Dianne Burnett: Welcome to Across the Globe, the official podcast of the Global Methodist Church. I am Diane Burnett, the Executive Director of Communications for the Global Methodist Church. Jason Nix: And I'm Jason Nix. I am a deacon in the Global Methodist Church, Mid-Texas Conference here in Arlington, Texas. And we're so glad you're joining us today. Dianne Burnett: Yes, thanks for tuning in. This is a space to unify and form and just tell the story of God's work and how he is moving across the global Methodist Church connection as we make disciples of Jesus who spread scriptural holiness across the globe. And we are so excited for today's conversation. But before we dive in, we want to make sure that you subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, share this episode with others or previous episodes with others that may be interested in just hearing more about ⁓ the way that the God is showing up across the GMC. so, Jason, why don't you tell a little bit about who we have with us today? Jason Nix: So we are honored to have Mark Maddox with us today. He is the superintendent of the Western States Conference. And we're going to get into more details about that. But for right now, we're going to call it the Western States Conference. We're going to be talking about new churches. We're going to talk to you about how they are connecting and expanding our impact and reach across the globe and different milestones, historic milestones that are taking place within that conference. We're so excited to have Mark on with us today. Dianne Burnett: Yes, we are so excited. so Mark, what exactly are the Western states? For those that are maybe tuning in today and are like, what the heck does that mean exactly? Do you mind just sharing maybe just a little about you, your role, what all regions the Western states encompasses? Mark Maddox: No, great. Thank you. And thank you, Diane and Jason. It's great to be here as well too. And the Western States are nine of the Western States of the United States. And I'll try not to forget any here, but we have Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. And that makes up the Western States Conference. Until recently, we've added also Fiji and Australia. 1.5 million square miles before. Now we have almost 5 million square miles. So why not? Dianne Burnett: I mean, how exciting is that? mean, in Fiji and Australia, I'm here for it the way that the Lord is just showing up. So, wow, how impressive is that? Jason Nix: Yeah. So tell us a little bit more. I love just stats and very good job on the geography, by the way, you pass the exam. ⁓ just kind of give us a roadmap. So number of churches, clergy, you talked about the areas represented, but kind of what, what does it entail as far as the churches is structured there in the, in the conference? Dianne Burnett: ⁓ Mark Maddox: Out of all that land mass, we have 48 churches. And that's not a lot of churches, but there's a lot of land and a lot of opportunities still. Total pastors off the top of my head, probably around 55 now. That's including some in senior status, but total about 55. Dianne Burnett: Okay, that's great. And then how did you come about being the conference superintendent of this area? Jason Nix: you Mark Maddox: That's a question everyone asked me actually, Diane, how did I get here? ⁓ We're still trying to figure that one out. It's, it's God got me here is the only way it's possible. ⁓ I moved my credentials to the GMC in 2022. ⁓ One of the early people. And for me, I've always had a passion of making disciples. That's that's who I am. I was a new church star pastor in the former denomination. Jason Nix: Careful careful Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: And that's just who I am and who God made me to be. So when I came out here, or when I moved my credentials, I started annoying anyone I could find. There weren't a whole lot of people in the GMC back then. But I was sending emails just to a bunch of people and just saying, we need to start churches out in the West. The West needs the GMC and West needs Jesus, beyond a doubt. And so I just started harassing a lot of people and finally someone responded and said, well, why don't you just connect up with the river? So I contacted the river and I said, we need to get churches started out here. And one of the staff members there looked right at me and said, well, Mark, why don't you start one? And that kind of really just got right to the core. And so eventually I did as a matter of fact, ⁓ which is great. But through that process, through the WCA and getting Dianne Burnett: Mmm. Jason Nix: Mmm. Mark Maddox: seeing some churches start their disaffiliation or just walk away, which most of them had to do out here. ⁓ We started getting connected and I started just reaching out to people mainly because I want to get churches started. And we started reaching out to people and before long I had a lot of contacts throughout the whole place. And one day I ended up ⁓ on a Zoom call with Bishop Webb and ⁓ we just kept trying to grow. Next thing I know we're a TCAT. Dianne Burnett: you Mark Maddox: And then the next thing I know, Bishop Webb's looking at me and says, well, Mark, I'd like you to