Consultation 2006 - Doug Newton Presents Salvation Paradigms
Consultation 2006 convened September 22nd at the Essenhaus Village Inn and Conference Center, in Middlebury, IN. Our presenter was Doug Newton, senior editor of Light & Life magazine and senior pastor of Greenville Free Methodist Church. Our theme was "Exploring Salvation Paradigms: Implications for Ministry and Service."
Middlebury is in the center of Amish country, in northern Indiana.
Doug Newton presented a holiness-based perspective of salvation. There is a commonly held view of salvation which says, "Just ask Jesus into your heart." Somehow by faith we are released from punishment for our sinful ways. We are guilty before God and under the sentence of death. God has paid the penalty by taking death and sin on himself. We have taken this picture of salvation to be the whole of the gospel. In this paradigm of salvation we experience a change of status, but not a change of person. Goodness may come from this salvation experience, but only as a result of our gratitude.
Newton challenged us to go beyond easy believe-ism. Jesus' righteous death washes us clean so that the Holy Spirit can enter into our lives and change us from the inside out. We understand scripture to say, "Without holiness no one will see God." We cannot live up to this standard without radical transformation. In order to teach and do everything commanded of our Lord (see Matthew 9:35-10:10), we must have an ongoing outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is the good news that the Holy Spirit has come – and he could come only after the death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus. The good news of salvation is that we can love God and serve him as the Holy Spirit empowers us.
The Gospel of Mark describes a partnership paradigm of salvation. Jesus performs miracles, instructs his followers, and explains the kingdom. We are called to deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus. We are called to a partnership in which we join Jesus in doing kingdom work. We are challenged to turn away from a superficial understanding of salvation and become devoted followers of Jesus. Ephesians 2:10 describes how the Lord wants to guide us and empower us in this divine partnership. This view of the Gospel challenges our limited way of living the Christian life, reverses our backward way of living faith, and gives us the ultimate in hands-on Christian living. We are not asking Jesus into our hearts, but rather asking God to takes us into his heart.
Newton went on to present a healing paradigm of salvation. As described in John 3:14-16, the serpent is lifted up in the wilderness (see also Numbers 20:4-9). Sin may lead to suffering, but all suffering is not caused by sin. God makes a way for sin-based suffering to cease through the exercise of faith. Salvation is about being restored to wholeness. There is a word "sozo" in scripture translated "to heal" which also means "to be saved." The ministry of Jesus was healing centered, concerned both with physical and spiritual healing. Acts of healing are the nature of the kingdom and not just proof of the kingdom (Isaiah 52:13-53:5). Matthew connected healing with the work of Jesus on the cross (Matthew 8:16-17). Salvation means God makes a way for sin-based suffering to cease through faith in Jesus' work on the cross.
An Overview: Paradigms of Salvation
God and need to be pardoned.
According to Newton, it is freeing to see the broader perspective of God's plan of salvation. All Scripture informs us what to preach and teach.
Reflections on Consultation 2006
Here is what some consultation participants experienced.
Kamilia Snyder: I was blessed because my hungry spirit was fed by the heartfelt teaching and sharing of Doug Newton. The Lord spoke clearly … refreshing my vision. I was also blessed by renewing friendships and fellowship with other physicians and dentists and their spouses who share … a desire to serve the Lord. You hear people's hearts when you are there (at the consultation). They are committed, real, and open. I was refreshed by the beauty and peacefulness of the Essenhaus.
Joy Ngobi: We like the quietness that (Essenhaus) offers. It is a time for us to get away from our lives that are too busy. We have some real quiet time. We take time for walks. We get to see the Amish people and how they live. We were very glad to be reminded of the partnerships that God builds with us and how he wants us to connect with his creation. Lastly, we have so much joy from meeting with missionaries who have lived in Africa.
