As the North Carolina Conference of the Global Methodist Church, our mission is to make the life of discipleship normative through worship, word, and witness, so that we make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.
Worship, Word, Witness: it’s all happening at the 2026 Global Methodist Church General Conference, The Beauty of Holiness in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In the beauty of holiness, there is:
Joyful singing and dancing until you’re out of breath
Greetings and gatherings that make you know you’re with family
Hugs that feel like the embrace of the Holy One
So much smiling your cheeks hurt
Praises to God Almighty from every nation
Fervent prayer, in at least ten languages represented by the Global Methodists
Worship as heaven has come to earth
The word of God is proclaimed with power and conviction
The witness of the Kingdom of God has gone out to the streets
In my morning devotionals this week, I wrapped up a study in Ephesians. The last line of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians says this:
“Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 6:24 (CSB).
Everywhere I look in the conference center, I see people who are filled with the grace of Jesus Christ. The smiles, the echoes of laughter, the quiet help to a brother or sister in need. Grace received and poured out again. That is the feel of the General Conference of the Global Methodist Church.
The display of the undying love for our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of the personal struggles of travel for some over 8,000 miles, and learning to use translation systems, and lack of sleep, there is joy, there is peace, there is the sharing of the love received from Christ and the love poured out for Jesus.
Bishop Levingston reminded us we are not holy, but only God is holy. Yet, His mercies are new every morning and there for us. Bishop Jones gave accolades to our new and growing movement. Yet, he offered words of concern. We must be mission focused and set on evangelism and church planting. Our bishops have shown us the fruit of undying love for the Lord.
Rev. Portia Kyzanga gave a message on encountering God. Moses was called to take off his shoes and stand on holy ground before the burning bush. God calls us to intimate love and intimate relationship with Him. He makes the ordinary dirt ground holy and calls us into His holiness all the same. He chooses the ordinary, outside the system and structures, for He is not imprisoned by these. He chooses the ordinary, not the polished leaders but barefoot leaders, humble, dependent on God and not their own strength. The ones who take off their shoes and feel the dirt that is made holy by a holy God doing things out of the ordinary because God has made it a holy encounterThe call to holiness is a call to undying love received from God and poured out to the nations…
In the music that lifts the name of Jesus so the world will know
In the plenary work, even in the amendments to the amendment because words matter in a global context
In a VBS for over 700 children who had never experienced it
In the sharing of the Gospel message across the races of people
Building the kingdom where there are those for whom Jesus died
Yet, they don’t know, until we are willing with undying love for Jesus to go where they are
In His love, He died to save us.
Should our salvation compel us to respond with humble repentance?
On the cross, He died to free us.
Should our broken shackles cause us to respond with undying love?
From the grave, He rose to defeat death and hell.
Should this message challenge us to pull another out of their hell with the gospel?
YES! From His undying love stretching from everlasting to everlasting, morning by morning, day by day, eternally He calls us to come to Him. Because of grace, freely poured out we have experienced the undying love of the Savior. It is a transformational message, if we receive and believe. It is a message, a real love that a disciple of Jesus Christ really lives in. We are called to live in that undying love.
I see and experience that undying love this week not just with our own brothers and sisters from the North Carolina Conference in America, but with Ugandans, Slovakians, Congolese. From Kenya to Thailand, to the Philippians, India, Malawi, Russia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and more. There is undying, heartfelt, sincere love of Jesus poured out on one another in just the few days we’ve been here.
How do we live in the undying love of Jesus? We keep growing as disciples. Worship draws us to Him. His word takes us deep into holy living. Sharing a witness of His greatness spreads the message that the world needs to hear.
The undying love of Christ shed abroad in us
doesn’t complain of the sacrifice, but goes in peace
doesn’t mind the dirt but feels God’s holiness through the soles of their feet
doesn’t regard inconvenience, but sees possibilities
doesn’t demand our own way, but follows in His footsteps
is humble
is dependent on God
is thankful for His deliverance of our souls
And, these are just a few of the insights on this second day of General Conference. The beauty of holiness is living everyday in His grace and pouring out the undying love of Christ everywhere we go.
I have to say though, it is a taste of heaven when people from all over the globe are sharing in this life with you. Thanks be to God. Remember the mission and live in it.
Worship the Lord.
Study the word.
Be a witness of the gospel.
Make Disciples.
Spread scriptural holiness.
This is our calling. This is our mission.
Rev. Kari Howard