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In This Issue

EFCA GODSIGHTINGS TELL YOUR STORY

When families gather, it is stories of the past and present celebrated together in laughter and tears that unify their hearts. GodSightings are the evidence of God's hand in action touching our lives. The goal of the GodSightings campaign is to unify the hearts of the EFCA family! Gather. Share. Celebrate God's handiwork across the EFCA! Email stories to Godsightings@efca.org.  (Please attach related pictures whenever available, and be sure to advise if the story should be communicated anonymously.)
 
My son Caleb played on the high school football team.  During that time, he became friends with a teammate named Weston.  For three years, Caleb prayed for Weston's salvation.  As a family, we befriended Weston to the point of him becoming like a brother to Caleb.  Weston came to church with us and to the plays that our younger kids were in.  It wasn't long before Weston began asking questions of a spiritual nature, of which my wife and I gladly answered.  He then gave his life to Christ, and wanted to be baptized.  One morning in church, Weston shared his testimony, thanking God for friends like Caleb who cared to share their faith with him.  A woman who heard Weston's testimony asked Caleb to pray for her son who is not walking with the Lord.  Now, my wife and this woman have Bible studies together, praying for her son to return to God. 
Robert Torres - Madera, CA

Over the last 6 years, southwest ND, and specifically the community of Mott, North Dakota experienced a localized drought that has been of particular impact in 2006. Typically strong and resilient people seem to be losing hope and questioning their faith as a result of being faced with the prospect of losing their jobs, homes or farms. The state of mind and condition of the people in Mott is very similar to those TouchGlobal is helping in New Orleans, since the impact of Hurricane Katrina. From the experience gained in Louisiana, we have found a small expression of tangible hope, a small act of service, or expression of love, shared by caring people, goes a long way in restoring lost hope and refreshing faith in the Lord. After learning the status in Mott, I heard God saying, "Take the hope I have shown in New Orleans to the hurting people in North Dakota."

November 6 - 9 I traveled to Mott, ND, with a team of people from Trinity Church (an EFCA church in Covington, LA) and TouchGlobal staff to share hope and Christ's love. We helped organize a dinner serving nearly 250 people from the county. Following the dinner we participated in an evangelistic outreach, sharing the story of how God is restoring hope in New Orleans with those in need in ND. In addition to the dinner and outreach event, gift card packages were distributed to 130 families. Purchased with donations from churches around the country - including New Orleans - the gift cards are affording those in Mott the ability to have a Thanksgiving dinner truly provided by the Lord.

One elderly lady shared the gift card was "a gift from God just when she needed it."  Another who attended the event stated, "It is so amazing they would take time away from the huge amount of work they have to come and help us in Mott."  It was fantastic to see people so excited about this event.  And the sharing of hope and love with the people of Mott has only begun. I learned recently a Mott Sunday School class topic of discussion turned to the movie "Facing the Giants," a powerful movie about faith, hope and triumph over adversity.  The Sunday school class turned the discussion into a sharing opportunity, developing the idea to give a free ticket to any high school student who wanted to see the movie.  The result of their motivation? Before class ended, they received approval from the local theater manager to offer the free tickets. Another small expression of tangible hope, just beginning to restore and refresh faith in Christ--another EFCA GodSighting.
Mark Lewis, Director of Crisis Response - TouchGlobal, with additional information from Brian Wright - Mott, ND

 

2007 MIDWINTER MINISTERIAL THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Please join us at Faith Missionary Church in Indianapolis, IN January 24-26, 2007 for the Ministerial Association's Midwinter Theological Conference: "Inerrancy, Hermeneutics, and Eschatology." Go to http://www.efca.org/pastoralcare/ to download the conference brochure.

HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF TEAMS NEEDED

Almost 6,000 people have come to the Gulf Coast to minister to those impacted by Hurricane Katrina over the last year.  Thank you!  The needs of people are extensive with hundreds of thousands still out of their homes. The opportunity to minister and share the Gospel with people is huge.

EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response Ministry in New Orleans is in the process of reconstructing dozens of homes.  There is a critical need for skilled and unskilled volunteers to go to the mission field in Southern LA--to engage in the ministry of restoring hope and sharing the Gospel while rebuilding home and lives.

Please consider how you can help in this ongoing mission, either by serving as a volunteer or by giving resources to help with the purchase of construction materials, other needed supplies and ministry expenses. To send a team or donate, go to http://www.efca.org/katrina.

