Random Thoughts and Ramblings

Author: Jonathan Tullos

  • Hello, Johnston Chapel UMC!

    Baptizing our youngest daughter (Ginny) as my wife (Jessica), older kids (Luna and Noah) and mother-in-law (Connie Crosby) look on

    First things first: I still love to write. Lately, I’ve just been channeling that passion into other areas—family life, ministry, and the usual whirlwind of “other stuff.” If you’ve found your way here, chances are you Googled me because I’m your new pastor. If that’s the case: Hello! I’m glad you’re here, and I hope this space gives you a glimpse into my life, my heart, and the journey that’s brought me to Johnston Chapel.

    My name is Jonathan Tullos (pronounced Tull-is), and I’m incredibly honored and excited to begin my appointment as pastor of Johnston Chapel United Methodist Church. My whole family is thrilled to join you and see what God has in store for us together. We’re trusting that God will use each of us—clergy and laity alike—to reach Pike County with the love of Christ.

    A little about my crew: I’ve been married to Jessica since 2008. She’s a middle school English and science teacher at Loyd Star Attendance Center. We’re blessed with three amazing kids we adopted through the foster care system: Luna(9), Noah (5), and Ginny (1). Our daughter Hannah went to be with the Lord shortly after birth, and her life continues to shape our family’s story in meaningful ways. Luna will be starting 4th grade at Loyd Star in August, and Noah will be joining her as a kindergartener. As for Ginny—she’s got a few years left to rule the daycare roost.

    I was ordained an Elder in the Mississippi Annual Conference in 2022 by Bishop James Swanson. My ministry journey has taken me to churches in Meridian, Stanton, Kentucky, and Lucedale before my current appointment at Adams UMC. I grew up in Philadelphia—Mississippi, not Pennsylvania—and graduated from Philadelphia High School in 1999. I hold degrees from:

    • Meridian Community College (A.A.S., Broadcast Communications, 2001)
    • East Central Community College (A.A.S., Paramedic Science, 2011)
    • Liberty University (B.S., Religion, 2015)
    • Asbury Theological Seminary (M.Div., 2019)

    One day, when the chaos of toddlerhood gives way to more quiet evenings, I’d love to pursue a Doctor of Ministry degree.

    Before I answered the call to pastoral ministry, I worked in radio as a personality and music programmer, dabbled in video and audio production, spent time in retail, and served as a paramedic. It was during my EMS days that I could no longer deny God’s call to ministry. I kept working on the ambulance while serving my first two appointments and completing seminary. Those years taught me more than I can ever put into words.

    I’m often asked how all of this comes together in ministry. I’m glad you asked!

    I’ve used my media background to strengthen the digital and audiovisual ministries of the churches I’ve served. That experience was especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic when we had to pivot entirely online. Out of this, I launched a digital ministry consultancy called Strangely Warmed Media. Through it, I offer free consultations to congregations looking to begin or improve their online ministries. I believe digital ministry is a vital part of evangelism—very much in line with John Wesley’s commitment to preach wherever the people were. Today’s “town squares” are often online, and the church must show up there, too.

    I also run BSPN – The Bears Sports Network, which livestreams sports for West Lincoln Attendance Center. It’s a joy to support our local schools and build community through these broadcasts.

    My time as a paramedic gave me a deep appreciation for people from all walks of life. I saw the struggles of those with complex medical needs, mental health challenges, and limited access to care. Those experiences taught me empathy, and many stories from “the truck” will likely find their way into sermons.

    As we begin this new chapter, I hope to get to know each of you better. I’m always up for a cup of coffee and conversation (yes, there will be a Keurig in my office). Once we’re settled in, I’ll be setting up visits and offering regular office hours—both at the church and out in the community.

    In the meantime, please know I’m praying for you and your current pastor as this season of transition unfolds. John Wesley’s final words were, “The best of all, God is with us.” I believe that with my whole heart. God is already present in what’s happening and what’s to come—and I can’t wait to see where the Spirit leads us.

    To God be the glory! See you soon.

    In Christ,
    Bro. Jonathan

  • Gullibility Is Not a Fruit of the Spirit

    “So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25 (NRSV)

    Recently, I was reviewing the gifts of the Spirit that Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians. He included such gifts as healing, prophecy, discernment, and several others. However, there were two that I did not see: Gullibility and dishonesty. I say this because I have noticed an uptick in Christians sharing things online that they seemingly agree with and believe, but that are proven untrue with a minimal amount of fact checking. When I see these posts, I just shake my head and whisper a prayer for all of us to do better. 

    And we must do better.

    Bearing false witness (better known as lying) has become an epidemic within the church. I wish I could explain it, but I can’t beyond our human frailty. We see someone express outrage about something that’s supposedly an act of persecution or we see something outlandish about someone we either don’t like or don’t understand and we simply run with it. The outrage of the opening ceremony of the Parish Olympics and the bruhaha over Algerian boxer Imane Khelif are prime examples of people seeing something online that confirms their biases and spreading it like it’s gospel even though the facts don’t back up the assertions made. 

