LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the South East Region (SER) Volume 11, Issue 8 AUGUST 2016 PRE-SEASON READINESS

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1 LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the South East Region (SER) Volume 11, Issue 8 AUGUST 2016 PRE-SEASON READINESS As summer draws to a close, preparations are underway on many fronts: students are preparing to return to school athletes from around the world are preparing for the Olympics in Rio Democrat & Republican parties are preparing for the upcoming election season NFL players and fans are preparing for a new season of football August is a strategic time for us as pastors and church leaders to ask ourselves what we should be doing to prepare ourselves for the coming season of ministry. I d like to take some moments to focus on our spiritual, emotional, relational and physical preparations as we approach this fall. Pastor Carey Nieuwhof s 9 Hidden Factors That Influence Your Leadership More Than You Think (posted July 14, 2016 at churchleaders.com) discusses personal readiness in ministry. He asks the important question: Are you living in a way today, that will help you thrive tomorrow? I have adapted his article to highlight ministry realities and the need for pre-season preparation: There is an invisible but very real weight of responsibility that leaders carry around all the time What will I routinely do to shift / lessen / release that weight? It is tempting to cut short personal time with God in order to tackle the line up of ministry tasks. Am I prioritizing uninterrupted daily time to nurture my relationship with God? What practices will I follow to continually abide in God s presence throughout the day? How will I keep up with the pace of ministry when I hit the wall or my mood tanks? How will I daily vary my environment so work does not close in on me i.e. - limit desk work, take breaks for a walk or bike ride, visit someone - what rhythm works for me? What weekly time off will I schedule to be replenished so I can remain at my best? What longer monthly or seasonal breaks do I need for extended rest and reflection? Fast food eating and lack of exercise are often poor ministry patterns that develop. What are some simple steps I will take to eat healthier... today? What sustainable exercise will I start doing... today? It is tempting to cut short sleep in order to gain extra ministry time Recognize how much sleep I need nightly to be healthy and to function creatively What additional down time will I schedule after a big push or intensive ministry stretch? It s difficult to limit ministry needs so that leaders can have adequate private time. What boundaries will I set for myself to guard personal time for myself and family? Do others know these boundaries so they can honor them? Calls, texts & s can bombard ministry leaders, derailing needed planning and study time. How will I re-arrange my daily schedule so that I can limit connectivity? Which one or two of the above challenges are especially relevant to you right now? Determine your preseason preparations, then share your plan with someone who can be an encouragement to you. 1 Supt. Darrel

2 MAKE PREPARATIONS to ATTEND: E3 in January 2017 and GC19 on July 16 19, 2019 In early 2017, our 3 Bishops, COO and other denominational staff will travel to designated regional hubs in the USA to meet with pastors & local church leaders. This coming January, one of the sites for Equipping for Excellence and Expansion ( E3 ) will be Tampa Florida at the campus of Life Bridge Ministries (where both Celebration FMC and Primera Iglesia Metodista Libre congregations meet). Reserve Friday and Saturday, January 20-21, so you can participate. RESERVE THE DATE: In 2015 General Conference took place at the Caribe Royale Convention Center in Orlando FL. GC19 will also be held at Caribe. Dates: Tues Fri, July 16 19, 2019 Local Church BOAs: When preparing your church s 2017 budget this fall: include a line item for your team s participation at E3. include a line item NOW to save so your pastor & other leaders can attend GC19. SOUTH EAST REGION CONNECTIONAL MINISTRIES Business Administrator Bob Cannon here to serve you SER.FMC.BA@gmail.com Office: Cell: MONTHLY SERCM CONTRIBUTIONS: By the 10 th of each month, your congregation needs to have sent in your financial contribution along with your monthly report to the SERCM Office at 5421 Sharon Trail, Lakeland FL Your contributions provide support to FMCUSA ministries, bishops & staff South East Region ministries, superintendent & staff Conference budgets for AL-GA, GCC & SAC 100% support from all congregations is necessary. Do your part. PERSONNEL BACKGROUND CHECKS: All church volunteers and staff who work with children or youth need to have a background check on file in order to protect students under our care, our workers, and the local church. If your congregation does not already have a company whom you utilize for background checks, use the SERCM company PROTECT MY MINISTRY. The cost is $14.99 for a security check. Corrected website link: CHURCH INSURANCE VERIFICATIONS: Business Admin. Bob Cannon needs a copy of your church facility insurance liability for renters, and property & liability if you own your own facility. Additionally, the declaration page of your church s liability insurance is needed to verify that your CONFERENCE (AL-GA, GCC or SAC) as well as FMCUSA are listed as additional insured. Contact Bob if you need the Additional Insured instructions sent out earlier 2

