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In This Issue

EFCA TOUCHGLOBAL RESPONDING

Destruction.  Devastation.  Death.  Despair.  
TouchGlobal Crisis Response is coordinating relief and outreach efforts with ministry partners.

Myanmar Disaster Relief
Cyclone Nargis tore through the coastal areas of Myanmar with a death toll over 100,000 people, and leaving approximately 2 million people fighting for survival.  Food and clean water are in short supply. Disease now poses a secondary threat. Amidst this overwhelming need, the Body of Christ is a strong witness of love and compassion.  This week, resources (such as rice, building materials and critical supplies) directed through TouchGlobal are being distributed by in-country ministry partners. This crisis has sparked a wholistic ministry movement of outreach and evangelism in this ravaged area.

Earthquake Relief
In China, the earthquake buried an estimated 40,000 people. Tremors continue and people are living in the streets. TouchGlobal ministry partners are delivering medical supplies, blankets, food and shelter materials - all bought locally with funds from TouchGlobal Crisis Response.  Amidst the crisis, Chinese house churches are coming together in unprecedented unity and openness.  An organization called "Chinese Christians Love in Action" is being created with similar networking meetings taking place around the country involving 12 cities and 150 urban house churches. 

The greatest immediate needs
Prayer for:

  • Our ministry partners on the ground to be sustained
  • Continued openness for the Body to respond
  • Opportunities to show and share transformational love
  • Resources to meet the incredible needs

Finances for the short and long term.  The immediate needs are many, but resources will also be needed to sustain ministry efforts. Give online at:
Myanmar Disaster Relief -  https://www.efca.org/apps/giving/?designation=21709-3989
Earthquake Relief -  https://www.efca.org/apps/giving/?designation=21709-3970

For more information on both of the crises, prayer requests, regular updates from the field, and ways to get involved,  go to http://www.touchglobal.org.

STRIVE! TELESEMINAR ON CHURCH GOVERNANCE

The EFCA presents a church governance teleseminar on June 5 at 7 pm or June 11 at 8 pm.
 
Join Cathie Leimbach, governance expert and STRIVE! consultant, along with T.J. Addington, senior vice president at the EFCA and author of High Impact Church Boards. Learn from the experience of hundreds of churches the three biggest leadership issues facing church boards: healthy leaders, intentional leaders, and empowered leaders.  This teleseminar will be moderated by Pastor Arnie Fleagle of Trinity Evangelical Free Church. 
 
If you could ask Cathie and T.J. one question about church governance, what would your single, most important question be? (Send in your question when you register.) For more information and to register, go to: http://www.strive.com/ask/register/church-governance/

 

CONGO VISION TRIP

Is your church considering a partnership in Africa?  Are you seeking ministry to orphans, widows and handicapped people?  Is your church interested in helping with medical work in a remote part of Africa?

The Evangelical Free Church of Congo, the second largest Evangelical Free Church movement in the world, has some of the greatest needs in ministries of compassion and leadership development. 

Civil war, AIDS and other social upheaval in the last decade have left the church with countless thousands of widows, as well as orphans, and disabled people.  They are eager to learn job skills and have a livelihood.  The church is developing the Elikya Center to train these needy people.

Four times a year the EFCA offers Vision Trips for senior pastors and church leaders to Congo to see the needs and get a vision for how their churches can connect and participate.  We also take medical teams and others who can train the doctors and nurses at Tandala Hospital. For more information, contact Dr. Tom Cairns at (800) 745-2202 or tom.cairns@efca.org.

CHRISTIAN CANCER SURVIVORS

Christian Cancer Survivors at Libertyville Evangelical Free Church encourage other Evangelical Free churches to start a Christian Cancer Survivors group.  Guidance is available. Through the sharing of talents, ideas, techniques and testimonies, we envision a network of Christian Cancer Survivors groups across the nation. To get started, contact Libertyville Evangelical Free Church at church.office@lefc.com or call (847) 362-8155 and leave a message for Farrel Fort.

GLOBALFINGERPRINTS - CONGO DVD NOW AVAILABLE

Please visit http://www.globalfingerprints.org/ to order your copy!
Currently there are 360 sponsored orphans, and we are on our way toward the goal of 1,500 sponsored orphans in 2008. Please pray with us to meet this important goal! A monthly sponsorship gift of $25 provides basic care for an orphan desperate for hope. When you commit to a GlobalFingerprints sponsorship, you are linked with a child who will know your name and understand that there is someone praying and caring for them. For more information about the program and to begin your sponsorship commitment today, visit http://www.globalfingerprints.org/.

Kids can help too! GlobalFingerprints is the EFCA TouchGlobal VBS project that will raise funds supporting the development of GlobalFingerprints in Congo. If your church would like to participate in the project, contact Jenn Castro at globalfingerprints@efca.org.

REACHGLOBAL NEWS

Do you want to receive regular updates on ReachGlobal (the international ministry of the EFCA)?  If so, you can subscribe to ReachGlobal News at http://moodle.efca.org/mailman/listinfo/reachglobalnews. This update is distributed monthly.

EFCA FOUNDATION

Learn more about a special kind of investment -- the gift that gives back!  Perhaps life income plans, such as charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts, might fit into your planning.  Or, perhaps there is someone within your ministry who wants to increase income, lower taxes, and honor the Lord's work. For details, contact Lanny Harris at (800) 995-8578 or foundation@efca.org.  Check out the website at http://www.efcafoundation.org.

 

LEADING FROM THE SANDBOX

A new leadership blog from T.J. Addington
A blog for those in ministry organizations who desire to take their leadership, teams, governance and ministry effectiveness to the next level. To access, go to http://www.LeadingFromTheSandbox.blogspot.com

BUMP

It's not too late for BUMP (Bridging Urban Missions Projects)! We still need teams in Los Angeles (July 19-27, 2008) and San Antonio (July 6-12, 2008).  For more information, go to http://www.efca.org/bump or contact renee.young@efca.org.

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 MATURI TY. THE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES ARE NOT FDIC INSURED.

PROPOSED REVISION OF THE EFCA STATEMENT OF FAITH - Repeat

As a reminder, we encourage you to read and review the letter sent March 12 from the Board of Directors, and the linked documents, which provide key information concerning the process for debating and voting upon the Proposed Revision of the EFCA Statement of Faith. The letter and linked documents can be found at http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/.

Proposed Revision
You may access the Proposed Revision at the following link, located on the right side of the EFCA Web site:  http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/.  Please contact the Office of the President if you are unable to download the Proposed Revision.

Transitional Rules
You may access the Transitional Rules at the following link:  http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/ or by contacting the Office of the President.

Special Rules Relating to Revision of the Statement of Faith
You may access the Special Rules at the following link:  http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/ or by contacting the Office of the President. 

If you have questions concerning the Proposed Revision of the EFCA Statement of Faith, please contact president@efca.org.