The Kingdom of God
What if we press into the prayer that Jesus taught? What would it look like for the will of God to be done here on earth as it is in heaven? How is our Father in heaven calling us to participate in His answer to our cries for His kingdom to come? We invite you to come and see at the 2025 Virginia Annual Conference of the Global Methodist Church. Join us as we explore the ways God empowers us to become Children of the King, so we can mature into Citizens of His Kingdom, so we can carry the Good News as Ambassadors of His Kingdom as He works in us to bring about His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
We’ve added an extra day to Conference this year to be sure we have plenty of time for the Holy Spirit to meet with us and transform our hearts and minds for the work of His kingdom in Virginia in the year ahead. All our conference business, including the election of Delegates for the 2026 General Conference, will happen on May 29 th to clear the path for the heart of our gathering: worship, fellowship, and training to prepare us for God’s plans to bring His kingdom on earth as it in heaven.
Each day we’ll begin with a Concert of Prayer, led by John Bright and his team. Bishop Mark Webb, Superintendent Greg West, and Assistant Superintendent Brandon Nichols will share the progress and the vision for Virginia and the Global Methodist Church abroad. Three separate training times, with multiple options are scheduled for Day 2 and 3, with multiple worship times and opportunities to fellowship during food breaks built into all three days.
Bring your leadership, bring your families, bring your friends, if you love Jesus and want to grow in His kingdom, we want to see you May 29th through 31st at Riverton Church in Front Royal, Virginia. Come excited, come expectant, come and see what the Lord will do!
Where
Riverton Church 55 E Strasburg Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630
When
Thursday to Saturday
May 29 - May 31
Annual Conference Speakers
Prepare to be uplifted and inspired with various Virginia leaders joining us for our 2025 Annual Conference. Explore the diverse perspectives and spiritual insights shared by our lineup of respected clergy and laity.
Sarah Bailey
VA GMC Communications Chair
David Bean
Virginia GMC Gathering Team Chair
Keith Boyette
Retired Clergy
John Bright
Presiding Elder
Bob Cooper
Clergy - VA GMC
Tera Ertz
Virginia GMC Committee Member
Don Gibson
Clergy
Steve Hay
Clergy - GMC
Terry Hendricks
Virginia GMC Presiding Elder
Ho Kang
Clergy
David Lowe
Virginia GMC Presiding Elder
Doug West
Church Partnership Manager – Compassion International
Sung Yoo
Virginia GMC Leadership Team Member and Presiding Elder
Event Schedule
2025 Virginia Annual Conference Schedule
Our Schedule includes insightful messages, interactive trainings, Annual Conference Business and fellowship opportunities for you at the 2025 Virginia Conference.
Thursday May 29
Day 1 Theme: Children of the King
Registration
Prayer Room Opens
Yunho Eo
Concert of Prayer: Walking in Faith
John Bright, Ho Kang and The Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Lunch
Praise Music Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Clergy Session
Keith Boyette
Laity Session - Bible Study: The Lord’s Prayer
Tom Trezise
Conference Business Session
General Conference Delegate Election
Bishop Mark Webb
Supper Local Resturants
Find a friend to have supper with! Eat there or bring it back for evening worship!
Praise and Worship
Deborah Clark and The Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Friday May 30
Day 2 Theme: Citizens of the Kingdom
Registration
Prayer Room Opens
Yunho Eo
Concert of Prayer: Walking in the Spirit
John Bright, Sarah Bailey and The Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
State of the Conference
Superintendent Greg West and Vice Superintendent Brandon Nichols
Lunch
Praise and Worship
Marc Roberson and The Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Time with Bishop Mark Webb
Children of the King: Sacramental Theology David Lowe
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Jesus instituted certain practices during his ministry that help us orient ourselves to God the Father. We call these sacraments and mysteries. As Wesleyans we have a deep appreciation, longing, and history with these holy means of grace that help draw us into the family of God. Join Danville’s Presiding Elder David Lowe to learn about the scriptural foundation, practice, and Wesleyan understanding of baptism, our initiation into the family of God, and Communion, our ongoing coming together around God’s table.
