Don't miss upcoming events! View our Online Event Calendar

In This Issue

EFCA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

June 24-26, 2008 in St. Louis
Registration is now open for the 2008 EFCA Leadership Conference.  Please visit the Web site at http://www.bthetree.org for more information and to register.

Conference prayer requests
Thank you for your willingness and partnership to pray, intercede and battle for the heart of God and His will and ways for this conference. We believe this will be a historic conference, and we cry out to God for His desires. Please begin your prayer focus by considering the glory of God, asking God to demonstrate His glory in all aspects of our conference and the time leading up to the conference. Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."  Please pray that this conference would be an opportunity where the knowledge of the glory of the Lord is poured forth as the waters cover the sea.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to manifest God's presence and glory in all that we do. 

Please pray for:

  • The registration Web site launching today.
  • Pastors and leaders across the country making plans to come to St. Louis.
  • The conference planning team on their next visit to First EFC of St. Louis County in early April.

EFCA CONNECT

Partnership Forum
May 31 - Elim EFC in Puyallup, WA
Be strategic in your missions ministry by helping people catch a contagious vision for missions. Attend the upcoming Partnership Forum endorsed by the Pacific Northwest District and hosted by EFCA CONNECT and Elim EFC in Puyallup, WA. You will learn how your church can engage in collaborative, cross-cultural ministry partnerships while hearing about current ReachGlobal partnerships in Congo, Indonesia/Pacific Asia, China, Europe and Middle East/North Africa, and the U.S. Join with other churches and experience the power of greater ministry impact! For more information, go to http://www.efca.org/connect.

Synergy Newsletter
Wouldn't it be great to participate in a missions activity that involves your entire congregation, one that would energize and excite everyone from the small children to the seniors? Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church has developed a format to do this in their church through the World Impact Project. Featured in the latest Synergy Newsletter, it is a model that could be used in any size church. Go to http://www.dualreach.org/missions/bm~doc/synergy-newsletter-efca-0308.pdf to read their story, learn about the ideas behind their planning, and discover the process they used in developing their strategic mission in Congo.

ABF CONFERENCE - THINK MIDSIZE!

November 14-15 in Cincinnati, OH
Sponsored by Hope Church (EFCA), NextStep Resources and ABF Resources

What is an ABF Conference?
ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) is not just a philosophy of ministry - it's a proven strategy
for the growth of midsize groups (15-60 people) being used by churches all over the world. The 2008 ABF Conference Think Midsize! is aimed at celebrating all midsize groups and bringing together church leaders and pastors from across the United States. Whether your church calls it a Cluster, Sunday school, or House Church - you'll leave equipped with powerful strategies, formed relationships, valuable knowledge and leadership skills that help propel your midsize groups forward.

Who Should Attend?
Anyone or any team in a leadership role can attend this valuable and insightful conference. Come prepared to dig deep into midsize group strategies with over 30 advanced training and basic sessions designed to help you develop your clear plan for implementing or growing your midsize ministry.

Go to http://www.hope-church.org for more information or call (800) 513-4673. To learn more about  ABF, go to http://www.abfresources.com.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LOUISIANA

EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response Ministry is looking for individuals to serve for 3 to 12 months or longer as part of our New Orleans based Crisis Response team. Some positions have immediate openings, and many are for summer/fall 2008 and winter/spring 2009.  The mission of EFCA TouchGlobal Crisis Response Ministry is to show the love of Christ in times of need by developing, empowering and releasing the Body.  These positions fulfill this mission by serving and ministering to volunteer teams and homeowners. Positions include: 

  • Administrative and Volunteer Team Assistants
  • Communication Assistant
  • Construction Project Managers
  • Construction Supervisors
  • Follow-up (Relational) Ministry
  • Food Service Manager
  • Food Service Assistants
  • Network Administrator/Web developer/manager/database
  • Skilled and Semi Skilled Tradesmen
  • Tool and Equipment Managers
  • Tool and Supply Assistants

If you are interested in more information, contact Mark Lewis at mark.lewis@efca.org or (985) 893-0218. 

TEDS EFCA DISTRICT CHURCH PLANTING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School has a scholarship program that will help equip and train a new generation of church planters.  The program provides each EFCA district superintendent a minimum of one prospective church planting scholarship nomination per year.  Nominated 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. For more information about this program, go to http://www.tiu.edu/divinity/churches-scholarship.

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! There are 3 new GodSighting videos on the EFCA Web site, and available to download in both iPod video and Windows Media Player formats. Go to http://www.efca.org. 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.)

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.

Future training sessions:
Chicago: May 12-16
Dallas: May 12-16
Los Angeles: June 9-13
Denver: July 21-25
 
For more information and to register, go to http://www.efca.org/planting.

