July 2006 Report

Anathoth is the headquarters of Africa Upper Room Ministries. On five acres of land near Johannesburg, South Africa, it takes its name from the Jeremiah passage in which land at Anathoth is purchased as a sign of hope for the future. Anathoth is, for Upper Room Ministries, a sign of hope for the future of Africa. This newsletter from staff-person Roland Rink brings news from this important ministry.

"THE GLOBAL FAMILY OF WESLEY"

Greetings to all of you from Johannesburg. We had the privilege of attending the World Methodist Council meeting in Seoul, South Korea during July. (See pictures on the Upper Room website). During that time I was again reminded of the words from Zechariah 2:11 -- "Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst." One can only speculate as to what John and Charles Wesley would have thought about the global gathering of the family called Methodist. Like all families, one had the distinct sense that our lives are elaborately and inescapably linked. There is a common web linking us that is at the same time both extremely fragile and yet unbelievably strong.

Our objective in Seoul as Africa Upper Room Ministries was to strengthen the links we have established with African Wesleyans as well as to discover new strands of the family in other African countries. Mysteriously, in Jesus Christ, we're all united at these global events. We are able to transcend language, cultural and other barriers. We become aware of, are reminded of, and participate as part of a global family in celebration of what God has done for us. It's good for each of us to remember that we are part of the global Christian family tree. The Methodist Church of Korea, in the best Methodist tradition, provided wonderful musical offerings for the entire event. Choirs, soloists, symphony orchestras, a cappella singing groups, young and old alike, each performed with passion and skill.

The Korean Methodist Church is a fast growing segment of the family. After 120 years, the KMC consists of 5,692 churches serving 1.5 million Methodists who are served by 8,415 pastors. The KMC has 701 missionaries in 71 countries on all six continents. They have embarked upon a program entitled "The Three Million Believers Movement," bringing 3 million people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. All of which is evidence of the amazing power of the Holy Spirit, and the energy and vitality of the people called Methodist!

We made new friends in Africa by meeting informally with folk from the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME); the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME); the Methodist Church of Ghana; the Methodist Church of Kenya; the Methodist Church of Nigeria; and the Church of Egypt.

We sponsored and provided a special edition of The Upper Room daily devotional guide for the event. This edition in eight different languages was very well received by all the people. It was fitting that our global Upper Room daily devotional guide should be the printed devotional resource at this global event. Each day's devotion was written by one of the World Methodist Council members and followed the conference theme "God in Christ Reconciling." The theme, given the events in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and North Korea (to name a few) was entirely appropriate. Only through Christ will this world ever achieve lasting peace and be reconciled.

Much closer to home, we were delighted to host the Stotler family at Anathoth on the 10th July. Our discussions with Elliott and Catherine about future projects at the property were again a source of much excitement and encouragement.

By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in service to the entire world.

We go forward as the family of Jesus Christ,
Roland Rink