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In This Issue

TEAM REGISTRATION FOR 2008 MIDWINTER MINISTERIAL

Special rates have been set for staff teams to attend the 2008 Midwinter Ministerial Theological Discussion to be held January 23-25, 2008 at Hope EFC in Albuquerque, NM.  "Insights from Emerging Church Ministries and An Evaluation of Emergent Church Theology" is the topic of discussion.  Registration information is available at http://www.efca.org/pastoralcare/midwinter/

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY & CRISIS MANAGEMENT

As your church seeks to do effective international ministry, effective crisis management policies and procedures should be in place.  Your church should plan for who to contact under which circumstances, how to deal with hostage situations, how to deal with media, and more. 
 
If you would like to see EFCA ReachGlobal's crisis policies and procedures, you may request them at reachglobal@efca.org.  DO NOT POST THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON ANY WEBSITE AS THEY HAVE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
 
If your church would like assistance in creating crisis policies and procedures, the ministry of CONNECT can assist you in that endeavor.  You may email connect@efca.org to request assistance.
 
The following are links regarding the Korean missionaries who were held hostage in Afghanistan recently.  It is events such as these that we want to avoid, as well as prepare for.
 
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/south.korean.mission.groups.restrategise.for.highrisk.areas/13341.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/01/AR2007090101376_pf.html

TELL US YOUR GREATEST TIPS

EFCA Today is collecting great lists/tips/shortcuts to share with other leaders in our next issue. Check out the questions, below, and if you have something to share!  Please e-mail the editor (dianemc@journeygroup.com) by November 5.

 

  • What Web sites do you have bookmarked, and why? (both personal and ministry-related, and indicate which is which)
  • What are the 3 hot sermon topics you'll take on next year?
  • Do you blog? Tell us how to find you! And why the heck do you it.
  • What one quote has most changed your life or stuck with you?
  • What biblical passage do you most tiptoe around & wonder if you'll ever preach or teach on it . . . or hear someone else teach on it?
  • Teens: What Web site do you wish adults would pay attention to, for how it captures your passions, thinking, interests?
  • What cities do you most pray for, to see God turn upside-down for Him?
  • What great prayers from literature/ church history fire you up?
  • Through what spiritual gift does God most equip you for your ministry? And which gift do you need most but do not have?
  • What topic would you like the Midwinter Ministerial to tackle next?
  • If funding were not an issue, what position should be hired next at your church, and why? (and what is the average attendance @ your church)

Please e-mail your tips to the EFCA Today editor (dianemc@journeygroup.com) no later than November 5. Thank you for sharing.

GLOBAL OUTREACH SUMMITS

EFCA CONNECT offers a training and resource ministry for churches called the Global Outreach Summit, or GO Summit (formerly Global Ministry Summit). It is a weekend conference designed to help your missions leadership team in global outreach. It will stimulate your thinking to new levels, offer many practical ideas that you can implement immediately, and assist you in networking with others. There are two GO Summits in the near future:

October 13 - Lakeville, MN at Trinity Evangelical Free Church
October 27 - Arlington Heights, IL at Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church
 
For more information on GO Summits and to register, please visit http://www.efca.org/international/connect/training or contact Liza.Fernandez@efca.org.

CHALLENGE '08

Watch your church mailbox for the Challenge '08 information and registration packet.  The packets are in the mail and contain all the details you need to prepare for attending the conference.  If your church does not receive this information, please contact sharon.trucker@efca.org. 

DO YOU HAVE A UNIQUE SAMARIA?

EFCA Today would like to hear your suggestions/stories about different kinds of "Samarias" surrounding us. To which ones is your church reaching out? Which ones have you noticed but haven't yet stepped toward? What are some commonly overlooked Samarias - people who are not like us? (for example: single parents, part-time divorced dads, third-shift workers, the blind or deaf) Please send your ideas/stories/detailed e-mails to the editor at dianemc@journeygroup.com by October 23.

GATEWAY LAUNCH

In September, Dr. Jose Reyes and Dave Buckert began the first GATEWAY module in Spanish with 21 pastors in El Paso, TX and Tucson, AZ.  This month, Paul Schliep, Director of Credentialing for EFCA West, begins the first GATEWAY module in English for 8 pastors in the Los Angeles area.  
 
GATEWAY will launch selected pilot sites in three districts before launching nationwide in the summer of 2008.  We are still looking for financial supporters, trainers and host sites when we launch nationwide.  For more information about getting connected with GATEWAY, send an email to GATEWAY@efca.org or go to http://www.efca.org/GATEWAY.

STUDENT MINISTRIES DIRECTOR SEARCH

The Student Ministries division of the EFCA National Ministries department is seeking recommendations for a new Student Ministries Director. If you have a recommendation or would like more information about this position, please go to http://www.efca.org/student/ to access the Student Ministries Director profile. Thanks for your help in this process and please be in prayer for God to raise up the right person.

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.)

NEW! Check out video GodSighting stories now on the EFCA web site at http://www.efca.org.

It is Friday evening. I am standing in the middle of my tiny apartment a little intimidated of the challenge ahead of me. Starting over... The past year is filled with painful memories of broken promises, shattered dreams, and then... divorce. My eyes are scanning the room, looking for a place to start. Then I catch sight of my orchid. Orchids are my favorite flower and I received one from my friends for my birthday, last year. I did my best to give proper care to my plant, but the poor thing soon lost all its flowers. I did not have the heart to throw it out, so I stuck it on top of my wardrobe-out of site. A year later, convinced it was dead, I did not even water it before I took a month off to visit my friends in the States. On this weekend of starting to redefine normal, I thought it was time to sadly dispose of it. But, as I reached for the pot I discovered that my plant had a new leaf! Immediately, a strange kind of hope filled my heart. What a metaphor.  My orchid weathered hard times of not being loved the right way, then times of abandonment.  As a result, lost its flowers, some of its roots, and lived in desert-like conditions for a while. But, it held on and gave me the hope of nicer days to come- a new leaf, maybe new flowers one day.  So, I carefully chopped off the dried roots, lifted the remaining green roots out of their current soil, replanted it in new soil in a new pot, watered it, and thought it was the most beautiful plant in the world thanking it for holding on. Then I put it on display, so I could delight in the little green leaf every morning.  It is just an orchid, you could say, but the picture meant a lot to me - It felt like an encouragement received directly from God. In Him there is new beginning. In Him there is hope.

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
That I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
Oh, Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever."
Psalm 30: 11-12

Orsi Konya - Evangelical Free Church in Hungary
 

HOW TO MAKE A WILL THAT WORKS

Some estate plans are more effective than others.  What many of the best plans have in common, however, is a well-thought-out will that is designed to work in concert with other estate planning tools.  We have a handy brochure to aid you with this topic.  For details, contact Lanny Harris (800) 995-8578 or email foundation@efca.org Check out the web site at http://www.efcafoundation.org