Karlene and I pray that you had a meaningful Thanksgiving weekend and we pray that it is with gratitude that you are moving into this week! “Today, Father, I choose to remember the new life that You have given me. Jesus, I remember that I am forgiven. I remember that I am called – thank You and thank You! I choose to make gratitude the filter through which I move though this week. Holy Spirit this is my resolve – thank You that You will live this out with me!”
There is a new video we released that gives information on Giving Streams.
Click here to see the video:https://vimeo.com/236957451
Last week I sent out Part One of a two part interview with Rev. Dr. Lawson Murray*, President of Scripture Union Canada. Pastors, this is one more preaching, teaching, resource for you…
Cliff: You wrote a book about Scriptural Engagement: what is “Scriptural Engagement” and tell me how local churches are using this book.
Lawson: Bible engagement is the process that connects us with the Bible so that we have meaningful encounters with Jesus Christ in order for our lives to be progressively transformed in Him.
To elaborate: Bible engagement happens through the course of our lives as we find our part in God’s Story. For Bible engagement to happen we must first come together with and develop a vital relationship with Christ. The relationship begins and proceeds by grace and through faith as Christ saves us from sin and sanctifies us by the Spirit. Bible engagement is evidenced through ongoing obedience to God’s Word that’s seen in life-changes that take place individually and in community.
The book that elaborates and expands on the above definition of Bible engagement is called Bible Engagement Basics. It was published in July 2017 with pre-orders for 20,000 copies. It is now available in English and French worldwide. The book is a practical resource that churches, small groups, mission agencies and individuals are using in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples:
- Many churches invite me to a “Bible Engagement Sunday” service to preach a Bible advocacy message and make the book available for its development cost. More than 75% of adults in every service purchase a copy of the book ($5)! The aim with a Bible Engagement Sunday is to nurture a Bible engagement renewal and equip a congregation with the means to strengthen their connections with the Word and the One of whom it speaks, Jesus Christ.
- One-on-one discipleship. Pastors and leaders are using the book as a handbook (for which it was designed) for teaching individuals how to engage with God’s Word. They usually meet weekly to discuss a chapter (there are 40 short chapters that average about 3 pages in length and are written to stand alone).
- Small group leaders are using it in three ways: 1.Gleaning from the chapter on Bible engagement with small groups to inform how they facilitate their small group Bible study. 2. Briefly reviewing a chapter from the book (10-15 minutes) with the members of the small group before the Bible study. 3. Conducting the small group based on one of the chapters, e.g. the chapter on “Contemplating” provides a practical guideline on how to conduct group Lectio Divina.
- Church leaders are using it to inform and inspire their church boards and ministry leaders in how to make decisions and plan programs that prioritize Bible engagement.
- Families put into practice the guidelines in Section 3 of the book for ramping up Bible engagement in the home and youth workers are applying the principles for helping Centennials get into the Word.
*Lawson Murray is a Bible engagement advocate, ministry innovator, researcher, author of the bestselling children’s series Bible Beginners, managing editor for the daily online Bible reading guide theStory™, culture and children’s ministry consultant, conference speaker, adjunct seminary professor, international trainer and team leader for the Canadian Bible Engagement Study. He has served as a teacher, pastor, church planter, children/youth evangelist and sports ministry specialist. His doctoral thesis focused on Bible engagement in Canada and he publishes biweekly articles on Bible engagement in the “jumpintotheword” blog.
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada, a multimedia hub of resources and real life experiences connecting children, youth and families with Jesus and His Story. He is also the National Director of SGM Canada, an agency that loves to create opportunities for the Bible’s life words to be shared and lived out.
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MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays -Do It, Don’t Blog It!: https://fmcic.ca/do-it-dont-blog-it/ New
News & Stories Blog – No Greater Love – Calgary Music Festival: https://fmcic.ca/no-greater-love-calgary-music-festival-brings-the-church-and-first-nations-together/
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: Learning Party Talks – Greg Paul: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-49-learning-party-talks-greg-paul/ New
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
LifePlan Study Team Files
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is October 15, 2017 to apply for both the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for the summer and fall semesters of 2017, and for the Special Scholarships. More information is available at this link:https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
Nov 3-5, 2017 at Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
Wesleyan Theology:
Nov 3-5, 2017 at First FMC, New Westminster, BC
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – October 16, 2017
Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA
Registration is online for all courses at this link: https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/. Those tracking for credentialed ministry should take the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology if possible.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Rev. Dan Sheffield – appointed as Transition Pastor at Grapeview FM Church, St. Catharines, Ontario, effective October 15, 2017.
Ordination and Commissioning
N/A
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON – Leadership Development Office receiving resumes until October 10
Rustle FMC, Kingston, ON – Leadership Development Office receiving resumes until October 17
Sault Ste Marie FMC, Sault Ste Marie, ON – Leadership Development Office receiving resumes until October 17
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan at 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)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK – (Dyan Mouland – Transition Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Madoc Free Methodist/ Wesleyan Church
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
Thunder Bay FMC, Thunder Bay, ON (Andre Korstanje retiring July 2018)
Functioning with approved local arrangements
Avonlea FMC, Avonlea SK
Campbell’s Bay FMC, Campbell’s Bay, QC (Orville White)
Church On The Hill, Orillia ON
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Vennachar FMC, Vennachar, ON (Laurie Lemke)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Wyevale FMC, Wyevale, ON
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)
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PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
Roxanne Goodyear
Kim Henderson
Derek Spink
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Associate Pastor – Trulls Road FM Church
Youth and Children Ministry Director – Verona Free Methodist Church
Part-Time Office Administrator – Wesley Chapel FM Church