3 EVERY PERSON PRAYING PASSIONATELY I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 LNT July 31 Aug 6 Aug 7 13 Aug Dade City FMC Pastor Mark Kincaid (Madbely) mrkkncd@yahoo.com Florida City,South Dade Haitian Pastor Yvon Thelemaque (Adeline) YvonThelemaque@gmail.com Ft Lauderdale Haitian Pastor Jean Claude Novius (Josette) jnovius@yahoo.com Aug Aug 28 Sept 4 Hialeah, New Vision Church Pastor William Pena (Marianne) w.pena@nuevavision12.com Holiday FMC Interim Pastor Leiloni Holder leilonih@gmail.com Starting Strong will be held September 7 9 at the World Ministries Center in Indianapolis, IN. This gathering is open to anyone interested in networking and gaining tools for ministry in your local church. There will be extensive time with our bishops and other denominational leaders. To view the schedule & register FM Prayer Coordinators Doug and Margie Newton, and the Greenville FMC in Illinois will host the National Prayer Summit on October 6-8. If you would like your church to develop a more effective prayer ministry, if you d like to get teaching and inspiration for your own prayer life, or if you d like to see our denomination breakthrough into new realms of spiritual impact at the local, regional and national level, register to attend at fmcusa.org/prayersummit/. There is no registration fee, meals are provided, and free lodging is available with a church family; your only expense is travel. CONSIDERING ORDAINED MINISTRY? Begin the process in your Local Church NOW 1 st If you are considering ordination, talk to your PASTOR and begin the LMC (Local Ministerial Candidate) process by filling out the initial online MD&C APPLICATION in AUGUST. Candidates should go to the denominational website: Scroll to the DIRECTORY at the bottom of the homepage Click on the LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT option Click on the Enroll on the New MD&C System form on the left column. 2 nd Following application, there will be several forms for the candidate to complete between August December, as well as 2 books to read and discuss with your pastor. Contact the Superintendent s Office for details and forms (priley661@gmail.com). 3 rd Take the FM HISTORY & POLITY COURSE in October Supt Riley will teach this required course for all LMCs (any church leader or delegate may audit the class) for two full days on Friday & Saturday Oct 28 29, 9am 5pm. Contact Supt Riley NOW for a syllabus and booklist so you can complete all readings PRIOR to the start of class seregionfmc@aim.com 3

4 UPCOMING DATES: Fri-Sat, Sept 30-Oct 1 AL-GA CONFERENCE NEWS: Supt Riley teaches Interior Life of the Pastor at Christ Community Church, 9am 5pm daily. the course is open to LMCs & CMCs for credit; clergy are welcome to audit. Contact Supt Darrel for syllabus; order books and read prior to class. Sun & Mon, Nov HOLD THE DATES: Sun PM and Mon AM: Executive Team Mtg to plan 2017 budget & calendar, possibly CMC interviews Fri & Sat, Jan E3 will be held at Life Bridge Ministry Center, 9602 Hulsey Rd. Tampa FL Feb 24-25, 2017 These are the NEW DATE for ANNUAL Christ Community YOU WENT WHERE? It s been a summer of VISA experiences for some of our South East Region young people. We are thankful for everyone s safe return home and pray that their service will continue to have a profound impact upon them as well as those whom they served. Andrew Cowart, son of Keith & Pam Cowart at Christ Community Church in Columbus GA, spent 6 weeks in Iraq. What stories he has to tell about his summer. L-R: John David Clifton, Tradd Schmidt, Josiah &, Micah Shuffett Pastor Joe Shuffett in Alabama took 4 young men to participate in LOVE BULGARIA for two weeks in July. They flew in and out of the airport in Istanbul, Turkey, arriving a few days after the airport bombing, and departing right after the failed military coup. GULF COAST CONFERENCE NEWS: Fri-Sat, Sept PASTORS & SPOUSES OVERNIGHT GET-AWAY Supt Riley will lead an overnight retreat for clergy at the Ramada Inn at 5555 Financial Plaza, Shreveport, LA.. Enjoy lodging at the Ramada, gathering sessions at New Vision with host Pastor Ronnie Hampton, and enjoying area sites & restaurants during personal time. Friday night s lodging will be paid for by the conference; anyone wishing to stay over Saturday night will need to cover the$62 room fee+ tax. RSVP to Supt Riley your intention to participate in this get-away weekend. Fri-Sun, Dec 2-4 Supt Riley onsite Sat, Dec 3: Pastors & Spouses Christmas Luncheon: save the date and clear your calendar for this Sun, Dec 4: Preaching in local churches E3 (Equipping for Excellence and Expansion) gatherings will take place in the following 2 locations: Attend one: Jan at Life Bridge Ministry Center, 9602 Hulsey Rd. Tampa FL OR Mar at McPherson FMC, 1010 S Maple St. McPherson Kansas