lead this as a conference. And are you ready to get your cabinet together? And I just, my jaw just dropped. I had no way to respond to that. I wasn't sure. And I told him, Bishop, on one condition, one condition, you have to promise me you will never, ever, ever put me up to be a Bishop. He looked right at me and says, don't worry, Mark, I wouldn't. So. Jason Nix: Mm. Dianne Burnett: You know, if people have not seen, right, if people have not yet experienced the humor that is of Bishop Webb, it is, it's a treat. It really is, it really is. So I love that that's part of this story. And so who is the current ⁓ Episcopal leader for your conference? Mark Maddox: That's kind of how we got to where we are and how we got started. Jason Nix: Yeah. Mark Maddox: Bishop Carol Moore. Dianne Burnett: Okay, so Bishop Moore, and she is passionate about getting people out west, so I can only imagine. So then you raised your hand, willingly, right, and all these people affirmed, like, hey, you are supposed to be in this area. Did you ever imagine that that would include Fiji and Australia? Mark Maddox: Not at all. Absolutely not. And what's funny about that, Diane, I come from the absolute smallest town you can imagine. ⁓ Really, it's I'm from a town of 400 people in the middle of nowhere, Cornfield, Illinois. I never saw a person of color until I was in high school. And, and just because one person of color moved in next door to me. That was the first person that didn't look like me that I had ever met. Dianne Burnett: haha Jason Nix: Mm. Mark Maddox: And so now I'm in this conference that is what I'm being told is the most diverse conference in the connection. And it just amazes me because like I have I have Tongans. And if you would ask me 10 years ago, what a Tongan was, I couldn't have told you. And honestly, five years ago, I thought Fiji was an island on Japan, or excuse me, was a volcano on Japan or a mountain on Japan or something. had no idea. Typical, you know, United States centric. ⁓ Jason Nix: Mmm. Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: US geography and that's about all I've ever had. this here is just, it's really been a learning experience. Jason Nix: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: You know, that's why I love these conversations, truly. Like, I can relate to that. Whoever thought this girl that was born and raised in Paris, Texas and lives in Lubbock, Texas would ever be the executive director of communications for the Global Methodist Church? Same was like you, a guy from a town of 400. I love how the Lord has handpicked... Jason Nix: That's awesome. Dianne Burnett: so many amazing people to be part of this movement and this connection and it just is a beautiful combination of giftings and his children and to do his work and just continue to make disciples. And so I love hearing your story that it just is exciting to me. I'm a ⁓ little bit of a nerd in that sense but I just love hearing how the Lord has just chosen all of us to just do this small part for his kingdom and so thank you for answering that call. Mark Maddox: It shows you it's all God because there's no way, no way I could be doing this. ⁓ Not at all. it's a hundred percent it's God. Jason Nix: Yeah. I love it. Just continuing that idea of just the cultural diversity within the conference. I know that that's just been just a huge heart cry for us as global Methodist ⁓ is to see a truly global church formed. What kind of opportunities does that create? mean, because again, with the addition of different places and the huge landmass, how Tell us a little bit about that. What opportunities do you have because of that diversity that's a part of one conference? Mark Maddox: What I do like about it is we're able to reach out to people that I would never even imagine we could reach out to. ⁓ For example, we just added, just received a Hmong pastor and ⁓ he's going to be starting a Hmong congregation and never in my life would I have thought that we'd be able to start a Hmong congregation. And so just the ability to reach people that we don't, we just don't even reach. We don't even consider in our local churches. Jason Nix: Mm. Mark Maddox: And so I would just off the top of my head, I was thinking we have at least six different ethnic churches, ⁓ not, excuse me, ethnic group churches in our conference. And it's just, it's just so amazing. And I was reaching out to, I'm sorry, go ahead, Diane. Dianne Burnett: Mm. Okay, can I just ask, like before we go further, what is Hmong? Can you help educate us on what exactly that means? Mark Maddox: I would not do it justice in any way, or form. I could tell you it's out of Southeast Asia, ⁓ is about the best I can give you. I can give you a rough idea, but I'd be insulting the whole population, I'm sure. So that would not be the best for me. I'm just getting up to speed, but they were a persecuted people, very much so. And ⁓ a lot of the Hmong population came to the United States for refuge. Dianne Burnett: Gotcha, gotcha. Okay, so I mean that's an exciting, I would say, testimony and story. And so that, if I remember correctly, it is the appointment of a pastor, ⁓ Reverend Dr. Paul Joseph Yang, is that correct? Yeah, so could you