FMC Newsletter Week of August 10, 2026

Week of

August 10, 2026

Join Us For Worship

Sunday at 10 am

Children's Church during the Sermon

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THE METHODIST MESSENGER

The Global Methodist Church exists to make disciples of

Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.

A man asked God how long a million years was to Him.

God answered, “Like a minute.” A man asked God how much a million dollars was to Him. God answered, “Like a penny.” The man thought and then asked, “God, will you give me a penny?” God replied, “In a minute.”

I’m always humbled by this word, considering some of the funny things I ask of the LORD.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV).

Of course, the Lord values our conversations with Him. And God knows we need His help daily to live our lives. And He wants us to ask Him for anything and everything, as any good parent wants from their kids. Of course, He may not always give us what we ask for (cf. Luke 11:9-13).

He desires to be in communion with us all the time. Prayer is the way that happens. Often when we think of prayer, we tend to think of asking the Lord for stuff. Indeed, that is a form of prayer called petition or supplication.

Perhaps the essence of prayer though is communion; it’s simply getting to know the Lord, sharing life and intimacy with Him through His word (cf. Mark 3:14).

We not only seek His hand (what we may receive from Him).
We make seeking His face our priority (who He is).

King David says it like this:

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple (Psalm 27:4, 8, ESV).

Prayer is an invitation into life with the Lord in the Spirit as the priority of our everyday lives. Let us seek Him and make Him our One and Only. And as we seek Him, He begins to reveal to us what’s in His heart, His secrets.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (--Jesus in Luke 19:10, ESV).

If I am deeply humbled by the verses from the prophet Isaiah, well then, I am genuinely grateful for this word:

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9, CSB).

Some Bibles translate the word delay, as slow. “The Lord is not slow …” (ESV).

My 50-year-old cousin Sharea entered eternity last Thursday at 3:10pm. Up until three days prior, she wasn’t a Believer, a Christ follower. She was caught up in new age and witchcraft. We began to cry out to the LORD for her salvation, as we were asking the LORD for a creative healing miracle. Her liver was dead (the doctor’s words). She needed a new liver.

So, mom and my aunt (both of Sharea’s aunts) went to her bedside and began sowing gospel seeds into her heart and life. Momma said, “Sharea, I know we don’t believe the same, but you need Jesus. Jesus is the only One who can save you. Jesus is the only One who can heal you. Sharea, reach out to touch Jesus and the hem of His garment. Trust in Him for saving faith.”

Even though she could barely talk, Sharea said, “I want Jesus.” There is a popular Christian song, “Give me Jesus…” That is what she was saying, “Give me Jesus.”

My other aunt continued and began to sing over her. Then Sharea’s sister came into the hospital room with her pastor. And her sister’s pastor began to lead Sharea into a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. And she asked to be baptized. And she received the waters of baptism.

The Lord isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all would come into a saving relationship with Him through repentance. He is always “seeking” for the lost to receive them and welcome them home (cf. Luke 15).

I wanted to share these words with you this week to ask you to prayerfully consider joining me and Rebecca in a prayer workshop from our conference leadership team this Saturday beginning at 10am in the church parlor. And I wanted to ask if you would prayerfully consider joining me in weekly prayer in our church’s beautiful chapel?

Here are a few other asks:

I wanted to ask…

Are you interested in being part of a small Wesley D-group (disciple) of men or women to watch over one another in love, to help keep us close to the LORD, and grow in our faith in Christ?

Are you interested in being part of a small grief support group with Pastor David for a few weeks, leading up to the holidays, beginning late September or early October?

Are you interested in a midweek worship prayer service with some teaching or Bible study and fellowship meal (low cost catered meal before the service)?

Are you interested in disciple opportunities for children and young people during the week? If so, would you be willing to serve as needed?

If our community welcomes Evangelist Rick Gage next year (around early to late Spring) for a Billy Graham like crusade, would you be willing to get “all hands-on deck” to help serve the gospel for the lost in Center and Shelby County?

Perhaps you could share your interest in one or any of these possibilities over the next few weeks via email or at the church office or you may text me as you’re able.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration. Perhaps, the LORD will be so gracious and generous to give us what we ask in Jesus’ mighty name (cf. Joel 2:14).

Pastor David Williams

Trinity Conference Prayer Workshop

Join us for an equipping opportunity in growing in prayer and learning together how to pray with others and minister to them in Jesus’ name, THIS Saturday,

August 15th at 10am in the church parlor. Let the church office know of your interest.

Shelby County Gospel Crusade:

“Go Tell America” with

Evangelist Rick Gage

We are asking for prayer teams and churches in the county to help work together to prepare for a gospel crusade event like the way Billy Graham would do his gospel crusade events. We need an all-hands-on deck approach to making this kind of event a success. Please, prayerfully consider serving now. More information will follow in the coming months. Thank you.

Have You Heard of the “Wake-Up Call”

with Arkansas Native, J. D. Walt?

J. D. Walt is a Global Methodist elder serving a congregation in Gillett, Arkansas. He grew up in the neighboring town, Dumas. He also grew up in the Methodist church. J. D. for many years was a chaplain on the campus of Asbury and was recently helpful in what has been called “the Asbury Outpouring.” J. D. Walt is the brainchild for the discipleship resourcing/publishing called Seedbed, as well as the spiritual leader behind The New Room Conference, an annual spiritual renewal event for the church in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. He is the spearhead of the daily scripture devotional sent directly to you via email called “The Wake-Up Call.” You can follow him on YouTube or all social media platforms of your choice. Perhaps you can give him a try for the week to see what you think. Go To Seedbed.com and subscribe to “The Wake-Up Call” and it will be sent daily to you via your email daily. I’ve been a subscriber for about a decade now.

Bloom & Believe: Let Your Light Shine

What a sweet night together Thursday, August 6th! Good food, S’mores, music, laughter, little feet running all over the church on a scavenger hunt, and so many reminders of just how loved these kids are. As we send them back to school, our prayer is that they know God goes with them and that they’ll let their light shine wherever they go.

To the First Methodist Church Family,

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and the little olive wood crosses to remind us that we are not alone.

Sincerely,

Beth & Greg Crafts

The VBS

Children & Volunteers

Steve & Mary Lynn Tinkle

Something to Ponder

Jeremiah understood his relationship with his God. It was intimate, and constant. He grew closer to the Lord in his daily prayer, which strengthened his faith and unwavering trust in God’s power and mercy. As he cries out for divine intervention even in despair, he lifts his voice in praise to the Healer, his Savior, and his Lord. He understood that God alone could provide the healing and deliverance he desperately needed. And he did it in praise. Often when we find ourselves in Jeremiah’s place of suffering, we forget to turn to our Great Physician. I love the Psalms because David also understood that his very life was in the Lord’s hands. He begins each psalm crying out to God but finishes it with the praise that his God is his Rock, his Deliverer, his Healer, and his Salvation will deliver him. He states,

"I am poor and helpless. Protect me, because I worship you" (Psalm 86:1-2). What a wonderful acknowledgement from both Jeremiah and David’s examples of knowing who they were, and the importance of their relationship with their Heavenly Father!

Thank You, Lord, for being the One we can turn to when we need healing and salvation. Remind us that we can come to You any time of the day or night with any size problem, and You will respond to our pleas and our praise.

We give You all the glory and thanksgiving for Your constant presence in our lives. In Jesus name we pray, amen.