Rev. James Parks

I was blessed to attend the public launch worship service of 1927 on September 27. 1927 is a new Global Methodist Church plant in Des Moines, Iowa. A team of people have been praying, preparing, and moving toward the launch of this new church. Five Global Methodist churches from the surrounding area have also been praying with the team and offering resources and support. We are still in a season of “Barn Raising,” where local churches and individuals can come alongside 1927 and offer their...

One of my favorite mission trip experiences was traveling to Tennessee with a group of youth to serve at a ministry that helped guide troubled boys toward a new path in life. One of our projects was remodeling an old shower house. It involved power tools, construction equipment, and a lot of skilled labor. I was one of the adult leaders on the trip, but there was one small problem: I was a "city kid." Most of the students on our team grew up on farms, and many had taken shop class from the...

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...