    I intentionally seek relationships with people who have different views than I do, even differing views of faith. What Christians need to understand is that the perception of those outside of the Body of Christ is that Christians are gullible and/or just plain stupid. Unfortunately, there is a lot to back up those views that we inflict upon ourselves. 

    I remind us that lying is a sin, as is stirring up discord among people. The fact is, we need to take a breath, pray, get into our bibles, and stop looking for reasons to be mad all the time. God doesn’t need us to defend Him, especially from threats that don’t exist in the first place. Our job is to love, not to fight. We can’t make disciples of Jesus Christ if we’re always mad and ranting about something. We can’t make people want to love God as much as God loves them when we’re claiming persecution from someone disagreeing with us or from a portion of an opening ceremony that isn’t portraying what someone claims it is.

    Have you noticed that much of this outrage stems from just one person seeing something (that often isn’t even there in the first place) and lashing out online? They go viral because people started sharing the material without giving it an ounce of critical thought. We’re so quick to be mad just because someone says we should be mad. If this is you, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate how you spend your time online. 

    Does this seem ironic given my advocacy for digital ministry? I don’t believe it is. I often tell people that social media can be compared to a hammer. A hammer is a tool that can be used to build houses or smash windows. Likewise, social media can be used to build positivity and make disciples, or it can be used to lash out and rip people to shreds. I’ve had to reevaluate how I use social media, and I’ve changed a lot of my habits because I realized that they were harming my witness. If I can do it, anyone can.

    When you share misinformation, when you lie, when you ridicule people, you’re harming your witness. You’re harming the cause of Christ.

    Misinformation can get people hurt or killed. We saw that during the COVID-19 pandemic and we’re seeing it today with the riots in the United Kingdom that stem from misinformation about asylum seekers being shared online. 

    What if something you shared led to someone being harmed? 

    Christians, we need to do better. We must do everything we can to further the cause of Christ and to stem the tide of our anger. We must tell the truth, even if the truth isn’t what we want. We simply cannot be complicit in this strife any longer. 

    Experience tells me that anything that sounds outlandish typically is. Fact checking isn’t “woke,” it’s ensuring that we are telling the truth. Let’s resolve to do better, to be better witnesses for Christ, and to have the integrity to apologize when we’re wrong.

  • Sermon: “Sharing Jesus With the World”

    More or less, here’s the sermon I preached this morning. In hindsight, I probably should have changed the title because the sermon took a slightly different turn than what I envisioned earlier in the week. I ended up approaching the text as a prayer for the disciples Jesus would eventually leave behind. By extension, I believe Jesus was also praying for us, specifically that we would be united in our mission of spreading scriptural holiness throughout the world and that we would be sanctified by truth of God’s love. In other words, this is a call to unity, not uniformity in all things.

    I hope you receive a blessing from my attempt to articulate the message of Jesus.

    Text: John 17:6-19 (NLT)

    Think to when you can first remember hearing about Jesus. Who was sharing the good news with you? If you’re like me, it was probably your mother or someone in your life who’s like a mother to you. For me, it was my mother who I remember as the first one to teach me anything about faith. I was very sick when I was a child, something I’ll talk about someday, but this gave us a lot of time to talk about God and things about the faith. Momma was the first one who taught me to pray at bedtime and to pray when I was scared when I’d have to go to the doctor or to the hospital. She shared many a story out of her Bible. She was far from perfect, but my mother was the one who introduced me to Jesus.

    No matter who first shred Jesus with you, they still had to take the time and make the decision to do so. Every single one of us is set apart for a ministry of some sort, something that’s perhaps unique to how we’re gifted and equipped. There’s one ministry we are called to called to: Sharing the gospel. We get off in the weeds about having the correct words and all of that, but Jesus has already prayed for us to be prepared. He’s already prayed for us as we carry out the mission he started. Do we claim that? Are we united in this mission? This is precisely what Jesus prayed for and his desire for us today.

    Jesus knows that his time is growing short. If you’ve read ahead or know already, then you know that this just before he is betrayed and arrested. Jesus is obviously concerned for the apostles that he’s leaving behind. He knows that they’re still a rag-tag bunch who still don’t understand everything he has been trying to teach them. That kind of sounds like us, doesn’t it? He knows they have their disagreements and their arguments. Still, Jesus knows that he can’t stay much longer and so he does what our moms taught us to do in times of trouble: Pray. 

    Notice something about Jesus’ prayer: He wasn’t praying for his own worries or to otherwise be comforted. He prayed for each one of his students. And, honestly, I can’t help but believe he was praying for us too. He prayed that they might be protected from the whims of the world and those of the enemy. He prayed that the apostles be set apart as being in the world but not of the world, that the world might know that they are here but that their loyalty lies with God and God only. He prayed that they might be protected by God’s guidance and sanctified by the truth. He prayed that they might be emboldened to proclaim the gospel and that they might united in that truth. 

    Jesus also prayed that they might remain in the world to be His presence after he eventually ascended. Again, Jesus knew that his time was short, but he did not want the mission to end once he died, rose, and eventually returned to the Father. Jesus wanted the mission of reconciling humanity to God to continue and even to expand. Jesus knew that this would begin with his apostles being emboldened and strengthened to be the ones to keep it going. 

