Discipleship: Here’s another opportunity that is worth exploring
Frankly leaders you need a plan – a discipleship plan. Not just a program, a class, a discipleship committee, or a dedicated pastor of discipleship. You need a prayerful and thoughtful plan to help Sally, a neighbour that you invited to come play volleyball with you at church volleyball night. Your prayer for Sally is that she would discover God’s love, discover her gifts and use them to disciple others into faith. This plan may involve designated leaders, and particular programs. The plan will include creating a church-wide culture that eats, sleeps and breathes discipleship.
Remember our working definition for “discipleship” (I mean we can’t measure effectiveness without a standard): Discipleship is an intentional, organic and transformative relationship that Jesus modeled for each of us. The purposes of discipleship include: i) nurturing church family; ii) learning God’s Word; iii) prayer-worshipping; iv) participating in God’s mission in the world (Matthew 28:19) and v) healing, deliverance, and wholeness in Christ.
My goal is to offer you many different discipleship resources, tools and learning opportunities – this is why networks are now striving to become “discipleship communities” where pastors will mutually disciple one another and bring this experience back into their local churches.
Below is a resource for you to consider in your plan development: Radical Mentoring. It has very good potential, it is free and there is a free coach to help you engage. I interviewed our own Rev. Dr. Jay Mowchenko about a ministry he is currently involved in.
Jay you are involved with “Radical Mentoring”, in fact you are the national director. What is this “ministry” – what’s it about?
JAY: Radical Mentoring (RM) was started by Regi Campbell, who wrote a book called “Mentor Like Jesus.” www.radicalmentoring.com is a website that people can go to, sign up, and receive all kinds of free stuff, including coaching on how to mentor. I read Regi’s book in 2012 while on sabbatical and bought in. I led 5 groups in the Weyburn FM church. In 2018, when Marilou and I felt God leading us to step out of pastoral ministry for a time, I offered myself as a volunteer to the leaders of the RM ministry. They tasked me with resourcing Canadian leaders who want to mentor. Anyone who signs up for an account on the website will get a call from me and an offer for free coaching.
I noticed, when I went to the US website that it is described as being for men, but you have an opportunity to Free Methodize it! Tell us about that.
JAY: Radical Mentoring began as a men’s ministry, and the fellows in Atlanta have their hands full with the demands of that specific niche in the US. There is a smaller, partner ministry for women, inspired by RM, located at www.titus2mentoringwomen.com. It’s based on the same philosophy and structure, offering all their resources for free. They don’t have the ability to offer coaching support, though.
As I’ve begun my work as an RM leader, the people who are approaching me for coaching are almost equally split male/female. RM has no theological position on women in ministry, but because of their clear focus on men, their resources might give you the impression that they oppose or ignore women in ministry. This is not the case. They have given me free reign to adapt RM to meet the needs of whomever feels called to mentor. If a woman signs up on the website, I’ll happily coach them! As far as “Free Methodizing” RM goes, I have some hopes of building a truly Canadian arm of RM that incorporates both RM and Titus 2 into one ministry, and that advocates for women in leadership.
What’s this ministry meant to your life and ministry?
JAY: It’s tough not to give in to hyperbole. I love mentoring. I was hooked from the first meeting. At the end of every group, I am blown away with what God can do in a year with a group of people. Words like “transformed,” “whole,” and “miraculous” come to mind. About a third of my graduates are running or planning to run mentor groups, while a majority of them are mentoring in some form or another. Every single person who graduates from a mentor group emerges as a significant contributor to the church in some way. It changes the trajectory of a person’s life.
I feel like mentoring allowed me the opportunity to really dig into important issues in peoples’ lives, in a way that resulted in real change, increased influence and multiplication. Make no mistake, it requires a significant amount of work to sift through your life to find God’s work in you. It takes time and effort to organize and run the group. The power of the group is based on your willingness to be vulnerable and open about your struggles. But the payoff is well worth the price tag!
You and I spoke about discipleship in FMCiC. How do you see this as an opportunity for our pastors and churches?
JAY: The basic structure is pretty simple. It’s an accessible and effective model for those who are willing to do the work. As a movement, we are looking for ways to take discipleship to deep levels, and to multiply disciple-makers. I think this is a great way to make that happen. Buy and read Regi’s book, then go to the website and sign up – you’ll be hearing from me! It’s free!!!
