LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region STOPPING FOR LUNCH IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KY

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1 LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region Volume 9, Issue 8 August 2014 Pastors: send this newsletter to your delegates, ministry leaders & congregations STOPPING FOR LUNCH IN ELIZABETHTOWN, KY I hope many of you were able to do something refreshing this summer. Part of our summer pattern is to drive from Indianapolis (where our two sons and Peg s parents live) down to Nashville TN for the annual Riley reunion. The passing of my father in March 2013 has only made the resolve of my 4 siblings and myself stronger to prioritize this weekend gathering of golf, food, games and memory-making with the extended family. Following the reunion on the trip back to Indianapolis, we decided to stop in Elizabethtown for lunch. Both Peg and I were feeling a little queasy after a long weekend, so we decided to pull into a Denny s restaurant for a breakfast plate for lunch. As we neared the restaurant, the traffic became chaotic... frantic... it was all we could do to avoid getting hit there were cars darting in and out from all directions. When we entered the restaurant and asked what was going on, the waitress laughed and said that the White Castle next door had been closed for 4 months for renovations and had just re-opened its doors that morning. As we enjoyed our comfort food at Denny s, I couldn t help but think about all the excitement over the re-opening of a fast food restaurant. It made me realize, that no matter what your size or demographic target, people become curious when you take the time to re-think your purpose, re-model your facility, or re-train your staff. What about your church have you called a time-out with your leadership to review your purpose, update your facility or refresh your ministry strategy, before plunging into a new school year of activity? I encourage us all to take a White Castle moment. Supt. Darrel IT S LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY: GENERAL CONFERENCE 2015 Once every four years Free Methodists gather for four power-packed days of inspiration, training and celebration. General Conference, GC15, will take place in Orlando at the Caribe Royale on Mon Thurs, July 13 16, The focus will be upon every person and every church resourcing. Workshops will be based upon the following 9 Strategic Priorities: Embrace All Disciple Deeply Cultivate Health Develop Leaders Multiply Ministries Go Global Honor Fruitfulness Engage Urban Partner Strong Also be aware that on Sunday, July 12, all EAST Conferences including Alabama-Georgia, Gulf Coast and South Atlantic, will hold their Annual Conferences from 2:00 4:30 at Caribe Royale. Go to for details about the events and sign up for updates. Online Registration is now open to reserve your lodging and GC15 participation. Make plans to attend. SOUTHEAST OFFICE CHANGE Make sure you have updated you address book! The SER office (also Peggy Riley s personal ) is now priley661@gmail.com. Supt Darrel Riley continues to utilize his of seregionfmc@aim.com. And SAC Business Administrator Bob Cannon can be ed at SAC.FMC.BA@gmail.com 1

2 EVERY PERSON A PASSIONATE PRAY-ER May I be very careful to love You, O Lord my God, to walk in all Your ways, to obey Your commands, to hold fast to You, and to serve You with all my heart and all my soul. Joshua 22:5 July 2014 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCE July 27 Aug 2 Apopka: Iglesia Centro Restauracion Pacto Eterno Pastor Antonio Rivera (Maria) antoniorivera73@gmail.com Provencal LA: Provencal Under the Supt, Delegate B. R. Whitehead PO Box 314 Provencal LA Aug 3-9 Aug Aug Aug Boca Raton, Edifying Lives Ministry Pastor Roberto Silva (Creuzeli) drrobertosilva@gmail.com Bradenton, Orange Grove Pastor Steven Bell (Emily) bellsj@aol.com Brandon, Cristo La Senda Pastor Sergio Peralta (Hicy) speraltacls@gmail.com Cape Coral Community Church Pastor David Rigby (Linda) david@capecoralchurch.com 2 Shreveport, LA: Central Pastor James Jackmon centralfreemethodist@yahoo.com Shreveport, LA: New Vision Comm Ch Pastor Ronnie Hampton (Elsie) choirboy_71202@yahoo.com Winnsboro, LA: Liddieville Pastor Kenneth Lukens (Evangelene) burnsfive5442@att.net Birmingham, AL: Emmanuel Pastor J. Andy Bunn (Christi) andy@bunnmedia.com FM Air Force Chaplain Mark Williams reminds us how important our prayers are for one another. His family was the SAC Memorial Week prayer focus. He asked that we pray about his current challenging appointment in North Dakota. By the next Monday he received notice that he was being transferred to Nevada in 33 days. He then asked us to pray for the sale of his home in ND. Below is his most recent letter to us: I had mentioned at the very end of May I received orders to Creech AFB to be the new Wing Chaplain. (Senior chaplain on base). I was not projected to move so we had all our vacation plans up and running. The orders had a report date of about 33 days from the notification. We'd only been in Minot ND for 20 months so it was a big surprise for us all. Immediately we started looking at logistics. Because it was a short notice change of station there was no moving company available. We had also bought a house when we moved to Minot as there was nothing to rent. We needed to sell that house, secure housing in Vegas, move ourselves, etc. etc. God is so good. My biggest concern was our house. After owning it for only 20 months we didn't know what the market looked like and gave it to God in prayer. On that first Friday night I called the agent we used to buy the house. She said she'd do some market research and get back to me. Sunday she called me up and said she thought we'd be ok with how bursting the economy is. She even had someone interested in coming to look at it. We took a day to get it ready to show for a Tues appointment. Tuesday night we received an offer at our asking price with no contingencies that made it so we wouldn't owe anything after owning it for so short of a time. There was only one stipulation... they wanted to close early... June 30. That corresponded to the exact day I was supposed to sign out of my unit and head to Nevada. We arrived in Vegas just in time for Monica's and my 20th year wedding anniversary. It's been crazy as of late, but we're getting settled in. We've rented a house. Our mission at Creech AFB is very different from most bases and we don't have weekend chapel services. That allows me a chance to worship in a congregation for the first time in 15 years. There aren't any Free Methodist churches in the area but we found a large church with a great youth group. That's our biggest prayer right now, an easy transition for the kids and some great Christian friends. Praise God for the way He is taking care of us. We went from planning summer vacations and buying airline tickets to doing a complete course correction and moving the family from Minot to Vegas inside of a month. Thanks so much for the prayers of the SAC.

