? And then finally, the Kairos, that's sort of the X factor of is this the right time to be in partnership with this institution? Do they have all of the right pieces that meet the needs of the global Methodist Church?

Dianne Burnett: So follow-up question to that then, like let's say you've gone through those process and you get to that last step and you're like, you know, y'all are so close. You are so close, but we would like X, Y, and Z maybe before we make this official. Do you guys, how do you, how do we communicate that with them? Is there a timeline that goes into that? You know, like, hey, we'll reevaluate this in a year. I'm just curious, what does that look like?

Brian Ebel: Please. Yeah, there are some instances in which it'd be warranted for the institution to reapply. ⁓ We'd offer them the opportunity to do that. We do try to give feedback along the way. ⁓ Hey, help us understand in this particular case, it sounds like you're saying this, can you clarify that? ⁓ Help us out a little bit with how would your institution handle a course in theology in this way. So we do try to offer feedback along the way and give those institutions an opportunity to respond. And then, like I said, at the end, if we recognize, hey, there's something here, maybe it's not quite yet, ⁓ we encourage them to reapply down the road.

Dianne Burnett: Yeah, so how, you know, theology, that's such a big part of this. So, you know, I know you've mentioned those steps and whatnot, but what is really that vetting when it comes to the actual theology of that institution?

Brian Ebel: Well, we're really looking for Wesleyan-shaped, Wesleyan Methodist tradition-shaped partners. There's nothing like working with a partner who wants to shape future pastors in the Wesleyan tradition. That's essential to who we are. And without that, you know, it really shapes our movement in an alternative direction. So that's a key piece for us. We want to see professors, instructors who have been trained in the Wesleyan tradition. We want to see a commitment to Wesleyan theology out of the institution and its leadership as well.

Dianne Burnett: Well, thank you for leading the work in that, it is definitely so important. ⁓ For the health of our church and the long well-being, we need to ensure that we have ⁓ those ministers and those leaders that are truly staying authentic to who we are as global Methodists. And so that's such a huge part of that. And you know, another part of that is just also the educational programs for like your certified lay ministers and you know, how we may be able to provide them with the training and the pathway they need in order to get the certification and the education. to help them step into those roles. And so I'm not sure if it's Deborah or Brian, but could you guys explain a little bit on the work that you guys have done for that area?

Brian Ebel: ⁓

Debra Davis: I will just say, I will make this comment about that. Brian and the Committee on Approval did such a fabulous job establishing the guidelines and the process for evaluating institutions and seminaries that the CLM subcommittee decided to use his template as a template for evaluating CLM certification programs. And so the process that they are using to evaluate ⁓ certified lay ministry programs in conferences mirrors the institutional process. And I think at this point we have approved up to, I think we have approved three CLM programs so far and we have three others that are in the review process. And so Dr. Sherry Powers at Asbury leads that sub team and she and her team are doing a fabulous job vetting those programs so that we can be sure that our lay ministers also have the highest level of quality education that they can have to serve in the global Methodist Church. Brian, if there's anything you'd like to add to that.

Dianne Burnett: that thank you for doing the work there. Yeah, nailed it. No, and it's great because that is also a foundational piece of our Methodist tradition is having those laity and their willingness to serve, especially like we have Deborah here. So I love that we are making sure to put that time and effort into that as well. And another thing as well is we have several who are exploring or discerning a call to ministry that may not do a traditional path.

Brian Ebel: Thank you, nailed it.

Dianne Burnett: when it comes to becoming a deacon or elder or whatever that may look like, there's different options there. But what are we, what are the guests that is the commission, how are you guys helping explore those conversations around alternative pathways for that clergy education, those that maybe don't take that traditional route? What are you guys exploring in that space?

Debra Davis: That's Brian's area.

Brian Ebel: At present, we've really got three pathways that clergy can engage in to receive their education. Two of them are well-developed. The third one, I would say, is in process. The first is a degree program through one of our institutional partners. Classically, this is the Master of Divinity degree. In some cases, Master of Arts degree will fill those requirements as prescribed by the Book of Doctrines and Disciplines. ⁓

Debra Davis: We.

