Thursday morning devotions were offered by host pastor Rev. Dr. José Reyes, who challenged us to look beyond national immigration issues and consider the global immigration crisis as central to the heart of the Church. "Jesus, the Redeemer of all humanity, made himself an immigrant in order to redeem immigration." -- Rev. Dr. José Reyes

Thursday morning, members of Iglesia Nueva Vida shared their (often heart-breaking) stories that caused them to emigrate from their home countries and settle in the United States. Rev. Vanilda Reyes de Noyes, LISW-S, moderator

Representatives from various Free Methodist Networks share durning this brief panel: African Heritage Network (Fred TenEyck), AAPI (Soo Ji Alvarez), and La Conexión (Refugio Sanchez). Bishop Matt Whitehead, moderator

Pulling from both John Wesley and B.T. Roberts, Rev. Jaymes Lackey reminded the church that the Wesleyan tradition would focus on action first, then spiritual needs. His appeal to our traditions roots our current movement in our past. “Almost all Christians are educated beyond their level of obedience. [Our faith] rarely gets from our head to our heart to our hands.” -- Rev. Jaymes Lackey

Joe and Soo Ji Alvarez (Riverside, CA) and Ben Wayman and Ayebale Barigye (Greenville, IL) share their experiences on discipling toward racial justice. Rev. Marissa Mattox Heffernan, moderator

Superintendent Rev. Dr. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor delivered our keynote address for Thursday evening. She challenged us to consider what it means to be truly free, drawing our attention to the scope of justice in Scripture. "If we were free, we would not have to explain that the good news is not limited to a message about 'salvation.'" -- Rev. Dr. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor

Superintendent Charles Latchison opened our second day on Friday with a challenge to walk more fully in our convictions. "To really be successful, you really have to show up having gone through stuff. It wouldn't surprise me if every last one of us in here got kicked out of something. Don't be caught off guard if we were a room of losers at one point of our lives. Because you've had to lose at something to be able to embrace another loser." -- Supt. Charles Latchison

Dr. Larissa Malone (University of Southern Maine) spent the past several years teaching at one of our Free Methodist institutions -- Greenville University. On Friday morning, she led us in a presentation and discussion on what Critical Race Theory IS and what it ISN'T, and how it intersects with Christianity.

Rev. Dr. Michael Traylor helped us navigate the often disparate separation between Evangelical theology and Evangelical culture. He exhorted us to remain firmly rooted in the Scripture, which calls us to reflect God's heart for justice. “Justice leads to diversity. Diversity doesn’t always lead to justice-centered churches.” -- Supt. Michael Traylor