Children of the King: Make Disciples Who Make Disciples Doug West
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You yearn to make disciples who make disciples. But sometimes it’s disheartening. Join like-minded leaders to dive deep into the practice more than 1,000 churches showed was “the most catalytic thing a church can do to make disciples.” You will swap stories, struggles and strengths and leave with a resource to catalyze disciples across the generations.
Children of the King: The Word of God Brandon Nichols
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Christian faith rests on the truth that there is a good God who desires to be known by us. From the beginning of time, He has reached down to His creation to reveal Himself as Creator, Lord, Life, Breath, and Father. As His children, we have the privilege of the Word He inspired through His Spirit to be written over the span of 1500 years, three continents, and more than 40 authors. We call this revelation of God’s being the Bible. Join Assistant Superintendent Brandon Nichols in exploring God’s purpose, plan, and provision for drawing His children deeper into knowledge of Him and maturity in faith.
Supper Local Restaurants
Find a friend to have supper with! Eat there or bring it back for evening worship!
Praise and Worship
The Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Saturday May 31, 2025
Day 3 Theme: Ambassadors of the Kingdom
Registration
Prayer Room Opens
Yunho Eo
Concert of Prayer: Walking in the World
Mary Sullivan-Trent, John Bright, and The Riverton Worship Team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Citizens of the Kingdom: Entire Sanctification Sung Yoo
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Identified by John Wesley as the “grand depositum” of Methodist teaching, entire sanctification is goal of those who call Christ Lord here on earth. Not a work of men, but of the Holy Spirit we cooperate with, we ask the Lord to come and make us holy ground, His temple here on earth, as it is in heaven. Join NoVA Presiding Elder Sung Yoo as he delves into what it looks like to mature in Christ under the power and grace of the Holy Spirit.
Citizens of the Kingdom: A Royal Priesthood Steve Hay and David Bean
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Modern culture superimposes a false understanding of authority and responsibility within the church between laity and clergy. This often leaves Christians, laity, and clergy, uneasy, confused, or frustrated when the call and conviction of the Holy Spirit spurs them to engage in the universal commission to all Christians found in Matthew 28. Scripture paints a picture of the whole body working together to allow Christ to accomplish the work of building His church through them. Join Rev. Steve Hay and David Bean as they explore healthy expectations for lay/clergy partnerships and a vision of the church that includes every part working together as it should so the body can build itself up in love.
Citizens of the Kingdom: Wesleyan Connectionalism Bob Cooper
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While Scripture tells us we are citizens of heaven, we recognize that we presently reside in the kingdom of this world. As strangers and sojourners here, we need one another for encouragement, correction, partnership, and to demonstrate the relational nature of God in a fractured world. One of the unique and brilliant elements of the Methodist movement across every generation is its connectional nature. Join Bob Cooper as he shares how Wesleyan Connectionalism helps us dwell in the kingdom of God while we are here on earth.
Lunch
Praise and Worship
Don Gibson and The Riverton Worship team led by Alex Giovinazzo
Ambassadors of the Kingdom: Practical Sanctification Tera Ertz
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Christ calls us to carry His kingdom into the world around us, becoming the embodiment of His message: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” We cannot accomplish this embodiment on our own, we are vessels for the Holy Spirit who works in and through us to bring His plans to completion. Scripture tells us that He primarily accomplishes this through two areas: spiritual disciplines and spiritual gifts. Join Tera Ertz for a practical exploration of what these tools look like in our lives and how we can position ourselves for the Holy Spirit to use us to engage the battle all around us.
