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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.)

Elie, a 22 year old hemophiliac who attends EFC of Lebanon in Beirut, needs surgery for a tumor on his foot. To have the surgery, he will need 50,000 units of a very expensive medication.  Since the war in Lebanon, this product has not been available.  Pastor Joseph Najem wrote to ask if EFCA TouchGlobal could help. After making some calls, we learned of a woman in Omaha, NE eager to help. Her son has hemophilia and was recently switched to a different medication.  She had some of the medication Elie needs. She gave 252,000 units of this very special medication as a donation for Elie and for any other hemophiliac in Beirut that may need it!  Now that we have seen the first miracle (what a GodSighting!), we pray that God will open doors so that these two large boxes can be shipped from Minneapolis to Lebanon.  They must go with someone traveling to that area. We're praying for another miracle! 

TEDS ANNOUNCES EFCA DISTRICT CHURCH PLANTING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School announces the creation of a new scholarship program that will aid EFCA District Superintendents in identifying, equipping and training a new generation of church planters. The EFCA District Church Planting Scholarship Program will provide each District Superintendent with a minimum of one prospective Church Planting Scholarship Program nomination per year. Nominated program applicants who meet admissions requirements to the TEDS MDiv degree program will receive a $5,000 annual Church Planting Grant (based upon full-time attendance). Additionally, program participants will be eligible to combine this award with the existing EFCA Church Match Grant program of $2,000, where a contribution of up to $2,000 from an EFCA church will be matched by the same amount from TEDS.  The $5,000 scholarship, combined with $2,000 from an EFCA church and an additional $2,000 matched by TEDS means a $9,000 scholarship towards tuition costs of $13,200 for the 2007-2008 academic year!
 
Trinity is excited to partner with the EFCA in fulfilling its mission of multiplying healthy churches among all people, particularly by making the training of church planters a priority. For more information on the EFCA District Church Planting Scholarship Program, contact Dr. Ken Botton, Director of Church Partnerships at (877) 634-6369 or email kbotton@tiu.edu. Also learn more about church planting at TEDS by visiting our new Web page at http://www.teds.edu/churchplanting.  For questions regarding the MDiv program and admissions requirements, call TEDS Admissions at (800) 345-TEDS.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

The 56th Annual National Day of Prayer will take place Thursday, May 3. The theme for this year is "America, Unite in Prayer" and is based on the verse from II Chronicles 7:14 which states: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

For more information on how you and your church can participate, go to http://www.ndptf.org

 

EFCA STYLE AND BRAND IDENTITY GUIDELINES

Producing high-quality materials is a motivating factor in our desire to glorify and serve God in all that we do. The quality, consistency and professionalism of correspondence and materials distributed by the EFCA influences perceptions and credibility. In an effort to provide guidance and consistency, the national office has recently updated the following communications resources:

  • EFCA Brand Identity Guidelines - guidelines for using the EFCA logo in materials (brochures, signage, websites, etc.)
  • EFCA Style Guidelines - a reference for writing and visual style consistent with EFCA national office communications.
  • Download the EFCA logo - the EFCA logo in several file formats suitable for different purposes

These and other EFCA communications resources can be found at http://www.efca.org/communication/resources/index.html

MONGOLIA SHORT TERM MISSION TRIP - URGENT NEED

Urgent need: physicians, dentists and other medical staff for short term trip to Mongolia
God has provided wonderful opportunities in two towns in northern Mongolia.  From July 24 - August 2, 2007 physicians and dentists will have great opportunities to care for patients while at the same time training local medical and dental staff in a hospital setting.  The trip is linked with very clear evangelism opportunities. This is a great opportunity either for individuals, or for teams from local churches to travel and work together. Please contact Dr. Tom Cairns at tom.cairns@efca.org for more information.

URBAN & INTERCULTURAL MISSION SPECIAL EVENTS - EFCA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

UIM is sponsoring the following events at the 2007 Leadership Conference in Minneapolis.  Make sure to sign-up for these events when you register for conference at http://www.bthetree.org/registration  
 
Urban & Intercultural Mission Luncheon - Tour Thru Samaria
Friday, June 29, 2007, noon to 1:30 p.m. - Free
The UIM luncheon is going on the road! We will go through Samaria by bus, hosting a "lunch and discuss" as Urban Ministry Director Dan Reeve guides us on a tour of the changing ethnic neighborhoods in South Minneapolis. Come prepared to talk about what it means to discover the Samaria in your own community.  Because of scheduling constraints, we will remain on the bus for the duration of the tour.
 