    I want us to receive this as a prayer for us as well. We are the continuation of the work of these apostles. We are not only the recipients of the gospel through others who answered the call of Jesus to proclaim, we are entrusted with the task of spreading the gospel t others. The best news that the world has ever received should not be kept solely hidden in our hearts, it should be shared and lived as loudly as possible. 

    Do I believe that Jesus expected all believers to be united in everything? No, I don’t. Jesus understood the reality of his people. As I already mentioned, the very apostles had disagreements amongst themselves and even disagreed with the meanings of Jesus’ teachings. The history of the Christian church is full of disagreements, splits, reunifications, even wars. Disagreement is part of the human condition. Jesus certainly knew that believers would not always agree. What I sense in this prayer is that Jesus does want us to be one in the mission to share the gospel, live the gospel, and make disciples who go out as sanctified believers to proclaim the gospel to new people. 

    This is a good opportunity to weigh where our loyalties lie. If we are supremely loyal to anything or anyone besides Jesus, then we need to repent. People, institutions, you name it… they all disappoint, disappear, reappear, and go through all the parts of a lifecycle. None of that is true about God, because God never changes. Jesus is always our messiah. We are his hands and feet. None of those things ever change.

    We are not called to be of one mind on everything but we are called to be unified in Christ. The fact is, people aren’t always going to agree on everything. Jesus didn’t pray for uniformity, where the believers would agree on literally everything, He prayed for unity, something that’s stronger than any differences that we, as the church, share. If we’re striving for uniformity, we are not going to be satisfied because there is simply no way that people are going to always agree on anything. This is simply not possible. Unity means we willingly set those differences aside for the sake of something much bigger than ourselves or our disagreements. In this case, we find unity in Jesus.

    A quote that I’m about to share is often attributed to St. Augustine but he didn’t say it. It was Marco Antonio de Dominis who gave us a great quote for today. What’s important for us to know about Dominis is that he was twice declared a heretic by the Roman Catholic Church during the days of the inquisition because he did not agree with some of the tenants of the Catholic faith, specifically the papacy. At some point during all of that, he wrote this: “in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”

    As we prayed last week when we came to Christ’s table:
    By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
    one with each other,
    and one in ministry to all the world,
    until Christ comes in final victory
    and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

    May it be so, Lord. If we truly want to honor the person who first told us about Christ – maybe even our mothers – the best way to honor them is to remember that we are not of this world, but we are in it to be Christ’s presence and his hands and feet. Surely, we can all agree on that.

  • A Letter to the M.S.A.C. General Conference Delegation

    After a four year delay, the 2020 session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church is only weeks away. Soon, delegates will gather in Charlotte to debate legislation that will shape the future of our church and, perhaps, decide the future for several of our annual conferences. Mississippi has been hit particularly hard by disaffiliation and there is legislation that would allow disaffiliation to continue in one form or another. I’ve been through this with a congregation and I do not care to go through it again for a myrid of reasons. To that end, I have emailed the delegates (well, the ones I could find email addresses for) and expressed my views on the legislation. Find the contents of that email below. If you would like to contact your delegates to express the same views, feel free to take what I have written and adapt it for your context.

    Above all: Pray for our delegates and the proceedings of General Conference. This one is going to be tense and it’s vital that there is focus on God’s kingdom above all.

    Dear Delegates:

    I greet you in the name of our risen savior Jesus. I pray you all had a great Easter and that you received anew the blessing of resurrection!

    I want to take a moment to say a couple of things. First, know that I’m praying for all of you as General Conference draws near. The time it takes to prepare and the sacrifice of time away has to take a toll and I hope you all don’t think it goes unnoticed. Especially in the difficult season we find ourselves in, I know your jobs are not easy and I appreciate your willingness to serve and to represent Mississippi United Methodists at General Conference.

    With that in mind, we’re all aware of the impact that disaffiliation has had on the Mississippi Annual Conference. I’m not sure how many of you have had to deal with disaffiliation at the church level but I can tell you that it’s painful. When Pleasant Hill in Lucedale disaffiliated, I was serving there. While things were not as ugly as I have heard from other pastors in other appointments, I received my share of vitriol and abuse directed at me from certain individuals because I did not support disaffiliation and would not encourage the congregation to leave. I was accused of not being a real Christian and of being unfaithful to God. In short: It was the most difficult season of ministry I have ever endured (that word was used intentionally). The toll it took on my family was also immense. I’m healing but there was harm done. I can only imagine how much more harm has been done in other places as well as the cumulative harm done to the conference.

    I urge you all to prayfully consider voting against any disaffiliation proposals that come before your committees and the plenary. Our first general rule has been broken numerous times because of Paragraph 2553 and the harm is being continued through the closure policy adopted by the conference trustees. The intent may have been good, but the only thing accomplished is increasing the already tremendous pain being felt throughout our annual conference. Because of how this policy has been implemented, the appointment making process must be a difficult, if not impossible, task right now, due to the uncertainty and the number of congregations that exercised Option C. I predict we will have clergy finding out at annual conference that they will be moving, needless to say a less than ideal situation for all parties involved.