tell us a little bit about that? Mark Maddox: Yes. So he's yeah. So Reverend Dr. Yang is, ⁓ he'd been working with the Hmong community in the previous denomination for a little while. And he recently reached out to me and we had a nice conversation and very sharp guy, very intelligent, very driven for Christ, Christ centered. Absolutely. And he has a passion to start a Hmong global Methodist church. And after meeting with the cabinet and discussing with the bishop, we also made him a presiding elder. So the first among presiding elder, ⁓ which is really exciting too. Dianne Burnett: Mmm. Jason Nix: Come on. Dianne Burnett: Yeah, I love that. Jason Nix: So where is he planting? Mark Maddox: Central California. Jason Nix: Central California, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Well, ⁓ bilingual church. Mark Maddox: Yes, it will be a bilingual. Jason Nix: Very cool, very cool. I'm just, I'm just, my brain's kind of swimming right now. Just what that must feel like to be setting up something in the middle of, ⁓ in the middle of central California and running through ⁓ all of the process and presiding elder. almost, it almost sounds a little bit like ⁓ you just got to trust the Lord and go and see how things come together. I love it. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: That's That's the only way we could do it out here. We don't have the resources to it any other way. You have to trust in the Lord. Jason Nix: That's awesome. Dianne Burnett: Well, I mean, that's a big milestone, you know, and I would say that's a big milestone for not only your annual conference, but having him step into that role of presiding elder for the Golden Methodist Church. And so I'm just curious, like, what does that mean to you personally? Jason Nix: Mm. Mark Maddox: You know, it's it's been a big change for me again coming from nowhere, Illinois just to it I have grown so much in the time I've since that day with Bishop Webb. I've really grown so much and just understanding other cultures ⁓ I mean, Just amazed we have a Fijian presiding elder now as well ⁓ South Korean presiding elder and just I have learned more about cultures than I could ever imagine in my life. ⁓ just, I've grown and I don't even have the words for it, Diane. I really don't. That's just how much I've grown. God just moving. Jason Nix: Not to take a step back, but my brain just spun. So my wife and I adopted our first son and he was born in December of 24. And part of the adoption process, was in Arizona is where he was born. ⁓ So we were out there and of course it's Christmas season and we were looking for a Christmas Eve service and I looked up, know, GM Global Methodist Church is near me. And there wasn't one anywhere close to me. And then I started to kind of dig in a little bit more because a majority of the folks in the US and maybe even just different parts of the globe, you know, geographically whole sections, you know, there were just kind of higher concentrations in some areas than others. But in the US, I mean, you said 48 churches, huge, landmass just Dianne Burnett: Hahaha Jason Nix: Tell us, I just wanna pick your brain a little bit. ⁓ What is the current landscape as far as the conference, not just the Western states, but Australia, Fiji, Alaska, Hawaii, these semi-remote places or very remote places. ⁓ What's the call, what would somebody who's listening to this who says maybe, hey, the Lord's asking me to plant a church and there's a place that needs churches. ⁓ Run us through kind of how that operates in such a huge landmass where there is so few current churches located. Because it's hard for us, me and Mid-Texas. ⁓ Mid-Texas, we got tons of churches. I mean, you can run down the road 15 minutes either way here and run into another global Methodist church. I'm just curious, do you feel a little isolated? Does it feel a little lonely out there every now and again? Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Yeah, such a great question. Such a great question. Mark Maddox: Yeah, it definitely can. And we're trying the best. We use Zoom all the time, obviously, and we're trying the best we can to make connections. But we also, on things like annual conference, it's really the only time we get together as a conference. So we really try to make sure we have connection time and fellowship time worked in there. And so that's really been important for us. ⁓ But going back to your question about saying if someone's watching this and they're in another part of the country and they, well, it's on their heart to start a church out here. Jason Nix: Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: We've actually identified the top 50 locations throughout the Western States for someone to plant a church. And it's funny you mentioned Arizona. One of our top spots is Queen Creek, Arizona. So if anyone's watching, they got on their heart, Queen Creek, come on out. ⁓ But the uniqueness of who we are. Jason Nix: Let's go. Dianne Burnett: You know, and there could be. I have a feeling someone is praying and that just like maybe a light bulb went off and it was like, there it is, there it is. We will contact Mark. He will be happy to help you there. Mark Maddox: Amen. Give me