Hispanic Ministries Dinner - La Fiesta de Compañeros*
Friday, June 29, 2007, 5 - 6:30 p.m. - $18
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 we celebrate together God's faithfulness and dream about the future of Hispanic Ministries in the EFCA.
*(compañeros = fellow family laborers)

EFCA MEN'S MINISTRIES

Iron Sharpens Iron Conferences
There are still several opportunities this spring for your church to participate in an Iron Sharpens Iron men's conference. 
 - April 28 - Portsmouth, NH and San Jose, CA
 - May 12 - Boston, MA
 - May 19 - Charlotte, NC
For more information and registration, go to http://www.ironsharpensiron.net.

Stand in the Gap
The National Coalition of Men's Ministries has announced October 6 as the date for Stand in the Gap 2007.  This is an event that will be repeated every decade in Washington, DC.  Many of you remember the largest gathering of Christian men ever that took place October 1997.  It is time again for Christian men to gather before God in our nation's capital as a legacy to this and future generations.  Go to http://www.standinthegap2007.org for more information.

SPANISH CHURCH PLANTING SCHOOL (BOOTCAMP)

The next Spanish BootCamp for Spanish-speaking church planters will be July 5-7, 2007 in Kansas City, MO. This training event will be held Thursday and Friday evening and all day Saturday to accommodate our bi-vocational church planters.  The cost is $150 per participant, including the manual. For more information, contact Luis Martinez at lmarti1208@aol.com or go to http://www.efca.org/urban/hispanicministries/english/.

WOMEN'S MINISTRIES EVENTS

Register now for Equipping Women in Real Time on Saturday, May 5, 2007 hosted at Redeemer EFC in Milwaukee, WI. A special day is planned to equip and engage women of all ages and the diversity that is reflected in our day - thus women in real time!  Enjoy practical Biblical instruction, worship, faith stories, relevant workshops, and speakers.  In addition, we are pleased to offer a workshop on Growing a Healthy Women's Ministry/Crecimiento Saludable de Ministerios Femeniles with Becky Fernandez in Spanish, and to hear faith stories from women in their teens and twenties of life in "real time." For a conference brochure visit http://www.redeemerefc.com or contact Natalie Bartelme at (800) 745-2202 ext. 765 or natalie.bartelme@efca.org  
 
Bringing Women Together (BWTs) events are hosted across the country in different districts and churches by EFCA Women's Ministries National Networkers committed to equip, encourage and empower women for ministry within their local churches. BWTs now scheduled:
 
Bringing Women Together
April 28 at Christ EFC, Bethel, PA
Contact: Ruth (610) 437-3449 or brsol@att.net
 
Brining Women Together
May 5 at Indianola Heights EFC, Des Moines, Iowa
Contact: Karol (712) 243-2474 or schoenfeld@mchsi.com
 
Mentoring: Beyond Yourself
May 19 at Terrace Shores EFC, Markesan, WI
Contact: Molly (920) 398-3511 or Dorie at doriele@aol.com  
 
For more information on any of these events, contact EFCA Women's Ministries at (800) 745-2202 ext. 765 or visit http://www.efca.org/women  

EFCA CHAPLAIN MINISTRIES

Please continue to remember in prayer our troops and our EFCA Chaplains ministering in war zones.  These men are away from their families for an extended period of time and need our support.

Ch (CPT) Tom Strong, US Army - Iraq
Ch (LCDR) Ray Bailey, US Marines - Iraq
Ch (CPT) Wes Gornall, US Army - Iraq
Ch (MAJ) Charles Causey, US Army - Iraq
Ch (LCDR) Patrick Niemeyer, US Navy - Iraq
Ch (MAJ) Roy Myers, US Army - Iraq
Ch (CPT) Jason Tobin, US Army - Iraq
Ch (CPT) Joel Kornegay, US Air Force - Qatar

BEQUESTS ARE APPRECIATED

Please consider remembering the EFCA within your estate plans.  You can accomplish this through your will or living trust, or by naming the EFCA as a beneficiary on a CD, money market account, insurance policy, or on brokerage accounts. We can provide you with various options to fulfill your ultimate desire to further the Lord's work.  For details, contact Lanny Harris at (800) 995-8578, by email at foundation@efca.org or check out the Web site at http://www.efcafoundation.org.

 

BUMP - URBAN & INTERCULTURAL MISSION SUMMER YOUTH MISSIONS WEEKS

BUMP still has openings for its Los Angeles, and San Antonio sites.  We need a group of up to 15 people (youth and accompanying sponsors) for Los Angeles and a group of up to 20 people for San Antonio.  For more information, go to http://www.efca.org/bump or contact Renee Young at renee.young@efca.org.

 

 

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.christianinvestors.org, or by email at admin@christianinvestors.org.