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In This Issue

EFCA STATEMENT OF FAITH REVISION

Proposed Revision Notes
Last fall, Greg Strand taught an 11-week series through the Proposed Revision.  (This was also recorded - if you are interested in the recording, please email greg.strand@efca.org.)  The series is another resource as you teach through or ponder the changes proposed in this Revision.  This is certainly not a "finished product," but is another helpful resource as you prepare to discuss and possibly vote on this Revision at the EFCA Leadership Conference in June. 
 
The series includes an introductory lesson as well as lessons on each article. To review the component parts of each lesson, and to download the entire series or specific parts, go to http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/sof-documents.html.
 
Statement of Faith Revision Blog
At the Leadership Conference in June, we will discuss and possibly vote on the Proposed Revision.  This is a reminder and an invitation to post comments or questions on the Statement of Faith Revision blog.  We hope to address many of your questions prior to the conference. Please go to the following Web site and join in the conversation. http://blogs.efca.org/sof/

MOVIES, FAITH AND WORLDVIEW

EFCA Today magazine is looking to hear from EFCA leaders who use current books and movies to trigger faith-conversations with nonbelievers and/or worldview-conversations with believers. Movies such as The Da Vinci Code and The Golden Compass - or Sundance Film Festival winners such as For the Bible Tells Me So - are great opportunities for going deeper. Do you have experience springboarding off those cultural conversations? Tell us!
 
Contact the editor at dianemc@journeygroup.com before March 4 and tell us your story.

EFCA CHURCH PLANTING BOOTCAMP

Church Planting BootCamp is an intensive five-day training experience that covers the major issues church planters face in their first year starting a new church.
 
Upcoming dates and locations:
March 31 - April 4 in Kansas City, KS
May 12-16 in Dallas, TX
May 12-16 in Chicago, IL
June 9-13 in Los Angeles, CA
 
Visit http://www.efca.org/planting for more information or to register.

PASTORS ON POINT

You are invited to consider Pastors on Point, a wilderness adventure experience that explores God's magnificent design and creation while looking deeply into His individual design in you. The program helps you hone, clarify or rediscover your call and essence. This is a powerful opportunity for a sabbatical, refocusing, renewing or just getting away.

There are two EFCA trips planned in the mountains and rivers of Colorado this summer. The trips are in partnership with Mark Stevenson of People Management and the Noah's Ark White Water Rafting company.

July 7-15 - river rafting and backpacking
July 21-28 - river rafting and canoeing

For more information, go to http://www.pastorsonpoint.org.

INTERESTING BOOKS FOR PASTORS

Vintage Jesus -Timeless Answers to Timely Questions
By Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
This popular-level theology book introduces the person and work of Christ to those who are seeking answers to some basic--and pivotal--questions. Endorsed by Wayne Grudem, Bruce Ware, J. I. Packer and others.
Save 25% - $14.99
http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=10110
 
The Multiplying Church - The New Math for Starting New Churches
By Bob Roberts, Jr.
The Multiplying Church is a guide for pastors and lay leaders involved in, or wanting to learn about, the church multiplication groundswell in North America. It shows how multiplying churches should be a natural, regular function of every church to reach the 70 percent of Americans who have no meaningful church relationship.
Save 25% - $14.99
http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=10129

CHAPLAIN MINISTRIES

Are you aware there is a shortage of chaplains for the Armed Services?  Pray that there will be a number of evangelical chaplains to "fill the gap" and bring the gospel to military members.  If God is calling you to minister to men and women in uniform, please email Chaplain Ministries at roy.bebee@efca.org.

Please remember in prayer chaplains serving in Iraq and Afghanistan (as well as their families who remain stateside during these long separations):
Chaplain Jaison Fuson, USN (with the U.S. Marines) - Camp LeJeune, NC
Chaplain Vince Garcia, USA - Fort Huachuca, AZ
Chaplain Wes Gornall, USA - Brighton, CO
Chaplain Ron Webb, USA - Fort Bragg, NC
Chaplain Sean Dennis - Louisville, KY
Chaplain Jeff Granger - Aberdeen, SD
Chaplain Thomas Behling - Brooklyn Park, MN

GODSIGHTINGS TELL YOUR STORY

GodSightings are the evidence of God's hand in action touching lives all across the EFCA. Let us share and celebrate God's work together! Many GodSighting stories and videos are on the EFCA Web site, and available to download in both iPod video and Windows Media Player formats. These stories are great to use in worship services, new member classes, and Bible studies. To find out more, visit http://www.efca.org/godsightings. To share your story, go to http://www.efca.org/godsightings/share/ (Please attach related pictures whenever available, and be sure to advise if the story should be communicated anonymously.)

