CliffsNotes – October 31, 2017

I have so much and every new trip to a less developed country reminds me of all I have and probably don’t need. I am in an airport in Davao, Philippines waiting for my flight home. I spoke in a church Sunday morning that filled my heart with joy! They worshiped enthusiastically, the youth played on the worship team and children had choreographed a worshipful dance during the worship time. It felt more natural than rehearsed. The church family laughed much with each other, greeted each other warmly and made me feel like I belonged AND they fed me a beautiful Filipino lunch buffet. I wish I could tell you everything I ate but besides the rice, watermelon and tiny bananas, I’m not really sure. There was a purple veggie, noodle dishes, and what tasted like pork and chicken as best as I could tell. The church was not on a major road, in fact it was down a dirt road, then down a muddy walking alley, then through someone’s backyard! Chairs were those plastic patio ones and I assure you that the building was not air conditioned!

I was in the Philippines for my first meeting with the International Council of Bishops. What an excellent time with these Godly men (currently all our FM bishops are men). It was good to hear what God is doing in our movement. The FM church has been challenged to the “Decade of Harvest” which is an intentional strategic focus on evangelism and the  FMCIC will participate in this challenge. Pastors and leaders, we really need to step into everything God would have us do, and I believe this particular challenge is necessary. We are among the few Conferences that are not experiencing growth, so let’s be stretched by our larger FM family. I know that the Canadian way is to resist campaigns and the like, but this is more of a principled challenge: “focus on leading people to Christ!” Why wouldn’t we fully jump into this? I’ve sent out a couple of equipping resources (Scripture Union and Gideons) over the past couple of months in Cliff’s Notes. Maybe pastor, you are confident that everyone in your care already is confident and motivated in sharing their faith and if you aren’t, then let’s offer some training events.

One bishop spoke of over 1500 FM church plants in his Conference. One bishop broke down when he told of us persecution that some of his pastors experience in one region. One bishop explained that most of his pastoral families live on $60 per month when at least $300 is needed ($300 is pretty close to a grocery bill in a home with a few kids in Canada). My US counterparts have invited us to consider participating and sharing more in equipping opportunities, missions and pastoral movement between borders (well as much as Mr. Trump will allow!). We laughed, prayed, spoke honestly about our lives and ministry. I am so grateful for what I have just realized that I have been given. I have so much.

Pastors and leaders I exhort you (and me) in light of all we have in Canada let’s resolve to never: argue about sanctuary chairs, church décor, style of music, or any other FIRST WORLD PROBLEM. Let’s be generous with our first world lives and give: “selling our possessions and giving to everyone as they have need.” I believe the question you are currently asking as a local board, “How do we accept responsibility for our community?” fits the “Decade of Harvest” challenge, as long as you are intentionally sharing your faith.

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SAVE THE DATE2018 REGIONAL GATHERINGS

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PHOTO GALLERY
Council of Bishops Meeting

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MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays -How Engaged Are We With Scripture?: https://fmcic.ca/how-engaged-are-we-with-scripture/New
News & Stories Blog – Getting ‘Un-invisible’: Cornerstone FM in Prince Albert, SK: https://fmcic.ca/getting-un-invisible-cornerstone-fm-in-prince-albert-sk/
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/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
LifePlan Study Team Files


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SCHOLARSHIPS

The next deadline is February 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for the winter semesters of 2018.  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 Lakeview FM Church, Saskatoon, SK
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)

Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – January 29, 2018

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
N/A

 

Ordination and Commissioning

  • Laurie Lemke – Vennachar Free Methodist Church, Vennachar, Ontario – December 10, 2017 at 3 pm at Vennachar FM Church

CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing

Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON
Rustle FMC, Kingston, ON
Sault Ste Marie FMC, Sault Ste Marie, ON


Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.
None

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 (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK – (Dyan Mouland – Transition Pastor)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON
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)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON


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)
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
Fred Merritt
Derek Spink
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Associate Pastor – Trulls Road FM Church