Brian Ebel: The second area is the course of study. And the course of study program is the 20 course prescription, which fulfills those ordination requirements. A number of our institutional partners carry that program. And we have standards for that program. So you receive close to the same education as the degree programs. And then the third pathway that's really beginning to develop is a school of ministry, and this is areas external to the United States that are in locations where seminary education isn't possible because of travel or technology or native language. So that's in development, and really our goal is to work with our institutional partners to provide some of the instructional materials for places like this so their pastors can be formed and shaped and prepared for ministry.

Dianne Burnett: that and so on that note I have to ask Brian I'm just curious what encouragement would you offer to someone who feels called to ministry but maybe feel like they don't fit in a traditional pathway?

Brian Ebel: Yeah, well, I think that's exactly what was in mind when the Courses of Study program was developed. You know, we have a number of people within the Global Methodist Church that are bivocational pastors, and they're trying to weigh this question of how can I follow the Lord's call on my life, and how does it fit within the ordination path? how am I going to get these educational credits? And so we have some fantastic educational partners who are stepping up to the plate and offering the course of study, which allows these bivocational pastors to take their educational requirements in a way that fits where they're at in life, in ministry. And so the encouragement I would have is take the plunge. the investment in the course of study is less than the investment would be in a degree program. And give it a couple courses, you know, see what the Lord has for you and recognize that the joy of learning, it not only is gonna help the community that you serve, it's gonna shape and form your heart to be more like Christ. And who doesn't want that?

Dianne Burnett: Amen, amen. ⁓ Yes, and so Deborah, I'm going to shift us a little bit from that ⁓ because, you know, we need people to answer that call to ministry to help support our churches and to help with our annual conferences. And so with that, how has the commission supported, like let's say our annual conferences, boards of ministry. Like what does that partnership look like in practice knowing all of the work that you're doing, how does that then support our annual conference?

Debra Davis: Yes, Diane. Thank you. To follow up on what Brian was saying, I would add one piece that kind of transitions us into this. And that is that one of the very first things that we did as a commission was to update and revise the candidacy guidebook, which was ⁓ we revised it based on the changes in the BDD in 2024 General Conference. And we posted that on the website. So that's an excellent resource for someone who is discerning the call ministry that either fits or doesn't fit the traditional model to ⁓ use to answer some questions for themselves before they bail off into that. And I think that our boards of ministry ⁓ use that to encourage people to see where they are in the process. The other thing that we do, I think, to support annual conference boards of ministry is we have been blessed to have two or three maybe four people on our commission who are actively involved with the Board of Ministry cohort that meets monthly to talk about all things boards of ministry across the GMC. Those four people have served as liaisons to the Board of Ministry cohort for the commission and so we have used the Board of Ministry cohort very much as an advisory group to the commission because in reality that's where the rub who meets the road. mean they know what's happening in every church in their annual conferences and they can tell us yeah this is not a good idea this will not work. I mean we've got some people on our commission that regularly give us a reality check. ⁓ Some of those are we do have five people on our commission who are from outside of the US. ⁓ Two clergy and three clergy and two laity. And so those folks help us to think about how all of the things that we're working on will work outside the US, or they won't work outside the US. So that's been a real help to us as we've tried to design these programs and standards. So we really do appreciate the work of the Board of Ministry cohort in helping us to discern the direction we should go in most of these areas.

Dianne Burnett: I'm so grateful for that and that's one of the beauties of think the way our commissions and our different. that work is that those different perspectives that really check us on reality of like, hey, in theory on paper this works, but then in actuality within the global context, this does not work at all. And so yeah, thank you guys for listening to that. I mean, and it's important for us to continue to do that, right? As we talk about that, figuring out how to do this on a global level, it's just listening to those different voices and perspectives. And so, you know, and I will say that's a great transition I think into ⁓ the next talk.