Ambassadors of the Kingdom: Faithful Apologetic Engagement Greg West
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In the West, the marketplace of ideas has grown crowded with New Age, New Atheist, Postmodern, and Post-Christendom voices. It’s noisy out there! As Christians, we are called to carry our King’s message of hope, truth, and love into the maelstrom of other voices with courage and joy. Historically, from Paul’s day to ours, this practice has been called Apologetics. Join Superintendent Greg West for practical teaching on how to engage the cultural issues of our day and time with the timeless Truth and grace of God.
Ambassadors of the Kingdom: Practical Witnessing Terry Hendricks
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We often view evangelism as the work of a few specially gifted souls. Jesus said to His disciples, and through them to us, that we would be His witnesses, in our town, the areas around us, and all the way to the ends of the earth. There is no special dispensation for our shyness, nor special qualification beyond our faith in Christ. So, what does it mean to be a witness? Join Terry Hendricks as she examines how living a life marked by our transformation to citizens of the kingdom opens the door in everyday encounters to tell people who Jesus is and how He has changed our lives.
Ordination
Bishop Mark Webb
Gatherin of Ordinands and Families Celebration
Ordinands and their family and close friends are invited to the fellowship hall for a celebration with cake and beverages.
May 27
Ordinand Training
Bishop Mark Webb, Tom Thomas, Greg West, and Brandon Nichols
May 31
Ordinands Gathering
Bishop Mark Webb, Tom Thomas, Greg West, Brandon Nichols, and Presiding Elders
May 31
Ordination Sanctuary
Bishop Webb
May 31
Gathering of Ordinands and Family Celebration Fellowship Hall
Ordinands and their family and close friends are invited to the fellowship hall for a celebration with cake and beverages.
Prayer at Conference
We believe the Kingdom of God comes through the prayers of His people. Our team wants to share the many ways you can join us in prayer before, during, and after the Your Kingdom Come Conference.
Prayer Room - Led by Yunho Eo
Jesus called His Father’s house a house of prayer. First and foremost, we seek the Lord’s direction, blessing, and anointing on the kingdom-work of the Global Methodist Church in Virginia. From our beginnings, this meant we incorporated a dedicated space and willing hearts to bathe our conferences in prayer.
We are delighted that Rev. Yunho Eo will once again organize and lead our Conference Prayer Room. The prayer room is a set-apart place where a few people at a time, in rotation throughout the entire conference, will spend time praying to the Lord over the proceedings. The registration form will have an option for you to sign up to spend some time in the prayer room, and if you’d like to sign up after registration, you can contact us to be added to the schedule.
The Conference Team would like to say a huge thank you to all who have volunteered for this ministry in the past and all those who will do so this year. Your prayers are invaluable to our work.
Jesus called His Father’s house a house of prayer. First and foremost, we seek the Lord’s direction, blessing, and anointing on the kingdom-work of the Global Methodist Church in Virginia. From our beginnings, this meant we incorporated a dedicated space and willing hearts to bathe our conferences in prayer.
We are delighted that Rev. Yunho Eo will once again organize and lead our Conference Prayer Room. The prayer room is a set-apart place where a few people at a time, in rotation throughout the entire conference, will spend time praying to the Lord over the proceedings. The registration form will have an option for you to sign up to spend some time in the prayer room, and if you’d like to sign up after registration, you can contact us to be added to the schedule.
The Conference Team would like to say a huge thank you to all who have volunteered for this ministry in the past and all those who will do so this year. Your prayers are invaluable to our work.
Concert of Prayer - Led by John Bright
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying…” Revelation 5:7-9
Each day of our conference begins with a “Concert of Prayer.” We aim to fill the room with the prayers of His people as a pleasing offering of incense to the Lord. Richmond Presiding Elder John Bright and his team will help lead us in this time of invitation to the Holy Spirit, praise to the Lord of Hosts, and prayer for His creation. This hour of prayer is an invitation for the whole congregation to open themselves to the Spirit and share what they are hearing from Him.
