In Case You Missed It: Beyond Our Brokenness: God’s Surprising Choices
In April, I had the joy of joining Bishop Tom Bickerton and 26 others—mostly clergy from the New England and New York Conferences—for a Wesley Heritage Tour through England. From York to Epworth, Bristol to Oxford, and finally London, we walked in the footsteps of John and Charles Wesley—founders of the Methodist movement. We visited John Wesley’s birthplace, stood in his prayer room, and gathered in the New Room in Bristol—the very first Methodist chapel, where ministries of healing, feeding, and advocacy for the poor began. As I knelt in his prayer room just next to his bed, I remembered his final words: “And best of all, God is with us.”
Early in the trip, Bishop Bickerton said something that stayed with me: “I don’t want to put Wesley on a pedestal. I want you to see him as a human being—with struggles, doubts, and imperfections.” That reminder grounded everything that followed. So often, we assume spiritual greatness requires perfection. But scripture—and our heritage—tell a different story.
Take Saul, whose story appears in Acts 9. Before he became the apostle Paul, he was a zealous persecutor of Christians. His conviction was sincere, but misdirected—causing real harm. Yet God didn’t disqualify him. God met him right in the middle of his misguided mission—with a flash of light and a call to become something new. Saul’s transformation wasn’t instant or easy—but it began in brokenness.
Then there’s Ananias, the one God sends to heal Saul. Ananias is afraid—and with good reason. But God doesn’t wait for him to be fearless, only faithful. Ananias lays hands on Saul, calls him “brother,” and becomes the bridge to a brand-new chapter of grace. God uses his hesitation as part of the healing.
Even John Wesley, whom we often admire for his discipline and brilliance, had his own doubts. He sometimes questioned his own faith, wondered if his preaching was effective, and struggled to live up to the standards he set. And yet it was in his vulnerability—at Aldersgate, when he felt his heart “strangely warmed”—that he experienced God’s grace most deeply. Not when he was perfect, but when he was real.
So why does God keep choosing people who are flawed, scared, or unsure? Because God’s power is made perfect not in our strength, but in our willingness. Our brokenness isn’t a barrier—it’s a beginning. Whether it’s Saul, Ananias, Wesley, or any of us, God doesn’t wait until we’re polished or put-together. God works through our imperfection to bring about healing, connection, and transformation.
As you reflect on the photos from the Wesley Tour, I invite you to reflect on your own journey, too. Where do you feel unqualified? Where is fear holding you back? And where might God be calling you—not despite your story, but because of it? May we all remember: the heart of the Methodist movement isn’t perfection—it’s grace in motion. And best of all, God is with us.
-Deacon Deb