    As a colleague stated in a meeting last year: “Human sexuality is the excuse, but power and property are the reasons.” We should not be enablers of harm any longer.

    I truly believe the future viability of the Mississippi Annual Conference is in your hands and the rest of General Conference. I appreciate your time and consideration of my comments. Please reach out if you have any questions.

    In Christ,

    Rev. Jonathan Tullos

  • “What’s Going to Happen at General Conference?”

    The title reflects the question that I, and I’m sure most UMC pastors, are asked constantly. I always tell my people that I’m not afraid to tell them when I don’t know the answer, and this is the answer I give here. Simply, I don’t know. The pre-conference editions of the Daily Christian Advocate have been released and they contain a ton of legislation. Honestly, I haven’t had a lot of time to review the material. If history holds, the vast majority of the proposed legislation won’t make the floor for a full debate and will be swept into the proverbial dust pile.

    I have seen that there is a lot of interest in a myriad of legislation that would result in the United States becoming a regional conference, operating much the way the central conferences operate. I don’t want to comment on the implications of this because, again, I haven’t had a good opportunity to review everything. I do know that there are multiple pieces of legislation that would have to be passed to bring regionalization about, including changes to the UMC constitution (something that I believe will be a tough sell), which is all the more reason I need more time to review the legislation.

    Since I don’t feel comfortable commenting on legislation, I’d like to comment on what I know will not happen at General Conference. Let’s name it: There are outright lies being spread by people and organizations that are seeking to destroy the United Methodist Church for their own pursuit of power and a perverse desire to “win” at any cost. They want you to believe they are fighting for God when, the truth is, they’re only seeking to fulfill their own ambitions. They’re quick to say that there are decisions that have already been made and want you to believe that they know what the delegates will approve. This is pure fiction. Many of the GC-related questions I field are in response to things shared to incite fear and anger.

    I may not be able to tell you what will happen but I can tell you what will not happen, and share one thing that I do believe will happen.

    The UMC Will Not Reject the Divinity of Jesus or the Virgin Birth

    One of the most popular pieces of misinformation is the notion that the United Methodist Church is set to rid itself of doctrine related to affirming Jesus as divine and the virgin birth. A close second to this notion is that the UMC will embrace universalism and reject Christ as the sole means of salvation. This idea is unfounded and totally without merit.

    Within any church organization, you’re going to have people that don’t affirm every piece of accepted doctrine. We have some people – a very small percentage, I’d say maybe 1% – who do not affirm faith in Christ as the sole means of salvation and the virgin birth. Yes, such people exist in every church. I know for a fact there are Southern Baptists who baptize babies. Separatists have latched on to the words of these few people and asserted that these are the official positions of the UMC and that the delegates will vote to strip the UMC of these points of doctrine.

    First, the only people who speak for the United Methodist Church is General Conference. That’s it. No one else has that authority, period. Not even our bishops can speak on behalf of the entire church. Second: Even if there were a significant number of people wanting to change our doctrine on Jesus and the virgin birth (there aren’t), following through with these desires would be impossible. These doctrines are contained in our Articles of Religion, written by John Wesley himself (well, technically, they were taken from the Church of England and altered somewhat, but I digress) and the 16 articles of the Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren (the UMC came to be when the former Methodist Church and EUB merged in 1968).

    The General Conference does not have the authority to change the Articles of Religion or the Confession of Faith. The United Methodist Church have restrictive rules built in to the constitution that forbids changes.

    Don’t believe me? Here are the relevant portions of the Discipline.

    ¶ 17. Article I.—The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our Articles of Religion or establish any new standards or rules of doctrine contrary to our present existing and established standards of doctrine.40

    ¶ 18. Article II.—The General Conference shall not revoke, alter, or change our Confession of Faith.

    https://www.umc.org/en/content/book-of-discipline-section-iii-restrictive-rules

    The above paragraphcs are part of the UMC’s Constitution that works much like the constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the UMC lays out the powers, responsibilities, restrictions, and authority of entities from the General Conference down to the local church. Making changes to the articles of confession is clearly banned.

    In short: Even if the General Conference delegates wanted to change these doctrines, they can’t. Even attempting to do so would require amending the constitution of the church and this would be an impossible task. Rejecting Jesus and the virgin birth simply are not going to happen.

    Clergy Will Not Be Required to Perform Same-Sex Weddings

    Another fear-mongering tactic is the idea that clergy will be forced to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies or face defrocking. Even if prohibitions against clergy performing same-sex weddings are lifted (I believe that’s not likely to happen this time), I find it hard to believe that clergy would be compelled to solemnize same-sex marriages if their convictions will not allow them to.

    The reason is simple: UMC clergy are currently not under any obligation to perform any weddings. There is nothing in the Discipline that says a pastor must marry two people simply because the pastor is asked to. The Discipline does require clergy to conduct counseling with the couple prior to a wedding. If anything is discovered during that counseling that causes the pastor to believe the couple should not be wed, they can refuse.

