CliffsNotes – November 20, 2018

FMCiC 3 Year Ministry Plan: A Third Initiative

What about “missions”?

“Missions” has not been on the “back burner” nor has it been given a lesser priority. This past year we have collected mission endeavours that you are already investing in (prayer, time, finances and with other resources), in fact we are quite active as a movement! However in order to have a coordinated effort as a Canadian church, we need to develop missionaries and be mission-minded and we need to pay attention to Canada.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

This introductory line in the book of Acts, is also a final instruction Jesus gave His followers before completing His earthly ministry. This is also how the story historically unfolds in Acts. Was it meant to be a formal plan or evangelistic strategy, wherein the healthy local church participates in ministry outreach in their own “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”? Maybe! If a local church is responsible for outreach in each of these spheres, then the resources in a local church of 20 people will be quite stretched.

To the local church: You are not alone! You are connected and you belong to an international church family called the Free Methodist Church – and we are only a small part of the whole body of Christ!

I write this because I believe your local church has to prayerfully discern where and how to participate in this mission of God. You are not called to do everything; rather, you are called to do what you are called to do! Furthermore, because we are the Free Methodist Church in Canada, we have to discern what we are called to do and be together in Canada and beyond.

The Board of Administration’s “Missions” sub-committee has been prayerfully discerning what it means for us to be Spirit filled witnesses as a national church family. We believe that we have to pay attention to what is happening in Canada. The FMCiC has to strive to become friends with and witnesses to our indigenous brothers and sisters, to the Francophone community in Canada, and to international students and new Canadians. We have agreed as a committee that before we leave “to do missions” elsewhere, we better be sure our house is in order. We are not saying no to international outreach, but we are saying both / and: pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us about home (Canada) AND what He would like us to pay attention to beyond Canada.

The BOA has approved of this third initiative in our FMCiC 3 Year Ministry Plan:

Intercultural Engagement Team:

  1. The FMCiC Intercultural Engagement Team (hereafter “IET”) provides general, coordinated oversight and support to missional efforts and projects by local churches across the Free Methodist Church in Canada. The primary objective of all missional efforts coordinated under the IET is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people who are otherwise unlikely to encounter this Good News. These missional efforts are often accompanied by educational, humanitarian and (or) social assistance initiatives, as modeled by Jesus who frequently met peoples’ tangible needs while ministering to their spiritual condition. The core responsibilities of the IET fall into four categories: 1) Communication, 2) Coordination, 3) Facilitation, and 4) Administration.
  2. The Intercultural Engagement Team Leader (hereafter “TL”) will be hired for a 2 day / week by the current Global Ministries Committee. The TL will fall into the FMCiC org chart in the category of “Coach”. This committee will help the TL by providing a clear job description, develop a high impact IET, and a “Resource committee” to ensure that the Team gets off to a good start. The same committee will appoint one of its members (a BOA member) to be a liaison for the IET and the BOA. The committee will then dissolve as the IET begins to lead. The TL will chair / lead the IET to PRAYERFULLY create a Ministry Plan that will include the following: consider the state of Kingdom advancement in Canada (i.e. is there a healthy church within reach of every Canadian? Church Planting will help direct this conversation); explore Church effectiveness with regards our Indigenous peoples, Quebec, new Canadians, “Nones” and “Dones”; lead the IET to be a resource for local churches as local churches want to engage in missions; develop short-term mission opportunities for youth and local churches (to reboot, re-excite, and expose our FMCIC to cross-cultural missions). These trips will be intentionally spiritually rich, discipling opportunities (the TL will develop a ‘curriculum’). These short-term trips will introduce participants to a spiritual formation experience, a cross-cultural experience (that usually leads to a greater love and commitment to missions) and offers FMCIC connectionalism as local churches join together for these trips. International Child Care Ministries and Tearfund will be important partners in this international engagement focus.

 

We are hiring! We are looking for a 2 day / week Team Leader for the Intercultural Engagement Team. Click here to see information on the position and how to apply.

 

Next week I will tell you more about the mission’s initiative in the FMCiC 3 Year Plan, but let me give you a teaser: David and Jennifer Wright have been approved into Francophone ministry. They have paid attention to their calling, the FMCiC, Canada and even beyond… Next week I will send out an interview with them…

This past Sunday Karlene and I had the opportunity to worship with the Peterborough FM church family. On Saturday their leaders had a full day of praying and talking about their structures and ministries (Leadership retreats / days are essential). This church leads a breakfast program in a local public school every morning for the past 6 years. Because of their connections through the school they started a “Come Cook With Me” on Tuesday nights (community children come to learn to cook a healthy meal and their families come to enjoy it – because of the popularity of this they have had to be creative in how they run it). Because of their connections and reputation in the school they have started a “Come Read With Me” after school program. Because they were faithful in one area God continues to bless in others… Thank you Pastor Daniel and PFMC.


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – The Flying V:https://fmcic.ca/the-flying-v/
News & Stories Blog – James Bryan Smith Apprentice Series of Study Books for Spiritual Formation: https://fmcic.ca/james-bryan-smith-apprentice-series-of-study-books-for-spiritual-formation/
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 Podcast: Jeff and Jan Steckley – Contemplative practice, second half of life & the art of starting: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-53-jeff-and-jan-steckley-contemplative-practice-second-half-of-life-the-art-of-starting/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca


ANNOUNCEMENTS
None

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
Pierre Zidor, Montreal, Quebec – ordination service on November 25, 2018 at 2:00 pm,  Eglise Methodiste Libre de Rosemont, Montreal, 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:
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*
November 1-3, 2019 – location TBA*

Wesleyan Theology:
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*
November 1-3, 2019 – 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/

February 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during Winter semester of 2019.  See instructions and the 2019 application forms 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

Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK


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)

Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (Nov 27/18)
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON (Nov 27/18)
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK (Nov 27/18)

 

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
Intercultural Engagement Team Leader Free Methodist Ministry Centre
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Verona FM Church