Some gatherings simply fill your calendar. Others fire you up. The recent R3 Gathering for Global Methodist leaders across North and South Georgia was the second kind. R3 stands for Ruts, Roots, and Rhythms.

Hosted by the wonderful children’s ministry team who serve the families of Albany First Methodist Church, the event brought together lay leaders who serve in what we often call the second and middle seats of church leadership—those faithfully guiding ministries with children, youth, and families in the local church.

And Albany First truly were the hosts with the mostest. They are the caretakers of Camp Kirksey, a gem of a property with a huge bunk house with private chaperone rooms, a beautiful chapel, tent/RV hookups, bathhouse, dining hall, multiple playgrounds, and a fish pond.

Some attendees stayed in the camp bunkhouse (with excellent climate control and great hot water pressure), while others stayed at a nearby hotel about twenty minutes away. Everyone arrived between 3–5 p.m., gathering in the dining hall with a fun icebreaker: bring a “secret item” that represents something about who you are.

It didn’t take long before conversations were flowing.

Dinner that evening was at a local favorite Mexican restaurant in Albany, where we shared laughter and our favorite books from the past year. A few titles kept popping up around the table: Theo of Golden, novels by Kristin Hannah, and stories by Mark Sullivan.

At sunset, back at camp, the beautiful chapel was ready for worship. The Children’s Ministry team from Albany First had prepared interactive prayer stations based on Psalm 93, inviting us to move, reflect, and pray in creative ways. Worship was led by the incredibly gifted and anointed Leah George, and the space felt both peaceful and powerful.

The next morning brought a sweet surprise: a “Dunkin’ Donut angel” had delivered individual, personalized breakfast treats.

With coffee in hand—and new Global Methodist Church mugs as gifts—we began our first workshop at 9 a.m.

The theme was Ruts—but the good kind.

Think of the deep wagon ruts left by pioneer wagons. They marked a prepared trail for the pioneers who followed. In many ways, the pioneers of the Global Methodist Church are doing the same for us.

Our opening devotion came from Acts 6:1–5, a passage about the early church appointing leaders to ensure that everyone was cared for. It reminded us that much of our ministry looks like waiting tables—serving others so the apostles can devote themselves to the word and prayer and the body of Christ can flourish.

Hospitality leader Horst Schulze, co-founder of The Ritz-Carlton, described his staff as “ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” That phrase beautifully captures our calling in ministry. We are table-setters.

We prepare the space so others can grow: placing the chairs, setting the table, arranging the salt and pepper, making sure everything is ready to welcome disciples who are learning to walk with Christ.

Another guiding passage was Ephesians 4:11–13, reminding us that leaders exist to equip the saints for the work of ministry. We are far more than event planners; we are disciple-makers who set the table.

Our discussion began with two simple questions:

• What changes have you experienced at your church since joining the Global Methodist Church?
• What do you know about the GMC so far?

Talking points included, but were not limited to:

• No more guaranteed appointments, trust clause, apportionments as we knew them
• Global Body of Christ; International Partnerships with the goal of self-sustainability
• Ministry Safe emphasis on grooming
• Book of Doctrines & Discipline: Our Guiding Reference for Order and Practice
• Laity Partnerships: multiple laity training and teaching systems already in place
• We’re here to build a new team.and design a new playbook
• Though there is no GMC publishing house, there are resources most aligned with the GMC. A robust text thread of these resources was started among the R3 participants

For some participants, this language was completely new. For others, it was encouraging to realize they don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Faithful leaders have already begun the processes and systems to build a new playbook since we now play on a new team.

Here’s the challenge many of us face: Sunday keeps coming. Ministry schedules make it hard to carve out the time needed to learn the resources already available to us. But gatherings like this remind us that we’re not meant to figure things out alone.

We’ve been invited to help build something new together. And that’s worth making time for.

The first workshop alone held far more insight than could ever fit into an email or social media post. Which is exactly why we’re already planning the next R3 Gathering.

Interestingly, everyone who attended this one came from South Georgia—even though it was open to the entire state. So here’s my hope. I would love to host an R3 Gathering in North Georgia this fall.

If you’d like to help bring this opportunity to our region, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to me at dedereilly@comcast.net, and let’s start the conversation.

After all, when faithful pioneers leave good ruts in the road, the journey becomes a little clearer for everyone who follows.

“Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.” Psalm 93:5

In early March, I had the joy of returning to an organization close to my heart: the Georgia Preschool Association, founded in 1958 to promote quality care and education for children eight years old and younger across the state. I began my career in Christian education as a preschool teacher, then a preschool director. These are my people! From 2004–2010, I had the privilege of serving on their board. So when they invited me back to lead a 90-minute workshop for preschool directors at their annual conference in Marietta, Georgia, my answer was an enthusiastic, “Yes!”

The room was filled with leaders serving children in many kinds of preschool settings. Not all were faith-based organizations, but most were. I shared something right up front so they would understand where I was coming from:

“I’m a professional Christian educator, which means I filter how I believe, live, and lead through a Biblical worldview.”

Our workshop title was Branding, Bridges, and Biblical Vision—three simple ideas drawn from timeless Christian practices that can guide anyone leading those who lead young children.

Along the way, I built in “chat among yourselves” moments after each section. Directors leaned in, compared notes, and shared what was working in their own communities.

Branding: Knowing Who You Are

For Christian preschools, the Apostles’ Creed offers a beautiful outline of what we believe.

Branding simply means intentionally shaping an organization’s identity so others can clearly see who you are and what you value. It gives identity clarity.

