Preaching, Teaching and Talking to Statues

Chiereme, John Wesley and I at VWC

I found myself talking to John Wesley the other day.  I was moving pretty quickly and was praising God for His faithfulness as I passed by his statue on campus at Virginia Wesleyan College (VWC).  Looking up, but not slowing down I said, "You'd be proud of me John, preaching 5 times in less than 24 hours at 3 different places."   Of course I then laughed at myself for having spoken.  You may not know that Wesley is estimated to have traveled more than 250,000 miles and to have preached 42,000 sermons!  To put this into perspective, if you preached 3 times every day for 38 years, you would be close to 42,000 sermons!

On September 15th, I preached at an outdoor event called: "Living Water Jubilee" at Silverbrook UMC in Lorton, VA.  The choir from Ghanian UMC sang that evening, some in their native language and some in English - powerful!  The Scripture was this amazing passage from John's Gospel.  

John 7:37-39

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

I drove to Richmond that evening staying with Brian & Teresa Gagliardi, members of Shady Grove UMC.  I met them at Pender UMC's Missions Conference where I spoke this Spring.  They are close friends with Dave & Laura Shuping who help lead the Missions Committee at Pender.  For years, Pender has been bold about missions, raising up missionaries from the congregation and raising $350,000 this year alone for missions!  This is outside of their regular giving (apportionments).  So the Gagliardi's were longing to start a missions movement at their church as well.  I was thrilled to be a part of preaching 3 services at Shady Grove on "Our God is a Missionary God."  What awesome humility . . . the Son of God leaving the glory he shared with the Father from all time, to enter into Jewish culture in the first century as a baby born to poor parents!  Yes, the Scriptures declare that the Infinite One became a Jew, entering the world as we all did, through a womb. 

I returned that afternoon to (VWC) to lead worship and preach at SOAR, our 4pm worship gathering - thus preaching 5 times in a day.  We are so thankful that the students have really jumped into Campus Ministry this year.  Our worship attendance has more than doubled from last year - we have around 50 now!  There is some great student leadership in our worship, with singers, testimonies, musicians, dancers and more. 

Evangelist & Chaplain

When my supervisor at the College said, "Continue to be an Evangelist, just take students with you," I believed I could go full time at VWC.  I saw clearly that this was a win-win and was faithful to the equipping role of an Evangelist in the Scriptures (Ephesians 4:11-13).  I took Chiereme Fortune (pictured above) and Devon Killian with me to speak at the York River District Youth Gathering.  Jonathan Diggs, the youth Pastor at Newtown UMC, recently became the District Youth Coordinator as well.  It was so cool to follow Chiereme and Devon after they shared with the High School students about following Christ at College.  

SOAR Worship - Sundays at 4pm at VWC

The opportunities for offering Christ are abundant at VWC!  I'm leading four LIFE Groups (Living In Faith Everyday), where we share our journeys and dig into the Scriptures with an eye and heart towards applying the truths, promises and commands to our lives.  There are a number of student led ministries where I serve as a "Coach" to them.  These are powerful and necessary if we are going to impact the campus which has 1,200+ students.

A Special Guest at VWC

We had around 55 students come out for the presentation!

April Havlin, our friend and the founder of the House of Hope in Nicaragua visited VWC in September!  The College is focusing on the tragic issue of human trafficking this Fall, it was perfect timing.  April comes at this issue with a deep faith in Christ, which was a powerful witness to the students.  She had jewelry for sale which was made by the women coming out of prostitution and human trafficking.  

I will be leading a team from VWC to Nicaragua during Spring Break next year.  We will be working with April and the House of Hope for 3 days.

Preaching on the Eastern Shore

Painter Garrison's UMC - Eastern Shore, VA

Psalm 85:6-7

Will you not revive us again; that your people may rejoice in You?  Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation.

Painter Garrison's UMC on the Eastern Shore of Virginia dates to 1787!  It was a privilege to preach at their Fall Revival at Pastor Becky McGee's invitation.  I was welcomed and well fed by a generous congregation.

From the beginning of the Bible to the end God desires to dwell with His people, that He would be their GOD and they would be His people.  So revival, is part of GOD's plan - that we would be awake, alive to GOD's Presence, power and purposes in and among us!  

New Hispanic Church in north Suffolk!

While I was the Pastor of Grace Harbor we had a gathering of Hispanics called Puerto de Gracia (you got it, Grace Harbor).  I felt that there would be more traction with an indigenous Pastor.  Well Pastor David Jimenez is the new Pastor of a gathering of Hispanics that meet at Ebenezer UMC in north Suffolk at 5:30pm on Saturday evenings.  Jason and Delia Gillikin are often leading in worship.  It's been a joy to see some of our old amigos getting connected with this fellowship!  I'm helping when I can, but the schedule has been challenging. If you know some Latinos in the area that do not have a church family, let me know and we'll try to connect them!

I'm way overdue in sending out an update.  My apologies.  Thank you all for your support of this ministry. The Board of Life in His Name, Inc. and I continue to meet on a regular basis to map out ministry and new ways we can serve.  

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:2).

Greg West