The room was packed with 150 participants at the “Faithful Presence” seminar, where Wesleyans and guests told stories of God’s movement in urban Buffalo. For the last 27 years, the evidence of God’s work in Buffalo, a place where many refugees have sought refuge, has been evident. Wesleyan churches have partnered with many other organizations, leading to a powerful faithful presence in the community. Faithful presence can be defined as humble immersion, holistic and participatory, compassionate grace, mutually transformative, and place-based and empowering.
After the session, participants gathered in breakout sessions to hear more about specific vibrant ministries with a powerful presence in Buffalo: Urban advocacy, Jericho Road Community Health Center, P.A.T.H. (People Against Trafficking Humans, Inc.), Wesley Service Corps, AmeriCorps, and Buffalo Urban Mission Partnership or (B.U.M.P.), and Houghton College Buffalo Program. For more about faithful presence, visit Wesleyan Life magazine.