Matt and Christa Main: We thoroughly enjoyed this year's meeting. After being welcomed last year as newcomers, we felt right at home and had an especially pleasant time reuniting with everyone. Our wonderful fellowship was enhanced by the vision we all share as believers in Christ. Being on the Board has further opened my eyes (Matt) to what FMMF does. Thanks to all of you and to Doug Newton's words. As a young couple, we need this kind of mentorship.
Samuel Choi: I'm an exchange student from Argentina, and am staying with Dr. Wetterau in Dansville, NY. When he told me that we were going to the meeting of FMMF, I thought that it was going to be a medical conference. But it wasn't. Instead … it was a nice talk about God. We had a wonderful time and a very pleasant place, where I felt his love once again, but this time through people that I didn't know. His love was reflected in all the people I met.
News and Views
Tim Kratzer has been named president of the Fellowship. Your current board members are Kamilia Snyder, Ed Davenport, Matt Main, Ed Lamoreaux, Mark Stine. David Lefler is treasurer.
At Consultation 2006, Bishop Emeritus Gerald Bates presented an update on Hope Africa University, located in Bujumbura, Burundi. A medical school curriculum will be included. Here is a great opportunity to invest in the lives of the youth of Central Africa. Your time, resources, and prayers are very much needed to support this rapidly growing center of learning and leadership development.
Consultation 2007 is set for September 21–23.
The Essenhaus Village Inn
and Conference Center
Middlebury, In
Presenters will be Bishop Joe James and missionary Rev. David Yardy
Bishop James has been a part of an international bicycling team, which will traveled 2000 miles from the tip of India to New Delhi. The goal of this trip was to raise support for the rebuilding of Umri Christian Hospital.
Free Methodist World Health Outreach, prepared by Norm Wetterau and Glenn Snyder, is a brochure which presents the medical ministries of the Free Methodist Church. These brochures are available for you to distribute to those who would like to know more about the role of our church and its members in medical ministries. If you need brochures, contact Judy Litsey at the World Ministries Center. Her email is <JudyL@FMCNA.ORG>.
Cedric Johnson, a retired surgeon living in Indianapolis, IN, has been honored for volunteer activities. He is a volunteer at Raphael Health Center, a faith based inner city health center. He also has been Assistant Program Director for the General Surgery Program.at Methodist Hospital of Indiana.
Ogdens' Return from Burundi Nov. 2006
Thank you for your prayers while we were in Burundi. Here are some ways God answered those prayers:
*The new ambulance (Toyota van) that many of you helped us buy for Kibuye Hospital was on hand for us to use. *We were blessed by a 10-day visit of missionary friends Jim and Barb Stillman who drove over from Tanzania to help us. Barb assisted Frank in the O.R. and Jim repaired equipment and electrical systems. *A new Burundian doctor began work at Kibuye just a few days after our arrival. His name is Nzeyimana Audifax, fresh out of medical school in Bujumbura and a willing learner. He scrubbed with Frank on every operation and by the time we left he could do C-sections and stomach surgery for ulcers. *We were able to take a teaching arm for the gastroscope, enabling Frank to show Dr. Audifax what he sees when looking inside the stomach. Due to new airline limitations on carry-ons, this was a concern, but all went well. *Our visits to 5 different churches on Sundays showed us the spiritual vitality of the Burundian Free Methodist Church. Carol preached each time and also gave the message at our friend's 2-hour wedding (and 3 hour reception) in hot, humid Bujumbura. *Our friends Gerry & Della Rockhill and Gary Hirayama joined us for 3 weeks. They introduced solar cooking, repaired things and helped Bob & Laurie Hughes move into their new home on the Hope Africa Univ. campus. *We, along with all our visitors, stayed at Kibuye with no fear of bandits since a neighboring house is now occupied by policemen. We slept well because of this.
We thank God for all these blessings and for excellent health and safety throughout the trip.
David Fryman and Family to Kibogora
In July the Frymans will begin a one-year assignment to Kibogora Hospital in Rwanda. Dr. Fryman will be providing teaching for national doctors as he cares for patients in the hospital and clinic. He will also be developing a curriculum for an international rotation for Indiana University medical students and family practice residents. The Frymans ask for your prayer support as they pursue this long held dream of returning to Africa. If you wish to receive direct updates, send your email address to <dfryman@pol.net>.
