Cecil Williamson Award

If the Global Methodist Church is to embody the Holy Spirit fueled revival of early Methodism, we must continually renew our commitment to evangelism. We stand on the shoulders of individuals that were burdened to offer the saving and sanctifying grace of Jesus to a fallen and broken world. By the end of the 19th century, the Methodist Movement in America was the fastest-growing Christian denomination. That growth was not just about having more members or being the “biggest,” it was about winning the hearts of men and women, boys and girls to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Those early Methodist understood that Jesus, in his last words to his followers, before the ascension told them, to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. (Acts 1:8) This promise was made possible by the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4, and it was sustained by the practices of discipleship implemented in Acts 2:42-47. There is a deep connection between discipleship and the work of evangelism. As people grow in their relationship with Jesus, they feel called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to invite others to join them.   

At our 2025 Annual Conference, we passed a resolution to create an evangelism award in memory of the Rev. Cecil Williamson. Cecil dedicated most of his adult life to proactively sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. There are 10s of 1000s who are a part of the Kingdom of God because of The Cecil Williamson Ministry in Evangelism. He and many other giants of the faith have provided great examples for us, of what it looks like to take seriously the call to introduce others to the One who not only loves our souls but came to save them!

The wonderful news is that we have clergy and laity in the MS-West TN Conference who are serious about both discipleship and evangelism. If we are to be successful, we must keep this important work before us and never lose sight of introducing people to saving faith in Jesus.

We are inviting individuals from our Annual Conference to nominate both a clergy and lay person for this award.  The clergy and lay person respectively will be acknowledged at Annual Conference and awarded $1,000 mission grant to give to the ministry of their choosing! May their examples inspire us to be about the work our Lord has commanded us to do!

Please submit your nominations no later than Friday, May 8.