BUMP REGISTRATION NOW LIVE

BUMP (Bridging Urban Mission Project) is the youth summer missions experience of the Urban & Intercultural Mission. BUMP exists to provide an affordable, accessible, cross-cultural missions experience for teens in urban settings across the U.S. The BUMP program and events are geared to empower neighborhood Christians to minister in their local churches and communities. To learn more about BUMP, check out the video and web page at http://www.efca.org/bump

 

 

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR POSITION AVAILABLE

Alongside, a non-profit organization whose ministry is to restore hope, purpose, passion, and relationships among Christian leaders is seeking a professional counselor with significant experience served as a pastor or missionary.  License eligibility in Michigan is required.  For more details contact Alongside at (269) 671-4809 or on the web at http://www.alongsidecares.net

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MINISTRY CAMPAIGN SERVICES?

Ministry Campaign Services (MCS) has joined Christian Investors Foundation to create a one-stop-shop for your church's capital expansion needs.  We are excited to announce that MCS has achieved the milestone of serving 300 churches with campaigns ranging from $250,000 to $7 million.  For more information on MCS and how they can serve your church, go to http://www.efca.org/campaign/

 

 

 

NEXTSTEP RESOURCES

Why the Nativity? by David Jeremiah
Why do Christians make a big deal about an obscure baby born in a small town? Why Bethlehem? Why Jesus? Why does it make a difference to me? In Why the Nativity? David Jeremiah explains for both believers and skeptics alike why it's important to examine again the birth of that baby, Jesus. With the publicity surrounding "The Nativity Story" movie this fall, you'll want this book. It's at just the right price to give to people who are searching for the real meaning of Christmas. Buy in bulk!  Case of 48 Paperbacks 58% off
 
The One Year Bible
The One Year Bible, which helps individuals read the entire Bible in one year in as little as 15 minutes a day, has a fresh, new look. The One Year Bible guides readers through God's Word with daily text from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Buy in bulk!  Case of 20 Paperbacks 40% off

The One Year Bible for New Believers
The One Year Bible for New Believers is designed to help eager students of God's Word understand key Scriptural concepts. Concise notes focus on core insights in every Old Testament and New Testament reading. The daily notes highlight the Bible teaching about either "Who God Is,"  "What the Bible Says" or "How We Live" for each reading.  Buy in bulk!  Case of 16 Paperbacks 40% off
 
The One Year Chronological Bible
The One Year Chronological Bible is ideal for anyone who wants to read the Bible in the order the events actually happened. It not only gets readers through the Bible in a year, it also arranges it in chronological order. Helpful dating information is also included. The One Year Chronological Bible will give readers a fresh look at the Bible this year.  Buy in bulk!  Case of 16 Paperbacks 40% off
 
A Bible for $.50? 
Crossway is subsidizing the ESV Outreach New Testament in order to offer it through NextStep at $.50 per copy. This full-sized, feature-filled ESV New Testament contains many of the same characteristics as the popular ESV Outreach Bible, including the plan of salvation that is neglected in so many New Testaments. This offer is only good when you buy in bulk.  A case of 100 New Testaments is only $.50!
 
Go online to http://www.nsresources.com to find out more & order today!

EFCA FOUNDATION

Connect your ministry website to the EFCA Foundation website
The EFCA Foundation represents the preferred gift and estate planning resource center for the ministries of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Informed people make wise decisions.  The EFCA Foundation can assist families in various ways and we offer gift plans that can financially benefit your ministry. Check out the EFCA Foundation website at http://www.efcafoundation.org

Simply connect your site to http://www.efcafoundation.org and you may find increased giving and better informed stewards. For more information, please contact Lanny Harris at foundation@efca.org

WOMEN'S MINISTRIES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIP - Repeat

Do you desire specific leadership training in ministering to women? Would you like to see up close a healthy model of women's ministries serving in the context of the local church? If so, the Women's Ministries Leadership Internship is for you! The next Women's Ministries Internship is January 29-February 3, 2007 in Redlands, California hosted by former national Women's Ministries Director, Elizabeth Inrig and Trinity EFC. Registrations are now being accepted and information can be found by visiting http://www.efca.org/women/internships/index.html  Register early as space is limited. For more information call Natalie at (800) 745-2202, ext. 765 or by email at nbartelme@efca.org