LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region
Volume
3, Issue 6
July 2008SPACE
Pastors:
Please distribute to your delegates, leadership & congregation
Check
out our new Southeast Region website:
www.seregionfmc.org
PREPARING FOR STORM SEASON
The annual hurricane season has arrived.
Public service announcements and fact sheets are everywhere, reminding
residents to prepare by stocking up on bottled water, canned goods and
batteries in the event that a hurricane makes landfall.
Recently Ive been speaking with pastors
and church members who are facing a different kind of storm. The winds and
currents which have been brewing for several months skyrocketing property
insurance, tightened immigration laws, slowed economy and job cutbacks - have
collided to create an economic perfect storm for churches in the southeast
region. Just this week I learned of two additional pastors who are losing their
homes in foreclosure, and I also talked with two pastors who must cut key staff
positions due to a decrease in church funds. These are agonizing situations for
anyone to face.
In the midst of this turbulent time,
I believe there are some basic preparations that everyone should be making as
we navigate this season of financial strain:
Dont ignore the economic realities of
the present time:
Talk
openly about your money situation in your family and in your congregation
Do
a mid-year budget review in your family, as well as in your church BOA:
Has your income kept in balance with
your spending January - June?
Do
you need to decrease or re-allocate your spending in July - December?
If
youre in financial trouble, speak up and get counsel. Keeping quiet and hoping
it will all blow over or go away will only make the situation worse.
Re-evaluate your church ministries and
outreach programs:
STOP
doing programs which are a financial drain but do not show high spiritual fruitfulness
or care for the poor
EXPAND
ministries which require fewer, or any, ministry dollars to provide
START
new support ministries in response to the pressures families are facing. Crown
Financial Ministries four week Road to Financial Freedom personal
stewardship curriculum is a great resource to help individuals & families find
a way out of debt and financial confusion (www.crown.org or 1-800-722-1976; English
& Spanish)
Pastors,
use the Sunday SERMON as a platform to address heart issues with your
congregation and reach out to those desperate for hope in your community. Plan
a special series of storm messages and urge your members to invite others to
attend.
Look for the opportunities present in
adversity:
Im amazed when I read the Book of
Acts and the Epistles, at what a high impact the early believers made upon
others with only their lives and words no church programs, no facilities, no
budgets. Even when they were scattered by a wave of persecution, they remained
strong in faith, convinced that God would guide their steps, and they boldly
gave their witness along the way, speaking to others at their point of need
with words of hope.
As the financial winds howl, may we
invite the wind of the Spirit to blow in us and through us. May we be filled,
so that we are spilled as a blessing upon our communities.
Supt Darrel Riley
2008: EVERY
PERSON A PASSIONATE
PRAY- ER
Pray
daily for the following churches. 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.
|
JULY 2008 |
|
AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCE |
|
June
29 July 5 |
Pastor
Leonel Georges (Marie) leonelgeorges@bellsouth.net |
Pleasant Grove, AL:
Faith Pastor
Joe Shuffett (Wendy) joeshuffett@bellsouth.net (July 3rd is Wendys last chemo
treatment) |
|
July
6 - 12 |
Pastor
Jude Chery (Marie) |
Acme, LA Pastors
Wade & Cindy Robinson Chapel37chick@yahoo.com |
|
July
13 - 19 |
Pastor
Ruben Brito (Yris) pastor@rubenb.com |
Military Reserve
Chaplain Mark
Grizzard (Cindy) (July 15 Mark deploys to |
|
July
20 - 26 |
Military Chaplain Mark
Williams (Monica) Stationed in willmark@mwilliams.net |
Pastor
Monty Bower (Jo) mlbower@suddenlink.net |
|
July
27 Aug 2 |
Pastor
Joseph Cyprien (Carmene) |
Fred
Summers (Faye) |
GREAT RESOURCES
AVAILABLE THRU THE FMC & WPH
MAKE A SCENE, SHARE A
STORY: Every
culture has told their story creatively from cave drawing to minstrels, to
artists and authors. Film, TV and internet are the mediums of today. www.ReelFM.tv
has been created as a place for Free Methodists to share videos theyve made to
encourage and inspire one another. Its also a place to learn tips about better
video making. Check it out, and sign up by July 25 to win a free iPod Touch.
FREE FM FLASH POINTS: How are fellow Free
Methodists impacting others locally and globally? Find out by downloading FM FLASH
POINTS monthly from the FM homepage: www.freemethodistchurch.org. Resources
include bulletin inserts and PPT slides.
2008 YEARBOOK
DEADLINE: Place your order by July 17 to receive
the reduced rate. The Wesleyan Publishing House (WPH) now handles all FM
publications. If your church has not yet set up an account number with them,
you need to do so by calling 1-800-493-7539. You can place your yearbook order
over the phone at the same time, or mail in your order.
