Commissioned to Go!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Commissioned 1: to furnish with a commission: as a: to confer a formal commission on b: to appoint or assign to a task or function

On May 15th, the day after we returned home from Ethiopia, Tim and I were formally commissioned as missionaries to Ethiopia at the Free Methodist Conference of Southern California's Annual Conference. This commissioning service was presided over by Bishop Matt Thomas, Dr. Art Brown (Executive Director of Free Methodist World Missions) and Conference Superintendent Steven Fitch. Pastors and laypersons from all over the Southern California conference were there to pray and bless us as we prepare to go. All I can say is...it was really cool. I loved speaking the words that so many missionaries have spoken, and have such incredible men of God speak such beautiful words over us. To top if off our pastor (Gary) came up laid hands on us (which has so many layers of sentiment) along with Guillermo Flores and Denny Wayman.

Dr Art Brown reading the charge.

With Bishop Thomas, Steve Fitch and Dr. Brown

Prayer and the laying on of hands.

Afterward we had a moment to share our experience and God's vision for Ethiopia!

Tim speaks as Bishop Thomas looks on.

Congratulations to all of the candidates who were officially ordained at the conference. It was humbling to see the fruit of all your work and be witness to the conferring of authority upon you to be ministers of the Gospel.