The 15th North American General Conference of The Wesleyan Church officially kicked off May 17, 2026, with a multilingual evening worship service in the Chapel Auditorium on the beautiful Indiana Wesleyan University campus in Marion, Indiana.
With voices from across the global Wesleyan family, the service reminded delegates from our 22 districts in Canada and the United States of their shared calling: to carry the gospel to all nations and every tribe.
As delegates prepare for the business of the church this week, Reverend David Whyte, district superintendent of the Wesleyan Holiness Church of the United Kingdom framed the evening with a prayer that every part of the conference would rise as a “pleasant and sweet aroma” as the church is empowered by the Holy Spirit for the work he is calling us to do.
Reverend Amos Anteg, General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church of the Philippines, and chair of the International Board, prayed in Filipino for “empowerment, not just to be powerful.” And Reverend Dr. Joel Cumberbatch, General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Holiness Conference of the Caribbean, read from Ezra 3 on the rebuilding of the altar of God.
The evening’s keynote message came from Reverend Steve DeNeff of College Wesleyan Church in the Crossroads District, who contended that the altar is what made the temple of God sacred.
“It is the altar that will build the church,” he said.
DeNeff challenged the listeners to examine what they trust, celebrate and turn to under pressure. “That’s your altar,” said DeNeff. “The further something moves from the altar, from his presence, the more profane it becomes.”
“But there is a generation coming that is looking for something more. Something higher,” shared DeNeff. “The temple they will build will not be like the one they left. The one they left was attractional …” This next generation wants to follow the one they cannot figure out, who is unpredictable and always unnerving. Never safe. “They crave this,” said DeNeff.
The church that this next generation is building will turn laity into priests and prophets and will release them across their cities. “The church they are building will rise from the altar. They will intercede for the city.”
Before concluding with communion, DeNeff ended his message by saying changes are coming faster than we think. “I call on the church to get out of its own way. I’m calling you to come with me to the altar.”
Jennifer Jones is a World Hope International Marketing and Communications team member, journalist and pastor’s wife serving as the North Carolina East District administrator of The Wesleyan Church.