    Clergy are currently not obligated to perform any wedding. I do not see that changing.

    What Will Happen: Fundamental Change in the United Methodist Church

    One thing that I do believe will happen is a fundamental shift in how the United Methodist Church is structured and how it operates. The United States lost 25% of its congregations to disaffiliation and there is no way the UMC will continue to operate in the same manner than it did prior to the departures. Structural revamping was already in the works, but disaffiliation has increased the urgency of the restructuring.

    I believe for 2024’s GC, we will see more in the way of budget cuts and perhaps some reshuffling in the general boards. There will also be initial discussions of reform, but I believe any significant restructuring will take place at the upcoming General Conference sessions that will take place between now and 2028.

    What Do You Think?

    What do you believe will happen at GC2024? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

  • Would Jesus Have Live Streamed the Sermon On The Mount? (Nurturing Faith in a Digital Age)

    book, bible, training

    In today’s digital age, the landscape of ministry is undergoing a profound transformation. The advent of digital technology has paved the way for churches to expand their reach and engage with their congregations in unprecedented ways. While some critics argue that digital ministry fosters consumerism and promotes spiritual laziness, a closer examination reveals that the advantages far outweigh the supposed drawbacks.

    Embracing the Digital Landscape

    Digital ministry is not a replacement for traditional worship but rather an expansion of it. One of its most significant advantages lies in its ability to break down physical barriers. Geographic distances and mobility limitations no longer stand in the way of individuals seeking spiritual guidance and community. This accessibility is especially crucial for those who cannot attend in-person services due to health concerns or other circumstances.

    A Welcoming Community

    Critics sometimes argue that digital ministry fosters consumerism, creating an environment where people consume religious content without actively participating. However, this perspective overlooks the vibrant communities that form online. Digital ministry platforms often provide spaces for people to connect, share experiences, and offer support. Online communities can be just as warm and welcoming as in-person ones, promoting a sense of belonging and shared faith.

    Empowering Outreach

    Another advantage of digital ministry is its capacity to reach a broader audience. Through social media, streaming services, and websites, churches can share their messages with a global audience, transcending borders and cultural differences. This outreach enables congregations to engage with individuals who may have never set foot in a physical church. In this way, digital ministry can be a powerful tool for spreading the message of love, hope, and faith. In other words: Digital ministry enables the church to be the church wherever people are, just as it always has. People were once found in the pastures and market crosses. Today’s market crosses are social media platforms and other digital spaces.

    Flexibility and Convenience

    Digital ministry provides flexibility and convenience for both congregations and pastors. It allows individuals to engage with spiritual content on their own schedules, removing the constraints of specific service times. For those with busy lives, this flexibility ensures that faith remains a vital part of their daily routine. Pastors, too, can use digital platforms to deliver sermons and messages to a broader audience, ensuring that their guidance reaches those who seek it.

    Spiritual Nourishment

    Now, let’s address the criticism mentioned at the beginning of this article: the idea that digital ministry is a “cheap substitute” for in-person worship. This perspective is, at its core, a misunderstanding of the nature of digital ministry. While it’s true that digital ministry cannot entirely replicate the tactile and sensory experience of physical worship, it offers something equally valuable: spiritual nourishment.

    Digital ministry provides a platform for worship, teaching, and connection, allowing individuals to explore and deepen their faith. Just as a printed Bible can be a valuable tool for spiritual growth, digital ministry offers accessible, condensed, and convenient avenues for encountering God’s word and the teachings of Jesus. It doesn’t cheapen the experience; rather, it enhances it.

    Digital ministry presents a wealth of advantages, from expanding access to welcoming communities, empowering outreach efforts, and offering flexibility and convenience. While it cannot replace the beauty of physical worship, it complements it, providing spiritual nourishment to those who seek it in a digital age. The statement that online church is a “cheap substitute” fails to recognize the genuine opportunities for faith, community, and growth that digital ministry offers to individuals around the world. Embracing digital ministry is not about diluting faith but rather about extending the invitation to experience the transformative power of God’s love to all, wherever they may be.

    To Wrap Up

    To be clear, digital ministry or “online church” does not replace the physically gathered community. I don’t believe that digital ministry is intended to do that. On the contrary, I believe digital ministry strengthens the ability of the established physical church to reach more people than it ever could before.

    Would Jesus have live-streamed the Sermon On the Mount? Yes. Yes, he would have.

  • Rural Broadband is Today’s Rural Electrification

    computer, pc, workplace

    We take electricity for granted today, but it wasn’t that long ago that rural areas were without this necessary utility. As cities became electrified, rural areas were left out because the power companies being formed believed that providing power to rural areas would not be cost-effective. I imagine there were arguments such as, “Farmers don’t need electricity.” It wasn’t until 1934 – less than 100 years ago – that the first electric cooperative was established in Alcorn County, Mississippi.[1] With help from The Tennessee Valley Authority, the Alcorn County Electric Power Association lit up Alcorn County’s unincorporated areas and was a tremendous success. With the success of the “Alcorn County Experiment,” as it came to be known, the Rural Electrification Administration was formed, and rural Americans were finally connected to the power grid. The first rural electric power association to take advantage of funds from the REA was the Monroe County Electric Cooperative in Amory, Mississippi.[2] The lives of rural residents became easier, and more opportunities than ever were available to people thanks to electricity finally being made available to them.

