Hey! Give Me a Minute or in this case Two.
A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it is to be God.
– Sidney Sheldon-
If one takes the time to read the history of the Lumber River Conference of the Holiness Methodist Church (LRCHMC and for the purpose of this writing the Conference) there is a wealth of knowledge to garnered from its simple pages. From its inception care was taken to ensure that a recorded history of the Conference was maintained. The actions that have been carried out over a 115 year period have been kept first by putting pen to paper then by the wonderful mechanics of the typewriter and word processors then to the computer and now through the marvels of the internet the entire world has access to that storied history, one can examine its dedicated years of service to God and Country, the long held Doctrines and Discipline of the conference can be freely accessed by one and all, but what one will not find is a Vision or a message about the future of the Conference.
The past of the Conference is indeed remarkable having been established in 1900 as the only free standing Native American Methodist Conference it succeeded in leading the members of its congregations through World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq (twice) and Afghanistan plus other skirmishes along the way. It has helped its members to survive the “Great Depression” and been a solace for those suffering from depression. It has often given Hope to the “hopeless”, it has always been counted on to provide Help for the “helpless”. It has been the place where some of the great joys of life have been celebrated, our soldiers returning home from battle, marriage, birth of children and the worship of Jesus. It has been the place where some of the greatest tragedies of life have been overcome addictions, death and disease.
The churches of the Conference have assisted its members through the advent of flight by the Wright brothers through the space modules, the landing of man on the moon to the space shuttle to the modern day era of unmanned drones. In its history the Conference has witnessed its membership go from mule and wagons of necessity to having them for nostalgia’s sake. It has seen many fads come and go the hoolla-hoop, marbles, the Frisbee and the Rubics cube. Hair styles have come and gone the rat tail, the mullet and mohawk to name a few. Can anyone recall bell-bottoms, hip-huggers or the mini-skirt? Many kings have come and gone the king of rock (Elvis), the king of pop (Michael Jackson) and a few dukes (John Wayne and Ellington), as well as, a few princesses (Diana and Grace Kelly). All of this and more is easy for the average writer to pen. But what is not so easy is to pen down by faith what the great work of the Conference will be tomorrow. Not just simply the day after today but the tomorrow of a year from now, perhaps three, five or even ten years from now. What will some great student and admirer of history one-hundred years from now to be able to say about this present day Conference? Be certain they will say something if it is only nothing.
Time’s up.
HGMAM 1021
