Greetings to All:

 

This will be the final edition of the MONDAY UPDATE from John and Susan Mills. We have truly enjoyed communicating with you in this way. Thank you to all who have read the Update. Thanks to many of you who have responded to it with affirmation and appreciation. It has been a joy to share with you on a regular basis the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Illinois District of The Wesleyan Church, its pastors and congregations. We give God all the glory, honor, and praise for His intervention in our lives by His grace and forgiveness.

 

THANK YOU, IDWC: Words cannot express nor are they in any way adequate to say THANK YOU for the generous monetary gift, statue and card presented to Susan and me at District Conference by Reverends John and Patty Bray ! To put it mildly, we were WOWED!!! Thank you for the kind words and expressions of your love that were so powerful, we were speechless, at least I was. The monetary gift will assist us in our move to Hawaii and in purchasing living room furniture. Every time we look at the sculpture, “HUGS” by Isabel Bloom, we will be reminded of the many hugs we have received from you. The card with kind and affirming words will be a “keepsake” for us.  With every fiber of our being, we say, THANK YOU!!!

 

DISTRICT CONFERENCE, 2004: Highlights of the Conference include:

            Wednesday Evening, June 30, 2004 :

Dr. Thomas Armiger, fresh from his re-election as General Superintendent and eager to chair the IDWC District Conference, was on his game. The ordination service message got our attention. He focused his re mark s on Luke 10 and the story of Mary and Martha. His centered on being and doing. Mary spent her time being with Jesus; Martha spent her time doing for Jesus. He stated that it is easy in the ministry to get caught up in the doing and not spend time with Jesus. He challenged all of us that both being and doing are important. However, it is most important to spend time with the Master, then, turn to the doing of life.

 

Ordained Ministers in the Process of Transferred Received as Ordained Ministers in The Wesleyan Church

• Rev. Dwayne W. Brothers from the Free Methodist Church —Pastor of Small Groups at Heritage Wesleyan Church/Rock Island
• Dr. Richard A. Riley, Jr. from the United Methodist Church —Pastor of New Heights Wesleyan Church in Bloomington

 

The following were ordained as ministers in The Wesleyan Church

• Rev. Art Fowler
• Rev. Mike Seed

 

A reception honored the above ordained ministers included a cake honoring each and all the trimmings!

 

            Thursday, July 1, 2004 :

 

Dr. Ray Barnwell was elected District Superintendent by a UNANIMOUS VOTE of the Illinois District Conference!!! Congratulations to Ray and Sue!

A Welcome Reception was held at lunch with a beautiful cake in honor of our new District Superintendent Dr. Ray and his wife Sue!

 

Honored Ordained Ministers for 40 and 50 years of service:

• Forrest L. Adams         50 years           began in 1938
• Herbert E. Apel            40 years           began in 1961
• Meredith J. Bailie        50 years           began in 1954
• C. LaMar Brown            40 years           began in 1963
• Paul M. Burress           40 years           began in 1959
• David L. Castro            40 years           began in 1961
• Roy E. Crawford           50 years           began in 1951
• Francis A. Davis           50 years           began in 1951
• Fred M. Mahin, Sr.       50 years           began in 1951
• Richard B. Norton        40 years           began in 1962
• Leigh F. Nygard           40 years           began in 1962
• Steven R. Wright         40 years           began in 1963

 

Honored the following with a black glass plaque for Outstanding District Service:

• Rev. LaMar and Becky Brown
• Rev. Ben and Faith Moncivaiz
• Mr. and Mrs. Larry/Ruby Butts
• Mr. and Mrs. Lee/ Donna Dominguez

 

Honored the following with a gift as DBA Members and Statistician during the last 8 years:

• Rev. John Bray -Assistant Superintendent
• Rev. LaMar Brown -Secretary
• Mr. John Handy-Treasurer
• Rev. Steven Wright-Member at Large
• Rev. Joseph Liddick–Member at Large
• Rev. Ben Moncivaiz -Ex Officio Member
• Mr. Larry Butts-Member at Large
• Mr. Lee Dominguez -Member at Large
• Mr. Tim Howard -Member at Large
• Mr. Charles Muir-Member at Large
• Mr. Stephen Perry-Member at Large
• Rev. Rodney Pickett-Statistician

 

Awards were presented to the churches with greatest increase in AM Average, Sunday School Average, AM Percentage and Sunday School Percentage:  AM Average Increase                                      Percentage Increase  

Rock Island/Heritage   70                                 Decatur/First          250% (  6 to 15)

Robinson                     18                                 Robinson                 36% (50 to 68)

Oak Lawn                     13                                 Galesburg                 17% (54 to 63)

Decatur                           9                                Fairfield                    16% (45 to 52)

Galesburg                       9                                Bridgeport                13% (46 to 52)

Fairfield                          7

 

            Sunday School Increase                      Sunday School Percentage Increase

Fairfield                        18                                 Decatur/First            67% ( 6 to 10)

Robinson                     11                                 Clifton                       41% (22 to 31

Clifton                             9                                Fairfield                    32% (56 to 72)

Galesburg                       7                                Robinson                 32% (34 to 45)

Bridgeport                      5                                Galesburg                 29% (24 to 31)

                                                                        Bridgeport                  9% (54 to 59)

                                                                        Broadview                 9% (33 to 36)

 

Those elected/appointed to serve in District Offices are:

DBA MEMBERS: Rev. John Bray , Assistant District Superintendent, Ms. Michelle Hughes, Secretary, Mr. Alan Williams , Treasurer, Rev. Joseph Liddick, Rev. Benjamin Moncivaiz, Rev. Dan Szombathy , Rev. Steven Wright, Mr. Larry Butts, Mr. Lee Dominguez , Mr. Charles Muir. 

