Some may wonder why we are paying attention to the election of a conference president in a local conference. Let me give one reason why I began to take an interest in the Michigan Conference almost 30 years ago. Have you heard the term, called into ministry? What does it mean? It means different things to different people.
When I was called into ministry, it was a supernatural calling. It was not a conference that called me, but God. I naively believed all who entered ministry were called by God. But, when discussing the pastoral ministry with a conference president in California, I discovered that the conference made the call, and it was firstly based upon the education received from one of our schools. It was explained that it was costly to educate young men and there were only so many positions available and those who were "lettered" were first in line.
That was an eye opening experience. It was the conference that gave the call, not God. That does not mean individuals are not called by God. I am sure many are. When visiting with Joe Crews, I discussed the matter with him. He told me of conferences that looked for men called by God. That was an encouragement that some conferences were serious about finding those who had been called by God. It was not to many years later that I found the Michigan Conference was one of those conferences that looked for men called of God. They do not ignore education, but neither are they blind to God's calling of men into the ministry. To me, this was evidence that the Michigan Conference was working in harmony with God. I am not saying all they do is perfect. But, after many years of interacting with the conference and having a knowledge of some of the workings in Michigan, I know of no other conference in the North American Division that is as faithful to the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.
It is for this reason we have published articles from the Michigan Conference and take a serious interest in the decisions being made in that conference. The election of a new president to take the place of Elder Jay Gallimore will be an important event. Elder Gallimore has done a good work with the conference and we are looking forward to seeing the Michigan Conference continue to be a bright light in God's church here in North America. We solicit your prayers, that God's will be done this Sunday when a new leader is chosen for the Michigan Conference.