Be prepared to speak the words He gives you to pray over the conference, your churches, your leaders, and your people. Sing the psalms He may suggest. Raise your hands or drop prostrate as the Holy Spirit intercedes through you with groaning. Methodists have a deep and rich heritage of Holy Spirit-filled prayer, supplication, and transformation. We fully expect God to continue this inbreaking of His kingdom and presence in our generation as we seek His will and equipping for the people of the Global Methodist Church of Virginia.
Each day, during this time together we will focus on a specific area in support of our daily teaching theme. Thursday John will lead us in prayers around Walking in Faith as we remember we are children of the King. Friday, we will lift prayers focused on Walking in the Spirit as we invite the Holy Spirit to transform us into mature citizens of the Kingdom. Saturday, we will entreat the Lord around Walking in the World as we anticipate His sending us out as ambassadors of His Kingdom. Join us with willing and hungry hearts during this time of preparation for the work of the day.
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying…” Revelation 5:7-9
Each day of our conference begins with a “Concert of Prayer.” We aim to fill the room with the prayers of His people as a pleasing offering of incense to the Lord. Richmond Presiding Elder John Bright and his team will help lead us in this time of invitation to the Holy Spirit, praise to the Lord of Hosts, and prayer for His creation. This hour of prayer is an invitation for the whole congregation to open themselves to the Spirit and share what they are hearing from Him.
Be prepared to speak the words He gives you to pray over the conference, your churches, your leaders, and your people. Sing the psalms He may suggest. Raise your hands or drop prostrate as the Holy Spirit intercedes through you with groaning. Methodists have a deep and rich heritage of Holy Spirit-filled prayer, supplication, and transformation. We fully expect God to continue this inbreaking of His kingdom and presence in our generation as we seek His will and equipping for the people of the Global Methodist Church of Virginia.
Each day, during this time together we will focus on a specific area in support of our daily teaching theme. Thursday John will lead us in prayers around Walking in Faith as we remember we are children of the King. Friday, we will lift prayers focused on Walking in the Spirit as we invite the Holy Spirit to transform us into mature citizens of the Kingdom. Saturday, we will entreat the Lord around Walking in the World as we anticipate His sending us out as ambassadors of His Kingdom. Join us with willing and hungry hearts during this time of preparation for the work of the day.
Altar Prayer - Led by Tera Ertz
The Old and New Testaments are filled with passages of God's people praying over one another, anointing one another, and laying hands on one another for healing, commissioning, and blessing. Methodism has a rich history of following these examples in Scripture when they come together in worship and come to the altar. We invite you to join us in this rich tradition as we prepare a team to meet you in worship.
Tera Ertz will lead a team of lay and clergy altar prayer ministers who are preparing to listen for the Holy Spirit and pray for all those who come in response to His call. We expect the Holy Spirit to inhabit His people in our days together, and we expect Him to meet us in our repentence, our supplication, our submission and our rejoicing. We stand ready to join with you in prayer, intercede on your behalf, and seek God's face with you.
During each session in the main sanctuary the altar team will have oil, hands, and hearts available to meet you at the altar. We encourage you to listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit as you worship and hear the Word of the Lord. And we encourage you to come with open and expectant hearts when He leads to to respond to His call.
If your heart fills with joy and your eyes fill with tears at the opportunity to pray with those who come to the altar of God, we would love to have you on our team. Please email Tera to volunteer for this vital ministry so she can include you in our time of training and preparation before Conference.
Prayer Guide and Zoom
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Matthew 6:9-13
We invite you to join us in prayer for the 30 days leading up to the Your Kingdom Come conference. Before April 29th we will publish a daily prayer guide with Scripture, a point of reflection, and a prayer that we hope will join all of God's people in the GMC of Virgina together in one focus: to seek His will and kingdom here among us. It will be in a PDF format that you can download, or you can follow our Facebook Page where we will be posting each days content.
