And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions
Joel 2:28
At a recent gathering celebrating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I said to an audience in McAlester that our world today does not have many dreamers left. Dreamers are individuals who can see far beyond what most of us can see; they are people who are of another place and time; they both challenge and inspire others to want to live in their dreams and work to make them come true.
Since coming to Oklahoma on September 1, 2004, I’ve spent the last seventeen months doing a lot of dreaming. No, I haven’t been staring off into space simply wishing for something. There is a big difference between wishing and dreaming. Instead, I’ve been praying that God would allow me to see the dreams and visions He has for the OIMC, and use me as His instrument to make those dreams and visions a reality. I will be the first to admit that what God has revealed to me has both frightened me and stirred my imagination, while other times God’s revelations have overwhelmed me. But in the end, I always return to the assumption that if God gives me the audacity to dream, then God will also give me the courage to make it happen.
Having said all of this, I can think of no better time than this first month of the New Year to reveal what God has given me in the way of visions and dreams for the OIMC. I want to remind you that what I am sharing represents the future of our conference, and if we pray together and work together, then our dreams and our visions will become a reality.
How God Works
God’s first revelation addressed the need for our conference to increase the salaries of our ministers and provide better opportunities for those wanting to go to college and seminary. If the OIMC is going to attract person who feel they have been called to ministry, we must compensate our pastors with a decent wage and give everyone a chance to go to college and seminary without cost! Sounds impossible doesn’t it? But let me share with you how God works.
Last year, a sizable monetary gift was given to the OIMC from a deceased couple that lived in Arkansas. It is my dream to use part of that gift as seed money for an endowment that will one day enable our ministers to receive a decent salary. It will take time to build the endowment, but in the future I envision our conference being able to attract future leaders simply because our benefits and wages will be competitive with the “real world.” Secondly, I am becoming increasingly aware of the fact that anyone who desires to go to college or seminary in pursuit of an education (that will prepare a person for ministry) can go free! I am working with Oklahoma City University (and other schools) and with St. Paul’s School of Theology to provide those educational opportunities right here in Oklahoma at no cost! All of this has been brought about through the mysterious workings of God! Wait, there’s more:
- The day is coming when we will routinely start new churches in OIMC; at a recent Cabinet meeting we have already discussed that happening.
- I envision a candidate for Bishop in the United Methodist Church coming from OIMC in the not to distant future.
- I can foresee the day when many-if not most-of our churches will be self-sustaining.
- I dream of the day when our conference will have a modern building (repository) that will chronicle the journey of the OIMC, and will house significant artifacts, memorabilia, and cultural and tribal histories that trace our roots in Methodism.
I’m sure this sounds far-fetched and unattainable to most, but dreamers know when God is involved, anything can come true.
God Bless You All,
Bishop Hayes