Debra Davis: you

Dianne Burnett: I would love to chat with you guys about it that is our ministerial training fund. You know, we want to support all of those discerning the call. We've heard about a ministerial training fund here and there. We want to support those being able to ⁓ provide financial resources to those that are interested in becoming ⁓ a clergy in the Goal Methodist Church. But how can we do that? And so I know you guys have worked really hard in figuring out a little bit of that and how that will work in all the different contexts. And so maybe Deborah, could you just share a little bit about what is exactly the purpose have a ministerial training fund and why is it such a critical piece of work for your commission?

Debra Davis: And it's been something that we focused on pretty heavily the last few months. We received that charge from the Connectional Council back in February, I believe, and so their desire was to get the money out there this year sometimes. So the ministerial training funds purpose is to support educational loans for clergy candidates or deacons continuing education to elder. And if they are in good standing with their annual conference, they qualify for the money and meet that those criteria. We have the Ministry and Higher Education Commission has been charged with the responsibility for establishing the standards for the distribution of those funds and the Connectional Council has approved those standards. For now we're locked into paragraph 511 from the Book of Doctrine and Disciplines for 2024 and it has presented some challenges for us. One of those is that these funds are for educational loans for candidates in process who ⁓ will repay those loans with service. And so until that legislation changes or if that legislation changes, then we may be doing ministerial training fund a little bit differently. But for right now, for 2026, if we want to get the money out, which we do, we're tied into those 20, that paragraph 511 from 2024. So we're excited to announce that our first distribution of those funds will be happening really soon. ⁓ It was a process to get here. We have had a ton of questions since this information has gotten out there about the ministerial training fund and we are working to address all of those. We're hoping that the first distribution of these will happen right after May 1st and then there will be a second distribution in July for the fall semester and our plan for 2026 is to distribute approximately a million dollars in those two disbursements for two annual conferences to provide loans for their clergy in process. ⁓

Dianne Burnett: Let's just take a moment and say thank you Lord. That is a million dollars going back. Yeah, I mean that's pretty remarkable. I and I kind of got goosebumps because that's so exciting because it is just giving back to those that are going to just continue to do the good work of the global Methodist church. And so, you know, thank you guys for just the thought and the process that goes into it because it's such a huge... ⁓

Debra Davis: Yes, a million dollars.

Dianne Burnett: huge milestone for us and a great something for us to be excited about as global Methodist and so that is very exciting so you are you're distributing that to annual conferences okay yep

Debra Davis: Right exactly. Correct. Let me tell you the reason behind that, Diane. As we all know, GMC has made an extended effort to maintain low overhead and small staff at the global level. So when we started talking about how do we at the global level manage all of these loans across the globe for all of these people, we quickly realized we don't have the manpower at the commission level. are the denomination level to be able to handle that. And so we made the decision to give that money to the annual conferences and we have notified all of them of what their distribution is, their allocation is for 2026. We used a formula that Matt Conover and Mike Schaefer helped us to develop that takes into account the number of clergy FTEs in each conference. and the purchasing power index, which was a new term for me, it's kind of like the cost of living and the cost of education in different areas. And we set a minimum amount. what was happening, this actually was on our second formula. The first formula we used and we ran the numbers, we realized that some of our partners outside the US who really need the funds the most in our opinion, because of their low number of clergy FTEs were not getting enough money in that allocation formula to be able to do the mini justice in educational systems. So we went back and we recalculated those numbers with the cost of education in those particular areas and established the minimum so that we're much more comfortable with. And so by establishing that minimum, it also brought down the total for some of the larger conferences in the U.S. who have additional resources. Now when we send that money to the annual conferences, they have a choice to make. They have three options. They can either accept the allocation as it has been calculated for them. They can redirect part or all of their allocation to a partner conference. Or they can decline the money. And I asked why would somebody decline the money? of conferences said we already have clergy education funded at a hundred percent in our conferences so we don't need the money give it to somebody else who needs it so that's very gracious very generous and yes and we're and we're hoping that this option to redirect money to partner instance annual conferences will help to even further to help conferences outside the US that need additional help

Dianne Burnett: so gracious. And who else better to know than those that partner with that conference to say, we're good, but we know our friends over. here need it and so let's just reallocate that and so you know you guys the commission y'all have done so much work and a lot of great work I feel like a lot of heavy lifts and so I just want to give you this space real real quick before we move forward Deborah, Brian do y'all just want to take a minute to tell your friends on this commission maybe give space to say hey thank you or is there anything you want to share with them you have that moment to do so.

