Friday, October 2 - Saturday, October 3, 2026
Saint James Church | Montgomery, Alabama
The Abide Conference is a powerful annual gathering designed to renew our hearts in Jesus, awaken fresh hunger for God, and mobilize the Global Methodist movement in Alabama to live in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit.
It is more than a conference—it is a sacred opportunity to slow down, encounter Christ deeply, be filled afresh by the Spirit, and be sent out with renewed passion for the mission of God.
Keynote Speakers
Luther Oconer
Rev. Dr. Luther Oconer presides as Conference Superintendent of the Mega-Manila Annual Conference in the Global Methodist Church. Luther also currently serves on the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary and as an officer with the Wesleyan Theological Society, in addition to his role within the GMC. He is the leading voice in the Global Methodist movement on living empowered by the Holy Spirit, while remaining theologically centered.
John Ed Mathison
Rev. Dr. John Ed Mathison served as the senior minister of Frazer Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama for 36 years where it grew from a membership of 300 to 9,000. In retirement, he founded John Ed Mathison Leadership Ministries focusing on developing young effective leaders.
John Ed has modeled a lifetime of Abiding in Jesus. In a culture where walking daily with Jesus is challenging, John Ed offers wisdom for having the end in mind each and every day.
Harrison J. Bell
Rev. Dr. Harrison J. Bell is passionate about helping people abide in Jesus, together. As Lead Pastor of Saint James Church, he is leading a growing movement of discipleship focused on helping people experience the presence of Christ every day and live empowered by the Holy Spirit through Abiding in Jesus.
In addition to his pastoral ministry, Harrison serves the broader church as Chair of the Global Methodist Commission on Finance and Administration and as a member of the Global Methodist Church’s Global Connectional Council.
Lester Spencer
Rev. Dr. Lester Spencer is the Conference Superintendent of the Alabama Emerald Coast Conference of the Global Methodist Church, serving since its launch on May 7, 2023. A fourth-generation Methodist pastor, he has served more than 40 years in ministry across Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Previously, Dr. Spencer served over 25 years as Lead Pastor of Saint James Church in Montgomery, where he led the church through relocation and the development of a new 60-acre campus in Pike Road. He has also served as Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze UMC and Associate Pastor at Auburn Methodist.
Ray Velazquez
Rev. Ray Velazquez loves leading the people of God in passionate, Spirit-filled worship and walking with people to find their place in God’s great movement of worship.
To know Ray is to love him and his love for bringing people together from all backgrounds and nationalities through worship, allows the veil between heaven and earth grow thin.