DISTRICT DIRECTORS: Rev. Roy Crawford, Best Years Fellowship; Rev. James Clements, Children’s Ministries; Mrs. Marge Tornga, Education; Rev. Ray Wahl, E&CG; Rev. Brian Sexton, Leadership Training; Rev. Ben Moncivaiz , Multicultural Ministries; Rev. Ray Anderson, Public Morals and Social Concerns & Wesleyans For Life; Rev. Rodney Pickett, Statistician; Rev. Rick Carder , Sunday School & Web Master; Mrs. Phyllis Miller, WKFM; Mr. Charles Muir, Wesleyan Men; Mrs. Zoe Seed , Wesleyan Women; Rev. Patrick Bergman , Wesleyan Youth; World Missions/Global Partners, Dr. Meredith Bailie.

            DBMD: Dr. Meredith Bailie, Chairman

            LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY CLUSTER MENTORS: Rev. John Bray , Rev. Ben Moncivaiz , Rev. Dan Szombathy , Rev. Steven Wright

            2004-2005 NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Rev. John Bray , Rev. Paul Scheuermeier, Rev. Dan Szombathy , Mr. John Handy, Mrs. Zoe Seed , Mr. Larry Butts

 

Twelve Resolutions were approved by the District Conference and will be edited for inclusion in the Standing Rules in 2005.

 

Bloomington/New Heights and Creve Coeur have moved from Developing Church Status to that of Established Church Status. Congratulations!

 

The conference reflected the face and heart of the Illinois District. You expressed your genuine love for one another and especially for Susan and me and you responded to each part of the conference with energy and enthusiasm. You came anticipating God to meet us and He did. You came knowing that change is inevitable and it was. You came understanding that there is work to be done and you did it. You came knowing that a leader was to be elected and you did just that. You did more than attend. You were once again participators in Kingdom work. And, we all enjoyed it! Thank you for your zeal. Keep it going until Jesus comes. I know you will give Dr. Ray and Sue Barnwell everything you have in support, prayers and willingness to follow especially into uncharted territory. God has a great future for the Illinois District. He has provided you with great leaders! Wow! What more could we ask for except that the Holy Spirit of God would fall anew and a fresh on each person daily. 

 

URBANA : It was a joy for Susan and me to attend the AM worship at First Wesleyan/Urbana today. It was great to be with Pastor Larry, Carolyn and their family for the first time. Their daughter, Jessica, sang “God Bless the USA ” and Pastor Larry brought a wonderful message of encouragement titled “Making the Most of Difficult Situations”. The church is going through a difficult time as two teen age sisters connected to the church by relatives, were killed in an auto accident last Sunday morning. Pastor Larry shared from Philippians 1:12-26 where Paul gives us encouraging words concerning times when things are not going our way. He stated that we should 1) Look for the Good – It’s really how we respond to these times that counts; 2) Face the Worst – Know that no matter what it can’t separate you from Jesus; 3) Find the Opportunity – You have some choices. When difficulty comes will you fight or take to flight. In Paul’s situation, he got to preach in prison in Rome . Look for the opportunity and make the most of it. Bad days will come and they will go. What will you do with those days?

 

A BIG THANK YOU to First Wesleyan and all who contributed in making District Conference a great experience. A special thanks to Larry Butts, DBA Member, Pastor Larry and Carolyn Theiss and Michelle Hughes.

 

MORE GENERAL CONFERENCE NEWS: The following legislation was approved at General Conference:

• The Judiciary section of the Discipline dealing with the way we handle those under discipline at the local church, district and general church level.
• Provision made for all elected and appointed officers and district leaders to be elected or appointed for a two year term.
• Provision made for multiple Assistant District Superintendents.
• Provision for pastors who have served in a church 7 years or more to be eligible for a sabbatical leave for a minimum of four weeks in excess of vacation time.
• The definition of the different kinds of churches was redefined by E &CG.
• USF exemption for donations to church plant projects was approved. Any money raised for district or denominationally approved church plants and sent to the church plant through the district or General Department of E&CG is exempt from USF.
• A new process for nominating General Superintendents.

 

PRAYER REQUEST: Ruth Sill (Fairfield) is under going tests; Zoe Seed (Clifton) father passed away July 1^st—graveside service will be conducted by Rev. Mike Seed in Princeton, IA on July 6^th; Ed Walker (Joliet) continues treatments;

 

“THANK YOU, Illinois District, for the privilege of serving you. Susan and I truly have enjoyed this ministry calling and opportunity. The Illinois District is a place where God’s love is very evident. You have taught us, prayed for us, loved us and encouraged us. We could not have been in a better place to grow in grace and love than in this District. We leave knowing: you are in good hands (Dr. Ray and Sue Barnwell will do an outstanding job); that God’s grace will continue; that your love will abound; that His peace will overshadow you; that you will be steadfast in your vision to see lost (normal) people saved, saved people baptized, saved people living holy lives, saved people discipled, saved people equipped, saved people into ministry as laity using their gifts in the local church, pastors, missionaries, and church planters sent out, and parents being salt and light to their children and in their communities.”

 

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!” Apostle Paul—Philippians 4:4

 

Joyfully serving Jesus,

John and Susan Mills

 

PS We are looking forward to serving the Lord once again by pastoring a local church, the Hanapepe Church of the Nazarene, in Hanapepe, Kauai , Hawaii . We are thrilled with the possibilities of this congregation in reaching people for Christ, discipling them and, well, you know the rest! Please pray for us as we assume this great responsibility.