On Spiritual Formation & Discipleship

I had the honor of helping lead and participate in the Ephesians 4 Project (a program created to help parishioners reflect on God’s activity in their lives) with Meshach at Friendship UMC. What I loved most about the program was that it created a safe, intentional space for honest reflection, guidance, and prayerful discernment. Participants are encouraged to identify areas for growth in their faith and in their daily practices of discipleship and service. The individualized nature of the program helps people feel seen, supported, and challenged in meaningful ways that help them attain “the full stature of Christ.” Most importantly, it fosters new and creative ways of spiritual connection for people in their relationship with Christ, and it allows the pastor to be more attentive to the spiritual needs of their community. Highly recommend it for any pastor or community seeking spiritual growth and unity as the Body of Christ! — Rev. Caleb Henry, Former Colleague

on preaching and pastoral leadership

Pastor Meshach took me by surprise the first time I met him. Physically imposing, he, personally, is kind and thoughtful. He gets where you are. Then he preached, oh my, did he preach. He made me think, really think, and consider his words and the Bible passages upon which they were based. He made me want to prepare for his sermons by reading the Bible passages in advance and truly consider what I was reading. Then he did it again and again and again. So I did too, going deeper into my faith journey. When he started small group Bible study, I was all in. What a great opportunity to learn from this amazing, deeply rooted Christian man. And he delivered, week after week. There's no vanilla here, but there is a challenge to explore, understand, and engage as a Christian. — Ann, Former Church Member

Pastor Meshach brings pastoral leadership to every phase of his ministry. His sermons are thought-provoking, providing more context for scripture by delving into the deeper meaning of the passages. Through his small group studies, he offers insights that challenge and inspire those of us who yearn for a broader understanding of the Bible. As extraordinary as his preaching and teaching are, his pastoral care for others is genuine and heartfelt. He shows kindness, grace, and compassion in all his relationships. He embodies what it means to live the Christian life. — Mark, Former Church Member

on formation in community

I'll never forget the day Meshach invited me to join a Wesleyan study group he was forming. I didn't know much about it, but I found myself saying yes. It didn't take long to realize God's hand was directing my "yes."

The group gave me new insights into the value of accountability within a small community. Through my brothers and sisters in Christ, I learned how much God loves me and how much He is counting on me to be His disciple and ambassador in the world. That group changed how I understand Christian community and what it means to live faithfully. — Yvonne, Small Group Participant

Participating in what we call, “The Holy Spirit Group,” — a group formed when Meshach was our pastor — was a profound time in my spiritual walk where I grew immensely in the understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit. I know I can “hear” in my spirit God and his word and words applying directly to me. I feel I have a back-and-forth conversation with him all the time, plus he reveals truths to me and verbal answers to my prayers. This comes from the practice of the disciplines of silence, study, prayer, and fasting, which were not explored much in my life prior to our formation of our Holy Spirit Group. — Blair, Small Group Participant

I was part of “The Holy Spirit Group” Pastor Meshach helped form, and it deeply shaped my faith. The group helped me grow in accountability and learn to truly yield to what the Spirit was leading me to do. Even after moving out of state, the impact has remained — I’m still intentionally leaning into the Spirit for guidance and discernment. I’m grateful for the time in that group, and for a God who pursues us and generously shares his Spirit to guide our lives. — Cindy, Small Group Participant

On generosity

One of our staff retreats focused on intentional generosity. We scheduled it a week before Easter—one of the busiest times of the year — because we believed that interruptions are often where Jesus does his most powerful work. That alone was grounding and inspiring. I felt humbled and in awe of how God used me to meet someone's very real need at just the right time. What seemed like a simple conversation in a parking lot became a sacred exchange of prayer and provision as the Spirit orchestrated the encounter. The experience left me with a deeper awareness of how God wants to use me daily — to see his people through his eyes and respond with love. — Michelle, former Discipleship Director

Several staff meetings stand out in my memory, but one truly changed my life. Instead of meeting around a table, we got in a van and drove to a Kroger in an economically depressed area of town. Our assignment was to wander around the store, listen to the Spirit, and buy someone's groceries when prompted.

Imagine a tall black man in his late 30s and a white-haired white woman in her 50s wandering Kroger without a basket or cart, not even looking at products. I'm sure security found us an interesting pair. When we approached a woman with a cart full of cereal, canned beans, and rice and asked if we could buy her groceries, the look of amazement and shock on her face was beautiful.

I took what I learned that day and tried it with my youth group. The impact was profound. They experienced the joy of surprising a grandmother caring for her grandchildren by paying for her groceries. They were prayed for in tongues in the middle of the noodle aisle by a young mom working two jobs to keep her family together. The Sonshine Club—our church's fund dedicated to immediate, Spirit-led generosity—created ripple effects in my life and in the lives of those teens. To this day, when we remember important youth group experiences, that day always comes up. — Carrie, Former Youth Director

The Sonshine Club and the example set at our church encouraged me to step out in faith and find ways to be generous in my daily life. I bought a birthday cake for a stranger's daughter at the bakery when she didn't have enough money. I've paid for burgers and coffee for people behind me at fast food restaurants. When a woman in front of me at Kroger didn't have enough cash, I gave her money to buy her family's groceries. I've given away work bonuses because the joy of giving brought me more happiness than saving the money. The first time felt strange. But like so many things, the more you do it, the easier it becomes—until it's just part of who you are. — Former Church Member

end of (this) life planning

When I realized end-of-life planning was necessary, I went to pastor Meshach for guidance. His first question wasn't about funeral logistics, it was, "Do you have anyone you need to reconcile with?"

Addressing that issue brought peace, and I'm especially grateful for that challenge. Only then did we move to planning the service itself.

I'd been impressed with his view of death as a transition rather than an ending, so we made that the central theme. We planned my family's participation, selected music from my personal library, and chose hymns that reflect my faith. The result is a service I'm genuinely proud of, one that I hope will be meaningful for those in attendance.

If you want peace of mind while contemplating your final chapter, I cannot recommend this process highly enough. It addressed what I truly needed: reconciliation first, then a service that reflects who I've been and what I believe. — Charles, Former Church Member

Planning my funeral with Meshach was very easy. He guided me through it in a very kind and helpful way. I never once thought of it as a morbid experience. — Marcallene, Former Church Member