Debra Davis: Can I just say one other thing about the Ministerial Training Fund before we move forward? The other thing I need people to know is that we are looking at proposing some legislation for the 2026 General Conference that will take some of these restrictions off of the Ministerial Training Fund and will allow conferences to use the funds in the manner that's most effective in their setting for education.

Dianne Burnett: Absolutely, you can say whatever you want Debra. ⁓ pressure.

Debra Davis: of clergy and so that's that's a big plus for us. think it will make us the use of those funds will be more applicable across the globe when we if we can get that legislation finalized and passed at General Conference.

Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. All right, so let's give a shout out to the Ministry and Higher Education Commission and all of them for the good work. Deborah, do you have anything you'd like to say to your group as chair?

Debra Davis: ⁓ well. We do have some priorities going forward to general conference and ⁓ one of those is to continue to refine the processes that we've already established and put in place. You know there's no perfect process, there's no perfect standards, we're going to learn as we go along with this. We are preparing to hand off our work to the commission members who follow and putting together kind of a succession plan for how we do that within the commission. So that's what we're really ⁓ looking forward to between now and General Conference from my perspective. Brian might have something else to add to that.

Brian Ebel: Diane, I'm going to brag on Deborah because it's a Thanksgiving moment. Deborah's leadership has been fantastic throughout this process. And she has this ability to ⁓ gather people in and let everybody feel ⁓ important and valued and their contributions be valued at the table. And so I really think we have ⁓ a fantastic team. I know I feel the same way about our committee on approval.

Dianne Burnett: There you go.

Brian Ebel: incredibly dedicated people who've given a lot of time and effort. And I'd really just echo what Deborah said. We recognize this isn't perfect yet. ⁓ We're gonna keep working on it to get better. And ⁓ ultimately what we wanna see is the kingdom grow and pastors be as fruitful as possible and formed as well as possible in that end. So just kudos to her. I'll brag on her.

Dianne Burnett: Absolutely, yes, no, you nailed it. And I will say, you I have been ⁓ privileged enough to be in the room a couple of times for our in-person Connectional Council meetings where Deborah is there and then Dan Gildner, and to hear the questions they ask of people. of just, I've got you in front of me, I want to rack your brain on this, I need to ask a question on this. And then knowing it's because they are wrestling with these thoughts as they take it back to the commission so that they can educate and inform and make. great decisions or help you guys make those great decisions for the well-being of our church is really, ⁓ it's a gift to watch because you know that they are taking this with the utmost respect of their role. And so ⁓ I echo what you say, Brian, and even, mean, just, it's a joy to watch. ⁓ you guys work and just seeing all of these fruits of your labor come to fruition has been really neat to watch this past year as well. And so on behalf of the Global Methodist Church, thank you and the entire commission for the work and you know dedication that you guys have put ⁓ to making so many great strides for our ⁓ movement. So thank you so so much. And so we are the Global Methodist Church. ⁓ Deborah you have one more thing to add. ⁓ she's got something.

Debra Davis: Yep, I got something. need, I can't let Brian go. I can't let Brian go without responding to his comments. ⁓ Brian has been such a delight for me to work with. I don't know what we would have done without him on this commission. But funny story, not funny story. Back at the very beginning when our commission started, Brian, I don't think you were, you were not on the commission at that point. We,

Brian Ebel: Mm-mm.

