Rev. James Parks

We recently had a wonderful Annual Conference as pastors and lay members from across the Upper Midwest Conference gathered in Sioux City, Iowa for fellowship, encouragement, worship, and growth. During the conference, I shared several conference statistics and how they compare to the previous year: Membership – 21,337 (+1.5%) Average Worship Attendance – 10,628 (+11%) Baptisms in 2025 – 442 (+3%) Professions of Faith – 531 (+11%) It is encouraging to see growth in each of these areas because...

A few weeks ago, our Cabinet and additional leaders gathered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for training with the International Leadership Institute (ILI) as part of their History Makers initiative. This training is being used across the Global Methodist Church and around the world. Its vision is clear and compelling: to change history by accelerating the spread of the Gospel through leaders of leaders empowered by the Holy Spirit. The training centers on eight core values: Intimacy with God,...

On Easter, I shared with the congregation I serve that I have what I jokingly call “pre-parcel anxiety.” It’s not a real diagnosis, but it does mean I find myself checking the front porch often. I listen for delivery trucks and want to be there the moment a package arrives I’ve noticed I do something similar when guests are coming over. I don’t want to miss them. I want to be at the door, ready to welcome them when they arrive. It has made me wonder: how often do we miss what God is...