My wife Joanie and I went at the end of April to Montgomery, Alabama for two reasons. First, I was invited to be interviewed for a documentary about the powerful ministry of my friend John Ed Mathison and how it has influenced my ministry. Second, we attended the Go Global Conference conducted by the Wesley Covenant Association held at Frazer UMC in Montgomery, Alabama. It was like a homecoming for me. I saw friends from Asbury, MTS, United, Perkins, ORU, Candler, St. Paul, Boston, Duke, and Gordan Conwell. You could not sling a dead cat without hitting seminary professors, deans, and presidents of various schools. We had female and male clergy and a diverse, global representation. It felt like Methodism and I was right at home.
Some of my favorite presenters were John Ed Mathison, Timothy Tennent, David Watson, Carolyn Moore, Kyrsti Gauld, Eric Huffman, and Jae Duk Lew. Arkansas was well represented and proud when our very own Elizabeth Fink from Springdale was elected as the new secretary of the Wesley Covenant Association. The President of Asbury challenged us to begin with a new goal of starting 10,000 churches and converting one million people to the Christian faith. A highlight of the trip was hearing one of my first students at Memphis Theological Seminary, Dr. Chris Montgomery, preach at Frazer UMC, where he serves as pastor.
I loved my time at MTS as a student in both the Master’s & Doctoral programs. .I continue to believe that the interdenominational nature of MTS is a strength for the seminary. MTS professors encourage students to look at all issues from both sides of the fence.
I also taught “Evangelism in the Southern Fried Church” at MTS for seven semesters. The class was popular with UMC and non-UMC students alike. The Windgate Foundation provided resources when I was at MTS to bring in great leaders to speak to my class. They also provided resources for me to travel and preach in every county of Arkansas.
Joanie and I are blessed today to live in our hometown of El Dorado, Arkansas, where I serve as Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church. We ran away for 42 years serving all over Arkansas. We are proud to be the home of Murphy USA and the El Dorado Promise. We are members of the Arkansas Conference of Wesleyans, Wesleyan Covenant Association, and I serve on the Board of the National Confessing Movement. If you would like to have dialogue about WCA, The Confessing Movement, the possibilities of the Global Methodist Church or any questions or concerns you are invited to contact me at david.bush@arumc.org
God is Good – All the Time!
Rev. David W. Bush