As her time as superintendent of the East Winds District draws to a close, Rev. Dr. Margie Crawford asks us to explore, in new ways, what it means to be the church in 2025 and beyond.
MARGIE CRAWFORD
Superintendent, East Winds District
I want to open my final writing as the East Winds District Superintendent with an expression of gratitude for serving with Bishop David Bard and the Appointive Cabinet. I have been blessed by journeying with the faith communities, laity, and clergy of the Midwest and East Winds Districts. I will continue to pray for all of us as we look toward the future.
This is a time of transition for me as I take off the mantle of a district superintendent. As I prepare to serve the local church again, I am also exploring ways to answer the question: What more can we do with and for one another?
At each Annual Conference, I look forward to hearing from our guest speakers. This was true for Rev. Dr. Jasmine Smothers, who serves a church in Atlanta. Click here and take time to listen to her message. Her words are an invitation and inspiration for how we can begin to engage in ministry and mission in new ways.
Rev. Dr. Smothers encouraged those listening to focus on the people who are worshiping with us, in person and online. She also invited us to consider the people we can reach by doing something different, something that asks the people in our towns, cities, and states how we can make an impact in one another’s lives. Our task, she shared, is about building relationships with one another. Learning about one another first will help us reshape what it means to answer God’s call upon our lives today.
Rev. Dr. Smothers introduced a “blank slate” approach to the work we do for our Lord and Savior. As we, in the Michigan Conference, begin to live out the mission to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously, we can explore, in new ways, what it means to be the church in 2025 and beyond.
The work before us may not be easy. We are being called to think outside the box, to be daring, and to engage with one another in ways we have never done before. We can show people for the first time, or once again, what it means to have open hearts, open minds, and open doors. We can shape what our missions and ministries look like for the present and into the future by having conversations with one another. We can learn what we are celebrating, what we are wrestling with, and what burdens we have borne and are bearing today. We can share our fears and concerns, as well as our hopes and dreams. We can build relationships through the foundation of our Lord’s everlasting love, mercy, and grace, and offer those as a gift to and for one another.
Because I have faith in our Lord and Savior, I know that the rewards will be tremendous. I am reminded of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23, or Luke 8:4-15). Or the image from John 21 of Peter and the other disciples casting a net to catch more fish. To quote Rev. Dr. Smothers: “May we press on to continue the work our Lord has given us.”
May we embrace God’s call upon our lives. May we joyously take on the hard work of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. May we be like the farmer, sowing seeds of mission and ministry, and the people who fish, casting our nets out to gather as many fish as we can. May we be blessed in all that we do in the name of our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Last Updated on June 18, 2025