 Recently, I read a leadership book by Todd Bolsinger. He focused on Lewis and Clark. I've always found those pioneers to be of deep interest to me. Can you imagine what it's like to go to where no one they knew had ever been before? And how it is that a pioneer really blazes trails. Our history is really forged by pioneers who went before us. Likewise, I also think about those early Methodist circuit riders who went where no one else would go just to preach the good news of Jesus the Christ. As you may remember from annual conference this past year, we began to think about the theme, the idea, the strategy, the focus on new faces and new spaces. You have been invited to a vision day in each of our districts, and I hope you'll take time to attend. Because frankly, we live in a time now that we're moving into uncharted waters. Like where are people finding meaning in their lives? Is there a way in which we can connect with people whom we do not know in order to share the good news of Jesus the Christ with them? So I hope you'll attend a vision day in one of the districts and know that pioneers, those persons who go or so that others may follow them, will create a path into something new and vital for the church. I pray that is so.