a call right away. I drove that area recently just to confirm ⁓ and it's ready for GMC. It's so ready for GMC Church. Dianne Burnett: Yeah, I love that. So, ⁓ go ahead, Jason. Mm-hmm. Jason Nix: So tell us, sorry, tell us a little bit more. There's 50, you've already marked the 50 places. Obviously there's credentialing and the assessment process, but is it just as easy as saying, Mark, the Lord's called me and the board of ministry has approved me and tell me where to go? Mark Maddox: Almost at this point, ⁓ it's not quite the warm body stage, but one step removed from that. Now there is a vetting process, but we also have some education we want people to have. The biggest thing right now is almost without exception, every single new church plant we have out here, the pastor is bivocational. And so that is a concern. There's no sponsoring churches, their parachute drops, ⁓ and that's just how it is. Dianne Burnett: That is not for... there. Jason Nix: Okay, yeah, yeah. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: And so anyone that is considering it, they have to have their own source of income until the church can get up. Dianne Burnett: Right, and so with knowing all of that, what are some ways that I, so what I'm gathering from this conversation Mark is creativity is a gifting of yours. Because you are having to be creative in how we equip these churches and these church plants and these pastors that step into those roles. And so what are some ways that maybe you're continuing to create some of those pathways for that diverse leadership and representation knowing Jason Nix: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: all of these opportunities that you guys have in that area. Mark Maddox: You know, I've been really blessed with partnerships with both Reverend Dr. Jeff Olive with Planters Field and the Woodlands, as well as Reverend Dr. Steve Cordell with the Rever Network. They have both working with us and our any planters, any potential planters, ⁓ just because we don't have the resources as a conference. So just to really work with us there and to support and ⁓ so we can build them up. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: And we're really pushing cohorts. We're trying to get cohorts really going for anyone that's ⁓ planting is because like you said earlier, Diane, we're very remote. And to me being a church planner is it's a lonely job already. It's a hard job. And so you need to be in a cohort with other church planners. And so right now we actually have, I don't remember the exact number off the top of my head. I think it's eight in cohorts with the Reverend Network right now. So that's, that's been a blessing. Dianne Burnett: That's great. Yeah, for sure. Okay, so I want to spend a little time, maybe shall I say going down under, to talk about the developments. Y'all like that? I'm so bad at accents I shouldn't do that. But anyways, let's talk about the first GMC church in Australia. Mark Maddox: Ha Yeah, please don't. Jason Nix: was good. Didn't see it coming. That's good. Dianne Burnett: Let's talk about that a little bit. That's so exciting. ⁓ You know, another spot that we are just continuing to expand our footprint across the globe. And so let's hear a little bit about Australia. Mark Maddox: Blacktown Global Methodist Church. ⁓ It is in Blacktown, which is outside of Sydney, I believe. Don't ask me about Australia geography. I'm, yeah, that's not my thing. But we have a pastor there who's right now, he's marked as to be ordained as an elder. So we just got to figure out how we get him ordained. That's our next step. But he's, he's marked as to be ordained or proved to be ordained. And we've been working with him really for about a year now. having conversations and finally got him through the system and approved. And the second we did, we're like, okay, go ahead and get started. And they were right on it. I mean, he was so excited. They launched like immediately. He already had his launch crew and ⁓ we're now registered in Australia as well too as the nomination. I'm just excited about all this. so it's, and he, just him and his wife. You talk about apostolic leaders. Dianne Burnett: I love that. Mark Maddox: They just want to get out. They're even talking about the next plant. And that is what I love hearing. That gets me excited. So they're forward thinking. They're disciples who make disciples and churches that plant churches. Jason Nix: Hmm. Dianne Burnett: Mmm. Mmm. 100%. They're just getting started. I mean, they are here for it. So how did those conversations even come about? How did those conversations even start? Jason Nix: That's awesome. Mark Maddox: Yeah. I don't even know if they're a month old. Jason Nix: Yeah. Mark Maddox: Connection. That was a connection. They're actually Fijian, believe it or not, even though they're not connected to the other churches in Fiji. So this was a connection with ⁓ one of the pastors, I believe he's up in Midwest, ⁓ Zach, and he actually is a cousin of this guy in Australia. So he introduced us and we've been talking and there you go. It's God moving. Just everything is. Dianne Burnett: Okay. Jason Nix: Okay. Dianne Burnett: It's awesome. Love it. Jason Nix: That's