In This Issue

Opportunity in Congo

This fall the Free Church of the Congo, one of our African national partners, is launching a major leadership training initiative. They are beginning a three year project to train over 400 of their pastors who currently have little or no training. This training will be done by qualified Congolese Free Church leaders along with the help of pastors from the US. Their plan is to offer one to two week training courses in various regions of the Congo so pastors and other leaders can receive training in the areas where they live and minister. The Congo Free Church leaders are currently in the process of writing the curriculum for the initial training sessions. However, they have a major problem. They don’t have a way to duplicate these materials for the pastors to use in the training sessions.

In addition, we are coming alongside the Congo Free Church to help them launch a major new ministry among those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, including a major ministry to sponsor AIDS orphans called globalfingerprints. Once again our friends in the Congo lack the resources to reproduce the necessary materials for training leaders and carrying out this ministry.

My friends, we have a great opportunity to help our Congolese national partners in meeting this important need. Currently, we are seeking to raise funds in order to provide a risograph print shop at the Congo Free Church offices so they will be able to print materials for leadership training, as well as training in other ministries like HIV/AIDS, medical ministry, women's ministry, Community Health Evangelism, discipleship, and more. We have been in contact with a foundation here in the States that will match the funds we raise for this project in the months of September and October dollar for dollar. For every dollar given to the "Continuing Education for Congo Church Leaders" account, the foundation will give an additional dollar up to $5,000. If we raise $5,000 we can fully fund this $10,000 project that will have lasting impact on Congo ministries.

If you, your church or other churches you know would be interested in helping with this opportunity to bless our Congolese brothers and sisters please send your gifts to the EFCA IM National Office for "Continuing Education for Congo Leaders" account #22109-0117.

Thanks for your interest and your heart for the Congolese people.

God bless!

Kevin, EFCA IM International Leader for Africa

Lebanon update

Work is currently being done to prepare for Phase 2 relief work in Beirut, Lebanon. If your church is interested in the possibility of sending teams, please continue to visit the EFCA International Mission website and look to future ReachGlobal updates for directions on next steps. The EFCA International Mission is actively working with the EFC of Beirut to put together a plan for churches to get involved.

2006 short term missions training

October 20-22, 2006

St. Louis, MO, is the next site of the EFCA IM's Team Leader Training. Designed to equip team leaders and other short term mission leaders, the training covers most aspects of how to prepare a team for effective cross-cultural ministry. The registration deadline is nearing so don't delay! Please register by October 1, 2006. For a brochure or to register, contact Gary Reedy by email or call (515) 432-9175.


Urbana

Urbana is coming! If you or your church will be attending, click here for more details!

If you register for Urbana through the EFCA International Mission website, $20 of every registration will be shared with the EFCA International Mission!

There will be EFCA International Mission representatives there from different mission fields that will be ready and willing to talk to any individuals interested in short term or long term opportunities in international ministries.

Statement of Faith revision blog

The EFCA is in the middle of revising their Statement of Faith and are encouraging people to give their input into the process.

Please join the discussion on the blog. Each week there will be an article with which to interact as we continue to revise each article in preparation for the Third Draft Revision. Please join the discussion at http://blogs.efca.org/sof/

The impact of short term teams

Our short term team served in Tanzania and was composed of 16 people (15 youth ranging from ages 16 to 23, and one youth pastor). We worked with three long term missionaries. We ran a total of three camps designed to minister to youth. The first week the team was split in two groups. One team led a day camp for the international students while the other team put together a day camp for the Indian-Tanzanian children (mostly Hindus, some Muslims, small minority of believers). The second week, the two teams came together and ran an overnight youth camp (which is extraordinarily rare in this culture) aimed at secondary students. This provided a week of an astounding culture and people group mix.

Two weeks, three youth camps, a heavily diverse people group combination, and over 100 people witnessed to later, the members of this missions team were changed dramatically. We had all witnessed to non-believers before, yet this trip made us rethink how we approach and think about evangelism. We all had a relationship with God at the beginning of this trip, but this trip pushed that relationship to beautiful, phenomenal places we had never been before. Most of us had been on a missions trip before, but this time we were left with a drive to pursue more opportunities on the missions field. All of us had studied Hindu and Islam before leaving, but few of us had ever spoken to someone who adheres to one of these beliefs. When we got to Africa, Hindu and Islam stopped being ideas we had to study on paper, and became beliefs which were followed by real people. This group left from Los Angles as a group of 16 believers who wished to serve and came back as a united missions team, with hearts our Lord had set on fire.

Employee position available - REPEAT

The EFCA International Mission has a position available as a Candidate Coach on the Assimilation Team reporting to the Director of Assimilation.

The primary responsibilities would include:

  1. Advising, tracking, assessing and evaluating potential missionary candidates through phone calls, visits and review of completed materials to ensure a healthy fit with the EFCA IM.
  2. Coaching and consulting with candidates as they go through the acceptance process, support raising process and pre-field training process.
  3. Working with on-field leaders to ensure the best ministry and team fit based on skills, gifting and temperament; as well as ensuring a mentor/coach is assigned to the new missionaries upon deployment to the field.
  4. Assisting with pre-field training as necessary.

Key Requirements include:

  1. Committed personal relationship with Jesus Christ
  2. Alignment with and commitment to the mission and values of the EFCA
  3. Ability to communicate clearly and accurately
  4. Cross-cultural missionary experience
  5. Ability to exercise good judgment and make difficult decisions when necessary
  6. Ability to travel
  7. Ability to organize and keep good records

Please send inquiries with resume to:
Gene Van Den Bosch
Director of Assimilation
EFCA International Mission
genevdb@efca.org

Congo vision trip POSTPONED - REPEAT

Due to civil unrest and military uprisings, the Vision Trip to Congo scheduled for October/November 2006 has been postponed. A new date will be chosen when circumstances allow it. If you or your church were planning to attend and you would like more information about this, please email im@efca.org with Congo Vision Trip in the heading, or email Kevin Kompelien with any additional questions.

Global Ministry Summit - REPEAT

EFC Fullerton is hosting a Global Ministry Summit for any church or individual interested in learning how to get involved with international missions. The following seminars and topics will be covered:

  • International mission partnerships
  • How to lead as a new church missions leader
  • Marketing your missions program
  • Local church trends in global ministry
  • Building your church's missions emphasis from its unique DNA
These topics, as well as others, will be covered in great detail. To learn more about this event, or to sign up, please visit the Dual Reach website