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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.)

There is nothing impossible with God! In February 2007, the Lord brought glory to His name allowing the congregation of Misión Cristiana Los Olivos, the Evangelical Free Church in Guatemala, to bring their vision to a new level by making the last payment on a loan to purchase land for their new facilities. In Oscar's own words (an elder of Los Olivos):

"To get the US$74,000 was a miracle. My tears come down when I write this, because we just had US$466.67 in our account on December 1, 2006. In two months, God provided the $74,000 and a little more so we could share something to eat with all the members at our Sunday evening service." Oscar continued, "God is showing us how He can use people for His glory. An old sister attending our church was very poor and very sick the last months she lived. Her son-in-law brought us an envelope she left to our project. She wanted to give her last offering to help pay for the land. Separately, yet for the same goal, I shared the Los Olivos vision with a couple in the States. While I was sharing, this man was very touched (close to speechless), he said, ‘Oscar...  I am going to give my Harley-Davidson to Los Olivos so you can pay for the land.' God is good!"

P.S. Oscar asks for continued prayer that the Los Olivos vision will now expand to the 8 villages around Sumpango. (The goal is to plant a church in each village.)

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2007

We the tree...We seem to have figured out what Jesus was saying in Acts 1:8 when He directed us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and all the earth, but the Samaria directive somehow escapes us.  We the tree, we the EFCA, must go through Samaria.  We must discover who, what and where our Samaria is to be obedient to Christ's command.  The Scriptures depict a portrait of God that we seek to understand both personally and corporately as His church. They reveal a righteous, creative, merciful, glorious, sovereign God who loves the people of Samaria.  Our mission is to glorify God by multiplying healthy churches among all people, including the people of Samaria. We the tree, desiring to glorify God, must go through Samaria. B the tree.
 
Join us June 27-30, 2007, in Minneapolis, MN, as we explore together what it means for us as the EFCA to go through Samaria.  In keeping with the theme, all of the main sessions will be translated into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking leaders, and there will be several training seminars available in Spanish for both men and women.
 
Watch your mailbox for a promotional DVD coming mid-April. Conference registration opens April 1.  Go to http://www.bthetree.org/register

URBAN & INTERCULTURAL MISSION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE SPECIAL EVENTS

Hispanic Ministries Dinner - La Fiesta de Compañeros*
Mark your calendars - June 29, 2007. You're invited to La Fiesta de Compañeros! The EFCA Hispanic Association is hosting a dinner Friday evening at the EFCA Leadership Conference to thank those of you who have helped us in our journey through our Samaria, and to invite you to help us reach our Samaria. Come join us as together we celebrate God's faithfulness and dream about the future of Hispanic Ministries in the EFCA. For more information, go to http://www.efca.org/urban/hispanicministries/index.html
*(compañeros=fellow family laborers)
 
African-American Fellowship Reunion Weekend
Save the date! The African-American Fellowship is hosting the first AAF Reunion Weekend following the EFCA Leadership Conference in Minneapolis, MN. Make plans to join the Fellowship on Saturday, June 30 for the AAF family business meeting. On Sunday, July 1, the Fellowship will visit local churches to worship with AAF family members in the Twin Cities. Watch the UIM website for more information in the coming months! (http://www.efca.org/urban/africanamerministries/index.html)

EFCA SEEKING NATIONAL WOMEN'S MINISTRIES DIRECTOR

Do you know a visionary team leader with passion to equip women for life, ministry and mission? EFCA National Ministries and Women's Ministries is beginning a search for a national director to build the EFCA women's ministries movement equipping women in partnership with districts and local churches.
 
This part-time position will serve as a member of the National Ministries team, and report to National Ministries Executive Director, Rev. Fritz Dale. Relocation to Minneapolis is not required.
 
Please send inquiries, resumes and questions to:
Sharon Trucker
EFCA
901 East 78th Street
Minneapolis MN 55420
sharon.trucker@efca.org  
(952) 853-8410
 
For the complete job description, go to http://www.efca.org/employment/media/nm128kra.pdf. To obtain a position profile, contact sharon.trucker@efca.org.

WHAT IS A CHURCH?

EFCA church planting ministries in conjunction with EFCA EQUIP is conducting an open forum discussion on the topic "What is a Church?"  If you are interested in joining this active discussion on the most basic Biblical definition of a local church, please contact George Klippenes at george.klippenes@efca.org.

