LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region

Volume 3, Issue 8 September 2008

Pastors: Distribute to your delegates, leaders & congregation

 

 

WHO ARE YOU AMAZING?

 

This past Sunday I watched the closing ceremonies of the Summer Olympics. Over the past sixteen days, I had been amazed time and again. Amazed at the architectural designs of the Birds Nest and Water Cube . . . . Amazed at the synchronization of the near million Chinese volunteers who participated in opening and closing ceremonial pageantry. Amazed at the athletes who had dedicated years of their lives to perfecting their skills in order to represent their homelands in a brief moment of heart pounding competition. . . . Amazed at the reported $40 billion price tag China invested to host the event.

 

I am reminded of two incidents in Scripture where it is recorded that Jesus was also amazed. The first Scripture is Mark 6:6 where it states that while Jesus was in his hometown of Nazareth He could only heal a few sick people, and He was amazed at their lack of faith. In the second Scripture, Luke 7:9, a Roman officer requested that Jesus heal his slave who was ill and near death, but said that Jesus did not need to come to his home that merely saying the word would heal the servant: When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following Him, He said, I tell you, I havent found such great faith even in Israel! Two Gospel incidents where Jesus was amazed, but what different outcomes!

 

Do we realize that as individual believers, and as churches, we have daily opportunities to amaze others, and to amaze Jesus? Oh, let us amaze Jesus with daily choices that reflect our commitment to Him and to a lifestyle of servanthood. May we amaze Him with our actions of placing the needs of others above our own comfort level. May we amaze Him with our commitment to tithing and sacrificial giving first, before we pay our bills. May we amaze Him with our commitment to not taking offense easily, but rather thinking the best of others, and offering forgiveness and grace readily.

 

In this day, a transformed character, healthy interpersonal relationships, involvement in the lives of others who need help, and our confidence in Gods trustworthiness in the midst of our own difficulties, are all important actions which lay a foundation for any verbal witness we might offer. When our lives and churches reflect amazing faith, we will draw the attention of our neighbors, co-workers and relatives to not only us, but also to our Savior.

 

In the coming months, may we daily look for ways to follow Christ and obey His Word, so that we might amaze those around us, as well as Jesus. Our humble faith and daily obedience will undoubtedly prepare the way so that Jesus might do many great and mighty miracles in us and through us.

Supt Darrel Riley

 

 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Chinese Proverb

 

It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor. Martin Luther

 

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

 


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.

 

Sept3mber

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCE

Aug 31 Sept 6

Orlando Fellowship

Senior Pastor Daryl Smith

daryl.smith@asburyseminary.edu

 

Pineville, LA: Edgewood

Pastor Emitte Belgard (Beverly)

ASP Dale Robinson (Cassie)

emittebelgard@hotmail.com

robinson2506@aol.com

 

Sept 7 13

Orlando: First Spanish

Pastor Juan Grullon (Lucy)

revjdg@yahoo.com

 

Provencal, LA: Provencal

Pastor Mike Marbut (Sue)

MProGuns@bellsouth.net

Sept 14 - 20

Pt Charlotte CPP: New Vision Fellowship

Pastor Larry Jones (Laurie)

LDJones99@yahoo.com

 

Shreveport, LA: Central

Under the superintendent

 

Sept 21 - 27

St. Pete: Cornerstone Comm Ch

Pastors Rex & LaWanda Bullock

Jansey Crespo (Vivian)

J. Marcos Stevao (Priscila)

Michael Boyd (Rosita)

cskinney@tampabay.rr.com

 

Whitfield, MS: Mississippi State Hospital

Chaplain Philip Cartrette (Patricia)

pcartrette@bellsouth.net

 

Sept 28

Oct 4

Tampa: Celebration

Pastor Ed Pannell (Donna)

detampa@tampabay.rr.com

 

Winnsboro, LA: Liddieville

Kenneth Lukens (Evangelene)

kelukens@yahoo.com

 

SOUTHEAST REGION REMINDERS:

 

TRIMESTER ON PURPOSE FORM is DUE in SEPTEMBER: Pastors, delegates & church leaders its time to sit down together and prayerfully complete the Trimester On Purpose form for the summer (May August). Keep a copy and give your district leader a copy in early September. The Trimester Form is available in English, Spanish or Portuguese (at the seregionfmc.org website under the Forms & Resources tab, or contact your DL).

