About the Mission Priority

There is a strong biblical and theological reason that Christ took the time to walk and go among us.  Imagine it another way.  A Jesus Christ who simply stayed still: still teaching, inspiring, and healing but instead just staying in one place.  No visits to Jerusalem, no Sabbath in the wilderness, no being among the Rabbis in the temple.  Instead, a Jesus who was still, all the time.  Our gospel would be very different.

In 2000 this annual conference established a mission statement: “Every church challenged and equipped to grow more disciples of Jesus Christ by taking risks and changing lives.”  This statement was made with a strong commitment to the example of the Gospel and the example of Christ in mind.  In this statement, we derive a strong commitment to do one thing: move.  Just as Christ walked among different places, different people, different languages, and even different religions, so to we are called to do the same.

God is certainly moving among us, and it is demanded of our faith that we move in the world as well.  Because of this, the North Alabama Conference in 2009 is making missions a conference-wide priority.  This priority will seek to engage churches, individuals, laity, and clergy within the conference, and empower them to move within and outside the conference.  

With God’s help, the United Methodists of North Alabama will walk among different places, people, languages, and even religions, just as Christ did.  And we, as United Methodists, will not only bring God to these places: we will go to meet God there as well.  We will go not only to bring change, but to be changed; not just to preach and live the gospel, but to receive it as well.

Jesus Christ walked among different lands and people because his spirit would not let him be still, and so too we are called.  Let us not be still; let us move with God.  In the words of John Wesley, let the world be our parish.  We hope and pray that your church and you, yourself, will help us in this strong commitment, so that we may change the world and be changed ourselves.

Get your church involved now by clicking on the links to the left.

See the Priority Goals by clicking here.

Visit the Mission Blog by clicking here.

- Rev. Matt Lacey, Director of Mission and Advocacy, North Alabama Conference