For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
Have you watched “The Social Dilemma”? It is an important documentary. You’ll hear that no one person can be identified as the architect or evil mastermind in control of our current social media reality. The participants in the documentary have a hard time articulating the issue that “scares” them, but they recognize the issue as almost having a life of its own. I am sure that none of them would agree with what I am suggesting, but Ephesians 6:12 certainly makes sense out of the “dilemma”. According to Scripture there is an organized spirit-enemy, and its politics, structures, influence are discernable. Where there is “stealing, killing and destroying” of lives (John 10:10), confusion, lies and hatred then you can be sure that the “rulers, authorities, powers and forces” at play are demonic. We are to contend with spirit-enemies as part of what it means to be Jesus followers. We are to love people-enemies (which was a radical new ethic that Jesus introduced), and we are to fight spirit-enemies.
I’m not going to answer the next two questions, but I will ask you to: how do we love people-enemies? How do we fight spirit-enemies? I believe that the answers to these questions, and the corresponding actions, are part of the peace-work that the Church has to step into in this very volatile season.
This weekend I was with 40 teens at Maple Grove for their fall retreat – what an excellent group of young people. On Sunday I was with our Charlemont Church family. I loved that a significant time during the service is dedicated to corporate prayer: confession, and petition.
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – The Act of Noticing: https://fmcic.ca/the-act-of-noticing/
News & Stories Blog – St. Joseph Island’s FMC Building Reopens – https://fmcic.ca/st-joseph-island-fmcs-building-reopens/
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: The 2019 New Leaf Advent Reader – : https://www.newleafnetwindork.ca/podcast/
FM VIDEOS: https://fmcic.ca/category/fm-video-blog/
Get The Scoop Video: https://fmcic.ca/august-26-2020-get-the-scoop-with-harold-gonyou/
Pastor Retreats
Here’s some exciting news! The directory of Pastor Retreat Locations is now being maintained by the Education & Clergy Department of The Wesleyan Church.
This site about 10 years ago as a collection of free and low-cost retreats and vacations for pastors. Over the years, these pages have been used by tens of thousands of visitors seeking a respite from pastoral ministry.
The site now contains more than 200 facilities in 38 U.S. states and 9 other countries.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None at this time
ORDINATION AND COMMISSIONING SERVICES
Leonard Bruce – October 25, 2020 at 11:00 am, Warkworth FM Church, Warkworth, ON
Douglas Smith – October 18, 2020 at 2:00 pm, Fellowship of Joy, St. Williams, ON
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/
Register online through the link above (Tuition payment is not required when registering for a course. Payment is due 10 days before the course begins.)
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:
November 6-8, 2020 – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
Date and 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:
Course starts October 13 (deadline to register – October 5)
Part One: Oct 13-Nov 5 – advance online engagement
PLUS
Part Two: Nov 6-7 – two-day in-person class – Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
Personal and Church Stewardship: (NOTE: TUITION WAIVED FOR THIS ONLINE COURSE)
5-week online course (ENGLISH) – October 5, 2020
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early! )
2020 SCHOLARSHIPS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during the summer and/or fall semesters of 2020. The 2020 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 2020 – 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 attend the fall Minister’s Conferences or the spring Regional Gatherings, add 6 hours of CEU credit for each event when you send in your annual CEU report.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
None at this time
Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 416-240-7845 (deadline to apply in brackets)
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON (Sept 29)
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Davika in the Leadership Development Office [see above] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)
Campbellford FMC, Campbellford, ON (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON
First FM Church, New Westminster, BC
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Trinity Christian Centre, Dresden, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Transition Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Angelic Treasures Christian Daycare Newmarket – SUPERVISOR
Associate Pastor: Youth, Young Adults & Social Media – Barrie Free Methodist Church