3 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE NEWS: JULY YOUTH CAMP REPORT: Bridging The Gap TALK! Youth Camp, held July 4 7, was a powerful time of worship, fun competition, but most importantly, an opportunity to reach new and deeper levels with Jesus. The theme this year was TALK. 100 campers and counselors explored what it meant to communicate with themselves, with others, and with God. We know of at least two campers who made first time decisions to follow Christ, with many committing to next steps in their faith walk with God. Keep these teens in prayer. NATIONAL LATINO SUMMIT, July 24 26: Every other year FM Hispanics from across the nation gather for encouragement and challenge. July 24 26, over 150 participants from as far away as California and New England gathered at Tampa: Primera Iglesia Metodista Libre to be inspired. It is a privilege that a South Atlantic Conference congregation was able to host this national FM gathering. Fri Sat, Aug 1 2: CABINET RETREAT WEEKEND at Lakeland Park with Supt Riley. Uplift our regional and conference servant leaders in prayer this weekend as they gather to hear from God and prepare to guide our conference churches for the coming school year. Tue Wed, Sept 2-3: HOLINESS SUMMIT with Stan Toler & Rex Bullock at Holiday FMC (5330 Whippoorwill Dr., Holiday 34690). Stan is a prolific Wesleyan author & speaker, and he spoke to the SAC at the 2012 Rip Fest weekend. He and Rex Bullock will lead the sessions, daytime sessions target church pastors & leaders, evening services both nights focus upon a Holiness emphasis for all. Tue, Sept 2-7:00pm: Holiness Message, Rex Bullock Wed, Sept 3 9:00 9:50: Morning Devotions, Rex Bullock Wed, Sept 3 10:00 noon: Lead to Succeed seminar, Stan Toler Wed, Sept 3 noon 12:50: Luncheon & topic Communicating the Message Wed, Sept 3 afternoon workshops Wed, Sept 3 7:00pm: Holiness Message, Stan Toler Sunday, Sept 7: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH CELEBRATION: Pastor Leonel Georges and the congregation will celebrate their 25 th anniversary with a special service from 3 6pm. Others are invited to share in their joy of lives changes and their impact upon the Haitian community locally and around the world. Location: 101 NW 71 st St. Miami FL

