LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region

Volume 3, Issue 2 February 2008

Pastors: Please distribute this to your delegates, leaders & congregation

 

 

PREPARING THE WAY

 

This past week we had a guest stay in our home for a week while she was taking an intensive class at Asbury Seminary, Orlando. We had never met her, as the initial contact had been made through a pastor in another state. To complicate matters, we were only going to be in town for 2 days in the middle of her 7 day stay, and she was flying in and did not have funds to rent a car. Logistically, arrangements had to be made to provide for her transportation. In order to make sure that she could get into our home and know where to find everything, there were several emails back and forth, telling her where to find house keys, what bed to sleep in, etc. We tried to put ourselves in her place and anticipate her needs. We even tried to think through unexpected problems that might occur in our absence, and so we asked neighbors to be on call in the event she needed assistance. A lot of planning went into preparing the way for Kelly. But it was worth it we felt blessed to have had the privilege of encouraging her ongoing walk with God.

 

This past weekend I visited a Hispanic congregation. They have also been busy preparing the way. About a year ago, this church plant moved to their present location, a formerly closed FM property in Brandon. When they relocated, only twelve people made the move, including the pastors family of seven. But armed with a vision of what God could do, and a commitment to stay the course, this tiny group has persistently prayed, sacrificed, and worked. Realizing that they werent ready to launch a mass neighborhood outreach, they have used the past 12 months to work on their facility, to develop the spiritual depth of their leadership, and to identify lay ministry teams. Steadily they have been growing by word-of-mouth, reaching up to 90 in Sunday AM attendance. This Sunday as we worshipped with them, the pastor described how they had just completed a congregation-wide 21 day emphasis of Fasting and Prayer, as they have sought for God to do a refining, empowering work in their lives. They are preparing the way for God to use them to impact their community.

 

As we anticipate the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 6), I want to encourage each of us individually and as congregations to focus upon preparing the way. First, lets be more intentional about preparing the way for God to have fuller-access to our own lives. May we have open hearts cleared of rock and weeds through the practice of daily spiritual disciplines, so that we might more deeply hunger for God and desire to obey His Word. Secondly, lets prepare the way in our congregations by being more Christ-like in our relationships. Lets take the initiative in exemplifying humility and extending grace to one another - bearing each others burdens, confessing our sins to each other, and deferring to others preferences over our own.

 

As we prepare the way by inviting the Spirit to work in our personal lives and in our congregations, we will be transformed into the enticing people of God. We will become Gods voice and presence to our neighbors and local communities. As our lives shine brightly with Gods love, we will prepare the way for others by illuminating the darkness so that they might catch a glimpse of the Savior. As our lives are sprinkled with selfless acts of service and kind words, we will become savory salt preparing the way so others will become curious, wanting to know the motivation and source of our joy. It is our privilege to prepare the way for others to meet Christ.

 

Supt/ Darrel Riley

 

Make a road for the Lord through the wilderness;

Make Him a straight, smooth road through the desert.

Fill the valleys; level the hills;

straighten out the crooked paths and smooth off the rough spots in the road.

The glory of the Lord will be seen by all mankind together.

Isaiah 40:1 - 3

INWARDLY HEALTHY & OUTWARDLY FOCUSED OPPORTUNITIES

 

SOUTHEAST REGION WEBSITE LAUNCHED:

Weve been thinking, praying and planning for two years. With the aid of a WAVE grant and the expertise of web designer Christi Bunn (wife of Andy Bunn, church planter in Birmingham, AL), the website is making its debut this month. Go to www.seregionfmc.org and take a peek. Youll notice that there are general sections which apply to all 3 conferences in the SER, as well as an individual section per each conference. Were beginning to post Forms & Resources for you to download, and there is also a special section which provides helpful links for Christian Living. Were just getting started in the future were hoping to have a Prayer section, etc. So, send in your pictures (limit of 2 3 pictures per event, please) and well add them to our gallery.

 

CHURCHES TAKE AN ANNUAL PHYSICAL:

Doctors recommend that both growing children and mature adults, have an annual physical. In addition to checking obvious things like height, weight and vital signs, additional probing and blood work are often done to see whats going on beneath the surface. This year each congregation is asked to intentionally assess its health by probing beneath the surface using 2 tools:

 

         1) The 2007 YEAR END REPORT, which each FM church files electronically with Indianapolis, provides an up-to-date statistical profile of each congregation in North America. This report can be processed & turned in by the pastor or another designed person.

 

         2) The SER ANNUAL ON-PURPOSE PROCESS, initiated by Supt Riley, is designed to be completed as a leadership team, including the pastor, delegate & various other lay leaders and staff members. The PROCESS is as important as the final results, because the form is designed to get each churchs leadership talking, praying, dreaming and prioritizing together about what God wants their congregation to BE and DO in the new year. The completed ANNUAL ON-PURPOSE PROCESS form should be turned into the District Leader

 

Appreciation to all churches which completed both reports by the requested Jan 31st deadline. Those who have not completed the forms are urged to do some immediately.

