Networks Expand Opportunities for Collaboration, Effective Ministry
by Helen Kaufmann

Three of the recently organized Free Methodist networks took advantage of General Conference 2003 in Seattle, WA, to hold planning sessions. The networks exemplify the new forms that ministries are taking as rapid communication becomes the norm.

These networks enable busy leaders to share ministry ideas, encourage one another, and plan for expansion and development. Four of the nine leadership networks currently identified have their own Web sites: African-American Network, Native American Network, National Student Ministries and Free Methodist Urban Ministries.

Governing Board, Hispanic Network

The Hispanic Leaders Network has met several times. Its goals, according to Secretary Joel Guzman, are "to connect, to network and to support each other." To this end, the network has divided the country into Southeast, Central, West and Northeast areas with a Hispanic leader in charge of each. They will promote ministry through yearly workshops, training and retreats. According to Guzman, all will be encouraged to attend the Pastors' Institute at Central Christian College in March, where the speaker will be Roger Wolcott, Asbury College graduate and United Methodist missionary to Mexico. He has developed a network of 89 congregations throughout Mexico (with more than 16,000 participants).

A particular challenge for the Hispanic Network is to assist conferences in finding pastors for new Hispanic church plants. Ironically, the number of pastoral candidates exceeds the number of funded places to send them. The intention is to identify "home-grown" pastors within the ranks rather than recruit pastors from other countries.

To implement its plans, the Hispanic Network elected Gonzalo Cruz, Tampa, FL, as president; Gullermo Flores, Los Angeles, CA, vice president; Joel Guzman, New York, secretary; and Juan Cordova, Waukegan, IL, treasurer. Others on the board include Hector Siqueiros, Tucson, AZ; Hector Fernandez, Passaic, NJ; and Josué Fajardo, Tampa, FL.

Al Poteat (foreground) and Bruce Renfroe listen to a speaker during the African-American Networks GC 2003 meeting

The African-American Network also met at General Conference with a dozen pastors attending. The group assists African-American pastors in small struggling churches while at the same time identifying and training African-American church planters to start new ministries. An important component of the vision is building relationships with Christian universities and colleges in order to make the FMC's presence known to upcoming ministers.

Al Poteat, Oklahoma City, OK, is director, with Bill Mulwee, Detroit, MI, serving as assistant director, and Euline Jackson, Ironia, NJ, as administrative assistant and financial secretary. Ron Ward, Mesquite, TX, is public relations officer. Bruce Renfroe, Wheaton, IL, and Anthony Headley, Asbury Seminary, complete the leadership team.

Free Methodist Urban Ministries meeting

The Free Methodist Urban Ministries (FMUM) Network has existed the longest, dating back to 1974 and formerly known as Free Methodist Urban Fellowship. Approximately 35 FMUM members and friends met twice during General Conference to make plans for future ministry. With former FMUM president Kenny Martin presiding, the group agreed to review the network's purpose and vision. A weekend conference was scheduled for March 2004 in St. Louis to elect new officers and evaluate and re-envision the network's direction and goals. Further discussion focused on the need for leadership training and the multiplication of urban churches.

Anna Schoenhals describes Hope Central

FMUM also took advantage of the time at General Conference, to sponsor an urban ministry tour of several Seattle sites where homeless people and others struggling to meet basic needs are being served. One stop on the tour was Hope Central, a Free Methodist program serving children and families in inner-city Seattle. Hope Central is directed by Anna Schoenhals under the umbrella of Northwest Urban Ministries.

Not surprisingly, there is considerable overlap and cooperation among the networks. Hispanic and African-American networks have planned a joint meeting, and African-American Network Director Poteat (also active in FMUM) stresses that the networks enhance each other's ministries and need to work together to "tie into the bishops' vision, provide leadership training and multiply churches. In the future," he says, " we may have less of a need for ethnic networks and a greater need for an urban network of all FM leaders strategizing and reaching the cities for Christ as one!"