We would also love to have you join us in our Virginia Conference Prayer Meetings. Every other week on Mondays at noon people from across the conference gather together on Zoom to pray for our conference, our leaders, our mission partners, and whatever else the Lord lays on our hearts. There is a brief time of devotion, a time of guided prayer as a large group, and then a time of small group prayer where we break into groups of 5-6 people to pray for one another. This is an ongoing ministry and it is always a great blessing to join our brothers and sisters across the conference between our gatherings. We would love to see you there!
If you would like to receive an invitation to the Prayer Zoom or subscribe to the newsletter to be sure you don't miss the prayer guide when it comes out, please visit our subscription page and select which information you would like to receive.
GMC Delegate Nomination Form
We’re beginning the process of collecting nomination forms for those who will represent our conference at next year’s General Conference in Africa.
Clergy Delegate Nomination
Please take a moment to fill out a nomination form to select a clergy person. Clergy may nominate clergy. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Brooke Thompson at bbailey@gmcvirginia.org.
Clergy Nominations FormLaity Delegate Nomination
Please take a moment to fill out a nomination form to select a laity person. Laity may nominate laity. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Brooke Thompson at bbailey@gmcvirginia.org.
Laity Nominations FormEvent Venue
Riverton Church, Front Royal, VA
Located in Front Royal Virginia Riverton is the location of this years Annual Conference Gathering! There are many hotels and local restaurants located near the church. The church has adquate parking and accessibility for everyone to attend the Annual Conference.
Event Accessibility Accommodations
If you are in need of accommodations for the 2025 VA Annual Conference Gathering please contact us at communications@gmcvirginia.org.
Accessibility at Riverton
Coming Soon!
Parking at Riverton
There is plenty of parking at Riverton Church.
Details coming soon!
There is a drop off and pick up zone near the registration area for those with limited mobility. If you need additional assistance to and from the parking lot please contact us.
Hotels
Here are some nearby hotels
Townplace Suites - Front Royal
The Global Methodist Church of Virginia is delighted to share special room rates for our conference attendees at Towne Place Suites – Front Royal. There are two room types, King for $149 per night or Double Queen beds for $159 per night. Rooms will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Use the link above to book your stay with the special conference rate.
1.9 Miles from the Venue
Doubletree Hilton
The Global Methodist Church of Virginia is delighted to share special room rates for our conference attendees at Double Tree Hilton. There are two room types, with King or Double Queen beds, for $149 per night. Rooms will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Use the link below to book your stay. Use the link above to book with the special conference rate.
3.3 Miles from the Venue
Restaurants
Friday Supper is on your own! Consider trying one of these local places.
Gallery
Check our gallery from the recent events
Volunteer at the Annual Conference
Volunteering at the VA GMC Annual Conference offers a unique opportunity to play an integral role in fostering a sense of community and service within the Global Methodist Church right here in Virginia. As a volunteer, you'll have the chance to contribute to the smooth operation of the conference, whether it's by assisting with registration, guiding attendees around the building, or providing logistical support behind the scenes. Your dedication and commitment to service will not only enrich the conference experience for all participants but also embody the spirit of Wesleyan hospitality and fellowship. Join us in making a difference and shaping the future of the Virginia Global Methodist Church Annual Conference.
To volunteer contact David Bean today!
Ministry Partners
Ministry Partners will be coming soon!
F.A.Q
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How do I nominate a Delegate for the GMC General Conference?
Clergy delegates will recieve a form to complete to nominate themselves or someone else as a delegate to the GMC General Conference. If you are Clergy delegate and you do not receive an email by May 1st please contact Brooke Bailey.
We are in the process of gathering Lay Delegate information to be able to email out the lay nomination form. Once we have this information from churches we will email the lay nomination form out at a later date. Please be in prayerful consideration on who you wish to nominate.
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Who is allowed to vote for Delegates to the GMC General Conference
Only church delegates (laity) and GMC clergy are allowed to vote. If you are a clergy and have questions about your specific voting status please contact us as soon as possible.
