"Permission Granted"
As a college student, I spent my summers as a camp counselor at several church camps in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Each day we offered several “workshops” for the youth to chose from. Our campus minister gave us wide latitude in creating our own workshops based on our gifts, interests, and creative ideas, which was truly an exhilarating experience for me at the time. I created workshops to teach juggling, clowning, songwriting, photography, and other skills, and I even began a lawn chair drill team that one year performed a 15-minute ballet! In every case I was no “expert” on the topic, but I approached the workshops with passion precisely because I had been given permission to “do ministry” with youth in these creative ways.
Through the Journeys process, Collegiate/Wesley says to you, “Permission granted.” Permission granted to step out boldly in faith. Permission granted to create a new ministry. Permission granted to say “Yes” to God and to follow your sense of calling. Permission granted even to say ‘no’ to something you’ve done for years but to which you no longer feel called. And, of course, permission granted to join with others as you carry out your ministry.
As United Methodists and as a church, we’ve been given permission to carry out one primary task: to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of lives and for the transformation of the world. (See Luke 10:1-11,16 and Matthew 25:16-20, for example.) Our various ministry teams, clusters, administrative groups, and staff members are the “tools” that help to structure and coordinate our shared ministry, but each of us must step forward and do our part in helping to bring about God’s kin-dom on Earth.
I hope you’ll browse this catalog and indicate your commitments in a way that is prayerfully attuned to God’s spirit. Be mindful of your gifts, and be responsive to the needs of the church and world that tug at your heart. Finally, be encouraged by the fact you have permission to be more than just a “volunteer” at Collegiate/Wesley...you’re one who journeys with Jesus on the road called discipleship.
Tim Gossett, Director of Discipleship
