Scripture: “ Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 (NIV) Devotional Thought: Life doesn’t always make sense. It’s not always fair. Hard things happen—sometimes in waves that threaten to pull us under. I know this truth deeply and personally. In just four years, I lost all four of my grandparents. My first husband abandoned me and our daughter. I endured two miscarriages, battled ovarian cancer, and underwent surgery. At age 31, I lost my second husband suddenly to a heart attack. These losses cut deep. I entered a season of addiction—dark, consuming, and isolating. And yet—God. Fourteen years ago, I had an encounter with the living God. In that sacred moment, I met Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. That encounter changed everything. Fourteen years later, I am still in recovery, still walking in grace, still held together by the One who promised never to leave me or forsake me. His Word became my anchor. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) Even when doctors discovered three blood clots in the language center of my brain, God was with me. I made a full recovery. In the valleys and the victories, I have experienced His faithfulness. I’ve learned to love even when betrayed. I’ve grieved deeply, most recently losing my mother suddenly. Grief and I have walked together for many years. Yet, the wounds God healed in earlier seasons have helped me walk through new pain with hope, not despair. One thing I know for sure: bad things happen in this world. We don’t get to choose when or how. We do, however, get to choose how we respond. There are hurting people all around us—not just across the world, but right down the street. We can choose to step out of our comfort zones, meet people where they are, and be vessels of compassion and encouragement. Focusing only on the chaos of the world drains our energy and shifts our focus from what God is calling us to do right here, right now. You may not be able to control the world, but you can control your response. You can choose love. You can choose grace. You can choose to draw near to God—and He will draw near to you. Reflection Questions: Where in your life have you seen God remain faithful, even in pain? Are you focusing on things you can’t control, or are you letting God use you where you are? Who in your community might need encouragement today? Prayer: Lord, thank You for never leaving me, even when I felt abandoned or broken. Help me to keep my eyes on You, not on the chaos around me. Teach me to be an encourager, a light, and a vessel of Your love to those around me. May my story, my scars, and my healing all bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The early days of any new movement comes with questions about the sort of DNA that will form the culture of that organization. There may be many aspects of that formation outlined on paper: guidelines, beliefs, mission, vision, and more. But beyond what’s on paper there are unspoken cultural realities. Every organization has organically formed DNA, and sometimes that organic DNA has more culture-shaping power than any aspirational language that may have been formally adopted. In my travels around the country working with GMC congregations and annual conferences I am beginning to have a sense of this DNA taking shape, and it fills me with tremendous hope. In particular, if my recent experience at the 2:42 Conference is any indication of the spiritual DNA that is forming the future of the Global Methodist Church, then I can confidently say I’ve never been more excited about where we are headed. The 2:42 Conference is a gathering of young leaders in our denomination, as well as seminary students and those exploring a call to ministry. The idea was initiated by our bishops last year when they pulled together a planning team of young-ish leaders from around the country. We recently completed our second annual gathering in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. From April 7-9, 2025 young leaders gathered for worship, prayer, teaching, and intentional time to build new relationships. The conference is named after Acts 2:42, a summary statement of the DNA that was forming in the early church after Pentecost. The vision for this conference was to create a space where young leaders could lean into this simple, yet powerful vision for church life, and get connected with one another to discover the real support and community that’s needed in order to live out a lifelong call to ministry. This year 2:42 main session speakers included Emma Winchester, myself, Dr. David Watson, and Dr. Luther Oconer. These speakers covered topics like holiness and prayer, pastoral calling, the uniqueness of Methodism, and Spirit-filled life and ministry. A final session also included a panel of pastors discussing the realities of navigating local church ministry. This panel included pastors representing different stages and types of ministry ranging from a church planter to a large multi-campus church pastor. (Videos from the 2:42 main sessions are now available here.) In addition to main sessions, attendees participated in breakout sessions on topics like Next Gen Ministry and Pastoral Leadership. A Q&A session on navigating ordination and education requirements was also provided, as well as a panel discussion with all the Bishops who were present for the conference. Beyond the teaching sessions, the three-day event was filled with lots of prayer and worship. Attendees lingered in times of singing and reflection, simply enjoying God’s presence together. Other times were filled with passionate intercession for the church, for the lost, or for each other. At several points throughout the gathering the altars were filled with young leaders on their knees, crying out to God. I overheard many testimonies of God clarifying calling, answering prayer, bringing healing, and so much more! Plenty of intentional time for connection was provided. Each day participants broke into small groups to reflect on how God was moving and to get to know each other on a deeper level. God did so many incredible things in our time together, but here are a few aspects that I found quite encouraging about the whole experience: Young leaders in the GMC are incredibly passionate and committed to the church. I experienced a group of people who are not jaded about past hurts. They are not bemoaning the recent decades of church decline. Their eyes are fixed on Christ and they see great hope bubbling up among their peers. I found the passion and enthusiasm for the future to be contagious. I witnessed a denomination that is committed to being intergenerational. The 2:42 Conference is not about glorifying youth. There was a beautiful balance between hearing the hearts and vision of young people, while still recognizing the importance of seasoned leaders and mentors. There have been times in the church where the young were either platformed too quickly as a way to try and prop up declining institutions, or ignored for too long because they had not “paid their dues.” What I see forming in the GMC is a culture where the voice and gifts of all generations are being valued and shared for the good of the whole. The 2:42 Conference also demonstrates the denomination’s investment in the future of this movement. It was quite beautiful to see 5 out of our 8 bishops make the practical commitments necessary to be present throughout this time. In fact, the only ones who could not make it were not there for unavoidable reasons, like they happened to be on another continent! The very act of offering this type of event is a sign that the GMC wants to build a movement that will continue for generations to come. Finally, I want to say that the spiritual hunger and DNA of our young leaders that I witnessed can teach us all something about what God is doing in the church right now. Emma Winchester, a 22 year old emerging GMC leader who was one of the 2:42 keynote speakers, recently wrote about this in a compelling way in Firebrand Magazine . I would encourage you to read her perspective. What I witnessed myself echoes her sentiments. Our youngest leaders are hungry for a church that abandons performance, gimmicks, and half-hearted discipleship. What I see in our younger generations is a deep desire to give their lives to something costly. They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They have no time for cheap grace, surface-level church programming, or luke-warm leadership. They desire authenticity, simplicity, and leaders who are all-in. It’s appropriate that this conference was given the 242 title, because it’s that kind of back-to-the-basics kind of Christianity that I see these young leaders pursuing. Coming away from the 2:42 Conference I can definitively say that the future of this movement is bright! Together, across generations, we are forming a renewed and Spirit-filled Methodist culture that is both new and old at the same time. In many ways, 2:42 felt like a fresh discovery of ancient paths. There is a growing zeal for the “doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which we first set out.” The DNA that gave birth to Wesleyan revival in the mid-1700s is becoming new again. For that, I can only say that I am so grateful and I pray for this to continue multiplying! Our young GMC leaders are carrying something that is crucial for the future of our church. What I experienced at 2:42 contains the seeds for the sort of dynamic movement that will allow us to truly become a body which is fully embracing our calling to “make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe.” Matt Reynolds is the President and Founder of Spirit & Truth , an equipping and renewal ministry in the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition that is working with GMC congregations and annual conferences around the world. He led the planning team that implemented the 2:42 Conference this year.