LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region
Volume 3,
Issue 5 June 2008SPACE
Pastors:
Please distribute to your delegates, leadership & congregation
Check
out our new Southeast Region website:
www.seregionfmc.org
FLAMES in an UPPER ROOM
. . . and in the WILDERNESS
As a follow-up to Annual Conference,
Ive been thinking lately about another time Gods Presence appeared as a flame
the burning bush encounter in Exodus 3. As Moses approached the fire and
stood in Gods presence, God spoke to him about the possibility and the price
- of a better tomorrow. Although Moses must have thrilled to hear that God had
seen the pain and heard to cries of the Hebrew people in captivity, Moses joy
was undoubtedly short lived when he realized that God expected him to play a
pivotal role in the rescue plan. The desolate, but familiar, wilderness must
have seemed a lot more inviting at that moment, than the risks of an uncertain
future.
God understood Moses insecurities
and reservations. God described to Moses a multitude of ways that He would
hover over Moses every step of the way, filling him and empowering him for
every challenge that he would encounter. God said He would provide trusted companionship
for Moses (Aaron), He would transform insignificant things into significant ministry
tools (a shepherds staff), and He would give Moses just the right words to say
when involved in difficult conversations.
At times we have all felt like Moses
we want to see God show up and do something exciting - but we also realize
its a lot safer to stand on the sidelines and watch God work alone or through
someone else. Lets not shrink back into the familiar walls of our churches or
be content to passively watch others stepping out in faith. Lets respond to
Gods invitation and ask Him to do something miraculous in us and through us. God
wants each of us to experience the joy of knowing weve been a part of impacting
someone else for eternity. Yes, the Holy Spirit desires to fill and spill you,
that you might build bridges of relationship with others and connect them
to Christ.
The reports are already coming in. Others
are saying YES! to the Spirit and stepping out of familiar routines and into
the untried possibilities of the future. The Spirit is igniting individuals and
churches, helping congregations to use whats in their hand for ministry,
like Moses. Here are just a few of the ways churches are using everyday
resources and opportunities in extraordinary ways:
One
church has offered their undeveloped
land as a training ground for police & canine units
Members
of a snow bird congregation have given money
to provide $2,500 in summer youth camp scholarships for teens in other churches
throughout the conference
A
church is using their proximity to a
public school to become a host site for a monthly school teachers morning prayer
service & ongoing supportive prayer chain
A
funeral service has become a
connecting point for a ministry to
bikers
Having
a special needs daughter has
resulted in other area families with special needs coming to their home for Bible
study; this church plant is now seeking a larger location to meet in to accommodate
additional families with handicapped members
Conference
churches are strategically linking for
ministry, sharing resources and personnel to better serve youth and provide
counseling services to their surrounding communities.
A
pastor has launched an internet Google
Group for SAC pastors to discuss ministry issues
Networks
are being formed with churches in other
conferences to share ideas about planting non traditional, outside the
walls churches.
The
Spirit is just beginning His desired work among us. Lets continue to be FILLED
and SPILLED!
Supt. Darrel
QUOTES
FOR JUNE
A
person starts to live when he can live outside himself. Albert Einstein
Do what you can, with what you have, where
you are. Theodore Roosevelt
RESOURCES
TO HELP YOU BE FILLED & SPILLED:
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MESSAGES ON DVD
DVD
copies of Bishop Rollers & Supt. Rileys messages will be edited and sent
to pastors in the southeast region. Accompanying the DVDs will be both
fill-in-the blank listening guides as well as small group discussion questions.
Every congregation is to utilize this resource over the summer or in September as
a kick-off learning series.:
Start
by having your leadership team view & discuss the messages as a part of
your On Purpose meetings.
Then
use this resource with your entire congregation as a Wednesday night, Sunday
night or adult Sunday School mini-series.
HOW TO REACH YOUNGER
GENERATIONS
Bishop
Roller has reminded us that our time here on earth is temporary, and so congregational
leaders ought to be designing churches which are most conducive for their
childrens faith formation. Supt. Riley is finding the following two books very
practical in helping pastors and church leaders talk honestly about the
challenges and benefits of becoming more next - generation focused, while still
remaining sensitive to long standing members:
Who Stole My Church? by Gordon
MacDonald, Thomas Nelson, 2007
Reaching People under 40 while Keeping
People over 60 by Edward Hammett, Chalice
Press, 2007
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
With
the school year routine on hold until fall, why not take a fresh look at summer
outreach ministries? What might individual members of your congregation, or
small groups within your church, do to reach out to others or deepen their own
faith? Here are just a few suggestions to spark your creativity. What might be
an easy win or a natural fit for you or your church?
Organize
a weekly Play Day in the Park for
parents of preschoolers. Pack sack lunches and meet late morning for a time to
relax and fellowship as children play. This is a great way to meet other
parents without a church home, and to launch a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
ministry
Got
grade schoolers and live in a
subdivision? Invite those families to your place for a summer cook-out and
get-acquainted bash. Look for opportunities to share your faith, create a co-op
for summer childcare sharing, or organize car pooling for summer kids
activities.
