LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region
Volume 4, Issue 7 August
2009
Pastors: Please distribute this to your delegates,
leaders & congregation
An
Ordinary Day
It was Thursday, July 24, when Chicago White
Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle took the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays. The game
began like any other major league baseball game, but by the time the game was
over, fans and players alike realized they had just witnessed baseball
history. Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect
game (sorry Rays fans). This was only the 18th perfect game pitched
in the long history of major league baseball.
As I think about this historic day at the
ball park, I realize that it began as any other normal day. Fans streamed into
the park hoping to watch a good game; the teams went through their normal
warm-ups and preparation; and Pitcher Buehrle had no idea that he was about to
make baseball history. Theres a message here for us as believers the POWER
of the POTENTIAL of an ordinary day. Our lives are filled with the ordinary. We
get up, go to work or work at home, make meals, spend a little time with family
and friends, go to bed, and then get up and do it all over again the next day. It
is easy to forget that we have a God who wants to use us to achieve the EXTRAORDINARY
in the midst of the ORDINARY.
Ripping the Roof is not a new church
program. Rather, it is an understanding that creating new openings to get
people closer to Jesus is to be a normal, every day part of life. It is not
just for the pastor or an evangelism team; rather, EACH believer is to be on
the look-out for opportunities to be His voice and His hands to someone else. Thats
how an ORDINARY day becomes an EXTRAORDINARY day. So when you get up tomorrow
morning, realize that someone you come in contact with may be just one story,
or one act of kindness, away from crossing the line of faith and be ready to
swing into action.
Supt. Darrel Riley
STRATEGIC FALL
OUTREACH IDEAS &
RESOURCES
1. Plan a compelling fall sermon series
& focus small groups around that topic:
Develop your own series or check out Rick
Warrens new 8 week series Lifes Healing Choices, based on
the Beatitudes. Developed with John Baker, founder of Celebrate Recovery, this
series provides guidance for everyone in tough times find hope from your
hurts, help from your hang ups and healing from your habits. Go to www.lifeshealingchoices.com
2. Host a special Back to School event or
new school year outreach ministry:
See listing on page 2 of this newsletter for
ideas
3. Participate in National Back to Church
Sunday on September 13, or other date:
82% of people say they
would be open to attending church if a friend invited them, but only 2% of active church-going
Christians invited an unchurched person to church in 2008! Train your
congregation to be inviters. Go to www.outreach.com or call 1.800.991.6011.
4. Serve your community through the 4 week
Faith In Action experience:
Mobilize your congregation to be a witness
through service. Campaign Kit includes weekly sermons, daily devotionals, small
group lessons, and concludes with a service day; cost $49.00. www.outreach.com
or call 1.800.991.6011. Video: http://tinyurl.com/d23s5e
5. Attend the National ALPHA Conference on
Oct. 20 21 at Northland Church, in
Longwood,
FL. The Alpha course is a 10-week
experience where people from all backgrounds come together to explore the
relevance of Jesus for their lives today. This conference will train both
potential and veteran Alpha leaders. Go
to www.alphausa.org
PRAY
THAT THESE PASTORS WILL LEAD THEIR CONGREGATIONS IN
RIPPING
THE ROOF and CREATING NEW OPENINGS
Pray
daily for the following churches and pastors. Send greetings to one another.
When you are the prayer focus, please contact the Rileys to share personal
& church prayer requests.