For those who have followed TJ Addington's blog (http://reachtj.blogspot.com/), illness and miraculous recovery, here is a GodSighting from this ongoing story.

God used TJ's story in a powerful way in Ukraine. I am a part of an orphan ministry and there was a baby who needed heart surgery. God did miraculous things to get this baby to the best heart hospital in Ukraine. When I met the director, he said, "I want our hospital to be among the best in the world. My doctors need to learn English to collaborate with other doctors around the world. Do you think you could come teach English to our cardiologists?"

So, we literally do an Outreach English Camp in the ICU. The ICU is the largest room available. So we put on scrubs, wash up, and have English class around a table in the middle of the ICU surrounded by 20 beds with patients who have had open heart surgery that morning! The doctors pop up like popcorn every time an alarm goes off, then we go on!

This week's lesson was on antibiotics, and I was able to share TJ's story. We used all those words: MRSA, sepsis, mitral valve, etc. The doctors were amazed that TJ made it. This allowed me to share of God's power and ask if they wanted to study some miracles from the Bible. They agreed, and we will start the 7 week miracles of John study from the organic church plan next week!  God is good!
-Julie L. in Kiev

 

CHRISTIAN INVESTORS FOUNDATION

Do you want to help EFCA churches and ministries with their mortgage needs?  Since 1959, CIF has been making loans to churches and ministries of the EFCA.  However, we cannot make these loans without our investors.  For more information or to request an investment packet, call us at (800) 995-8574, or visit us online at http://www.christianinvestors.org.
 
This shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of Investment Certificates in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not authorized.  The offering is made solely by the OFFERING CIRCULAR. * EARLY REDEMPTION PENALTY: (i) 90 days' interest on the principal amount redeemed if the original maturity is one year or less, (ii) 120 days' interest on the principal amount redeemed if the original maturity is over one year to two years and (iii) 180 days' interest on the principal amount redeemed if the original maturity is over 2 years.  Christian Investors Foundation reserves the right to discontinue offering these Investment Certificates at any time.  AN INVESTMENT IN THE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES INVOLVES CERTAIN RISKS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE OFFERING CIRCULAR, INCLUDING THE RIGHT OF CHRISTIAN INVESTORS FOUNDATION TO REDEEM THE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES PRIOR TO THEIR FINAL MATURITY. THE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES ARE NOT FDIC INSURED.

BUMP - urban missions weeks

BUMP - Bridging Urban Mission Project - the ReachNational summer urban missions weeks has openings for students to minister in the urban context for 1 week this summer.  EFCA urban churches want you to work alongside them to do a week of summer outreach ministry in their communities.  Openings are available in Baltimore, San Antonio, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Chicago and the Twin Cities.  For more information, go to http://www.efca.org/bump or email renee.young@efca.org.

 

 

INTERIM PASTOR MINISTRIES TRAINING

Are you approaching 62 years of age and wondering how to continue ministry?  Becoming an interim pastor is an excellent way to finish strong for the Lord without burning out.  Interim Pastor Ministries is offering training opportunities: 

  • April 2-3 - Valley Bible EFC in Haddam, CT
  • April 7-8 - Faith EFC in Allentown, PA (corrected dates)

These experiences are designed as an introduction to interim pastor work as well as to Interim Pastor Ministries, Inc.  If you are a member of IPM and are currently under contract to a church, the cost is $50.  The cost for all other participants is $100.  To register for one of these opportunities, contact Carl Backie at backiefamily@yahoo.com or (479) 696-8008.  To find out what churches are saying about Interim Pastor Ministries, go to http://www.interimpastors.org.

DONOR ADVISED FUNDS

Give now . . . grant later.  People can now arrange to make a single contribution to benefit your ministry for years to come.  This is a great way for ministry friends and donors to be faithful in their stewardship while simplifying recordkeeping.  Share the word, and contact Lanny Harris at (800) 995-8578, email foundation@efca.org or check out the web http://www.efcafoundation.org.

 

 

CHALLENGE 08 IS COMING - Repeat

Registration is open now at http://www.efca.org/student/challenge.  March 15 is the deadline for lower cost registration. Your students won't want to miss this exciting gathering of 7,000 to worship, learn and grow in the Lord!