"I was just driving by," remembers Jean, a new Christian, "and I saw the name "Free" Methodist on the church. I felt troubled and thought, "that's what I need. I need to be free!"

The next Sunday she came back to the church and soon found in Christ the freedom she was looking for -- healing from a bad marriage and a painful divorce, freedom from sin, freedom from a list of addictions, and freedom to serve in Jesus' name.

The "Free" in Free Methodist stands for freedom from things that separate us from God, things that control us, and freedom to live our lives as God intends -- to serve Him and others.

But how to serve? The world is big. Our problems are big. Temptations hang on. Even our friends look big to us when we think of telling them about Jesus. We may feel small and afraid, up against things too big for us.

A few years ago while flying 36,000 feet over Africa and beginning the descent into Nairobi airport, I looked out over the grassy plains into the far distance and was gripped with a feeling of awesome smallness. I was a missionary then, I was overwhelmed. What did I have to offer in this vast sea of need?

How can we break out of fear into freedom to serve?
The same question faces all of us. We not only face individuals who need the Savior, but a huge world need. How can we make our lives count in this kind of world?  The key: God uses ordinary people and small groups to change the world. Ordinary people like us! Small groups like Free Methodists!

Connie is a Free Methodist who works in a beauty salon on the north side of the city. Her life touches dozens of women every week as she shampoos, cuts and curls. But she touches them not just with her hands; Connie touches them with the gospel. For she understands that the "free" in our name means the gospel is free to everyone. It also means that we are to keep ourselves free to do God's will -- whatever and however He leads us.

We expect to serve. From the beginning of our church, Free Methodists have ministered in the name of Christ. Whether in an apartment on Maple Street or a remote Andes village, we clearly see God's amazing power to change lives through the service of His people.

On the international scene our service takes us to more than 30 countries where we have established churches, schools, hospitals, village health outposts and literacy programs. We carry the good news of the gospel and help people help themselves in their struggle for a better life.

Here at home we regularly visit the sick and elderly, feed the hungry, build houses, give money, teach children, provide medical assistance and volunteer in all kinds of caring services. Every year an army of volunteers is sent into American cities and towns and into the remotest mission fields. There they minister, teach, repair, build and assist.

Jim and Elaine were ordinary people -- and Free Methodists. They had saved and planned for their dream vacation in the Caribbean. When the awaited time came, everything went wrong. They missed a flight, their car rental fell through and their hotel room had bugs. Nothing was working out as they had expected.

Then they remembered that the Free Methodist church had a mission station on that very island. They decided to find it, and they did, their lives were changed forever. The missionaries took them behind the resort scene to where they saw people living in pitiful, needy conditions -- needy for material help, and in need of the gospel.

Since that "vacation", Jim and Elaine have gone back every year to visit and work. The Department of World Missions has given them a support network so they can make a difference.

We teach, practice and expect involvement. The disciples followed Jesus; we also purpose to follow Him and do what we believe He would do if He were here. We seek to touch individual lives with His word of deliverance, grace and freedom.

How does this affect you?
First, it represents a true response to what God wants for His people called the "church". Pleasing Him is the most important thing that we can do with our lives, and salvation through Christ makes this possible. His Spirit gives us the power, and the Free Methodist Church provides a way to combine our strengths.

As you look for the best ways you can serve, remember: We can do more together, for we are a body of Christ's followers -- free to serve.