Allegheny West Global Methodist Church

10/19/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON CROSSING THE LINE OF FAITH

I once heard a pastor describe the point of conversion as “Crossing the line of faith.” That made sense to me. The Holy Spirit woos us closer and closer to belief until the person is finally ready to cross the line from doubt to belief.

I think this is in the spirit of what Jesus said,

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

This verse from John's Gospel may be the greatest evidence in the Bible that people have eternal life the moment they believe in Jesus. Imagine a line in the sand with Jesus on one side and everyone else on the other. Crossing the line of faith is like taking the Savior’s hand and crossing over to His side. At that precise moment, we're assured of eternal life.

Some people think they’re right with God because they’re simply moving toward the line. With age, perhaps, they’re becoming more kind, caring, and compassionate. But moving toward the line isn’t the same as crossing over the line of faith. You can move toward the line your entire life and still die on the wrong side. You have to actually cross the line of faith.

Others think they're right with God because they’re very close to the line. Perhaps they go to church, give to the offering, sing in the choir, and serve in some capacity. But as we've already said, being close to the line isn’t the same as crossing over the line. You could be close to the line your entire life and still die on the wrong side. You have to actually cross the line of faith.

Crossing over the line of faith involves taking the hand of Jesus Christ and saying, “Jesus, I believe in you, and I’m coming over to Your side today.” No matter who you are—where you’ve been—what you’ve done, how many times you’ve done it, or even how many times you do it in the future. The moment you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life. You won’t be judged. You’ve crossed over from death to life.

I encourage you to cross the line of faith, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

10/15/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON GROWING OUR FAITH

Occasionally, I come across a person looking for a different church. When I ask them why, I often hear this phrase or something similar: “I’m just not being fed.” Which raises the question, “Who is responsible for spiritually feeding you?”

Those who are new to the faith are just like newborn infants; they need someone(s) to help cut the message of the Gospel and our response to God’s grace down into bite-sized morsels they can understand. However, there should quickly come a time when a spiritual infant grows to spiritual adolescence—and they should begin feeding themselves. If you are depending upon a 25-30 minute sermon to provide the nourishment your soul needs to grow into the likeness of Jesus—you are not growing to spiritual maturity.

Who is responsible for growing your faith? YOU ARE!

This is a consistent theme in the New Testament. Paul describes the responsibility of:

“…growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)

He warned the Colossians that this was a criterion for maturing faith. He also told the Thessalonians:

“…your faith is growing more and more.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

Paul took pleasure in seeing the Thessalonians grow in their faith. This is vitally important since faith is always growing or declining—never staying the same. It is also why the Bible commands spiritual growth repeatedly.

Peter also instructs us to:

“Grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2)

And

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Spiritual growth is not optional and doesn’t happen by accident. You are responsible for growing your faith!

A master violinist was asked the secret of his success. “Planned neglect,” was his reply. He didn’t have time to practice sufficiently and keep up with the rest of his life—so he neglected everything else until he had practiced his violin. He used to take care of other things first and practice his violin second, but this resulted in mediocrity. So he began to practice his violin first and do everything else second. This made him a master. Many have found that the best time for prayer and Bible study is first thing in the morning.

We will not grow our faith until we practice the habits that will help our faith grow. Be sure to do whatever is necessary to grow your faith today, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

10/15/2026

coming in April!

Save the Date for Encounter 2027! More details and registration will be coming soon!

10/14/2026

10/12/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON BESTOWING HONOR
From my earliest days, I can remember being taught that it was important to treat other people—regardless of age, station, or creed—with honor, dignity, and respect. Elders and those in positions of authority were to be respected. I was supposed to respond by saying, “Yes, sir” or “No, sir”—“Yes, ma’am” or “No, ma’am.” They taught us to value people and use things, not the other way around. I learned the importance of bestowing honor on other people. I was not the only one. It was the ethic of the day. I miss those days—and the way we treated others.

Chapter 12​ of Paul’s letter to the Romans contains a series of verses that call those who follow Jesus to pursue the kind of human relationships that result in honor, dignity, and respect. Here are a few powerful, practical verses from Romans 12 that give guidance on the way we should treat others:

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment….Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves….Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality….Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited….If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:3, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17)

Here’s the summary for me:

“Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10.

One of the most practical lessons anyone can learn is to bestow honor. It will dignify those around you and improve the quality of your life. It will earn you a good reputation and keep you from regret. Since everyone wants to be honored, all we have to do is honor others above ourselves.

Honoring others above ourselves is the culture of heaven, and God is bringing it to earth. If practiced in the home, it will transform the home. If practiced in the workplace, it will transform the workplace. If practiced in the world, it will transform the world. Honoring others above ourselves is nothing less than relational genius.