 

ANNUAL CONFERENCE DVD KIT: A DVD of Bishop Rollers and Supt Rileys messages with accompanying listening guides and small group questions have been sent to each senior pastor. Use the DVD this fall on Sundays or Wednesdays in a mini-series to become more inwardly healthy and outwardly focused.

 

FM CLASSES in ORLANDO and INDIANAPOLIS: January 2009 classes are coming:

Ÿ  Supt. Darrel will teach FM History & Church Polity at Asbury Seminary in a 3-day intensive Thurs Sat, Jan 22 24. Contact Supt. Riley for details 407-277-1428.

 

Ÿ  J Term classes are also available at the World Ministries Center in Indianapolis:

January 5 10: FM History & Polity, Minor Prophets, or Pastoral Care

January 12 17: Letters from Roman Prison, Wesleyan Theology, Homiletics, or Evangelism

Call 1-800-342-5531, ext. 308 for information and registration

Reduced registration fee & housing IF registered by December 1, 2008

 

ASBURY SEMINARY Orlando: Kingdom Encounter - Reaching the World, Feb. 2 4


INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCE NEWS

 

AL-GA MISSION DISTRICT:

 

         MOTHER DAUGHTER TEA: The WMI at Faith FMC (Pleasant Grove, AL) is sponsoring a special outreach event for teen-aged girls and their mothers on Sunday, Sept 28. Christi Bunn of Emmanuel FMC will be the speaker.

 

         EXEC TEAM & AL PASTORS MTG: Sunday Oct 12 at 3pm the AL-GA Executive team will meet at the Cracker Barrel @ 1051 Fox Run Ave., Opelika, AL 36801. Monday, Oct 13, the AL Pastors will meet 9AM - lunch with Supt. Darrel in Birmingham, location TBA.

 

         ARTWORK by CHRISTI BUNN: Christi is an artist who specializes in original home and church sketches. She can create a special family treasure for gift giving, or make stationery, logos, etc. Christi also does hand calligraphy, oil & watercolor paintings, digital media and website design. View samples at http://www.christibunn.com, then contact her by phone at 205.616.3545, or email: art@christibunn.com

 

1.    HOLIDAY GATHERINGS: Save the following dates for a celebration dinner together:

Sunday evening, Nov 23: Georgia Pastors & Spouses

Monday evening, Nov 24: Alabama Pastors & Spouses

 

GULF COAST CONFERENCE:

 

1.    WORD OF HOPE UPDATE: Pastor Tommy & Mickie Gammill safely made the move from Jonesville, LA to Pass Christian, MS. Tommy is doing free lance construction, and Mickie has found employment as a cook in the school system. Contact the Gammills as follows: Tommys cell: 228-236-4028, Mickies cell: 228-236-4024

Emails: tommy@hopenet.ws, mickie@hopenet.ws

NOWs the time to make a commitment and secure a date to bring a work team to the Pass this fall or winter. Contact Greg Nitchman: 228-254-0493 or greg@hopenet.ws.

 

         PROVENCAL WORK DAY REPORT: Thirty five men, women & teens braved the 106 temperature for the conference-wide work day at Provencal FMC on Sat, Aug 2. Pastor Mike Marbut thanks everyone for their assistance. Theres plenty more to be done. Call Pastor Mike at 318-472-9075 to schedule your church for another work day. View pictures at www.picasaweb.google.com/tsmbarnett, then select Church Progress

 

           LADIES DAY OUT: Saturday, Sept 20 all conference women are encouraged to bring a guest, a door prize and a smile to Oak Grove FMC in Jonesville, for a Ladies Reaching Ladies day out from 10:00am 3:00pm, lunch included. Speakers include Carolyn Pecanty, Rose Thompson and GG Wyncoop. Mickie Gammill will lead worship music.

