Storm The Gates

Teaching Outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VWc8ESQ9j8P2BKAS3RnCE_bZ_87oWGEs/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104137624006892725169&rtpof=true&sd=true

There are many beautiful callings God is giving His sons and daughters. They don't all look the same but they are all for the same purpose: to give God glory and make disciples of Jesus Christ. Do local churches have a large enough imagination to help steward men and women with these callings well? Until Jesus comes again in glory, He will not stop calling pastors of local churches to serve the Kingdom of God. He's also calling teachers, lawyers, mechanics, custodians, etc., to serve His Kingdom. Brandon Shook from Fusion USA helps us grapple with this subject today. Fusion is a ministry that believes the local church is called to make disciples of every generation, and every generation needs to be part of the family of the local church. There are over 18 million college students in the US. It’s time to invite them to find hope in Jesus and home in the local church.Brandon serves as the Director of Partners & Development for Fusion USA. He's also a Board Member and the Men's Retreat Director for Revive Texas (revivetexas.org). Brandon Shook lives in Houston, Texas with his family and has decades of youth and young adult ministry experience. “Shook” helps churches and organizations find their place of partnership with Fusion and he loves meeting new people!brandon@fusionusa.orgfusionusa.org

Leah Hattie Gregory, a serving bishop with Wesleyan perspectives on grace and means of grace, and Mike Lowry, Bishop Emeritus and longtime Methodist teacher, explore sin in theological and pastoral terms. They discuss definitions and scope of sin. They trace original sin, critique modern heresies, survey atonement images, and outline repentance, renunciation, and means of grace like worship and sacraments.

Behold a young pastor serving the good people of Kosse, Texas on fire to glorify God and love His people well. Prepare to be inspired, moved, encouraged, convicted, and much more. We praise God for young men like Collin and their total surrender to the Lord. We have much to learn from pastors like him. Pastor Collin Kinney serves as the Pastor of Kosse Methodist Church. He is originally from Katy Texas, where he attended Cinco Ranch High School and graduated in the year 2020. He then attended Blinn Community College in Bryan, Texas for two years. Originally the plan was to transfer to Texas A&M until the Lord brought to fruition the pastoral calling on his life. Instead of attending A&M, Collin felt led to start his seminary journey online; a journey that has now led him to take his first appointment in the Global Methodist Church.

Mike Lowry, Bishop Emeritus offering historical and pastoral perspective on Methodist sacramental theology. Leah Hattie Gregory, Bishop and Wesleyan teacher focused on prevenient grace and liturgy. They unpack baptism and communion as God’s means of grace. They debate infant baptism, the role of water and signs, open table practice, frequency of communion, and restoring ordinary elements in worship.

Rev. Clark Atkins, senior pastor and Global Methodist Church leader, shares stories from church planting to conference formation. He talks about rapid global growth, the process of creating emerging conferences, cultural adaptations like oral ordination, and the logistical challenges of vetting and equipping leaders across continents.

Bishop Leah Hitty Gregory, a serving Global Methodist bishop who shares pastoral reflections, and Bishop Mike Lowry, Bishop Emeritus and seasoned doctrinal teacher, discuss core Christian teachings. They explore Scripture as living and written Word, the canon’s role for faithful belief, means of grace like prayer and sacraments, and keeping Christ central in interpretation. Personal stories about treasured Bibles add warmth.

Rev. Dr. Kelly McQuig, lead pastor and author of Good Guilt who holds a Doctor of Ministry, explores repentance as a continual, freeing spiritual practice. He contrasts shame and guilt. He traces repentance’s role in revival, explains confession before communion, and offers practical ways churches and leaders can restore regular confession and renewal.

Bishops Mike Lowry, Bishop Emeritus known for pastoral teaching, and Leah Hitty Gregory, a Global Methodist bishop with pastoral and theological insight, discuss Christian future hope. They explore why hope matters, why predicting dates is wrong, how hope shapes faithful living and mission, pastoral care around death and grief, and the renewal of creation—including playful thoughts about animals.

The Wesleyan/Methodist movement represents a vital theological tradition that needs more exceptional theologians who are committed to teach the faith! This is at the heart of the conversation today with Dr. David Watson, President of Asbury Theological Seminary. Dr. Watson came to Asbury Seminary from faculty and administrative roles at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He served as United’s Senior Vice President, as well as Professor of New Testament, Academic Dean, and Vice President for Academic Affairs.During his years at United, his leadership was instrumental in revitalizing the Seminary, strengthening its theological commitments, expanding its global reach, and increasing student enrollment. He demonstrated exceptional leadership in theological education, faculty development, strategic planning, and institutional growth. He oversaw the development of a new Master of Arts degree, the Hispanic Christian Academy, and early advancements in online theological education.Dr. Watson has built meaningful partnerships across denominations and continents, working with Christian leaders in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. His passion for equipping Spirit-filled leaders extends beyond the classroom and into real-world ministry, where he has actively engaged in church renewal, mission work, and theological discourse on a global scale. His global perspective aligns with Asbury Seminary’s vision to serve the worldwide Church.In other aspects of his professional life, Dr. Watson is Lead Editor of “Firebrand”, an online magazine “intended to promote theological reflection in various related traditions, including Methodist, Arminian, Holiness, Pentecostal, and others.” He also writes a Substack and serves as one of the hosts of the "It's Elementary" and "WesWorld" podcasts. Dr. Watson has been published extensively in Christian journals and magazines and has contributed numerous chapters in books and commentaries. His latest book is “Scripture and the Life of God: Why the Bible Matters Today More than Ever” (Seedbed, 2017).Dr. Watson and his wife, Harriet, have three children: Luke, Sean, and Ciara.Links for Dr. Watson's work:Podcasts: https://asburyseminary.edu/about/office-of-the-president/podcastsSubstack: https://davidfwatson3.substack.comFirebrand: https://firebrandmag.com