President Penny Oliver

 To God Be the Glory for This Journey!

2nd District—you rock! Thank you, Thank you. We had an awesome Virtual Lay Convention, “Membership to Discipleship,” because of you: the devotion, the Spoken Word, the learning labs. And there is more to come: https://sedlo.org.

I can hardly believe I have served as President of the SEDLO for one year. The resignation of Immediate Past President Matthew Douglas was a shock to all of us. Nervous and unsure, I stepped into the role of President. From day one, I have viewed each office in the SEDLO as a ministry, and you simply can’t lead casually. For me, this meant I had to evaluate myself soberly every single time I stepped into leadership—not relying on “auto-pilot” from past experiences.

One of the first lessons I learned is that leadership demands presence. Whatever you commit to, you must give 100%—not 80%, not 90%, but be fully present. Leadership also means intentionally building relationships with people you might not normally spend time with. On the flip side, you may lose some friendships because of your devotion to discipleship. Leadership costs something—whether time, resources, or relationships—but it also leaves an impact on people, and that impact becomes part of your ministry.

Over the past year, here are some key convictions that have shaped me:

1. Pray. I cannot stress this enough—pray about your leadership, your ministry, your team. One of my regrets is not praying enough. How frequently we pray reflects how dependent we are on God.
2. Evangelize. Leadership does not exempt us from the Great Commission. Evangelism is not optional—it’s expected of every Christian. One of my regrets is getting too caught up in tasks and not spending enough time with people who needed to hear the gospel.
3. Delegate. Leadership does not mean doing it all yourself. Delegate wisely- --, not to avoid responsibility, but to involve others and build succession systems for the future.
4. Do ministry together. Ministry is not meant to be done alone. Pair leaders together; encourage one another; and share the load.
5. Enjoy Jesus. Don’t let ministry become an endless list of tasks. Keep your joy rooted in Christ—He is the reason we serve.

Lastly, I am deeply thankful for D. Faye Conley, 2nd District Director of Lay Activities. Her knowledge, kindness, patience, and sisterhood have been invaluable. She has taught me lessons and convictions that will shape my leadership for years to come.

As we now prepare for the 2026 SEDLO Convention next year in October—hosted by the North Carolina Conference under the leadership of President Elbert Davis—my prayer is that these reflections encourage all who are stepping into leadership or considering it. Ministry is not always easy, but when we pray, evangelize, delegate, do ministry together, and enjoy Jesus, it becomes both joyful and impactful.

To God be the glory!