    Just as electricity changed the rural landscape with modern conveniences and more opportunities for schools to serve students, the same can be said about broadband internet access. In 2023, broadband internet is as essential as electricity was becoming in the 1930s before rural electrification took hold. Mississippi is one of the worst states in the country for broadband access[3], and the county I live in – Lincoln County – is vastly underserved. At my house, my choices are slow mobile hotspots or satellite. Thankfully (and I use that term loosely), I have Starlink, which is the better satellite service, but the service is still not great. I live in an area that has been ignored and abandoned by AT&T, the company that provides the POTS telephone service for the area and once supplied the residents with DSL service. AT&T is phasing out DSL service across its network, so soon, the residents of the Auburn community in Lincoln County won’t even have that option. As of today, AT&T has no plans to upgrade its system to fiber optic, nor do they have plans to offer fixed wireless service in the area.

    Here’s the reality that I’ve lived in other places and I’m living now: The major telecom companies don’t care about rural America. They claim to, but their actions do not support their assertion. I recently attended a meeting conducted by Jonathan Chambers, one of the partners of Connexon, a company he and Randy Klindt founded to help rural people connect to fiber optic broadband. During this meeting, Jonathan shared a quote from the CEO of AT&T that indicated that, while he understands that fiber optic is a game changer, the best AT&T will do for rural America is much slower and less reliable fixed wireless broadband because it’s cheaper.[4]

    Let me be clear: Corporate America does not care about rural communities, contrary to what they want you to believe.

    If we want rural communities to have the same opportunities for more education, better employment, and, yes, better entertainment as their urban and suburban counterparts, it will be up to the electric cooperatives to make this happen. Just as these member-owned brought electricity to the farm when the big power companies refused, it will be up to them to bring fiber optic broadband to the farm today. AT&T, Verizon, Sparklight, and whoever else will not make this happen. In response to this reality, in 2019, Mississippi enacted a law – with nearly unanimous bi-partisan support – that allows electric cooperatives to offer services other than electricity, specifically broadband internet access. Other states have passed similar laws because their legislators understand that no one else will serve rural customers.

    Sadly, not every electric co-op has gotten behind these efforts. In Mississippi, several co-ops, including Magnolia Electric Power, the electricity provider in my area, have resisted becoming involved in providing broadband to their customers. The reasons are varied, and I’m not trying to say the reasons are not all valid, but I also believe this resistance is myopic. At the meeting I mentioned above, the General Manager of Magnolia Electric Power, Darrell Smith, stated (essentially) that they support rural broadband but that MEP did not believe that their direct involvement was wise. [5]

    If not MEP (or other cooperatives), then who? Connexon, through a subsidiary, has already secured funding to wire several areas in the MEP grid – and will do so starting later this year per Mr. Chambers – but what about the rest of the areas? This is where MEP could help, as other cooperatives in Mississippi and elsewhere have done.

    From my perspective, better broadband would allow the church to fulfill the Great Commission better. I have written extensively on being where people are (all you have to do is browse my blog for a moment, and you’ll find several posts on this topic), and better internet access allows the church to do just that. As Jesus, John Wesley, and countless others went to minister to the people right where they were, today, the church must be able to minister online. This looks like more than live streaming a worship service, but giving robust opportunities for online engagement for discipleship, digital outreach, and even helping online. The reality is even older people are taking advantage of digital ministry (the number one demographic of online worshippers at Adams UMC is aged 65+), so the idea that it’s just “for the kids” or that it “keeps people away” is false. Any church that has engaged in robust online ministry is seeing fruit both on the socials and in the pews. More importantly, we see lives changed and souls saved.

    I would love to see more involvement from the electric power associations in bringing broadband, but I would also like to see other legal changes take place. For example, laws to make creating a telecommunication cooperative easier. Clearing red tape allows those who want to bring broadband to rural communities to do so easier. Further, allowing electric cooperatives not to have to bow to the likes of AT&T when it comes to negotiating pole rental fees would be a very positive change to allow rural cooperatives all rural broadband providers to hook up to their poles easier would go a long way in making fiber optic broadband a reality for rural communities. Currently, the laws of Mississippi prevent rural EPAs from charging pole rent to rural broadband providers at lower rates than they would for the likes of AT&T.

    Why should AT&T get favors in areas that they have abandoned?

    I hope you will join me in supporting increased opportunities for rural communities to become connected. Bridging the digital divide is a justice issue. Simply, it’s unjust for people not to have the same opportunities as others simply because they live in rural areas. Broadband internet is no longer optional. It’s essential not only for YouTube and Facebook but for work, education, and even paying bills. Simply, it’s good stewardship.

    Rural electric cooperatives were established because people realized that the major power companies would not serve rural communities. The same lesson applies to rural broadband.

    [1] https://www.mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/the-rural-electrification-of-northeast-mississippi#:~:text=Congressman%20Rankin%20had%20arranged%20for,cooperative%20in%20the%20United%20States.