Jay Mowchenko’s contact info is:
Founder, Shalom Leadership
[email protected]
Church Planting Coach, FMCiC
[email protected]
Director of Ministry Development – Canada, Radical Mentoring
[email protected]
The easiest way for us to connect is for you to look at your calendar and find a time that works by scheduling some time here – http://www.scheduleyou.in/KbvLeIK
ANNUAL REPORTS
Attention: Pastors and Delegates!
It’s that time of year—the Annual Report for 2018 for your church is due on February 20, 2019. If you have not yet completed your report please do so as soon as possible! You will find the Annual Report on the home page of our website at fmcic.ca.
Annual Report in English: https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
Annual Report in French: https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433
This year we have included a guide (pdf) to help you understand and complete the Annual Report. We trust that we will be helpful to you in completing the form. Attached you will find a template (in pdf) to help you gather information from your treasurer (and others) and to note your Network Leader Evaluation numbers before you start to file the report online.
We do appreciate your filing online if possible, but you can fax or mail your report to the Ministry Centre as well – [email protected] / 905-848-2603
Please note: Network Leader Evaluation – each person who attends Network meetings should file.
The Lead Pastor’s evaluation of the Network Leader will be included with the Annual Report; all others can file through this link: Network Leader Evaluation
Please keep in mind that we ask for the same statistics every year for the Annual Report, so a system should be in place to gather this information. Every church and church plant must file a report.
FMCIC Annual Report Guide
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018 – FR
2019 REGIONAL GATHERINGS 2019 Regional Gathering Locations and Dates – PDF
Regional Gatherings are all about connecting! Our intention is to see Free Methodist leader and lay people meeting together as a movement for both an “informative” and “formative” gathering. We hope to see you there! https://fmcic.ca/regional-gathering-2019/
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – A Healthy Word for the new Year: https://fmcic.ca/a-healthy-word-for-the-year/
News & Stories Blog – Who is Reading What in 2019?: https://fmcic.ca/who-is-reading-what-in-2019/
the conneXion – a Free Methodist theology blog: 3 Minute Theology 2.5: Knowing the Bible Inside Out: https://fmcic.ca/3-minute-theology-2-5-knowing-the-bible-inside-out/
New Leaf Network: Learning Party stories – Jeremy Conway: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-63-learning-party-stories-jeremy-conway/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
Louis Innocent – ordination service on March 17, 2019 at 2 pm, Eglise Methodiste Libre La Foi Des Elus, Repentigny, QC
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/
Register online through the link above.
Lay Ministers tracking for credentialed ministry and those transferring ordination credentials into the FMCiC need to take the following two courses for full credit – and if possible, the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology.
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
May 31-June 2, 2019 – Peterborough FM Church, Peterborough ON
* November 1-3, 2019 – western Canada-location TBA*
Cours sur le Coeur du Méthodisme Libre Canadien
12 au 14 juillet 2019 à Montréal à l’Église Méthodiste Libre de St-Henri
Wesleyan Theology:
*NEW* May 31-June 2, 2019 – Weyburn Free Methodist Church, Weyburn, SK
* November 1-3, 2019 – Ontario-location TBA* (also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Ministerial Candidates tracking for Commissioned or Ordained Minister are required to take the following two courses for full credit. Those who are already commissioned or ordained are required to either audit these two courses for 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) each or take the two courses and complete the assignments for 3 CEUs each.
Culture and the Missional Church:
Date and location TBA
Personal and Church Stewardship:
5-week online course (FRENCH) – start date – TBA
6-week online course (ENGLISH) – start date – TBA
(*locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
2019 SCHOLARSHIPS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during either the summer and/or the fall semesters of 2019. The 2019 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during 2019 – apply online from the link above
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs) https://fmcic.ca/introduction-to-continuing-education/
Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (except retirees) are to annually report Continuing Education Units (CEUs) acquired during each year. Check the link above for information on CEUs, the report form and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
Note: For those who attended the fall Minister’s Conferences, add 6 hours of CEU credit when you send in your annual CEU report.
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION Interviewing
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON
Church Profiles available Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225 (deadline to apply in brackets)
None available
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in reviewing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [[email protected] or 289-228-1225] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)
Athens FMC, Athens, ON (Angel Valentin-Transition Pastor)
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, ON (Kim Henderson-Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Abbs So and Shadow Lau-Interim Co-Pastors)
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Intern Job Position – Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