|
AUGUST 2009 |
|
AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCE |
|
July
26 Aug 1 |
Ocala, Bread of
Life Pastor
Kent Schroeder (Charlotte) rev.kdavid@yahoo.com CMC
Cara Sharich (Scott) |
Monterey, LA: Acme: Pastors
Wade & Cindy Robinson chapel37chick@yahoo.com |
|
Aug 2 - 8 |
Orange City: Living
Water Pastors
Montana & Joy Mormur ASP
Nelson Hom (Trudy) livingwaterchurch@embarqmail.com |
Olla, LA: Antioch Wayne
Ainsworth 190 Ainsworth Loop, Olla LA 71467 |
|
Aug
9 - 15 |
Orlando Brazilian
Fellowship Gilton
Araujo (Cynthia) GiltonCynthia@hotmail.com |
Olla, LA:
Summerville Pastor
Glenn Roark (Levena) Glenn.Roark@bakerpetrolite.com |
|
Aug
16 - 22 |
Orlando Fellowship Pastor
Daryl Smith (Carolyn) daryl.smith@asburyseminary.edu |
Pass Christian, MS:
Word of Hope CPP Pastor
Tommy Gammill (Mickie) tommy@hopenet.ws |
|
Aug
23 - 29 |
Orlando First Pastor
Juan Grullon (Lucia) revjdg@yahoo.com |
Pineville, LA:
Edgewood Pastor
Alex Bigger (Felisha) biggeriv@yahoo.com ASP
Dale Robinson (Cassie) |
|
Aug
30 Sept 5 |
Pt. Charlotte: New
Vision Pastor
Larry Jones (Laurie) LDJones99@yahoo.com |
Provencal LA Pastor
Mike Marbut (Sue) MProGuns@bellsouth.net |
SCHOOL YEAR
RELATED OUTREACH IDEAS:
BACK
TO SCHOOL IDEAS:
Host
a free Back to School Carnival for
local community families with children. Use this hook event to distribute a
flier about your fall childrens, youth and adult events.
Hold
a special Back to School Dedication.
Invite public school teachers, bus drivers & other school workers to be
honored and prayed over in morning worship the Sunday before the new school
year begins.
Collect
back packs and school supplies for
needy families within your congregation, local community, or nearby school.
Promote
See You At the Pole (www.syatp.com),
to take place Wednesday, Sept 23.
SCHOOL
YEAR MINISTRIES:
Adopt A School: take in occasional
treats to bless the teachers, and also partner with school administrators by
providing funding for prescreened children who need eye glasses, dental
appointments, head lice medication, etc.
If
your church is lucky enough to be located near a school, offer your facility to be used by teachers for a monthly or weekly early
prayer service, or provide an after-school program for
latch-key children a couple days a week (Tuesdays & Thursdays).
Become
a host site for MOMS IN TOUCH INTL.,
a non-denominational ministry where concerned women gather weekly to pray for
one hour for local school administrators, teachers & students (www.momsintouch.org
or call 1-800-949-MOMS)
Become
a MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS (MOPS) site, ministering to young moms
& their preschoolers (www.MOPS.org or call 1-800-929-1287).
SUPPORT our SOUTHEAST
REGION MISSIONARIES:
Monthly
updated newsletters, blogs and support information on each family are available
on-line at www.fmwm.org
(then click on Missionaries tab). You can also email them:
Josh & Susy
Fajardo (
Read their blog for recent pictures and text
about the familys summer plans and reports of visiting ministry teams.
Mike & Maria
Long (
Our own HS graduate Daniel Balzer (Ocala, FL) is participating in a VISA experience
with the Longs as Mikes assistant. Pray Daniel is granted a student visa to
study modern Greek so that he can remain in the country for an entire year.
Jack & Jeanne
Munos (
The Munos continue fruitful ministry in
Haiti. As rampant hunger continues there, on Feb 7, 2010 churches throughout
the southeast region are challenged to hold a Super Salad Bowl event on Super
Bowl Sunday to raise awareness & funds to fight starvation in Haiti.
2009 YEARBOOK ORDER DEADLINE
FM
2009 Yearbooks (hardcopy or CD format) need to be ordered by August 17 with the
Wesleyan Publishing House; call 1-800-493-7539.
AL-GA MISSION
DISTRICT DATES:
AL:
Huntsville:
Remember to pray for the upcoming public launch of the Acts Church on Aug 2. The congregation has been busy
renovating their warehouse as an innovative worship center. The conference
provided funds for 50 chairs to be purchased.
Condolences: To Brad Wilcox and
family on the home going of his mother, Ruth.
Prayer: For Karey (wife of
Doug Wall at Acts Church) who is on bed rest until the arrival of their third
child in August.
