As a Congregational Methodist, I am committed to vanquishing darkness, to sharing the sunshine of Christ in the world around me. It should be said of us, “When they came, there was no light. When they left, there was no darkness.”

Dr. E. Stanley Jones said, “When I came to know Jesus it was like I had swallowed sunshine.” Congregational Methodists have been spreading the sunshine of Christ’s love and grace for more than 170 years. When Paul was on trial before King Agrippa, he testified that Christ gave him the same mission: "I am sending you to them (Jews and Gentiles) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

Like Paul, our job as Christians is to spread the light of Christ in the midst of a spiritually dark world. Mark Batterson, in his book, “All In: You Are One Decision Away from a Totally Different Life,” wrote: “A century ago, a band of brave souls became known as one-way missionaries. They purchased single tickets to the mission field without the return half. And instead of suitcases, they packed their few earthly belongings into coffins. As they sailed out of port, they waved goodbye to everyone they loved, everything they knew. They knew they’d never return home."