A warm welcome from our National Leader John Townley 

Welcome to our annual Free Methodist family gathering. Whether this is your fiftieth or first annual conference, I am looking forward to seeing each one of you. We value your presence and trust you will have a great time.

The first of our five questions for membership is, "Do you have the assurance that God has forgiven your sins through faith in Jesus Christ?" The doctrine of salvation is foundational to our relationship with Jesus. What a joy it will be this year to be reminded of the wonder of the great and glorious truth that we are loved by our heavenly Father, that we belong to His forever family, that we have been bought with a price way beyond the combined wealth of the entire world. We’re talking about something that money can’t buy, the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin.

We have placed our faith in the Lamb who was slain for us. He is to be forever praised. The assurance of this wonderful work of Christ in our lives comes from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. He is the watermark in our lives, guaranteeing our eternal inheritance.

During our time together, there will be space for us to marvel and appreciate with thanksgiving this great salvation that is ours through Christ. Then our focus will shift to being Spirit sent, to share this incomparably good news with those who are lost, spiritually dead, enemies of God as we once were ourselves.

I pray that together we will encounter the Holy Spirit, experience His refreshing and renewing, so we will go out encouraged and empowered by Him to continue our labour in the Lord which is ‘not in vain’.

John Townley

National Leader FM UK and Ireland

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 

Isaiah 52:7