4 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE NEWS continued: FALL REGIONAL TRAINING DATES & LOCATIONS: *ALL IN STEWARDSHIP topic *Sat, Sept 6: S FL Regional Training at Miami First Haitian (Pastor Fils Darius) 6500 N Miami Ave (6 th St) Miami FL :30 coffee & fellowship; 10 noon training; noon 1pm luncheon; 1 3 Regional Team Mtg Sat, Sept 20: Central FL Regional at Ocala: Bread of Life Feed the City Day (Pr Tommy Dennis) 2000 NE 78 th St Ocala FL *Sat, Sept 27 West Coast Regional Tampa Spanish & Celebration shared facility (Pr Thad Roller) 9602 Hulsey Rd. Tampa FL :30 coffee & fellowship; 10 noon training; noon 1pm luncheon; 1 3 Regional Team Mtg Fri-Sat, Sept 19-20: SAC LADIES RETREAT at the Christian Retreat Center in Bradenton, FL. from 3pm Friday through lunch Saturday. The theme is Attitude Is Everything, and the speaker is Tamra Balzer, wife of Supt Ron Balzer who oversees the New South Conf. (formerly served at Ocala: Bread of Life). It s not too late. See attachments for information, and registration fees are due NOW. Contact Ellen Brito at for details. This fall retreat is a GO so don t hesitate to sign up. Sat, Dec 6: SAC BOA MEETING at Lakeland Park at 10:00am to close out 2014 and prepare for 2015 SAC CLERGY SUMMER MOVES (all s remain the same) Elder Mike Boyd begins a new position as Director of Operations for the Francis Asbury Society on August 1. Mike & Rosita s new address: 603 Brasher St. Wilmore KY 40390FM Janelle Capitano, CMC, has moved to 890 Penny Dr. Titusville FL Elder Edwin Estevez has begun his new position as VP of Academic Affairs & Faculty Development at Greenville College. His new address is 1310 Moore St., Greenville IL Elders Jose & Ada Hernandez have moved to 3534 Norwich Ct., Casselberry FL Congratulations to Jose who has been just been promoted to become a FL Regional Recruiter for Asbury Seminary. Contact him for info about Asbury s many programs in English & Spanish. Pastor Thad Roller, wife Nikki & daughters have moved into a new parsonage; their address is now 6025 El Dorato Dr., Tampa FL Military Chaplain Mark William and family have moved from North Dakota. Send him greetings at his new residence: 6160 Loyal Royal Ct Las Vegas, NV FM FOUNDATION OFFERS FREE WEBINAR Tues, Aug 19, at 7:30pm Eastern, the FMF will offer a free webinar on estate planning: Should I have a will or a trust? Who is a good guardian for my children? When should my health care agent make decisions for me? How can I preserve my assets for my loved ones? How can I provide for FM ministries in my estate plan? Space is limited so register soon. Call , ext 810, or awise@fmfoundation.org 4

5 ALABAMA GEORGIA CONFERENCE NEWS: The weekend of Aug 8 10: Supt Riley will be on site for several meetings: Friday, Aug 8: GA Meetings: 10am Lunch: Supt. meets with all GA Pastors and Leaders at Brown Mill Church in Newnan 2:00 5:00: Meeting with a potential GA church planter Evening: Browns Mill leadership meeting with Supt Riley Saturday, Aug 9: GA & AL Meetings: AM: Mtg with Pastor Tim Coleman 12:30 Luncheon Meeting with AL Pastors in Birmingham Sunday, Aug 10: AL Meetings: AM: Superintendent preaches at Faith FMC in Pleasant Grove Afternoon: Meeting with a potential AL church planter GULF COAST CONFERENCE NEWS: TAKIN IT TO THE STREETS REPORT: On July 19 about 2,500 Shreveport-Bossier City residents were ministered to with items of necessity and resource information to improve their quality of life and build strong spiritual foundations of their lives. 150 ministries and service agencies pooled their resources to provide for the poor and needy of the city. Takin it to the Streets, Inc. founded by Pastor Ron Hampton of New Vision Community Church- Shreveport, a GCC church planting project, coordinated the event and the Free Methodist Church presence was in the forefront of this heavily attended event. There were 30 salvations, over 1000 prayed for and several reunited with churches that were represented. Thanks to all GCC churches who contributed to this outreach. FALL RALLY WEEKEND WITH SUPT RILEY: AUG Fri, Aug 22: FAMILY CAMP Co. Appreciation Pizza Party & Debrief from 6:00 7:00pm at Edgewood Sat, Aug 23: BOA Mtg 3:30 4:30 at Edgewood GCC BACK-TO-SCHOOL FALL RALLY, 5:00 6:30 at Edgewood. The Rally will feature highlights of the FMYC trip experience, Family Camp 2014 and the Greece Mission trip, with worship music led by the EFMC Praise band. This event is for all ages, but the focus will be geared towards teens and young adults. Bring your youth group and all your friends for this end of summer blast!! Sun, Aug 24: Supt Riley preaches in churches DECEMBER WEEKEND WITH SUPT RILEY: Dec The Conference BOA and Family Camp will meet Friday evening, Dec 12 The Christmas Luncheon for Clergy & Spouses is rescheduled for Sat., Dec 13 at Oak Grove FMC 5