NEXTSTEP RESOURCES SPECIALS

Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends
By Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Charles Anderson, and Michael Sleasman, eds.
Everyday Theology is the reflective and practical task of living each day as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. In other words, theology is not just for Sundays, and it's not just for professional theologians. Everyday Theology teaches all Christians how to get the theological lay of the land.
http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=8662
 
FREE Bible Study and Small Groups CD-ROM
On this CD, you will find the newest adult Bible study material available.  You can view clips of the DVD curriculum and click on the different products to go to our website for more information.
http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=9304
 
FREE H2O Preview CD
H2O is an evocative, DVD-driven, group-oriented journey of faith. Hosted by Kyle Idleman, the 10 episodes of high-definition video are a new way to share your faith. Get together, enjoy a meal, watch a DVD, have a conversation, and end with an invitation to be transformed through the living water of Jesus Christ.  The preview CD offers short clips of each episode and allows viewers to better understand this new curriculum. http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?cPath=6_60&products_id=9371

2007 EFCA Ministerial Association Midwinter Theological Discussion Study Pack
This 9 CD set includes audio, presenters notes, and slides from the conference.  Included in the study pack for $30 are:

  • CD 1 - Hermeneutics of Dispensationalism by Elliot Johnson
  • CD 2 - Hermeneutics of Progressive Dispensationalism by Darrell Bock
  • CD 3 - Hermeneutics of Historic Premillennialism by Douglas Moo
  • CD 4 - Hermeneutics of Amillennialism by Gregory Beale
  • CD 5 - Presenters Response
  • CD 6 - Interaction with Presenters (part 1)
  • CD 7 - Interaction with Presenters (part 2)
  • CD 8 - Drawing Doctrinal Lines: Where and How? by Michael Andrus
  • CD 9 - PDFs of Handouts and Slides
Go to http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=9214 to order your study pack today!

CHRISTIAN INVESTORS FOUNDATION

Since 1959, Christian Investors Foundation has helped hundreds of Evangelical Free Church congregations realize their dream of buying, building, or remodeling their church facility.  Our mission is to serve your congregation by providing the loan you need to make your building project a reality.  If your church is considering expansion or renovating, call or write today for a free church loan packet.  For more information and a church loan packet, call us today at (800) 995-8574, visit us online at http://www.christian/investors.org, or email us at admin@christianinvestors.org.

EFCA CONNECT

Is your church looking for help with your missions program?  We have staff available to take your church the next step.  For more information, contact Steve Austvold at steve.austvold@efca.org.

INTERIM PASTOR MINISTRIES

WANTED: Men with pastoral experience for significant but less stressful ministry
Interim Pastor Ministries is looking for pastors who want to do their best ministry after they pass 60 years of age.  There is no greater joy than helping a church get healthy again.  If this interests you, go to http://www.interimpastors.org for more ministry information, and to register for an upcoming Intentional Interim training at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, MN on June 24-26, 2007.

GREAT MISSIONS IDEAS

How can EFCA churches help churches in other countries be involved in cross-cultural missions? First EFC in Rockford, Illinois helped their partner church in Slovakia gain a vision and do a missions project in Ukraine, with results that are now reaching into Romania! To read the latest issue of Synergy Newsletter and learn how it all happened, go to http://www.dualreach.org/missions/bm~doc/synergy-newsletter-efca-0307.pdf

MEN'S MINISTRIES

National Coalition of Men's Ministries Conference
Don't miss this year's "Spring MoMENtum Conference" sponsored by the National Coalition of Men's Ministries, April 12-14, 2007 in Kansas City, MO. This is a unique opportunity for senior pastors, associate pastors, church leaders, and anyone serving or desiring to serve ministry to men in the church.  This is not a typical men's conference.  Every minute is designed to equip and encourage men's leaders.  EFCA Men's Ministries will present "Creating Male Context in the Local Church" training and will have Top Gun men's curriculum experts on site.  For conference details and registration, go to http://www.ncmm.org. 
 
Stand in the Gap 2007
Make plans now to return to Washington, D.C. on October 6, 2007 to join thousands of men - fathers, sons and grandsons - to mark the 10-year anniversary of the first Stand in the Gap Sacred Assembly.  This event is part of a plan to repeat every 10 years as a legacy of Christian men in America.  Find more information at http://www.standinthegap2007.org.

EFCA FOUNDATION

Our "Biblical Principles of Giving" brochure is full of scriptural references for good stewardship. This might be the perfect resource for teaching God's principles related to money and possessions.  Consider providing the brochure to your congregation, adult education classes or small groups.  The cost is $.15/brochure.  To order or receive a complimentary sample, contact julie.peterson@efca.org or (800) 745-2202 ext. 448.

 

GLOBAL MINISTRY SUMMIT

ReachGlobal offers a training and resource ministry for churches called the Global Ministry Summit. It is a 1-day conference designed to help missions leadership teams in global outreach. It will stimulate your thinking to new levels, offer many practical ideas you can implement immediately, and assist you in networking with others.

September 15, 2007 in Kearney, NE
Contact Mark Allen at mark.allen@efca.org for registration and information.

Do you want to host a Global Ministry Summit in 2007?
Please contact Steve Austvold, steve.austvold@efca.org  or further information about your church hosting a GMS.

CHURCH PLANTING BOOTCAMPS - Repeat

An intensive five-day training experience, BootCamp covers the major issues church planters face in their first year.
 
May 14-18
Dallas Theological Seminary - Dallas, TX
OR
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School - Chicago, IL
 
Register online at http://www/efca.org/planting.  Early bird registration ends April 22.  Contact churchplanting@efca.org or (800) 745-2202 with questions, or visit the web site at http://www.efca.org/planting.