    [2] Ibid.

    [3] https://broadbandnow.com/research/best-states-with-internet-coverage-and-speed

    [4] I don’t remember, nor can I find, the exact quote, but this was the gist of what was shared.

    [5] Ironically, MEP recently experienced an internet outage at their office that lasted about a week because of an issue with AT&T.

  • Just a Housekeeping Note

    man using MacBook

    Greetings, all! If you’re a frequent visitor to this site, you may notice some things are slightly different. I’ve moved to a new host, and, as typically happens, some things did not transfer over. If you notice pictures are not where the alternate text says they should be, please ignore this. I apologize for any confusion this causes. Simply, I don’t have the time or the spoons to go and clean all of this up.

    In other news, I’ll do some more writing soon. I have plenty to say, but my bandwidth has been low with moving to a new appointment and with kids being home for summer break. Stay tuned. More is coming!

    Jonathan

  • Embracing the Digital Age: The Importance of Digital Ministry for the Church

    Matrix movie still

    In an era where digital technology permeates every aspect of our lives, the church must adapt and embrace the opportunities presented by the digital age. Digital ministry, the use of technology to share the Gospel, build communities, and minister to people, has become increasingly crucial in fostering spiritual growth and connecting with the world. Let’s take a deep dive into the significance of digital ministry for the church, highlighting its potential to make new disciples, deepen relationships, and empower believers in their faith journey.

    To be clear: Digital ministry is not replacing (and should not replace) the physical/traditional church, but digital ministry should be taken seriously due to its ability to reach more people than the physical church ever could. In the 21st century, digital ministry is not optional but essential.

    Expanding the Reach of the Church

    Digital ministry transcends geographical barriers, enabling churches to extend their influence beyond physical locations. Through live streaming, podcasts, and online sermons, the church can reach a global audience, offering hope, inspiration, and guidance to those who may never step foot inside a traditional church building. It provides an opportunity to engage with individuals who are unable to attend in-person services due to factors such as illness and lack of transportation.

    Engaging the Unchurched and Dechurched

    The digital realm opens doors to connect with the unchurched and dechurched, allowing the church to meet people where they are—online. Social media platforms, websites, and online communities become platforms for sharing testimonies, addressing doubts, and fostering meaningful conversations and – hopefully – healing. By providing relevant, accessible, and relatable content, the church can attract individuals who are seeking answers, providing them with an opportunity to encounter God’s love and grace.

    Nurturing Authentic Relationships

    Digital ministry goes beyond broadcasting messages; it fosters genuine relationships. Through interactive platforms like video conferencing, chatrooms, and social media groups, the church can facilitate community building and offer pastoral care in virtual spaces. Digital small groups, discipleship programs, and mentoring relationships provide opportunities for believers to grow together, despite physical distances. Moreover, it allows the church to remain connected with members during challenging times, offering support, prayer, and encouragement.

    Leveraging Technology for Discipleship

    The digital age offers a myriad of tools and resources for discipleship. Churches can provide online Bible studies, devotionals, and digital libraries, making spiritual education easily accessible. Moreover, mobile applications, podcasts, and social media content can provide daily doses of inspiration, fostering spiritual growth and equipping believers to navigate their faith journey effectively. Digital platforms also enable the church to address current issues, provide apologetics resources, and engage in conversations that bridge the gap between faith and culture.

    Empowering Congregational Involvement

    Digital ministry provides opportunities for congregational involvement and participation. Virtual volunteering, online prayer groups, and collaborative projects engage believers in serving both their local community and the global church. Moreover, it allows members to utilize their talents and gifts for the advancement of God’s kingdom through digital platforms, such as website management, social media outreach, graphic design, and multimedia production. Embracing digital ministry encourages a sense of ownership and active participation within the church community.

    In Conclusion:

    In a fast-paced, digital-driven world, the church must adapt and embrace digital ministry to effectively reach, engage, and empower individuals for Christ. By expanding its reach, engaging the unchurched, nurturing authentic relationships, leveraging technology for discipleship, and empowering congregational involvement, the church can fulfill its mission in the 21st century. Digital ministry offers a unique opportunity to share the timeless message of the Gospel with a global audience, creating meaningful connections and transforming lives. Let us embrace the digital age, leveraging its power for the advancement of God’s kingdom, while remaining rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

    One More Thing…

    To further demonstrate the value and versatility of technology, this post was (mostly) written by ChatGPT. AI is a tool in the same vein as a hammer or chainsaw: It can be used to build or to tear down. Technology is not a threat to the church; technology is an essential tool for the church in the 21st century.

  • Sermon: The Guardian of the Soul

    religion, faith, shepherd

    More or less, here’s the sermon I delivered at Salem UMC and Pleasant Hill UMC on April 30, 2023.

    1 PETER 2:19-25 (NLT)

    For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

    21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[a] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

    22 He never sinned,

        nor ever deceived anyone.[b]

    23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted,

        nor threaten revenge when he suffered.

    He left his case in the hands of God,

        who always judges fairly.