5 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE NEWS: IMMIGRATION ALLIANCE UPDATE The Free Methodist has joined with 14 other evangelical denominations to form the Immigration Alliance a national effort that equips local churches to provide legal services to under resourced immigrants. Since that time Cape Coral Community Church (Pastor David Rigby) has been in training to become certified as an Immigration Alliance center. They are almost ready to begin assisting immigrants with low cost legal help. Soon Cape Coral will become a shadowing site for other churches seeking to become certified. Business Administrator Bob Cannon has introductory materials on the process; Lehman grants are also available for church training and start up expenses (application required). FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY GRANTS Want to help your congregation and those in your local community get out of debt, follow a budget, and honor God through tithing? This is the class which helps participants understand the principles and habits to make this a reality. Final call! Notify Bob at SER.FMC.BA@gmail.com for a FPU grant up to $300 to defray materials costs for hosting a class at your church PASTORAL FAMILY NEWS Tommy & Stephany Dennis have transferred to The River Conference. Their new address is 447 Silo Ct. Brighton CO Tommy s is pastortommy2011@hotmail.com. Congratulations to Dennis Gipson, SAC elder, who was endorsed as a FM Chaplain in June. Jose and Ada Hernandez departure to Spain with VISA for 2 years has been delayed until they can complete raising financial support. Partner with them: jose.hernandez@fmcusa.org David & Peggy Vos are moving to 149 Newfound St. Canton, North Carolina 28716; they will pastor a Wesleyan congregation. CMC Leiloni Holder will become the Interim Pastor August 1. Fri-Sat, Aug 5 & 6 SAC CALENDAR of UPCOMING DATES: FALL CONFERENCE CABINET Overnight Planning Retreat, Lakeland Park FALL REGIONAL TRAINING EVENTS Sat, Aug 27 South FL: Hialeah: New Vision Church 921 E. 47 th St. Hialeah Sat, Sept 10 Central FL: Kissimmee: Fuego Church 1701 N Thacker Ave Kissimmee Sat, Sept 17 West Coast FL: Clearwater: Lake Palms 380 Fulton Dr SE Largo FL CMCs plan on your OBO Interview the day of your Regional Training Event, so complete all paperwork now Sat, Oct 8 Fri Sun, Oct Fri-Sat, Oct Tues, Nov 8 BOA Mtg SAC YOUTH FALL RETREAT at Camp Geneva, Fruitland Park Contact caitlinforshier@yahoo.com, Camp Admin, for details & forms INTENSIVE COURSE: FM History & Polity, instructor: Darrel Riley ELECTION DAY / Nov 11 VETERANS DAY Sat, Nov 12 Conference MEG Board: 2017 Elders Interviews #1 Sat, Nov 19 Fri-Sat, Jan Sat, Feb 4 BOA Mtg 2017 Budget E3 in FL on West Coast, Tampa: Life Bridge campus, Fri noon Sat 3:00pm Regular S FL Regional Training Event at Miami Melrose (E3 recap included) 5