GA:
Tucker:
Keep Pastor Serge and Ledia Bonhomme in your prayers as they move from MI to GA
on August 3 to launch a Haitian church plant. Their new contact information:
3070
Whitter Way, Cumming GA 30040, 616-633-9104,
sbonhomme2003@yahoo.com
GULF COAST CONFERENCE:
PINEVILLE,
LA: Edgewood
FMC welcomed Alex Bigger & wife Felisha
(from E. Michigan Conf) as their new senior pastor on July 5. The Biggers
contact information:
368
Deer Trace, Apt 461, Pineville LA 71360
Cell: 318-787-3040, biggeriv@yahoo.com
SHREVEPORT,
LA: Ronnie Hampton (wife Elsie) is the new
pastor at Central FMC. Their contact information: 223 Merrick St. Shreveport,
LA 71104 Home: 318-221-1020, email: choirboy_71202@yahoo.com
WKEND with SUPT
RILEY:
Supt & Peggy will be on site the weekend of Aug. 28 30:
Installation of
Ronnie Hampton at Central at 11:30, everyone is invited
Celebration luncheon
to follow immediately following the installation
ADULT
RETREAT:
Adult Ministries is sponsoring an overnight retreat Oct 16 17 at The Wesley
Center in
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE:
BIBLE QUIZZING
HISTORY:
The
Bible quiz team from Miami First Haitian FMC became the first Haitian team in
FM history to reach the Bible quizzing finals. Keren Darius won a 3rd place trophy in the Senior Rookie
division in Rochester, NY. To learn how to start a Bible Quizzing team in your
church, contact Pastor Don Kaufmann,
home: 407-932-1417 or cell: 407-433-7304.
PASTORAL FAMILY NEWS:
Elder Patricia Clarke
has
been accepted into the Clinical Pastoral Program at FL Hospital, which will run
Sept 2009 Feb 2010. She has moved to a new address: 6904 Wilkow Dr. #206, Orlando FL 32821. Her
cell phone & email remain the same.
Pastor Sam Nieves (Greenacres: Centro
de Adoracion) has a new cell phone number: 786-366-7987
Pastor Jose Del Toro (Miami: Melrose) has
a new cell phone number: 786-281-5413
Pastor Tommy Dennis (Holiday) has a new
email: pastortommy@tampabay.rr.com
Elder Kelly Kannon continues to await a
10 point match for a bone marrow transplant
Congratulations
to Pastor Richard Harris (Lakeland:
Living Hope) on his new book One Nation
Under Curse, which tells the story of his life before Christ as a
prominent leader in the KKK.
PARTICIPATE IN
THESE FALL EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER REGIONAL TRAINING EVENT DATES & LOCATIONS:
Bring a copy of your
May - August summer Trimester On Purpose Form
for your DL:
Sat, Sept 12:
Gather
9:30am, meeting 10am lunch. Hispanic MEG Bd to meet afterwards
Sat, Sept 19: West
Coast Site at St Pete: Cornerstone (Sr. Pastor Rex Bullock)
Gather
9:30am, meeting 10am lunch; District MEG Bd to meet afterwards
Mon, Sept 21: Central
FL Site at
2009 MENS RETREAT includes
MEN AT THE CROSS Conference
October 9 11 is a block-buster weekend for men! SAC retreat men will attend
the Men
at the Cross Conference being held in the Sun Dome in Tampa (www.menatthecross.org)
Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, then go to Avon Park Holiness Camp
to spend Saturday late afternoon through Sunday morning. Cost for the Men
at the Cross event, Saturday night lodging at
Pastors: get a discounted rate of $68 if
you bring 2 or more men with you.
Register with Michael Boyd at Cornerstone:
ALL -
CONFERENCE OCTOBER GATHERING: RIP FEST
Bring
your leaders to St. Pete: Cornerstone on Friday
- Saturday, October 23 & 24,
for RIP FEST! as we continue building upon our 09 RIPPING THE ROOF theme.
Friday
night fun:
Karaoke for Christ, 7 10pm bring your background music & perform. Saturday
events: 8 10am mini Bible Quiz for teen teams; 9:30 continental
breakfast. 10am: Keynote message by J. R. Rushik, innovative church planter
from Storehouse Church in PA; also powerful worship, provided luncheon,
afternoon workshops.