too cool. ⁓ as you're, as I'm just thinking through this and the connection was, was this church planter, was he currently serving in a ministry context or is, was this kind of step forward? just really, really curious. Mark Maddox: He actually was with our previous denomination and he actually had gone through the course of study with them. so yeah, he was in a ministry context. So, which is great. Jason Nix: Okay. That's okay. All right. again, my brain just rushes to what that moment must feel like. to, be, you know, the only person in an entire country that's like, all right, let's, let's go do it. Let's, let's go step out, ⁓ and then jump. And then the other part of my brain that's purely selfish is like, well, general conference 26 on the continent of Africa, general conference, what? 32. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: you Dianne Burnett: Okay. Jason Nix: We're going to Australia, Australia or Fiji. I won't be greedy. I won't be greedy. Either one. It's fine. Mark Maddox: Australia or Fiji. Dianne Burnett: So I can practice the accent. ⁓ Mark Maddox: And you know, what's really great about him is he's doing a bilingual service too. it's English and Pagian. So, you know, I just, let's duplicate, let's duplicate it. Let's multiply it. Let's go. Jason Nix: Cool. Dianne Burnett: I love that. I love that. Like the way that the Lord again, see I just love again these conversations because it just makes me so excited of just all the ways that he is showing up in ways that I even took this job two years ago. Like the thought of... Australia and Fiji. I mean that just wasn't even on the forefront of my brain and so to be able to have this conversation today and to talk about how ⁓ he's just getting started this is going to continue I mean that is just so exciting for sure. ⁓ So I would say then you know he wants to continue to grow do you have any other ⁓ just things that excite you about what's happening in that area? Mark Maddox: in Australia or anywhere. Dianne Burnett: Yeah, Australia, that whole, I would say, that whole Pacific region, and just, you know, I guess we also don't want to limit, right? We're like, we weren't even expecting this, so it's just gonna continue to show up. But is there anything else on the horizon maybe that you're just really excited about? Mark Maddox: Working with the Fijian churches, let's jump to Fiji since you said Pacific, I mean it's a small area. But Fiji, we have 14 churches in Fiji now, about roughly 1200 global Methodist laypeople now, which is just so exciting. That's just, that's huge. I think honestly that number is more than all the churches I have in the US. So which is just phenomenal that many people. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Yeah. ⁓ wow. Jason Nix: Cool. It's huge. Dianne Burnett: It is. Mark Maddox: And so we have eight pastors that are going through our Board of Ministry now. But what really excites me is Bishop Moore is going there in two weeks. She's going to ordain the presiding elder there. And he just made it through Board of Ministry. So I'm just so excited about that. But what really excites me is the partnerships we're already talking about is do training and classes, but also is growing and making more disciples. And that really excites me as well, too. Jason Nix: Mm. Dianne Burnett: Jason's ⁓ starts So spinning here ⁓ what, ⁓ you ⁓ had resources or help with other annual conferences that maybe like, hey, we want to come you. going to get these people ⁓ trained or ⁓ help resource like whatever. Are there any other ⁓ connections there that been helpful to you in this process. Mark Maddox: Absolutely. And thank you for asking about that. We have actually ⁓ two partner conferences, very similar to how United States conferences adopt conferences overseas. They realized the Western states were just like that. ⁓ And so the Mid-South Conference and the West Plains Conference, we have MOUs with both of them. Shout out. Yeah. I was in Lubbock last year. There you go. The exciting town of Lubbock, Diane. Dianne Burnett: Shout out, shout out West Plains. see, and that's also not a statement a lot of people can make. But so let's also then talk about how they have just helped and come alongside you guys. Jason Nix: You made it. Mark Maddox: Ha ha ha ha. So they, one of the first things they did was they said that we need to fund the conference superintendent, ⁓ cause you need someone driving the boat, if you will. ⁓ and, and it's, it's made a big difference for that. So that was their number one goal. ⁓ other conferences have also come in, ⁓ South Georgia, ⁓ Bishop Greenways, what's the Allegheny West. And I know I'm going to forget somebody. So I have, I apologize to any conferences I did forget. ⁓ Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Jason Nix: You're right. Mark Maddox: And they've... made donations for new church startups and those kinds of things. So specific specific ministry. So I give the thanks for all of them. With West Plains and Mid-South, we're continuing our agreements and our partnerships even of what's it look like for them to adopt a church. We're working with one church in the Mid-South conference about maybe doing vacation Bible school