Dianne Burnett: Good morning or good afternoon wherever you might be joining us from today. Welcome back to another edition of Across the Globe, the podcast. I am Diane Burnett, the executive director of communications for the Global Methodist Church. And it is not lost on me that actually at the time of recording this yesterday was International Women's Day. And today I am joined by two fabulous women within the Global Methodist Connection to talk about general conference worship and what that is going to look like. Tracy Ann: Thanks. You Thanks. Dianne Burnett: what is going to feel like the experience that we are going to have in the way of worship and how the beauty of holiness is just going to be on display when we are all joined in Johannesburg, South Africa. without further ado, let me please introduce today's guests, Tasha Mallory and Tracy Winters. And so hello ladies, how are you today? Tracy Ann: Really good. Thank you for asking. Dianne Burnett: Yeah, know, will say a lot of people thank General Conference and they ⁓ immediately go to the business sessions, but of the most beautiful things ⁓ that happened in Costa Rica, and I no doubt is going to happen in Johannesburg, ⁓ is the worship. And so guys so for just joining us and just jump in. But before we do, ⁓ how about we start with you, Tessha? Do you mind introducing yourself and telling ⁓ all of us a little bit about you? Tesia Mallory: Yeah, hi, Dan. Yeah, hi everyone. My name is Tessha Mallory and I am first and foremost a child of God and I'm an ordained elder in the Global Methodist Church. I am passionate about all things worship and sacraments. ⁓ I've found that I've been Tracy Ann: Amen. Tesia Mallory: humbled and honored to be a liturgical voice, a voice of worship in the denomination since the very beginning, ⁓ leading in various contexts the annual conference level in Allegheny, U.S. annual conference. Shout out. ⁓ having a hand in helping to draft the ordination liturgy for the Global Methodist Church. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Okay. Tesia Mallory: and then also other liturgies that are forthcoming as well. And so I'm just really honored to be here and to have a voice in general conference worship. And then I have my sister and my partner in crime, Theresa, as well. So I'm going to pass it over to her and let her introduce herself. Tracy Ann: Thank Thanks. Well, hi. ⁓ So I'm Tracy Winters. I am newly in the Upper Midwest Conference, but I am also from the Allegheny West Conference and I am ordained Deacon. I'll be ordained an Elder in June. So that's exciting. And ⁓ I really have just had the honor to work with Tesha and planning worship and I've been worshiping for a long time and I think my heart just really is to feel it. facilitate an atmosphere where the Lord can move as he desires, you know, because we can't, we cannot ever manufacture or fabricate a move of God, but we can make room for him to do what he wants to do. So I'm just really honored to get to be here. Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Well, absolutely. Well, thank you both. And so give us a little idea. So I know that y'all are two of a team that is really hard at work at creating this experience for us. So give us a little bit of a snapshot of what that team looks like. Tesia Mallory: Right, we have a stellar team of individuals, our worship committee, that is really overseeing and taking ownership of every decision ⁓ under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, obviously, for what will happen in Johannesburg. We have people representing different cultures from the Philippines, Bulgaria, some Hispanic, Latino cultures, and Africa, different. ⁓ Tracy Ann: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Bye. Tesia Mallory: countries in Africa who are representing our worship sub team to plan worship. And what I'm excited about is that worship in Johannesburg, and I'm sure we'll jump into this more, is ⁓ we're really trying to lift up individual cultures. for example, like in one worship service, we might focus more on Hispanic, Latino and singing in Spanish. Another one will focus more on ⁓ Tracy Ann: Mm hmm. Tesia Mallory: know, a Korean culture, singing in Korean and having liturgies in Korean. And so, yes, we will have some worship services that have multiple languages, especially like concert of prayer, but we're also trying to honor individual cultures as well. We'll have some worship services that are mainly more African in flavor, and obviously that's a whole continent, so that's pretty broad. But so we're trying to honor different cultures individually and really enter into the experience. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: right. Tesia Mallory: of how these ⁓ people and bodies and communities worship God. Dianne Burnett: Right, so you know I want to ask about that a little bit so that we want to worship and we want to write represent that global aspect of our church in how we worship and when we're all together but how do you guys discern coming up with a worship plan that does that well? Tracy Ann: Thank you. Tesia Mallory: Right. I don't know Tracy if you want to jump in or. Tracy Ann: Sure, I know that there is, prayer is really critical in being in communication with what the Lord desires, you know? And so I think that in having, understanding that we are unified across the globe and that the Lord loves us all and loves all of our worship, trying to just prayerfully discern what he desires and how we can all come to him and offer what we have. So I believe that Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tracy Ann: I know for us, prayer was a big part of the process and then really just allowing it to flow from that place. That's, yeah. Dianne Burnett: Right, absolutely. Tesia Mallory: ⁓ We want to be representative as much as we can. The exciting thing is that our movement is growing so rapidly. We can't include every single language. We have our official languages of the church that we're going to honor and also ones outside of the official languages as well. Like we think about our new ⁓ brothers and sisters in India that just came on with Hattie and Tom. So we're going to incorporate those things as well. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: Right? Tracy Ann: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: right? Tracy Ann: I Tesia Mallory: We're trying to do our best. think prayer, number one, like Tracy said, and then also letting people from those cultures lead and take ownership and leadership of it. A lot of times ⁓ when you plan for conferences, yes, we have oversight and we are exercising responsible authority over things, but also the ability to step back and say, yeah, I might not have as much experience. Tracy Ann: Nice. Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Tracy Ann: You Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Tesia Mallory: ⁓ worship in Kenya, but you know who does? People in Kenya. just getting that space, getting people's voices in the planning. Yeah, and just letting people lead. Dianne Burnett: Right. Tracy Ann: Yeah, that's right. That's right. Dianne Burnett: Right? And what a great, I'm gonna use air quotes here, problem to have, that we have so many voices and so many different cultures represented that we have to figure out how to make this a wonderful experience for them all. Like, I just want, that's one of those moments where you stop, like, and you just thank the Lord. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: that we are even having this conversation, that we are like, we're not going to just be singing in English. We've got Spanish. We've got Tamil. We've got all of these languages. Like, what a beautiful statement and testament to how the Lord has just shown up and favored the Global Methodist Church. And I'm just so grateful. And I'm excited to hear all those different voices and worship together. And you're absolutely right. Sometimes you just have to take that step back right and just let them lead and us follow. And that's just where the Lord, I think, puts those right people in the right chairs, right? Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Tesia Mallory: Right, and I think that the important thing as kind of, you know, when we think about the global church and especially when we think about what we call the global south. So if you think ⁓ the Latin American countries, ⁓ Africa, African countries, Eastern nations, the church is growing very rapidly. It's really not so much in the West, in Western cultures. So global South Eastern cultures, church is growing like crazy. And so. One of the things we have to do is to learn as I'm from the United States, right? Kind of we're go-getters, we're very domineering, we want to take charge and things like that. But there's something that we have to sit down and learn from other people. And that's I also love about the global Methodist Church, especially in worship, you know, the Holy Spirit's moving like crazy. Talk about the Philippines, the Mega Manila Conference, you know, very powerful worship, very powerful encounters with the Lord. Tracy Ann: Yeah, that's right. Thank you. Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tracy Ann: Yeah. You do. Tesia Mallory: that's propelling them in mission and in faith, true faith, you know, like hanging on every word the Lord has to say and it's really telling them. So we need to learn from them. And I'm speaking as a someone from the United States. So ⁓ yes, that's good. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. you Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Dianne Burnett: Right, yeah, it's, you know, leaving that room and that space for the Lord to show up and work on you through all of His sons and daughters in ways that we just never imagined and it's so beautiful. okay, so I have a question. So the theme for General Conference is the beauty of holiness. Beauty of holiness, okay. So when you hear that phrase, what stirs in your heart as worship leaders? Like what just... Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. or Beauty, beauty of holiness, yes. Okay. Dianne Burnett: gets that heart moving when you think about the phrase of the beauty of holiness. Tracy Ann: Mm. I think that the Lord knowing that the Lord desires to be present with his children and ⁓ what comes to my mind is just this overwhelming sense of his presence in a way that is ⁓ so powerful and and just in in the when you're in his presence, it's beautiful. I mean, there is nothing more beautiful. I don't think and ⁓ and I think that When I've been praying into the beauty of holiness, I feel like he delights in us and he desires to make us like him. But when he overwhelms us with his presence, is the most beautiful thing. And so it's just this place of absolute humility. ⁓ Tesia Mallory: Right? It's like worship, I say this a lot, worship starts with God and it ends with God. Like, so if we think about kind of a basic worship theology, what do you think of? You think of the end. So we look, we flip to the end of the scriptures, to the book of Revelation, with all tribes and tongues and nations surrounding the throne, saying, holy, holy, holy. And we think of Isaiah, you know, when he has the vision of the Lord high and lifted up. Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Yep. Yeah. ⁓ Yeah. Yeah. Holy, holy, yep. Yeah, that's right. yeah. Holy, holy, holy. Tesia Mallory: Seraphim, what do they say? Holy, holy, It really, everything has to do with God's holiness. And I know me and I know Tracy as well. Tracy's a very powerful testimony. Just when we are in the presence of a holy God, we first of all know who we, we learn quickly who we are. Oh, I'm not that. I'm not that. I'm not that. I need to be holy like you are holy. And so I think. Tracy Ann: Yes. Mm-hmm. you Yes. Tesia Mallory: God desires that we are constantly in His presence, reminding us who we are, and from His holiness, through the power of His Spirit, He sanctifies us and makes us holy and then sends us to live as His holy people in the world. And so it starts with God, it ends with God, everything is about God's holiness. And we're holiness people, right? Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: Right, right, absolutely. No, I think that's such a beautiful analogy of that. You know, I will say having the privilege to be in Costa Rica and in the back of the room during worship experience a lot and just seeing how our people from all over had hands in the air, fallen to their knees and just worshiping the Lord and just the love that you could feel. in that room from that moment. It's something that truly excites me and I look forward to you have seen again in Johannesburg because it is just special. And you know, I'm also one of those people that sometimes when I can't think of the words to pray or to even, you know, have that dialogue with the Lord, there's always a good song and worship moment that it's like the Lord will show up and you just get to have that sacred space with him. And so it's just exciting and look at something. Like I said, I'm looking forward to Johannesburg. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: So you mentioned, yes, you mentioned, Tessha, about we are having a special cultural, was it African night in Johannesburg. And so that sounds fun. Could you maybe explain a little bit? Tracy Ann: Amen. You see? You see? Tesia Mallory: Right. Midweek, ⁓ we're having ⁓ an event called African Night, really celebrating the diversity of cultures in Africa and just their unique worship styles. And so we have two choirs that are coming, one from Zimbabwe and another from South Africa, and they're going to sing kind of traditional African worship songs. And then we also have other African worship leaders coming. ⁓ Tracy Ann: Mm. Thank Mm-hmm. Dianne Burnett: fine. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Tesia Mallory: the African lead, and his name is Pastor Davies Musigo. And so he's helping to put together ⁓ just those worship ensembles to lead us. So yeah, African Night will have different songs from choirs, some moments of worship. I think we might have a special guest recording artist coming. We're working on that. That's so exciting. And then also testimony, right? Tracy Ann: You Thank Yes. Dianne Burnett: You've heard it first. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Tesia Mallory: from different African brothers and sisters. So it really is celebrating the diversity and the beauty and the leadership really of the African continent, even in the Christian faith. A lot of times, ⁓ you know, even in the early church, when the faith was being formed, was really North Africans who are taking the lead on helping us just, you know, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and discern our doctrines and our dogmas and our teachings. So it really is kind of like a homecoming for us. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: right? Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's so good. Yeah, that's so good. Tesia Mallory: of celebrating that, yeah. Dianne Burnett: love that because especially it's historic that we're going to the continent of Africa and really you just said this is a homecoming so when you put that together how powerful is that it's a historic homecoming and so we as global methodist gets to be part of that and that's pretty that's pretty neat to think about so that's awesome well what else anything else just how can we prepare our delegates our guests that are arriving Tracy Ann: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yes. Thank Dianne Burnett: In Johannesburg, how can we best prepare their hearts for worship during their time there? Tracy Ann: Well, I would encourage them to prioritize the secret place with the Lord, to be praying ⁓ and to be entering into deeper intimacy in their secret place and in their churches ⁓ and in our conferences, because that's really where it all begins, right? We can't lead people where we've not been. So I think that it matters that we prioritize that and just be in prayer that the Lord is glorified and that you know in his holiness something touches said and I just thought that's right. I mean, I know when I came out here it was so reliant. I'm in South Dakota. So ⁓ so reliant on the Lord and I was so ⁓ so aware of my smallness and reliance on his beat on on his holiness and how beautiful that is and humbling but I think that understanding Dianne Burnett: Mm-hmm. Tracy Ann: our individual smallness, but collectively as children of the King, right? That it's just going to be really powerful. And so my encouragement would be to really prioritize the secret place and to be in scripture and prayer and lifting up our church. Because ⁓ I mean, if we're not going to be like Jesus, then I don't think we want it. Right. And how will we know aside from his word and from that place and from his being intimate with him? So that would be my Dianne Burnett: Yeah. Right? Right? Tracy Ann: you know, my encouragement to them. Dianne Burnett: Yeah, Tessha, you have anything to add to that? Tesia Mallory: Absolutely. think ⁓ yes to everything Tracy said. I would ask that you would pray for us and our listeners who are listening. for the worship planning process because we're still on our journey of making sure everything comes together. And when I think about General Conference, there's petitions and all the discipline. want to try to make sure all Dianne Burnett: Absolutely. Tesia Mallory: You know, all of our ducks are in a row with the business and we want that. We desire to be a church that's faithful and also what does it mean to be global Methodist, right? We're still working this out and that's a good thing because we are a new denomination. And so. Tracy Ann: Yeah. Tesia Mallory: All that stuff matters, but ultimately how we live as God's holy people and what the movement of God through it matters. I would say more because we have the best laid schemes, the best laid plans. The Lord can come and just notice says, be still and know and I am God. ⁓ He speaks and the earth melts. ⁓ The scripture for our beauty of holiness, tremble before him. Tracy Ann: That's That's right. That's right. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Dianne Burnett: Hmm. Tracy Ann: That's right. Tesia Mallory: and people tremble, right? There's this holy awe and fear. And I do believe, I have faith that the Lord will work out all the business, all the things that we come, all the anxieties. People come to this stuff with anxiety. They're like, what's gonna happen? Like, is my thing gonna get passed? Is my thing gonna, you know? But I think the Lord has something that's bigger than our petitions and our agendas that He will work and He will weave together because He couldn't bring us this far to let us fail, right? Dianne Burnett: Right. Tracy Ann: Yes. That's right. Dianne Burnett: Yeah. Absolutely. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's right. Dianne Burnett: Right, right, right. Go, no, absolutely, because we're going to worship through it. Like, we're going to worship through the business part. And you know, I was sitting here as you're sharing that, that is actually a gift, because you're absolutely right. We are going to be in these sessions where some topics are going to be there that aren't the most, you know, fun things to talk about, but have to be spoken about because we are in this formation period. But how great is it then that we then get to just take a moment and worship? Tesia Mallory: We're reaching now Diane, we're going region zone. I didn't need to expect... Yeah. Tracy Ann: Right. That's right. That's right. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: And like you have those moments to just experience the Lord and just kind of, I would say, exercise your heart a bit and refresh it before you go into that next session to then continue to talk about the business. Like you have those opportunities for the Lord to just work through you and you're just gonna worship through it. And so thank you guys for just the work and just helping us. ⁓ Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Amen. That's good. Dianne Burnett: would say prepare those moments because it really is a whole body and spirit experience to be in general conference with worship definitely being an important aspect of that so thank you guys so much and so we will definitely be praying for your team as we just continue to plan and also just prepare the right ⁓ Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Dianne Burnett: song selections, right? Like all of these things that ⁓ are just really timely and listen to where the Lord, like the song he wants to deliver for this particular message and moment and whatnot. And so we just want to pray for all the ways that are worship shaping the team, the travel. ⁓ But also, because we are the global Methodist church, I cannot end our time together without asking you an important question, both of you. So we... Tracy Ann: Yeah. Thank Thank you. Dianne Burnett: As a Golan with a church want to stay connected to our annual conferences and our local churches and both of you I know are plugged into those you gave Allegheny West a shout out but let's also just talk about your local church for a second. So I'm gonna start with you Tracy in South Dakota and your experience I would love to hear how is the Lord showing up for you and your local church right now in this season. Tracy Ann: Mm-hmm. Sure? Yes. Mm-hmm. Well, the Lord is moving in power. ⁓ He ⁓ is moving in power. The entire youth group was baptized in the Holy Ghost after I was here for six weeks. ⁓ And He's just coming and He's purifying His bride here. And these people are hungry for what the Lord has to offer them and to grow them in deeper relationship. And so in Sioux Falls, I'm at Redeeming Grace. Global Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. And ⁓ we are the only global Methodist Church actually geographically. It's just the land out here is just expansive and ⁓ it is in 70 miles. We're the only GMC Church so far. ⁓ But I'm watching the Lord really and truly grow deep roots rapidly. yeah, ⁓ so the Holy Spirit's moving and Dianne Burnett: Wow. Tracy Ann: and shaping church out here in the Midwest. So that's exciting. Dianne Burnett: I love that. So if anybody in the Sioux Falls area or around there needs a global Methodist church to plug into, Tracy would love to welcome you to Redeeming Grace for sure. Amen. All right, how about you, Tasha? ⁓ Tracy Ann: Amen. Yeah, for sure. Tesia Mallory: Right. So I attend and help with worship. I'm new. I'm very new at this church, but St. Luke Church in Lexington, Kentucky. And I was sad to leave my former global Methodist church. I took a new job. I've only been here for around six months, but St. Luke has been a beautiful home. And I'm, as a new person, I'm learning that they're experiencing like some growth. And it's always exciting, right? When you're walking into a place and you're like, Tracy Ann: Praise God. Yeah. Dianne Burnett: Yes. Tesia Mallory: So the pastors, the leadership is stellar. They're amazing. And they're trying to figure out, this is the best. The best pastors I know are like, Lord, what are you doing? And how do we figure, how do we come alongside you? And they're really trying to be faithful to that. ⁓ So I'm honored to be there. And then also I have to shout out Asbury because I work at Asbury Theological Seminary and the Lord is moving me in power here as well, as this is my primary appointment. So in chapel and worship and it's Dianne Burnett: Please do. Tracy Ann: Okay. Tesia Mallory: I'm excited for Dr. Watson's leadership. But St. Luke Church is stellar, and pastors Matt Penny and Brian Ebel, they're great pastors. Shout out. Dianne Burnett: Yes, they are. actually have had the pleasure of getting to visit there and it was such a great experience. I've not made it to Falls yet Tracy, but maybe I'll add that to the list. But Saint Luke. Yes, please this. Thank you this this Texas girl. Definitely I don't think I will be there in February so. ⁓ Tracy Ann: Thank ⁓ Come in the summer, because it'll still be cool for you. Dianne Burnett: Well ladies, this has just been such a pleasure and I, every time I get to have a conversation with the both of you, I just leave and just feel even more, I would say, spirit-filled. And so I just want to say thank you on behalf of our movement for the work that you guys are doing, not only in your local churches and your appointments, but just for general conference and just really just be in the light for the Global Methodist Church and for women as well out there. Tracy Ann: Thanks, Jesus. you Mm. Dianne Burnett: in today's world and so thank you guys so much, our ladies, and thank you so much for being part of this episode. We are just so excited for all the great things and all the ways that the Lord is showing up now and will continue to show up. So y'all have just a great day and we'll continue to be praying over you and the worship experience at General Conference. Tracy Ann: Thank you. Evening. Thanks Diane, it's good to see you. Tesia Mallory: Bye.