Debra Davis: when we were trying to figure out who was going to chair this commission. Nobody on the commission wanted to step up and so I was the one that was trying to get them to figure out who was going to chair the commission and they turned to me and said well you need to chair the commission and I said but I'm just laity I am not clergy I don't have the clergy credentials to be able to do this and they said to me that if you will chair the commission we will support and help. in every way and they have absolutely done that. There is no way in the world that I could have done that without my team. We have gotten to be good friends, we will be lifelong friends even though my term on the Commission will end at General Conference. ⁓ I will count these people that are on my commission as friends for the rest of my life. They have been a huge support to me. And I told Brian, we're still going to have to talk every day, even after general conference, because I can't go without talking to Brian at least four times a week, sometimes four times a day, depending on the topic or where we are. So I really do appreciate the work of every one of the people on our commission.

Dianne Burnett: right? Right? And you know that it's definitely something special because we say, hey, we're going to support Lady and we're also going to support female leadership. And for them then to see that gifting in you Deborah and say, not only do we think that the Lord has called you for this, but we're going to support you in that is thank you commission members and Brian leading that charge to say, we're going to walk the walk. And so thank you for that for sure. I do want to give each of you just a moment of privilege as well. ⁓ because Global Methodist Church is very much anchored in local church. And so you both mentioned your local churches at the beginning, but I would love to hear, like we have ended most of our episodes, of how you have seen the Lord show up in your local church, or maybe something exciting that he's doing in your local church that you want to just shout from the mountaintops. And so I will start with you, Brian. How has the Lord showed up in your local church lately?

Brian Ebel: Wow, at St. Luke it's been a great, it was a great Easter for us. It feels like you're always a little concerned when Spring Break week and Easter butt up against each other, but powerful times of worship throughout Holy Week, you know, really blessed by the moving of God's Spirit among us. And probably the biggest encouragement to me has been the opportunity to see a number of new future clergy candidates come forward. And so it's been a neat process for me personally because I've watched the work of the commission and I've recognized the way in which it's going to impact these future leaders as they're working on their educational requirements and will head off into ministry. And that gives me great encouragement for the global Methodist church because we've got great leaders coming and that's going to grow the church and grow the kingdom. I've been, God's been at work, so encouraged by that.

Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. And how about you Deborah? I think you've been a little busy with your church just in our conversations and that could be a whole other ⁓ episode just to talk about how the Lord has just shown up for you and your local church but what specifically maybe recently has the Lord shined a light on in your local church?

Debra Davis: Yeah, our church is a small rural church in St. Francisville and we typically worship about 70 to 90 people on a Sunday. We have been between pastors for a little while and on Easter Sunday morning our church had our brand new pastor in the pulpit for the very first time and he knocked it out of the park and we celebrated our anniversary birthday as a church. and it was Resurrection Sunday. What a Sunday. I was telling Brian yesterday ⁓ we had to open the front doors on the church. Our fire marshal capacity is about 83 for the church and we had 165 in worship Sunday. So we opened the front doors of the church and we had people standing out on the steps. So as church council chair there, I am so excited to have a new pastor that I know has been

Dianne Burnett: Absolutely.

Debra Davis: sent to us by God to move Feliciano Methodist Church forward. We're close to breaking ground on a new church campus and so we're thrilled about that. There's a lot going on here and I'm excited about the future that God has planned for us.

Dianne Burnett: Amen. And so I'm excited for. what the Lord has in store for both your local churches, for our ministry and higher education commission, for all the things happening ⁓ within our connection. And I am so grateful for both of you to take the time to join us today. This has been such a great conversation and we could probably talk forever about all the work that you guys do. So thank you again. And to everyone listening, thank you for just being part of Across the Globe, the podcast. If this episode encouraged you, we would love for you to just take a moment and subscribe, leave a review. or maybe even just share it with someone who needs it or maybe someone that you're you're like hey are you just starting to call to ministry you want to hear how the global Methodist is helping or CLM or the ministerial training fund maybe share this episode with them so that they can hear directly from Deborah and Brian and so thanks again for tuning in and until next time keep watching keep praying and keep celebrating all that God is doing across the globe