EFCA Update for 2008-11-05

In this issue of the EFCA Update

Healthy Ministry Teams

Join Cathie Leimbach, governance expert and executive team builder, along with T.J. Addington, senior vice president at the Evangelical Free Church of America and author of Leading from the Sandbox. Learn from the experience of hundreds of churches the keys to ministry teams being healthy, aligned with the organization's purpose, and thus effective.  Consider how Pat Lencioni's The Five Dysfunctions of a Team applies in your organization.  This teleseminar will be moderated by Pastor Arnie Fleagle of Trinity Evangelical Free Church. 
                
To register for a teleseminar and ask a question, please follow these links.
 
Teleseminar 1 - Thursday, November 06, 8:00 to 9:00 pm (Eastern Time)
http://www.strive.com/ask/register/healthy-ministry-teams-teleseminar-1/
 
Teleseminar 2 - Wednesday, November 19, 8:00 to 9:00 pm (Eastern Time)
http://www.strive.com/ask/register/healthy-ministry-teams-teleseminar-2/

Midwinter Ministerial Registration Now Open

The 2009 Midwinter Ministerial Theological Discussion will be held January 21-23, 2009 in Indianapolis, IN.  Find out more information about the event and register now.

This is the EFCA Brochure New Edition Now Available

This brochure outlines the distinctives and historical background of the EFCA as a movement. It also includes the 10-point Doctrinal Statement of Faith as adopted by the June 2008 Conference. Order a supply for your church to introduce the EFCA to visitors and prospective members. The convenient 4 x 9 inch size will fit in most church tract racks. Sold in packages of 50.

Statement of Faith

If you are teaching through the 2008 Statement of Faith (SOF), please remember that there are resources to aid you in your teaching. 

If you have edited these notes for your own local church or if you have put together your own resources to teach through the SOF, for adults and/or youth or a small group Bible study, please email the information to greg.strand@efca.org. Depending on what is received, we may compile a list of available resources or possibly take the best of what has been done making one resource. 

The Spiritual Heritage Committee is working on a new commentary/theology on the SOF, a new This We Believe not scheduled to be available until at least until 2010. Please continue to watch for further information and resources.

Free Webinars for Church Leaders

Wondering about how the new 403(b) regulations affect your church? Want to know what to do next? The FCMM Retirement Plan staff will host web access "Live Meetings" throughout the month of November for church leaders specifically addressing the new 403(b) regulations.  Check out the dates and times for these 30 minute presentations, and register at least 3 days prior to the webinar.

Chaplain Ministries Update - How you can be involved

Did you know that the EFCA has nine chaplains serving in Iraq or Afghanistan bringing the message of the gospel to the troops on the various fronts?

  • Ch Ron Webb, US Army   (Ft. Bragg, NC)                
  • Ch Sean Dennis, US Army (Ft. Campbell, KY)
  • Ch Vince Garcia, US Army (Ft. Huachuca, AZ)     
  • Ch Thomas Behling, US Army Nat. Gd. (MN)
  • Ch Thomas Jensen, US Army Nat. Gd. (MN)          
  • Ch Khoi To, US Army (Ft. Drum, NY)
  • Ch Schaun Myers, US Army Nat. Gd. (PA) 
  • Ch Colt Randles, US Army (Ft. Hood, TX)
  • Ch Ed Willis, US Army (Hawaii)                 

Would you commit to pray for one of these chaplains and their families, and send a care package from your church in time for Christmas?
Please email roy.bebee@efca.org by November 20, and you will receive the APO address, suggestions for care package items, and some details about the chaplain so that you can pray and give encouragement during the holidays.

We have Chaplain Candidates graduating from seminary soon and would like to find placement at a church in the summer of 2009.  Would you consider learning more about the AMCIT program and having a chaplain candidate at your church? AMCIT stands for Associate Minister/Chaplain in Training which is an expanded internship program designed to help candidates get practical ministry experience and provide good ministry to your congregation prior to active duty within the Armed Forces.  Contact Chaplain Ministries for more information.

Coaching for Fruitfulness Online Course

Does your ministry include developing leaders? Would you like to learn how to take people to the next level more effectively? If so, then the course "Coaching for Fruitfulness" is for you! Topics covered in this EFCA EQUIP online course are:
- Why is Coaching Important?
- The Three Spheres of Coaching
- The Skills Important to Coaching
- The 5-R Coaching Process

The course begins with an introduction to online learning on November 10, and the course itself begins November 17. This is the last time the course will be offered free of charge, so sign up now to learn how to better use the important tool of coaching. Contact equip@efca.org for more information and to register.

New from NextStep Resources

The Purpose of Christmas DVD Study Kit
A three-session, video-based study for groups and families
By Rick Warren

The study kit features three sessions on why we celebrate Christmas and how it can change lives forever. Use this resource for December adult Sunday school classes, small groups or with families. There are three sessions on the DVD:
- Christmas is a time for celebration
- Christmas is a time for salvation
- Christmas is a time for reconciliation
 
The Purpose of Christmas DVD Pack includes both the DVD and The Purpose of Christmas DVD Study Guide.
 
Special Price $14.99 each - Order now!

Why are you part of the EFCA?

EFCA Today magazine wants to hear from you in response to a question pivotal to our movement: Why are you part of the EFCA, and what does it mean to you? Send your response to the editor (dianemc@journeygroup.com) to be considered for inclusion in a future issue.

Peru Earthquake Response

Ministry teams are making an impact in the aftermath of last year's earthquake in Peru.

We spent our week helping an earthquake victim build his home out of reinforced adobe.  We invited him to a weekly Bible study about how to lead his family and gave the homeowner a Spanish Bible to bring. He told us he did not attend any church. When we arrived at the Bible study, we saw our friend holding his new Bible. He had come early and waited an hour for us. After the meeting, he said this was the first time in his life to ever hold a Bible. Two days later, with tears in his eyes, he said he would now come to the Bible study every week.

Learn more about sending an outreach team to Peru at http://www.touchglobal.org/peru.

Christian Investors Foundation

Did you know that you can save for your retirement and help EFCA churches and ministries grow?  By investing through an IRA with Christian Investors, your retirement savings grow for you while helping build EFCA churches.  We can help you roll over existing qualified retirement funds or establish a new IRA.  For assistance or more information, call us at (800) 995-8574 or visit our website 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.

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! 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.

A number of young African-American males came to the BUMP VBS in North St. Louis. Satan really has an agenda for the black males (children) in our community with the allure of drugs, money, prison, and gangs, and he thinks he can win. But, in this situation the BUMP students --young men and male leaders really reached out to them, broke the mold and showed them there's so much more to life than what surrounds them. The boys were so inquisitive and the leaders answered their questions and listened. They did not judge them based on where they live; they wanted to get to know them as human beings. The boys connected with the students and leaders so much. The boys were coming to VBS before it started and they all played basketball after VBS concluded. This was a life-changing GodSighting for me.

- Patti Watson of Jubilee Community Church

EFCA Foundation

A Gift that Gives Back
Do you have CDs or CIF certificates about to mature? Then consider rolling them into a Charitable Gift Annuity through the EFCA Foundation. You can gain an attractive return, tax savings, and the opportunity to ultimately support the EFCA ministry of your choice. It's a great way to provide support for local churches, districts, national and international ministries. ($5,000 minimum) For details, contact Lanny Harris at (800) 995-8578, by email at lanny.harris@efca.org, or check out the website at http://www.efcafoundation.org.
EFCA - Multiplying Healthy Churches Among All People

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