by Chris Ritter

Having run in Charismatic circles since my teen years, I am aware of pockets of Christians that use the “R word” so loosely as to commodify it. Revival has, at times, been used to hype gatherings marketed to those who value “feeling” as a primary authenticator of faith. A person may be so enamored with the history of revivals that they try to talk it into existence. I say this as a realist, not a skeptic.

The mark of true revival is heart change that leads to empowered and faithful Christian living. John Wesley quoted Romans 5:5 to describe Aldersgate and subsequent examples of the Spirit’s reviving work, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Repentance is the true calling card of the Holy Spirit. The fire of holy love being lit among God’s people is the aim. With this definition in mind, I can report that revival is visiting the convening General Conference of the Global Methodist Church.

Sunday worship was marked by a surprising work of God. It seems cliche to say that altars were flooded and we didn’t want to leave. Those things are true. But what I sensed was a type of washing by the Spirit. As Tesia Mallory pointed out, it was sacramental. Before communion, Bishop Jones brought a word on joy. He also called Global Methodists to repentance over our part of the unworthy things said and done during the conflicted season of disaffiliation. Mark Swayze may have been the first person to name that God was visiting us with something special. By that time we all knew it. We were collectively being realigned, reclaimed.

Sterling Allen, the Worship Director for the General Conference, wrote a widely-shared reflection on the day that I encourage you to read. I assume a recording of the full worship service will be available soon.

Revival, of course, will be known by its fruit. But the take-away for me was that the General Conference of the Global Methodist Church moved together in God’s Spirit and was moved, together, by that same Spirit. This is incredibly good news for those of us who have been laboring on this project. Solomon can build a temple, but only God can fill it with His glory. This also bodes well for the remainder of our conference. A church whose eyes leak will not suffer from swollen heads. Methodism is a heart movement. We were Methodists today. Thanks be to God.

By the way, the Episcopacy and Superintendency Committee completed its work. Our chair, Jordan McFall, brought a preliminary report to the plenary body on the direction we are headed. We recommend a General Superintendency. Part-time bishops serving a two-year term are to be elected and serve through the next General Conference when regular elections will be held. The full legislative work of the committee should be released very soon.

Beth Ann Cook shared that the 2026 General Conference is being planned for a country in Central Africa soon to be named.