Global Methodist Church Welcomes Nehemiah Journey as Official Ministry

By Dianne Burnett

Under the guidance of Rev. Dr. Scott Pattison, President Pro Tempore of the Great Lakes Provisional Conference, and Rev. Jill Jackson-Sears, senior pastor of First Global Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, the Nehemiah Journey proudly announces its transition to an official ministry within the Global Methodist Church.

“Three years ago, the Nehemiah Journey embarked under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory and the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s Revitalization Task Force to breathe new life into local churches by offering support and empowerment through prayer to our pastors and their congregations,” stated Rev. Jill Jackson-Sears. “We are excited to continue to offer the community through the Global Methodist Church as a safe haven for participants to share their hopes, fears, and current obstacles.”

Throughout its evolution, the Nehemiah Journey has undergone significant changes to cater to the needs of today’s church leaders for the forthcoming 2024-2025 session.

“The new format will address relevant topics such as challenges posed by the pandemic, denominational discourse, and the courageous decisions that many made by aligning with the Global Methodist Church, “stated Rev. Dr. Scott Pattison. “We find strength in community, guidance in prayer, and vision in faith and by embracing this transformative journey we empower pastors and congregations to thrive in the new seasons of Christ-centered ministry.”

Guided by Dr. Sam Rainer’s “Three Knows” framework—know yourself, know your church, and know your community—the journey employs assessment tools developed in collaboration with Dr. Rainer and Church Answers, to aid participants in understanding their congregation’s new lifecycles and facilitate a visioning process. Participants will also be part of regular bi-monthly clergy gatherings aimed to equip pastors to lead their churches with a specific focus each month while nurturing strategic prayer within each congregation.

The upcoming season of the Nehemiah Journey kicks-off on September 4, 2024, and interested parties can contact [email protected] for additional information and the application link. Applications must be submitted by August 1.

Dianne Burnett is the Global Methodist Church’s Executive Director of Communications.