Bestow honor on someone today, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

10/09/2026

This week, the Global Methodist Church’s Ministry and Higher Education Commission completed its review of United Theological Seminary and affirmed a decision not to approve the seminary for the future preparation of Global Methodist clergy. The review identified differences in doctrinal commitments, institutional alignment, and clergy formation that led the Commission to conclude that United does not sufficiently align with the Global Methodist Church’s specific standards for institutions preparing its clergy.

The Commission appreciates United’s dedication to theological education, teaching the gospel, and its contributions to preparing men and women for Christian ministry. The Global Methodist Church remains committed to ensuring that its future clergy receive preparation consistent with the Church’s doctrine and beliefs.

The review followed the Commission’s established process for evaluating educational institutions and included engagement with United’s leadership, faculty, and administration, including an onsite meeting on September 19, 2026. We are grateful for United’s gracious engagement throughout this process.

The Commission recognizes that this decision may bring questions and concerns for students and others in the United community. The care of Global Methodist students currently enrolled at United, and continuity in their educational preparation, have been important considerations throughout the review.

Global Methodist students who matriculated at United Theological Seminary on or before December 31, 2026 may complete their current educational program at United and have that program recognized toward applicable Global Methodist educational requirements, subject to the requirements governing their respective candidacy and ordination processes.

Students who choose to transfer to an approved Global Methodist educational institution will be supported in identifying opportunities to transfer eligible academic credits and continue progress toward their educational requirements.

We pray God’s blessing upon United Theological Seminary, its students, faculty, administration, and alumni as they continue their work of theological education and Christian ministry.

For questions and student support, please contact your annual conference’s board of ministry.

10/08/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON RELATIONAL PRIORITIES

One of the value decisions we make regularly is what relationships are most important to us.

When we are born—the most important people in our lives are the ones who act daily to keep us alive by feeding and caring for us—our parents. As we grow—our relational circles expand to include family and friends. When we begin to mature into adulthood—our circle of relationships is ever expanding—significant others, teammates, co-workers, and neighbors to name a few. If we’re fortunate, our multi-generational, nurturing family forms the tightest circle of relationships.

Most people assume that God is pro-family, and there is much in the Bible to support that idea. God created marriage (Genesis 2:21-22). He is against divorce (Matthew 19:8). The Lord commands us to honor our parents (Exodus 20:12), and he provided a family for Jesus to be raised and nurtured within (Matthew 1:18).

But if God is pro-family, he is pro-Jesus even more. We are commanded to follow Christ, even at the cost of losing our family. Jesus himself said,

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

Jesus needs to be our top relational priority. I’ve seen Christian wives be rejected by their unbelieving husbands, and Christian husbands be rejected by their unbelieving wives. I’ve seen the same between parents and children and brothers and sisters.

Jesus also said:

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36)

When Jesus said we are to hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, he didn’t mean that we are to wish them harm. He meant that our love for him should be so great it makes all other loves seem like hatred by comparison.

Love Jesus first and best, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

10/05/2026

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ASKING QUESTIONS

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived—and could answer any question with his God-given wisdom.

“When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all she had on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her.” (2 Chronicles 9:1-2)

None of us is Solomon, but sometimes we try. Such was the case of the Pharisees and experts of the law. Jesus reprimanded them because they acted like they knew it all:

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.”
(Luke 11:52)

When I was growing up, I thought adults had all the answers, and it was only a matter of time before I would have all the answers too. But when I became an adult, one secret I learned is the importance of asking great questions. The right question can bring penetrating focus to a sermon, help crack open an interview, help a person struggling with low self-esteem see their worth, gather information locked in hurt and pain, and break the ice of a frozen heart.

That said, I’ve also discovered adults do not have all the answers, and even stopped asking the most important questions, such as: Who am I? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Where am I going? How should I live? What is the meaning of life? Why has God breathed life into me, for heaven’s sake?

People stop asking these existential questions because, humanly speaking, they are often unknowable by human reason. The answers from philosophy are not convincing because philosophy can argue in any direction.

But if God has spoken from heaven, and has even come to earth, then our deepest questions have been answered. Jesus Christ is the key to knowing all that is most important. Jesus Christ is the answer to life’s existential questions. He unlocks the meaning of the Bible, and thus the meaning of life. The only way to understand life is through the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the answer, my friends!

Bishop Jeff Greenway

10/01/2026

Every experience, good or bad, has purpose. If we yield it to God, He can use it for His greater plan. He transformed lives like Paul's and Timothy's, and He can do the same for you. See the full video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8YsJDosd0w

10/01/2026

Dallas Willard asked two crucial questions for church leaders: what's our plan for making disciples, and how's it working? Many measure success by attendance, but Jesus commissioned us to make disciples. Refocus offers a 2-year journey to embed disciple-making at your church's core.

You can still register for Refocus at https://therivernetwork.org/refocus.