1.    NEXT SUPT WEEKEND: Friday Sunday, Oct 17 19 Supt Riley will be in the Gulf Coast. The Administrative Co will meet Friday at 6pm at Edgewood FMC. Saturday AM all there will be an all pastors meeting with the supt. at Oak Grove at 9am noon. At noon those involved in Adult Educational Ministries will join the pastors for a luncheon.

 

2.    NOVEMBER PASTORS MEETING: Saturday Nov 15, District Leader Monty Bower will lead the last GCC pastors training event of 2008. Location TBA soon.

 

3.    HOLIDAY PASTORS & SPOUSES LUNCHEON: Reserve Saturday, December 13, as your special time to celebrate the holidays with other pastoral couples in the conference.

 

         PASTORS & SPOUSES RETREAT: AL-GA and GCC pastors will return to Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, FL on Friday Sunday, Feb 20 - 22, 2009.

 


SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE NEWS

 

NEWS:

 

         WEDDING: Congratulations to Dawn Smith (elder at Orlando Fellowship) and Blair Salmons who will wed Saturday, August 30 in Oviedo.

         BIRTH: Congratulations to Justin & Melissa Laurendine (preaching at Hilliard: Wesleys Chapel) on the birth of their first child, Kee Marcus, who arrived Aug 15; vital statistics: 9 lb, 5 oz and 20 long. The Laurendines address is PO Box 67, Hilliard, FL 32046.

         REVIVAL: At Naples Evangelical Haitians recent week long revival, attendance reached 475 one night, with many standing in doorways and outside the sanctuary.

         NAPLES FM HISTORY & POLITY: The final class session with Supt. Riley will take place Saturday, Sept 6, beginning at 9:30am. All participants should bring their course notebooks as well as all text books with them to the class.

         SAC LEADERSHIP IN LAKELAND: Friday, Oct 3: DLs gather at 3pm in Maxwell; Saturday, Oct 4: Conference Cabinet meets 9:30am lunch; BOA meets after lunch

 

BLOCK-BUSTER DATES: DONT MISS THESE!

 

Sat, Sept 20: LEADERSHIP RALLY with LARRY WALKEMEYER

WHERE: Cornerstone Community Church (6745 38th Ave. N., Sst. Petersburg 33710)

WHOS INVITED: pastors, delegates, all your church leaders . . . everyone!

REGISTER: Call the church office at 727-343-7747 or email cskinney@tampabay.rr.com

Pastors: call in or email for your church:

Ÿ  the total number of ADULTS attending

Ÿ  the number of CHILDREN (kindergarten grade 5) attending with their parents

Ÿ  the number of LITTLE ONES (under 5 need their ages) attending with their parents

Ÿ  there is limited overnight lodging available with a Cornerstone member. first come basis

Ÿ  Bonus: Pastors who register by September 1 receive a free book by Larry Walkemeyer

SCHEDULE:

Ÿ  9:30 10:00am Registration & Gathering

Ÿ  10:00 noon Session 1 with Larry Walkemeyer

Ÿ  Noon 1:00pm LUNCH BBQ (free will donation)

Ÿ  1:00 3:00pm Session 2 with Larry Walkemeyer

 

Thurs Sat, Oct 23 25: SAC ANNUAL PASTORS & SPOUSES RETREAT

Ÿ  WHERE: By popular request, were returning to the Wycliffe Center in Orlando.

Ÿ  KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Steve Harper, VP of Asbury Seminary and author of several practical books on Wesley and holiness, will inspire and encourage us!

Ÿ  REGISTRATION: A special mailing will be sent out next week to church delegates and pastors. Churches are expected to pay the $125 fee for their senior pastor & spouse to attend this 2 night, 3 day event. Lodging is in 2 bedroom condos; pastoral couples will need to indicate who they prefer to share a condo with, or they will be assigned another couple. There are only 22 condos available (44 couples), so register quickly!

 

Fri Sun, Oct 10 12: CONFERENCE-WIDE MENS RETREAT

Ÿ  Supt Darrel Riley will be the keynote speaker around the theme: TAKE IT OUTSIDE! Held at the EBM Conf. Center in Summerfield, FL, there will be great worship, food, recreation and inspiring challenge. $98.00 / person. Bring every man in your church!