CHALLENGE 08

It's not too late to make plans for your church youth group to attend Challenge!  Join 4,600+ already registered. Go to http://www.efca.org/student/challenge for more information and to register.

 

 

NEW FROM NEXTSTEP RESOURCES

Church Unique - How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture and Create Movement
By Will Mancini (co-author of Building Leaders with Aubrey Malphurs)
Mancini offers an approach for rethinking what it means to lead with clarity as a visionary. He explains that each church has a culture that reflects its particular values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Mancini shows how church leaders can unlock their church's individual DNA and unleash their congregation's one-of-a-kind potential.
http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=10251
 
Why We're Not Emergent - By Two Guys Who Should Be
By Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
Kevin and Ted are two guys who, demographically, should be all over this movement. But they're not. And Why We're Not Emergent gives you the solid reasons why. The book includes a forward by David F. Wells, and is endorsed by D.A. Carson, Mark Dever, and Justin Taylor.
http://tenderfoot.windborne.net/nextstep/product_info.php?products_id=10255

POSITIONS AVAILABLE AT TIU

The Education department at Trinity International University is looking to fill three positions for fall 2009:
 
Asst./Assoc. Professor:  Tenure track position in educational technology. Experience in K-12 schools is required; experience as technology facilitator/technology trainer of teachers is ideal.  Additional qualifications include an earned doctorate (ABD considered), superior teaching skills, student-centered approach manifested in teaching and mentoring, and the ability to work collaboratively.

Asst./Assoc. Professor (open rank):  Tenure track position for excellent teacher with public school experience in elementary education; specialization in science education ideal.  Qualifications include an earned doctorate (ABD considered), superior teaching skills, student-centered approach manifested in teaching and mentoring, and the ability to work collaboratively.

Asst./Assoc. Professor:  One year renewable position for excellent teacher with public school experience in instructional leadership.  The ideal candidate will have expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas: school administration, research, assessment.  Qualifications include an earned doctorate, superior teaching skills, student-centered approach manifested in teaching and mentoring, and the ability to work collaboratively.

For any of these positions, please send curriculum vitae and letter of interest to Dr. Joyce Shelton, Interim Dean of the College and Graduate School, Trinity International University, 2065 Half Day Road, Deerfield IL 60015. TIU is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Faculty must subscribe to Trinity's Statement of Faith and Community Expectations. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

CHRISTIAN INVESTORS FOUNDATION

"Build a Church without Picking up a Hammer" is part of what we do at Christian Investors Foundation (CIF).  As an organization, we are able to make loans to churches and EFCA ministries like yours.  In fact to many, mortgage lending is the only ministry for CIF. However, that is only part of the story.  You can invest for yourself, earning competitive interest rates, and invest in the future of EFCA ministries.  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.

NEW TRAINING FOR WOMEN

ReachNational Women's Ministries is pleased to introduce new training opportunities for women - training applicable for both life and ministry! Join Jackie Redmond, new ReachNational Women's Ministries director, as she teaches on the life of Christ and how we can achieve a balance in our personal life and in our ministry priorities to increase fruitfulness for the kingdom. Also hear Jackie share the vision that the Lord has given her for ReachNational Women's Ministries and how God can use each one of us to expand God's Kingdom!  Registrations are now being accepted for:
 
Women In Real Time: The Time Is Now!
Hosted by the Eastern District Women's Ministry
April 18-19, 2008 - Cornerstone EFC, Annandale, VA
For more information and to register, visit http://www.edaefca.org/  
 
Women's Gathering with Jackie Redmond
April 12, 2008 - Hope EFC, Roscoe, IL
Please view the conference brochure and invitation online at http://www.efca.org/women/conference/index.html  

Bringing Women Together (BWT)
April 12, 2008 - Emmanuel EFC, Hermann, MO
To register, contact Sandy at shoebox@ktis.net 

For more information on ReachNational Women's Ministries and/or resources, please visit http://www.efca.org/women or call ReachNational Women's Ministries at (800) 745-2202 ext. 765.

BUMP CITIES HAVE OPENINGS

BUMP cities have room for you!  Openings are available in Los Angeles (15), St. Louis (10) and San Antonio (30) for your youth group.  For more information, contact Renee Young at renee.young@efca.org or go to the BUMP web page at http://www.efca.org/bump.

 

MEN'S MINISTRIES CONFERENCE - Repeat

The National Coalition of Men's Ministries has announced a Spring Leaders Conference to be held April 10-12 in Nashville, TN.  Plan now to attend this "Best of the Best" Men's Leadership Conference where you will find all the inspiration and information you need to make you successful in your efforts at reaching, teaching, healing, training, and leading men. A full range of workshops, exhibits, speakers, and supportive relationships will assist you and the ministry of your local church or organization in incredibly valuable ways.  For more conference information and to register, go to http://www.ncmm.org/.