CAHO Spring Conference
April 27-29, 2007
The Central Africa Health Care Organization is a sister organization of FMMF. Missionaries, friends of CAHO and others will be there. You are invited to come and share in the fellowship and spiritual encouragement. Speakers for this year's conference include:
-Rev. Doug Newton, Editor of Light and Life Magazine and senior pastor of the Greenville FM Church
-Rev. J. Allan Ellershaw, United Kingdom Superintendent.
Email your interest to Dr. Al Snyder at <AlouiseSny@cs.com>.
Reception at General Conference
Parish Nursing and FMMF will host a reception at the Free Methodist Church General Conference, Sunday afternoon, July 8 from 2-4 pm. Come meet other medical health professionals who have the shared vision that health care is a ministry and not just a means to a livelihood. You will learn more about Parish Nursing and our FMMF plans. General conference runs from July 7-13, 2007, and will be held on the campus of Spring Arbor University, just west of Jackson, Michigan..
What is your interest in FMMF?
If you have updates, news, views, and gleanings from your faith journey, please share them with us by email or by US postal service.
Our Mission: To Mature in our faith
To Mentor students
To Minister through the practice of medicine and dentistry
COLORING BETWEEN
THE LINES
One of the high privileges in being 61 yrs old is being a grandfather. We now have eleven grandchildren. Julian, our newly adopted 4 year old grandson, wanted to sit on my lap during Sunday morning worship. He had with him a coloring book, which he was vigorously coloring. He was focused on his task and with the completion of each page he would tear it out and move on to the next. I thought I would add to his sense of accomplishment by modeling how he could keep the color of the Crayons in the lines of each part of the image. Somehow he did not get the message. He pressed dutifully on, tearing out each page as he colored his way through the book, leaving behind a splash of color on each page. I continued to enjoy his presence, but turned my attention to the pastor's message, allowing Julian to complete his task. As we came to the end of the service, Julian proudly collected his colored pictures. It felt good to be a grandfather, knowing that I was with someone I loved and that little Julian loved me as well. And yes, he had completed his task for that one hour in his life, and I was satisfied. Someday he will learn how to color between the lines.
Then a thought came to mind, what does God think of how I have colored my life? Twenty years as a missionary, ten years providing care for the underserved in our cities, and now practicing as a hospitalist in Tucson – all the while trying to be a father and now a grandfather. I would like to think that I have done my best in each phase of my life. I would like to think that I have been effective in both my personal and professional life. But I know in my heart of hearts that I often come up short. I wonder what my Heavenly Father thinks of my efforts. I picture myself in the Lord's arms as he directs me to keep my colors within the lines. Then as he sees my determination to color each page my way, he releases me to pursue the task at hand. At the end of the day, I sense that the Lord is pleased with my efforts, and I am more confident than ever God does indeed love me.
I tend to be an idealist and I have set high standards for myself. Over the years I have had to give up pursuing perfection and turn away from judging the efforts of others. So for me to allow Julian to color his book as he wished was a big accomplishment for me. It is great to be a grandfather. What joy when 11 eager faces in their own way look up to me and cry "Papa." What peace is ours when we look in the eyes of our Lord and simply breathe a prayer saying, "Father."
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as president of the Fellowship. This is my second opportunity to serve the church in this capacity. I thought that being out here in the west (as you may know we moved to Arizona in 2004) would put us out of the saddle. But your board of directors has thought otherwise. So here I am, hoping that I will be able to do a good job coloring between the lines. At least I know that my Heavenly Father will be pleased with my efforts. The board is committed to pray for FMMF every Sunday morning. Would you join us in this prayer?
Tim Kratzer, Editor of TAB-prn and President of FMMF, <timothykratzer@hotmail.com>.