I pastor a connected church that shares a conference relationship with other Free Methodist churches in Southern Michigan. Every year we meet and talk ministry/structure/policy at an event we call Annual Conference.  I love it.  I’d like to give you 10 (ten) reasons that I love (like) Annual Conference:

1. I love being around other pastors.  All of us are simultaneously right and home and out of our element.

2. It’s oddly relaxing to watch other people do what we normally do: lead worship, speak, and run stuff.  It’s like going to Epcot, but without the cost and monorail ride.

3.  We talk about eternal things, like salvation, healing, miracles.  These are so eternal, in fact, that we sometimes forget that they are eternal.

4. We talk about temporary things, like budgets, health care, policies.  These are so temporary, in fact, that we sometimes forget that they are merely temporary.

5. Abundant trail mix, which I enjoy eating, thinking about, and even writing about, as seen here.

6. When the Bishop says my name, I hear the letters and the spaces, too (Arrrr….    Adam……… Davidsonnn…)

7. Stories of life change and Kingdom impact are just all over the place.  Arabic outreach?  Glasses for people in Haiti?  People finding Jesus across Southern Michigan?  Check, check, and check.

8. A bunch of people taking steps toward ordination, which is a great sign of God’s continued calling of men and women into pastoral ministry in the Free Methodist Church.

9. Those inside jokes, most of which I am not permitted to divulge here.

10. Half of us are here because we’re ministers, but the other half are here as leaders in the local church who give up a day of normal life to participate in the leadership of the conference.  I am surrounded by people who are committed to their church and their conference connection as we partner together.  Very encouraging.