Fear and anxiety flow from feelings of threat. God designed your brain in such a way that your "reptilian" brain (as some call it) can hijack your "higher" brain (your neocortext) and override your reasoning.

When you feel under threat, you lose the ability to be thankful.

When you are thankful, you override your feelings of fear and anxiety.

So as a leader, it is really important to recognize and navigate your own feelings of threat and fear and confront them with gratitude.

And it is just as important to understand that our people respond to their own feelings of fear by withdrawing or fighting.

Sometimes you as a leader are the target of these feelings and they may have nothing to do with you.

Fear, threat and anxiety are "in the water" of the soup of our society.

So, as Dan Baker writes, it is important to train our people (and remind ourselves) to practice "active appreciation".

Psalm 9:1-2 states:

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

2 I will be glad and exult in you;

    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

The Message paraphrases these verses this way:

1-2 I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,

    I’m writing the book on your wonders.

I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;

    I’m singing your song, High God.

Fear and anxiety come easy.

Gratitude is a choice.

The psalmist states that he will "recount" or "tell" all of the wonderful deeds of the Lord. This is a decision to be made, a choice.

Is your heart overwhelmed with fear?

Try gratitude.

God bless

Superintendent John

Thanksgiving and Christmas are wonderful times to make your people aware of the ministry of SEED. SEED is partnering with women and men around the world in tangible ways to alleviate suffering and celebrate their dignity. Please consider connecting with SEED during this season.

Exponential 2022 - March 7-10

The Wabash/New South multiplication team has a vision that our conferences will develop a culture of multiplication. We can leave a legacy of starting more churches and movements than we received upon entering our respective ministries. Exponential is a great shot in the arm help boost our energy, focus, network, and resources to this endeavor. It will also begin to serve as a hub for all Free Methodists engaged in Christ-Centered Multiplication to gather per our Bishops. **Bonus - it's in warm Orlando, while still cold here.

If you click on the Exponential logo above, you will be taken to an interest form where you can let us know that you are interested in attending the Exponential conference with us.



To our Retired Pastors - from the FM HR department:

Since July 1, 1973 we have provided our retirees and their spouses a quarterly benefit under the Retiral Assistance Program if they qualify. This program is supported through funding from the Equal Participation Plan (EPP), which funds the general operations budget of the denomination.

The program is for retired ministers, their spouses, widows, or widowers who have a minimum of 10 years of full time active ministry in the Free Methodist Church. The years of active service determines what percentage a person is eligible for. Twenty-five years of service grants 100% participation in the program.

During the last October Board of Administration meeting the income limits for 2021 were approved to remain the same. These amounts are $11,100 for a single person and $14,400 for a married couple. This means a person must earn less than $11,100 (single) or $14,400 (couple) including all income sources to be eligible for assistance in the program. Sources included are social security, retirement plans, savings, and others as described on the application.

You can find out more information by emailing hrdept@fmcusa.org

Advent Resources

It seems like every year in preparation for Advent, I have to search my files for the Advent readings I had saved from the year before.

Thankfully, the Free Methodist Liturgical Network has several Advent readings on their Facebook page. They are also working on Advent readings that are based upon The Free Methodist Way.

Here is the link as you prepare for the first Sunday of Advent which begins November 28th.

Check Out the Center for Pastoral Formation