A Message About the Gathering

Dear Friends,

As the next General Conference approaches, we as United Methodists are enduring difficult times. Acts of disobedience by rebel pastors have caused much pain and anguish for those of us who are seeking to be faithful to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Moreover, the recent tragedy in Colorado and the ongoing conflict in Yugoslavia are clear signs that the judgment of God has come not only upon United Methodism but upon our entire nation as well. At both the church and national levels, we have made politics our priority and have pursued political solutions to our many problems. But we have learned the hard way that you cannot legislate a revival.

I believe God is calling his people to radically alter their priorities and return to him in humble repentance and prayer. Rather than pursuing our own agendas and writing our own prescriptions for revival, it is high time we heeded once again God's own, proven prescription for revival:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

It is time for the people called Methodists to come together, humble themselves before God, seek his face, repent of their sins and implore God for mercy and healing. In obedience to the call God has placed upon my heart, I invite you to join with United Methodists nationwide for a 24-hour PRAYER SUMMIT, Friday and Saturday, August 27-28 from noon til noon at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, Georgia. This will be a time of spiritual renewal and refreshment, an opportunity for us as one people to earnestly seek God and ask for an awakening of his Spirit within us, within our denomination, and throughout our nation.

To register, please visit the Prayer Summit web site at http://ucmpage.org/prayer. You will then receive information via snail mail concerning overnight accommodations at Epworth.

I hope you will make every effort to attend this important gathering.

Yours in Christ,

James A. Gibson III, Pastor
Marshallville UMC