for one of our new church startups, those kind of things. So there's a lot of things we're working on with all of them. So it's really exciting. It's I definitely feel Dianne Burnett: Mm. Mark Maddox: connection. Our connection is working. Dianne Burnett: that. I love that. Yeah, I that's great. Jason Nix: So I just did it again. My brain just spun to go back a little bit. ⁓ So one of the realities of the tensions that we're facing as a newly formed and just again, everything the Lord's doing in the global Methodist church, specifically around ⁓ educational requirements and what's the process for ordination. And as we identify ⁓ men and women who have a calling and and are equipped in or need, you know, some more equipping, however that looks, but that that will look different in one part of the world than it will in another. ⁓ you happen to have the unique seat, as we've said of, ⁓ one conference, very different parts of the world. ⁓ how are you guys navigating that? And I, and I know you said there are some educational requirements, ⁓ but I'm just really curious, ⁓ with your board of ministry and as you are, ⁓ ordaining pastors and presenting elders for all of this new territory. ⁓ What are the tensions? Like, and it can be like, what's the challenge challenges you faced? And then what are the, like the solutions you guys have found for how do you set as a conference, your requirements for ordination or for appointment? Mark Maddox: That's a phenomenal question. And just a shout out to my board of ministry and Reverend Fairchild who chairs that. ⁓ Holy cow, what they've had to go through with this. It is just unbelievable. ⁓ So I give thanks to God for them because they're pulling their hair out sometimes. They really are. It's like, how do we figure this out? I also want to say special thanks to ⁓ Clark Adkins and Lori Smith. I think Smith is her last name with conferences. Commission. They've been instrumental in helping us figure out what do you do in a foreign country? How do we look at credentials? Because you hit the nail on the head, Jason. A lot of our stuff is US centric. Dianne Burnett: minute. Mark Maddox: And you can't expect someone in another country to have the exact same education that someone in the US has. They don't have the availability. ⁓ So we ran into that with Fiji. And we have some Fijian churches in the US as well, too, where the pastors were from Fiji. And so how did they go to the seminary? What does seminary look like? And Fiji does have two seminaries. ⁓ But there's a whole political thing going on there as well too. They won't let our people into those seminaries because they're not part of the national church. ⁓ So we have some issues. Luckily, presiding elder there was able to go there before they kind of started cracking down on that. But now the other seven pastors, we have to figure out alternate routes. So we're looking at right now supply pastors for them. But we're also having the conversation of what does education look like for them. ⁓ Jason Nix: Mmm. Dianne Burnett: Yep. Right. Right. Mark Maddox: And, you know, maybe there would be classes they take through Truett or Wesley Biblical, what have you, but what's it look like on the island of Fiji? Bishop Jones, actually, I was in a meeting with him a week ago and he says, Mark, I'll fly there and do a class with them over a weekend sometime. And I'm like, hey, let's do it. Let's plan it. So, you know, it's, we're going to have to think outside the box. And that's one of the things we're actually discussing right now with ⁓ Pastor Colley, who's the presiding elder there, is what can we do? And so these are conversations. Jason Nix: Yeah. Mark Maddox: that are just starting. Dianne Burnett: Right, and you know those are conversations that are having to happen across the board. We recently had Deborah Davis and Brian Ebel on to talk about just the work that they've done with that commission and trying to figure out which is the biggest puzzle piece ever of what this looks like from a, you know, big picture. Jason Nix: That's super cool. Dianne Burnett: what requirements, how can we help our boards of ministry, right, with some of that work and footwork. And so I've been in a couple of meetings with that commission and they, I'm sure along with all of our boards of ministry, know how heavy that is because it's so vital to the work of our church and like trying to get some of that figured out so that we can just continue to grow and ⁓ bring up those next generation of disciples. And so on that note then, which kind of goes on that and kind of, but Jason, you You got me started on that. But how does recruitment of new pastors work then? You know, hey, come out to this five million land mass that we have here. Is recruitment a need or are they just all line debt mark? Jason Nix: Hehehehe Mark Maddox: Thank Yeah, yeah, they're not lined up. I'll just say that. It's actually I'm working with Reverend Dr. Max Wilkins right now from Kingdom Advancement on how what's the plan look like for recruiting throughout our connection? We need we need planners. Dianne Burnett: You Mark Maddox: Right now, 50 people stood up and said, I need to plan a church. I've got a location for you. Each