Following his election on Monday, May 18 of the 15th General Conference (15thGC), Dr. Jim Dunn delivered a rally cry for The Wesleyan Church (TWC) to be ONE so that the world may believe in Jesus.
“This call comes directly from Jesus’ priestly prayer in John 17:21,” shared Dunn, and was also the focus of TWC’s 1968 founding General Conference. “We must lead with a renewed focus on the least, lost, unreached and marginalized for the kingdom of Jesus. This is what John Wesley meant when he said to the church, ‘You have one business — to save souls.’”
Dunn urged the church to refocus itself on ONENESS and encouraged reaffirmation of several things to accomplish this:
- A high view of Jesus.
- A high view of the Bible.
- A renewed, prayerful passion for the power of the Holy Spirit to work in supernatural ways.
- A commitment to “Optimistic Grace,” that no one is outside the grip of God.
- A Wesleyan implementation of grace — prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace.
With hope and conviction, Dunn called The Wesleyan Church to deepen its commitment and mission in key areas:
- Refreshing a culture of teamwork with God and each other around the Wesleyan world.
- A recommitment to the evangelism and discipleship of adult, youth and children.
- A resurgence of church planting and church revitalization.
- A reigniting a passion for spreading scriptural holiness throughout the world.
- A restoration of trust.
- A re-establishment that we are family.
Dunn concluded with an invitation for all Wesleyans to join him in prayer every day, praying from the heart and example of Jesus’ for Oneness, with God and each other, over The Wesleyan Church. “I’ll call it the Wesleyan ONE. That one reason is so that the world will believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.” For this reason and for the Holy God we serve, let us give ourselves wholly to the call to save souls.
Dr. Dunn’s address to the General Conference can be viewed here.
Rev. Angela Alvarado is the assistant editor of Communications for The Wesleyan Church.