 

JOIN THE SECOND WAVE:

Every congregation in the Southeast Region needs to view the 3 minute DVD clip: The Second Wave. If you havent seen it yet, contact your District Leader who has a copy. It can also be downloaded from the web. Relief coordinator Pastor Greg Nitchman recently shared that there is a tremendous need for a second wave of volunteers to come to the Mississippi Gulf Coast area to rebuild homes and restore hope to Hurricane Katrina survivors. The debris has now been cleared away, but the work of rebuilding homes, lives and churches is just beginning. Seize this opportunity to be blessed and to be a blessing as you partner with the Nitchmans through sending a work team, praying for their Easter Sunday church plant launch, and financially supporting this church plant. Consider an adult or childrens special Lenten offering toward this worthy missional work to get your congregation involved financially & in prayer. Email: greg@hopenet.ws, phone: 228-254-0493.

 

THERES POWER IN THE DETAILS:

Could you describe the major ministries of each of our conference missionary families? Do you know their current prayer requests and details about each family member? If not, get personal with the Longs, Fajardos and also the Munos. Recent newsletters, blogs and support information on each missionary are available on-line at www.fmwm.org (then click on Missionaries tab). Emails:

 

JFajardoM@aol.com Josh & Susy Fajardo (Spain)

Longmm@the.forthnet.gr Mike & Maria Long (Greece)

haitiforChrist@yahoo.com Jack & Jeanne Munos (Haiti)

 

Remember to monthly utilize resources from the 2008 HANDS FOR THE HARVEST missions packet - there are DVD clips for worship, Bible studies, childrens programs, etc.

2008: EVERY PERSON A PASSIONATE PRAY-ER

 

Pray daily for the following churches. Use the Southeast Region Pictorial Directory to visualize each pastor as you pray. Emails are included for sending greetings to one another; check the Yearbook or contact the Rileys if you need postal addresses. When you are the prayer focus, please contact the Rileys to share your personal & church prayer requests.

 

February 2008

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCE

Jan 27 Feb 2

Cape Coral: Cape Coral Community

Pastor David Rigby (Linda)

david@capecoralchurch.com

 

Deville, LA: New Hope FMC

Pastor Fred Summers (Faye)

frednfaye@suddenlink.net

Feb 3 - 9

Clearwater-Largo

Pastor Rob McLaren (Dene)

Katherine Hodge

revdrrob@tampabay.rr.com

 

Jonesville, LA: Oak Grove

Pastor Tommy Gammill (Mickie)

ogfmc@hughes.net

Feb 10 - 16

Clermont Spanish CPP

Pastor Marino Burgos (Martha)

2640 Ledgemont Ct.

Clermont, FL 34711

 

Olla, LA: Antioch FMC

Wayne Ainsworth

190 Ainsworth Loop

Olla, LA 71467

Feb 17 - 23

DLEE: Jan 21 - 23

Brandon: Cristo La Senda CPP

Pastor Sergio Peralta (Hicy)

endservice@hotmail.com

 

Olla, LA: Summerville FMC

Pastor Glenn Roark (Levena)

Glenn.Roark@bakerpetrolite.com

Feb 24 March 1

 

Dade City

Pastor Harold Fisher

13945 S 20th St.

Dade City, FL 33525

 

Pass Christian, MS: Word of Hope CPP

Pastor Greg Nitchman (Jeanne)

greg@hopenet.ws

 

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS & POSTINGS

 

 

ENTIRE SOUTHEAST REGION:

Congratulations to the 15 students from across the SER who participated in the FM History and Polity Class at Asbury Seminary, Orlando. Supt. Riley reports that no participant was born into the FMC, but all were seeking possible affiliation or candidacy with our connectional family.

 

2008 BIGGIE DATES FOR ALL:

         Sun, Mar 23: EASTER

         Tues Thurs, April 22 24: Exponential: The 2008 National New Church Conference in Orlando. Check out the line-up of speakers and topics at www.exponentialconference.com

         Thu Sat, Aug 7 9: Willow Creeks Leadership Summit; numerous simulcast sites

 

AL-GA & GULF COAST COMBINED EVENT:

Fri Sun, Feb. 22 - 24: Pastors & Spouses Retreat: Holiness and Wholeness

AL-GA and GC pastors & spouses will come together Friday PM Sunday afternoon, Feb 22 - 24, at the Edgewater Beach Resort on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Panama City Beach, FL for a time of replenishing and challenge. Supt. Darrel and his wife will lead the 3 day, 2 night retreat.

