>District Superintendent

  
       I wear a pedometer each and every day.  It’s part of the health mile initiative of the conference and an attempt to encourage clergy to exercise more and  to   take better care of their bodies and minds as they walk with the Lord.  Each day    I attach the pedometer to my belt and, at the end of the day, look at the total steps taken for the day.  The pedometer got me wondering what a “God Pedometer” might look like … and how would we measure our spiritual steps  we take with  the Lord, each and every day?  Are we up early and doing our  spiritual exercises, or prayer, fellowship, worship, study and charity with our fullness of life?  How active are we?
 
            
             The apostle, Paul, writes in his letter to the Ephesians 3:16-21
 
"I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love.  Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.  God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."
 
   In the coming months, as part of my superintendent responsibilities, I will be having consultations with pas-tors and staff parish relations committees to check in on the spiritual and missional health of the church.  One question I ask the pastors is, “how are you growing in the faith and walking with God into new and innovative ministries?”  I am surprised by the variety of responses, but awed by the deep faithfulness and love the pastors have for the Lord.  Their eyes light up when they tell a story of God’s movement in their life or someone in the church.  You can feel the Spirit of God in the midst of that moment. 
   Recently, Terry Brown and Mike Namy shared about a new youth ministry program starting in the Crestview area.   The excitement in their voices and the reality that “God was moving in their midst and amazing things were about to happen” caused my heart to leap with joy.  The youth have named the new ministry “Element 79” and will focus on Relationship not Religion.  You can feel the movement of the Spirit of God working within the leaders and youth as this new ministry unfolds. 
  We have the opportunity to monitor daily our God pedometers and  to evaluate our spiritual health and enthusiasm for sharing the good news with those who have not heard.  Paul’s words remind us to “live full lives, full in the fullness of God.   God can do anything, you know –  far more than you can ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!   He does it not by pushing us around but by working within    us, his Spirit deeply and gently with-in us!”
   I challenge you to increase your spiritual steps and to trust God’s Spirit to guide, encourage and sustain you as you lead the church into greater mission and ministry.
 
   Be Encouraged Always,
      Dan
 
    
  
          Rev Dan Bryant
 
 
 

PRAYERS AND CONCERNS

 

Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to Rev. Mike and Sue McHale on the passing of Sue's mother, Marie Sheldon.

Also, to Dr. Jan Sprague, on the passing of her father, Alfred Mugford.

 Please keep the following persons in your prayers as they face health concerns or recovery from surgery:

Pastor Carolyn Carman

 

Rev. Peter Kerlin

Rev. D Larry Kline

Rev. Mike McHale

Rev. John Klimenko

 

   Please pray for:

 

Rev. Rob Dieterich, Bedford First UMC - formerly of Western Reserve UMC - who is being treated for a rare form of liver cancer.

Revs. David Andrews and Gordon Ferguson, and Pastors Carolyn Carman and Kenny Maylone as they assume new ministry roles in the district.

All churches and clergy grieving sudden and tragic deaths in their congregations.