of the states, you want something in Alaska? I've got a spot for you. So we're going to be, hopefully our goal is by our annual conference, first week of June, we'll have all 50 of those locations up on our website. That's our goal. But. You know, it's recruitment is the thing we need to do. And maybe right now, like you said earlier, Diane, maybe someone's watching and God's tugging at their hearts right now. ⁓ Come on out, contact me. And we'd love to have that conversation. Absolutely. So we're working on a plan. Nothing's been ⁓ solid yet, ⁓ even replacing clergy because we don't have a deep clergy pool. I've had to send out what we call church opportunity profiles out to other conferences and say, if you know of somebody ⁓ Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Jason Nix: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Mark Maddox: Please send them this. Dianne Burnett: Right, right, right. Okay, so, but you know, that just tells me there's a lot of neat things on the horizon. And looking ahead for the western states. are we then, are we keeping the name western states or what are, what's going on with that? Mark Maddox: That is a great question. And we can't, there's no way. We have Fiji, we have Australia, and if someone ends up in New Zealand that wants to be part of the GMC, we'll have New Zealand too. So, ⁓ you know, we've tossed around our Connectional Council has been praying about this and ⁓ talking about it for several months now. And they narrowed the list down and at annual conference in June, on June 5th, actually that day, we will vote on our new name. So we're looking forward to it. That's exciting. Jason Nix: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: OK, so ⁓ can't wait to help make that announcement to the world. So as soon as that's voted on, please let me know, Mark, so that we can help get the word out. But that's exciting. I know. Jason Nix: you Way to drop a tease, Mark, in the industry. We call this baiting the hook. Mark Maddox: Ha ⁓ Dianne Burnett: loving it so maybe he's wanting a part two so that he can make that great no I'm just kidding but we will all be looking forward to that announcement for sure. Mark Maddox: That's it. Jason Nix: You I love it. Well, I mean, as we've kind of jumped all over the place here and just kind of looked at the the landscape of what is taking place and has taken place and is coming up and just some of those realities. I'm just curious just from you, what are you hopeful about? What what's kind of defining your hope for the future of what God is doing in your conference? Mark Maddox: Thanks for asking that, Chase, because when we first started this, everyone was asking me, where do you start? What do you do out there? And, you know, always trying to be optimistic. And you know, how does an ant eat an elephant? One bite at a time. ⁓ so what gives me the hope is how I see God moving out here. That is absolutely what gives me the hope. I'm just... Jason Nix: Mm-hmm. Dianne Burnett: Mmm. Jason Nix: Yeah Dianne Burnett: One bite at a time. Jason Nix: Mm. Mark Maddox: Next thing you know, someone else is reaching out to me or I just stumble upon something. ⁓ Just God's moving in ways that, you know, I was going to say this for annual conference, but I'm going to share this with you guys first. ⁓ Well, it's not even tease. It's a reveal. You get it. It's a first. One year ago at annual conference in May, actually might've been even today because our conference was going on at this time a year ago. Dianne Burnett: Another teeth. Jason Nix: He's giving it to us, yes. Dianne Burnett: It's a first, first, yes. Mark Maddox: Bishop Moore stood up and challenged our conference. had 24 churches. She said, I challenge you to double by this time next year. We now have 48 churches. We have doubled in a year. So. Jason Nix: Mmm. Dianne Burnett: Stop. I just got goosebumps. I that. ⁓ I that. So your heard the call and made it happen. ⁓ Mark Maddox: So, up. Well, God heard the call. It was God's call. God put on her heart and got me to happen. Just to show us it wasn't about, it's not about Mark for sure. It's about God, 100%, everything that's happening. So what gives me the hope is what your question was, is how God is moving. God has not left the Western part of the United States or Pacific. So that's where my hope is. My hope is in the Lord. Dianne Burnett: Yep, absolutely, for sure. Yep. Okay, so then I want to follow up with that then and now that we have these people tuning in for this wonderful conversation, how can we pray for you? How can we pray for Mark? How can we pray for your leaders? How can we pray for the Western states, aka soon to be renamed, Australia, Fiji, the Pacific? How can we cover you guys in prayer during this time? Mark Maddox: I would always say keep the faith that God's still moving out here. That would be the first thing. That's for all of our churches, because we're not alone. And we see that more and more through the connection, especially. Global Methodist Church has brought something great that I, more than I could ever imagine. So pray that we keep that hope in our hearts and keep focused on that. I'd say for the conference, pray for pastors and leaders who