 

AL-GA CONFERENCE DATES:

Sat Mon, Mar 29 31: Supt Riley will be in AL-GA for an Executive Team Mtg & MEG

interviews over the weekend, and a combined Pastors Meeting on Monday AM.

Fri Sat, May 2 - 3: ANNUAL CONFERENCE at Christ Community Church in Columbus, GA

 

GULF COAST CONFERENCE DATES:

Sat Sun, Apr 12 13: Supt Riley & Peggy lead Sat. AM Pastors & Wives meetings, followed by afternoon Administrative and MEG meetings.

Mon Fri, June 9 13: FAMILY CAMP at the Church of God Campground in Pollock, LA

Sat, June 14: ANNUAL CONFERENCE (held at Edgewood FMC in Pineville, LA)

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE:

 

News:

         A big thank-you to our Lakeland Light & Life FMC snowbird workers who have come south to pick up tools and go to work in the name of Jesus. Numerous painting, repair and construction projects have been completed on SAC churches and parsonages already this winter. A group of 30 (yes 30!) will work in Pass Christian, MS with Greg Nitchman from Feb 17 - 23.

         Air Force Chaplain Mark Williams has safely returned from a five month deployment in Iraq. He and Monica thank everyone for prayers on their behalf. They request that we continue to remember in prayer our deployed troops and their families.

         SAC Youth Rally Event: Over 125 attended the Reality Check Fear Factor event for SAC teens on Saturday Jan 26. They represented at least 7 churches (Miami Melrose, W. Palm Neighborhood Worship, Immokaleee, Cape Coral, Orange City, Tampa Celebration, and St Pete) from all over FL. The diversity was great - teens of every race and culture and background - coming together to worship Christ! Teens accepted Christ, recommitted their lives and accepted calls into ministry. They renewed friendships and made new ones. Some stepped outside their comfort zone and came into a brand new situation and took every opportunity that was presented. It was AWESOME!

         Florida City: South Dade Haitian FMC (Pastor David Dor) celebrated the opening of their new worship center over Christmas Break. Supt. Darrel Riley led the dedication service, and a ministry team from Coldwater MI led by Pastor Nelson Brandymore also participated. The Coldwater FMC has been in a partnership with the South Dade congregation for 6 years.

         Pastor Ruben Brito (Miami: Melrose) suffered a stroke recently. Continue praying for his complete recovery of speech and ability to walk. Uplift his wife Yris and the congregation also.

         The SAC BOA has approved a new policy for those desiring to solicit funds from individuals or other churches within the conference. In the future, individuals will need to first seek the approval of the conference BOA, and then receive the approval of the local church pastor.

         Church planter Javier Mendoza (Miami & Greenacres) is finalizing plans to take a team to Honduras this spring to minister and to begin discussions about possible affiliation with the FMC

 

Reminders:

         Applications for a Richard A Lehman Memorial Ministry Grant are due to the SAC Financial Office March 1. Several thousands of dollars will be awarded at Annual Conference. Apply now!

         FL Incorporation postcards were mailed out in January; complete the postcard form and return it promptly to be exempt from taxation during 2008.

         The Early Bird Registration Deadline for the SAC Ladies Retreat ended Jan 31. Get your reservation in for this May event: Keeping a Princess Heart in a Not So Fairytale World.

 

Upcoming Dates:

 

Sat, Feb 2: AM - Conference Cabinet Mtg, AFT Conference MEG Bd; both in Lakeland

Sat. March 8: AM - Conf MEG Bd Interviews; AFT - BOA Mtg. Location to be determined

Sat, April 5: Final Conf MEG Bd interviews & BOA Mtg if needed. Location to be determined

Fri Sat, April 18 - 19: ANNUAL CONFERENCE at Light & Life FMC in Lakeland

 

MAY REGIONAL TRAINING EVENT DATES & LOCATIONS:

Bring a copy of your January April Trimester On Purpose Form with you:

         Sat., May 10: South Florida. Gather at 9:30am, meeting 10am lunch; location TBD

         Sat., May 17: West Coast FL: St. Pete - Cornerstone. Gather 9:30am, meeting 10am lunch

         Mon., May 19: Central FL: Orlando First. Dinner at 6:30pm, meeting 7 9pm

 

Thu Sat, May 15 17: SAC LADIES RETREAT at the Wycliffe Center in Orlando

Mon Fri, June 16 - 20: SAC YOUTH CAMP at EBM in Summerfield (near Ocala)

Sat., Sept 20: SAC PASTORS & LEADERS RALLY DAY with Larry Walkemeyer; this is a not-to-be-missed event for all pastors, delegates, ministry leaders and team members. The event will be held at St. Pete: Cornerstone. Protect that date on your calendar NOW so you can attend.