    24 He personally carried our sins

        in his body on the cross

    so that we can be dead to sin

        and live for what is right.

    By his wounds

        you are healed.

    25 Once you were like sheep

        who wandered away.

    But now you have turned to your Shepherd,

        the Guardian of your souls.

    In 2006, a movie called The Guardian was released. The film stars Kevin Costner who plays decorated Coast Guard rescue swimmer Ben Randall and Ashton Kutcher who plays a rookie rescue swimmer named Jake Fischer. Kutcher’s character is a young, cocky swimmer bent on being the best. Jake is obsessed with breaking the training center’s records, most of which are held by his lead instructor Ben Randall. Ben spends much of the time as Jake’s instructor trying to knock the chip off the younger swimmer’s shoulder, which turns out to be the result of trying to make up for being the driver of a car that was hit, an accident that killed most of the other members of his high school swim team. Jake asks Ben repeatedly what his “number” is, meaning the number of people he has rescued during his career. Finally, toward the end of the movie, Ben provides an answer: “22.” Jake is surprised that it’s not more and Ben responds, “22 is the number of people I lost, Jake. The only number I kept track of.”

    Like a good person who does things for the right reasons, Ben doesn’t keep track of the numbers that some people may view as important, rather he does his job but uses the tragedies to improve his skills and to fuel his determination. Later, Ben dies during a rescue mission. Later, another mission in the same area is conducted and Jake responds as the primary rescue swimmer. One of the men who’s rescued asks who the other guy who saved him was. Jake smiles at the thought that his friend and mentor may have had a spiritual hand on saving the man’s life. Thus, the legend of the guardian of the Alaskan sea was born.

    A few years ago, I attended a workshop where the speaker reminded us that Jesus is in the rescue business. Indeed, Jesus rescues the sin sick soul from certain eternal death through his death and resurrection. It’s no accident that we talk of people “being saved” when they convert their lives over to the ways of Jesus, because their souls are being saved. Jesus makes this possible. We often look at Jesus as a shepherd and, perhaps, you’ve seen that shepherd theme in our scriptures today (if you’re joining us late online, our responsive reading today was Psalm 23). Today’s gospel reading is John 10:1-10 that records Jesus giving a lesson of his being the messiah being like the gate that separates the sheep from those seeking to harm them. Verses 6 through 9 says this:

    Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.

    This sounds very guardian-like to me. Jesus, protecting the sheep – that is, his people – from evil. Jesus is the guardian of our souls.

    Remember that Peter’s purpose for writing this letter is to encourage Christians in the Roman world who are suffering under the oppression of the government. We do have some historical records that recorded the kind of persecution the early believers often suffered. I won’t go into all of that today but, suffice it to say, the level of persecution was heavy. No matter how strong and committed someone is to a cause, everyone has their breaking point. Peter knew that some of these folks were getting close to theirs. Perhaps some of them had already caved under the pressure, fearful of death or what might await them on the other side. Perhaps some uncertainty had crept in with some of them. It’s easy to criticize but, when your family is starving because the government says Christians can’t buy the essentials of life, it’s also easy to understand that the temptation to cave is intense.

    Peter is reminding them that they have a savior who has their back, front, sides, and everything else under his protection, especially their souls. Peter is telling them that it’s a safe move to follow the example of Jesus who suffered a human death and everything that came before it. As he points out, Jesus never returned the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Romans with insults or any sort of retaliation. As I mentioned, everyone has their breaking point and there were people who felt that responding to Roman oppression in kind was justified. Peter reminds them that it was Jesus who didn’t defend himself physically and instead let God have the final say. Peter gives us this example to remind us that God can still be trusted to deliver us as well. Remember that final say that God had: That death does not win, the sword does not win, that love wins, resurrection wins, and nothing can beat those facts no matter how hard one wants them to be beaten.

    Peter is so convinced of God’s keeping these promises that he breaks out into song. If you look at verses 22 through 25, see that it’s intended. Indention typically indicates poetry or song. I can’t help but think that Peter is giving us a hymn, praising God’s faithfulness and praising Jesus for being the one who defends us against every evil. This isn’t a lament; this means that we should celebrate and be excited about Jesus defending us with his very life and defeating death for us by rising from the grave even when the enemy tried every trick in the book to keep him in that tomb.

    Note: It was at this point in the sermon that I opted to trust the Spirit and say something prophetic for each church. Obviously, it came out a bit different at each church. To see how it came out, watch the videos on each of the church Facebook pages linked at the top of the post.

    We need to be excited about the fact that we have a savior, a defender, a shepherd, a guardian, who watches over us every single day. Y’all, our guardian has secured the victory for us out of his immeasurable and eternal love for us. Bad things may come our way. Poverty may happen. Any number of things may come our way. BUT GOD… is watching over our souls. Peter calls Jesus the guardian of our souls. Think of what a guardian is – a defender, protector, or keeper. This is Jesus! We can trust him with everything we have and everything we are. If you’re doubting him, let him prove himself to you. He will not let you down. He already died and rose again from the dead for you.

    Don’t worry about what the future holds. Trust in Jesus to guard your soul.