Families rarely learn your values from a brochure. They learn them from their experiences.

If your sign says church along the roadside, how long would it take someone walking through the preschool hallway to know they’re in a Christian preschool?

Clear communication of mission can happen:

• At the beginning of the year – playground meet-ups, handbook gatherings, interactive photo booths
• Throughout the year – serving together, sharing meals, blessing families in missional ways
• At the end of the year – celebrating milestones, recognizing staff and students

Branding lives in the small, repeatable actions—how milestones are marked, how families are prayed for, how stories are shared.

Strong finishes lead to strong beginnings.

Bridges: Protecting Relationships

The Ten Commandments remind us how God’s people are meant to treat one another and the priority of relationships.

Most early childhood centers and weekday preschools hosted by churches share spaces with the congregation. When preschools and churches thrive together, it’s usually because trust has been intentionally built and protected. After all, shared spaces require shared relationships and all spaces in a local church are shared spaces.

That means:

• asking and answering honest questions
• giving the benefit of the doubt; not living on the defensive
• entering conversations with collaboration instead of negotiation
• honoring one another as brothers and sisters in Christ; believing the very best of one another; modeling a Christian family with shared values and mission

Preschool directors are uniquely positioned to nurture this shared life. Simple practices go a long way: shared prayer times, family nights, ministry partnerships beyond fundraisers, and even testimony moments where people share stories of God’s goodness.

One director once gave me, the kidmin lead, the same preschool staff t-shirt she gave her team each year. It was a small gesture—but it told me we were in this ministry to families together.

Healthy communication prevents resentment and builds mutual respect. People flourish where they feel valued.

For new staff coming from school systems, shared-space ministry may be unfamiliar. That’s why these values must be part of the onboarding process with continual reminders to the paid preschool staff that the servant leaders who lead in shared spaces are supporting the preschool as a ministry of the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. We are in this together!

Biblical Vision: Remembering Why We Exist

The Lord’s Prayer models a daily rhythm of conversation with God and regular reminder of priorities and positions.

Historically, churches launched weekday preschools in the 1950s and 60s to provide nurturing education in a Christian environment, meet growing childcare needs, and reach young families with the gospel. That mission is still alive today.

What leaders repeat eventually becomes the culture.

A director’s Biblical vision answers a simple but powerful question: Why does our preschool exist in light of God’s Word?

That vision shows up everywhere—in photos on the walls, hallway signage, staff shirts, classroom symbols, and the common language people use every day.

A Final Encouragement

As our time wrapped up, I reminded these directors that their work matters deeply.

They are vision-keepers, great-idea-holders, and culture-shapers every single day.

Clarity builds confidence.
Consistency builds trust.
Faithfulness builds legacy.
Lead with intention—and watch what God does through disciple-maker leadership leading those who love littles to Jesus in your organization.

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Hebrews 13:17

When Allison Vandenbergh and I finally met face-to-face at last year’s New Room Conference in Birmingham, we were both completely fan-girling over each other. After years of taking online classes, summer Zoom Bible studies, and multiple digital conversations with one another, we were finally in the same room—and we talked like we were trying to make up for lost time!

Allison, an Asbury Seminary graduate, has faithfully and effectively served children and families in south Georgia since 2011. Her church was among those that joined the Global Methodist Church at the start, and like many of us, she was asking important questions:

How do we represent our new denomination well?

We are now teachers and leaders on a new team. How do we coach one another and our congregational teams to work well together representing this new denomination?

What do those of us serving from the middle and second chairs need to adjust or strengthen so we exist to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe?

In the middle of our excited conversation—probably talking over one another, grinning from ear to ear—we decided to stop wondering and start building. Right then and there, the R3 Gathering was born. We received the blessing of the leadership of both the North Georgia GMC Conference and the South Georgia GMC Conference and began sharing everywhere we could.

The R3 Gathering is for local church staff and laity serving children and families in the Global Methodist Church in Georgia. We’ll meet March 12–13, 2026, at beautiful Camp Kirksey in south Georgia for a collaborative, practical, and Spirit-led time together beginning the afternoon on Thursday through late afternoon Friday.

R3 stands for Ruts, Roots, and Rhythms.

Ruts – Think of the ruts made by the pioneer wagons that went before us since John, Charles, and even Susanna Wesley. Think playbooks, structures, policies, and systems that help us move forward as a team. Together, we’ll draft ministry playbooks tailored to our local churches—clear, actionable guides that reflect the team we’re now on.

Roots – The holy habits that ground us, expressed in the scriptures, historically practiced to abide in Jesus, set apart for His purposes on purpose. As Global Methodists, we are committed to spreading scriptural holiness. We’ll define and design developmentally appropriate faith milestones that help disciples of all ages and stages abide in Christ and grow deep, lasting roots.

Rhythms – The patterns that sustain healthy ministry. We’ll lay groundwork for professional networks, measurable effectiveness, and practical strategies that empower those serving faithfully from middle and second chairs in their local church contexts as Global Methodists.

Everything we teach, practice, and create will be immediately usable—ideas you can implement within the next week, month, or quarter. It will be practical. It will be resourced. And it will wholeheartedly support this new movement we’re grateful to call the Global Methodist Church.

And yes—we’ll worship, sing, dance, laugh, and tell stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
We’ll engage in prayer stations you can easily implement at home.
We’ll enjoy table life with some holy guacamole.
We’ll share resources, design together, receive some GMC swag, and most importantly, grow in Christ and in friendships with one another.

There’s still time to join us.

Register HERE and bring a friend – we can’t wait to see you.

“Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.” Psalm 93:5