2007 BOOK OF
DISCIPLINE:
The English version can be purchased through the WPH. An announcement
will be sent out this summer when the Spanish version is available.
SUMMER RESOURCES FOR
KIDS:
Check out these books at the WPH (1-800-493-7539):
Escape from
(
SOUTHEAST REGION
REMINDERS:
ANNUAL CONFERENCE DVD
KIT: A
DVD of Bishop Rollers and Supt Rileys messages with accompanying listening
guides and small group questions is being sent to each senior pastor. AL-GA and
the Gulf Coast Conference pastors have already received their kits.
SOUTHEAST REGION (SER) WEBSITE: Download Becoming
a Part of Gods Forever Family, a childrens salvation booklet, available
in English and Spanish. This is a great tool for parents and childrens workers
of grade schoolers. Special thanks to Steve Bell for many hours of work
preparing these booklets for the web. Look under the Forms & Resources tab, on the home page of www.seregionfmc.org
ON PURPOSE: As a new conference year begins, make sure
your congregations leadership (pastor, delegate, others) are meeting monthly
for discussion, evaluation and prayer. The Monthly On Purpose Process Form is
in your Annual Conference notebook, and it is also posted on the southeast
region website under the Forms &
Resources tab.
News:
You
donated over 375 pairs of eye glasses
at conference, now pray for Pastor Nelson Brandymore and the Coldwater MI team
of 11 going to
SAC Youth Camp will take place Mon
Fri, July 14 18 at the Lakewood Retreat in Brooksville. Its a full
camp only a couple camper openings left; contact Tim or Sandi at tsherrington@aol.com
or 727-368-8678 immediately. Several new churches across FL are sending teens
for the first time, including the
Upcoming Dates:
Sat, Sept 20: All
Conference Leadership Rally with Larry Walkemeyer at St. Pete: Cornerstone.
Bring your staff, delegates and ALL your team leaders and participants!
Thurs Sat, Oct 23 25: SAC Pastors & Spouses Retreat at the
Fri Sun, Oct 31 Nov 2: SAC Mens Retreat sponsored by the West
Coast District. Dr. Darrel Riley will be the speaker; held at the
NEW DATE: Thurs Sat, May
14 16, 2009: SAC Ladies Retreat
at the
CONFERENCE NEWS Continued
AL-GA MISSION DISTRICT:
Elder
Mark Grizzard, Air Force reservist,
will deploy to
COMBINED AL & GA
PASTORS TO MEET:
Reserve Sunday PM Aug 10 Monday afternoon Aug 11 for a combined
meeting of AL & GA pastors. The overnight will begin with a late dinner,
sharing & prayer time on Sunday evening; hotel lodging provided. Those only
able to attend Monday should arrive by 9am for training & concluding lunch.
The
PASTORS & SPOUSES
RETREAT: AL-GA
and GCC pastors will return to Edgewater Beach Resort in
GULF COAST CONFERENCE:
PROVENCAL WORK DAY: Men, women &
teens are encouraged to participate in the all-conference work day at Provencal
FMC on Sat, Aug 2. Pastor Mike Marbut has been building their new
facility and our help is needed. There is work for everyone plumbing,
electrical, interior framing (bring your hammers & nail guns), as well as
general clean up; help is also needed with the luncheon cook-out. Each pastor
should bring a team of at least 5 or 6. Questions? Call Pastor Mike at
318-472-9075.
AREA VBS OUTREACH: invite area children
to attend and also volunteer to help:
June 23 27 at New Hope FMC in
Devine (Pastor Fred Summers, 318-442-5106)
June 29 July 2 at
July 21-25 at Acme FMC in Acme
(Pastors Wade & Cindy Robinson, 318-339-8209)
July 28 Aug 1 at Marthas Chapel
in Deville (Pastor Monty Bower, 318-446-5308)
YOUTH WORK TEAM TO
THE PASS:
GCC teens are challenged to experience post-Katrina recovery work for a week in
Pass Christian MS on Aug 4 9. The cost of $100 covers transportation
gas, as well as lodging & meals at
MARTHAS CHAPEL TO
THE PASS:
April 13 19 the following work team helped with hurricane relief: Pastor
Monty & Jo Bower, Jan Paul, Richard & Cecile Price and Katy Price. With
the inspiring words of Greg Nitchman, The Holy Spirit is a drywaller! the
team spent much of the week putting up sheetrock. A building inspector from
FAMILY CAMP 2008
REPORT:
June 9 - 13 was a great week filled with many memories. The messages by camp
evangelist Randy Sands and repertoire of musical instruments played by worship
leader Mark Brooke were unparalleled. $606.00 was raised for missions through
the silent auction and over $700 was given to SEED through purchases. New
friendships were also made with missionaries Ron & Joanne Pieper (ronaldpieper@hotmail.com.).
Check our website (www.seregionfmc.org) as pictures will be posted soon. Next
years Family Camp has been set for June
8 12, 2009.