Incoming Transition Letter to Friendship UMC

To the people of Friendship United Methodist Church,

My name is Meshach Kanyion, and it is with great joy that I am writing this letter to introduce myself as your new senior pastor beginning June 28th. On Tuesday, April 24th, I had the honor of meeting with members of your Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) and District Superintendent, Brian Brown. I was excited about joining you before this meeting, but after hearing from each person on your SPRC there was a sense of confirmation that accompanied my joy. I believe there are great things in store for FUMC.

But let me first share a little about myself. I was born in Nigeria, but spent the majority of my early years living in places from Scotland to Tulsa, OK, with my missionary parents. Eventually we settled in North College Hill where I graduated from high school in 2001.

Right after high school I joined the United States Marine Corps reserves. While serving in the Marines I also attended and graduated from THE Ohio State University in 2007. This is  where I met my beautiful wife, Ashanti. As of this letter we have been married almost 8 years, and we have 5 children: Charlee (7), Sameera (5), Elias (3), Trinity & Gabriel (2). As I type this letter we are on a family vacation in North Myrtle Beach and Gabe is trying to eat sand and sea shells… Back to the letter.

Our journey has taken us to several churches where I have served in different roles. I started off as a youth pastor, and from there I've served as an Associate, Senior, and Executive pastor. I am currently in the midst of a two-year residency (you can ask your SPRC what this means) at Epiphany UMC in Loveland, OH.

This brief bio brings me to the present. I believe there is a grand opportunity for Friendship UMC to continue the mission you began as a congregation long ago. That mission, which is well stated in your mission statement, is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. You have been faithful to this mission in different ways, and you’ve had great pastors encourage you to never become complacent, but to seek new ways to realize this vision. It is my hope that together we can discern the will of God, and follow Jesus Christ into the next season of fruitfulness at FUMC, as we bring the kingdom of heaven to bear upon Wyoming and other surrounding communities.

Until then I will be praying for you in this season of transition. I ask that you would pray for Pastor Stu and his new congregation at Miamisburg St. James, the people of Epiphany UMC, and all other churches and families experiencing the itinerant system this year. I’d also ask that you pray for my family and me whenever you can; even a short “God help them” will do. :-)

I look forward to meeting each and every one of you in person. If you happen to run into me at one of the upcoming district or conference events, please introduce yourself to me. 

Peace and Goodness,

Rev. Meshach Kanyion