Get in shape and get to know your
neighbors at the same time by inviting a few others to join you in a morning or
evening power walking routine.
Organize
a short 4 6 week home Bible study just
for the summer. Teachers, school employees & returning college students are
often eager for a mid-week gathering experience.
Not
up for a traditional summer VBS? Why not try a one week sports or music camp
instead?
Gospel Lights Power Zone
Sports Camp @ 1-800-446-7735 or www.gospellight.com
Gospel Publishing: MegaSportsCamp
@ 1-800-641-4310 or www.megasportscamp.com
Word Music: Donkey Tales, a 3 in 1
Musical @ 1-888-324-9673 or www.wordmusic.com
Have
your church host a Red Cross First Aid
or CPR class to equip parents,
teachers and youth workers to handle common emergencies. Become a site for Safe Sitter training - a course for
teenagers to prepare them to be smart babysitters (check with your local
hospital for details). Or consider hosting a Bicycle or Skateboard Safety
clinic on your property.
Challenge
your church children with a summer Bible
reading program. Prepare a list of suggested key chapters of the Bible to
read, provide a means to record chapters read, and have a celebration event
complete with recognition & a party at the end of the summer.
REMINDERS:
VISIT THESE BLOG
SITES
Check
out these blogs, or if you dont have internet access, get someone in your
congregation to print out the weekly insights of each of our Bishops:
Bishop David Roller: www.fmcna.typepad.com/roller/
Bishop Matt Thomas: www.fmcna.typepad.com/thomas/
Bishop David Kendall: www.fmcna.typepad.com/david_kendall/
MISSIONARY UPDATES:
Josh and Susy Fajardo
(
Mike and Marie Long (
Jack and Jeanne Munos
(
ON PURPOSE PROCESS:
Spring Trimester
Reports
(January April) were due in May to your District Leader. Even though its
summer, continue to faithfully meet monthly
as leaders to talk & pray together.
Congratulations
to two Southeast Region churches which contributed
a total of $42,500, to catch up on missed WAVE Fair Share giving. Pastors, check the top statistical chart
of your monthly On Purpose Reports to keep track of your congregations participation
& giving levels.
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. Contact info is included for sending
greetings to one another. When you are the prayer focus, please contact the
Rileys to share your personal & church prayer requests.
|
JUNE |
|
AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCES |
|
June
1 - 7 |
Brevard Co.:
Abundant Life (new
CPP) Pastor
Jose Hernandez ( Jose_hernandez@asburyseminary.edu Pastor
Joel Perdue (Christina) Joel_perdue@asburyseminary.edu |
Eric
Newman ( enewman@docoschools.org |
|
June
8 - 14 |
Destin: First
Brazilian
(new society) Pastor
Jerbson Pinto (Ana Claudia) jerbsonkennedy@hotmail.com |
June 9 13: Sat, June 14: |
|
June
15 - 21 |
Pastor
John Hendricks (Bobbie) revjohnE@juno.com |
Pastor
Paul Elder (Dottie) |
|
June
22 - 28 |
Pastor
Richard Harris (Tricia) DocHarris@earthlink.net |
Pastor
Domingos Pereira (Nilva) Pereiradomingos0106@yahoo.com.br |
|
June
29 July 5 |
Pastor
Leonel Georges (Marie) Leonelgeorges@bellsouth.net |
Pleasant Grove, AL:
Faith Pastor
Joe Shuffett (Wendy) joeshuffett@bellsouth.net |
CONFERENCE NEWS
ENTIRE SOUTHEAST
REGION:
WESLEYAN THEOLOGY
CLASS
(3 credits) is reserved as a 4-day intensive course at Asbury Seminary, Orlando
FL with instructor Dr. Rob McLaren, Wed Sat, Aug 27 30. Contact
Supt. Riley immediately to register (riley661@yahoo.com
or 407-277-1428) as there is a 10 student minimum enrollment for the
class to take place. You will be provided with a course book list for ordering
and reading prior to the class.
FOR
AL-GA & GULF
COAST CONFERENCES:
Fri Sun, Feb 20
22, 2009 PASTORS & SPOUSES RETREAT
Its official! AL-GA and
GULF COAST CONFERENCE:
The
Gulf Coast Family Camp will take
place at the
The
Gulf Coast Annual Conference will
take place at the
News:
Contact
Hispanic administrator Mirtha (Ramirez_mirtha@hotmail.com
or 305-688-5126) if you have musical
instruments to donate for the Wesley School of Music outreach to teens led by
Pastor Javier Mendoza and the Hosanna Internacional Ministerios.
Remember
Living Water FMC (Pastors
Congratulations
to Pastor Steve Bell (Bradenton FMC)
who has been accepted to begin work on his M.Div. at Asbury Seminary in
Upcoming Dates:
Mon Fri, July 14 18: SAC
Youth Camp at the
Sat, Sept 20: All
Conference Leadership Rally with Larry Walkemeyer at
Thurs Sat, Oct 23 25: SAC Pastors & Spouses Retreat at
Fri Sun, Oct 31 Nov 2: SAC Mens Retreat sponsored by the West
Coast District. Dr. Darrel Riley is the speaker; held at the