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Who is allowed to come to the VA GMC Ordination on May 31st?
Anyone who wishes to attend the Spring 2025 Ordination class of the VA GMC can be present. We encourage all conference attendees to stay for the ordination service if they are able to celebrate the ordinands for answer the call God has placed on their lives.
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I am being ordained, who am I allowed to bring up with me?
Each ordinand may have up to two elders as sponsors, and their spouse and children, if applicable, to stand with you for the laying on of hands. Of course, please invite your family, friends, and church folk to the service.
Families of ordinands will not have reserved seating so please have anyone coming up with you come early to get a seat that will work for them.
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I am in need of a disability accommodation for this event how can I make my request?
If you have an accommodation need please contact Brooke Bailey. We will try to accommodate your needs with a reasonable accommodation.
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Is there a designated section for voting and non-voting members?
Yes. There will be a designated section that will be roped off for voting members to sit. Other attendees are welcome to be present during the vote in other areas of the sanctuary.
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What food is going to be available at the GMC Annual Conference?
The Virginia GMC will be providing the following food and beverages at the 2025 VA GMC Annual Conference Gathering:
- Lunch all 3 days
- Snacks all 3 days
- Drinks for meals
- Ordination Reception food and drinks
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I have a food allergy what are my options?
If you have a food allergy that will need to be accommodated please contact Brooke Bailey.
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I have a child being brought with me will childcare be provided?
Yes! We want to encourage families to attend Conference. HOWEVER, to ensure adequate supervision for all children in our childcare area, you must pre-register your child on your registration form!!!!! If your child is not pre-registered, they are welcome to remain with you throughout the conference, but we will NOT be able to accommodate them in the childcare area.
This is so that we have the proper number of attendees in the childcare for the children that will be there.
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What hotel arrangements are available?
The conference is working on making arrangements with hotels provided us with a list of hotels that are nice and close to the hotel to meet your needs!
Towneplace and Doubletree have agreed to special rates for the VA GMC but will be on a first come first serve basis.
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I only want to come for one day is that possible?
Yes! You can register for just 1 day of the conference, of your choosing. If you need assistance registering please contact the gathering team today!
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Is Supper being provided at the conference?
Supper is not being provided by the conference. A plan meal break is being scheduled between 5-7pm for you to go out and get food. You can bring food back or enjoy it at the restaurant. We encourage you to fellowship with conference attendees!
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Am I allowed to bring food or drinks into the conference?
Yes! You are allowed to bring in outside food and drinks as you wish. We require that you do not bring glass into the facility for safety and that you dispose of food and drink containers in the recycle bins as needed.
Registration Options
Look at our registration options based on your role at the conference and how many days you wish to attend!
Non-Delegate
Daily Pass
$20 a Day
- Snacks and Beverages For Days Attending
- Lunch For Days Attending
- Name Badge
- Bag of Information
- Trainings For Days Attending
Non-Delegate
3 Day Pass
$50
- Snacks and Beverages All Days
- Lunch All Days
- Name Badge
- Bag of Information
- Trainings
Church Delegate & Clergy
Day Pass
$20 a Day
- Snacks and Beverages For Days Attending
- Lunch For Days Attending
- Name Badge
- Bag of Information
- Trainings on Days Attending
- Voting Information
*Delegates MUST attend Day 1 and will also receive voting information
Register as a Delegate Day PassChurch Delegate & Clergy
3 Day Pass
$50
- Snacks and Beverages For All Days
- Lunch All Days
- Name Badge
- Bag of Information
- Trainings
- Voting Information
*Delegates will also receive voting information
Register a Delegate 3 Day PassRegistration and Checkin At The Event
Once you arrive at Riverton you will go to the registration desk. At the registration table you will recieve your name tag and all materials you will need for the conference day(s). Once registered you can proceed into Riverton Church to get adjusted to the building and fellowship with others until the days events begin.
Contact Us
Need assistance with something, please contact us today!