have that call to come out. That is one of the biggest things we need to see the West really get planted well. know, lot of the problems we had in our previous denomination, I feel, started in the West and went out. So you know what? Let's plant the West. Let's come out here. Let's make disciples out here. And so my prayer is really for leaders and pastors and lay people who want to plant. Come on out. Let's plant some churches. Let's make disciples out here because the West needs Jesus. Dianne Burnett: Yeah, absolutely, that is beautiful. Jason Nix: That's beautiful. Dianne Burnett: Okay, so we have a standard closing question that we ask all of our guests and you kind already did, but we're gonna dig a little deeper. Mark Maddox: Thank Jason Nix: and he kind of already answered it. Dianne Burnett: Yep, we're gonna go, so you know, one of our passions as a global Methodist church is to stay focused on the local church. And so I want to hear from you, Mark, your actual local church, tell us a little bit, it's your time to give them that shout out, and then how is the Lord actually showing up in that local church capacity for you? Mark Maddox: Dig deeper. you That's a great question, Diane. So my local church is Journey Global Methodist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Woohoo! All right, Journey Beagle. ⁓ And as I shared earlier, I started that church because I was pretty much asked, why aren't you starting one yourself? And so it's a great community. And the downside of Journey is I have not been able to give it the time. Dianne Burnett: Shout out, woo. Mark Maddox: I would love to as being, I was actually at one time tri-vocational. ⁓ And so ⁓ now I'm being only bivocational. I can give it a little bit more time, but that's where again, we're seeing God move now like never before. We've been meeting in a hotel conference room and God just started opening up some doors and others closed right away. And we are now going to do ⁓ our first, what we're going to call a public launch. Jason Nix: Mm. Dianne Burnett: you Mark Maddox: And that's coming up here. ⁓ We're moving to an elementary school on July 1st into an area that's a multicultural area. It's ⁓ economically, ⁓ it's not doing great. We'll put it that way. And ⁓ so we're just all excited. We have a strong foundation. We have a launch team of 30 that are going to be launching over there. We've been worshiping in the conference room, but haven't been advertising. And we grew from just a small group in a home to our solid. Dianne Burnett: Okay. Okay. Hmm. Mark Maddox: average of 30 without any advertising or outreach at all. And God's just been doing some great things. But we're so excited about moving to this new elementary school. even on top of that, I just want to share one last thing. God has called four people out of our group of 30 to enter ordained ministry. Jason Nix: Come on. Dianne Burnett: I'm not a math person, so I'm not even gonna attempt to do math, but that's pretty good statistics. So I mean, how, if y'all are, I do girl math, but that's amazing. And like that is definitely. Mark Maddox: you pretty good. Dianne Burnett: the Lord at work. so I've actually, ⁓ know I've said this like a million times, but I've been so inspired by this conversation, Mark. Like this has been so great. And you know, you are so unique in the fact that the annual, I think you are the what? The only US technically based annual conference that is global. Right? So shout out. So shout out. Mark Maddox: Absolutely. As far as I know. Jason Nix: You Dianne Burnett: Well, thank you so much for joining us today. It has just been, again, I said I've been inspired. I am just continuing to pray for all of you and just cheer all of you on. And Jason, if you want to the charge for Fiji for Annual Conference 2032, I will be here for that as well. Jason Nix: love it. Yeah. Yeah, we'll take a note out of Bishop Carolyn Moore's book. We're just going to call it down and say, next general conference, Fiji. Here we go. Dianne Burnett: Here we go. Well again, thank you guys for tuning in today and for listening to Across the Globe, the podcast. Thank you, Mark, and just continue to lift him and his leadership and the entire annual conference up in your prayers. for today, we also want to leave you and say just... Jason Nix: Yeah, thank you, Mark. Dianne Burnett: continue to pray for our denomination as a whole. Some really neat things are happening that are beyond what we could ever fathom that the Lord would do. And this is just another example of how that's continuing to happen. And so let's just continue to lift up our ⁓ connection and as we just continue to grow and just spread ⁓ that scripture of holiness. And so we would love for you to make sure that you subscribe and leave a review and share this episode. just we continue to tell great stories like this of things are just happening ⁓ among the Global Methodist Church and you can find us on all the places that you catch your regular podcasts such as Spotify, Apple, and so on. so tune in next time for more stories of how God is moving through the Global Methodist Church as we worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly. Everybody have a great day.