In March, FEC Africa director Steve Nelson

Transcription

1 Spring 2010 West Africa expedition paves the way for FEC missionaries life and ministry Steve Nelson, Kevin Page visit Senegal and Guinea; Pages leave this summer. By Kristi Reimer, FEConnections Editor In March, FEC Africa director Steve Nelson accompanied newly minted International Ministries worker Kevin Page on a trip that involved two countries, five missions organizations, dozens of individual missionaries, and one very helpful Muslim shop owner. The purpose of the trip was threefold: to participate in a missions prayer summit in Dakar, Senegal; to make arrangements for the Page family to live in Dakar for a year as they study French; and to take part in a retreat and planning session with the mission team currently living in Guinea. It was so clear during the trip that this work is not my vision or anything FEC could dream up; it s what God is doing that he s giving us a glimpse of, Steve says. It s hard not to be excited about that. Praying for the people Steve and Kevin s first order of business was a summit in Dakar to pray for the Yalunka people of West Africa, an ethnocultural group that s largely unreached with the gospel and that s become a strategic focus for FEC and other missions organizations. Represented at the summit along with FEC were New Tribes Missions, World Partners, Avant Ministries, and EMC of Burkina Faso. We spent two days sharing information and praying for the Yalunka people, Steve says. And we were very clear that it was the Yalunka people and beyond there are other unreached groups in that area that we ll be rubbing shoulders with. House hunting in Senegal After the prayer summit, Steve and Kevin focused on getting things set up in Dakar in preparation for the Pages to move there in August. First on their agenda was finding a place to live. In the first few days we saw a great apartment it belonged to a missionary who was on furlough and it was furnished, Steve says. But it was far enough away from the kids school that they would ve needed to ride taxis through congested market areas. That was the only thing that kept us from taking it on the spot. So Steve and Kevin continued to look and look and look and look. Finally they learned of an ideal house that was a safe walking distance from Dakar Academy. The rent, however, was far out of their range. So we decided to meet with the landlord and propose a more reasonable rent, Steve says. Some people told us we shouldn t even attempt it the missionary family living there previously had been paying the rent, the family before them had been paying it but we went for it. We could see the shock on the landlord s face when we made our offer, but as we began to talk about our purpose, his countenance changed. Within an hour of discussion he said, I can work with that. So he put together a contract and we signed it two days later. Inside West Africa 2 The Page family FEC Convention Make Us One 5 Convention schedule 6 Registration form FEC Happenings 7 CSF: A neverending circle; Brandon Jeffers at Black Forest Academy; 2010 Quiz results President s Corner 8 A healthy heart Connecting and equipping the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches

2 Page family preparing to embark for West Africa Kevin and Becky Page and their children Mikala, Lauren, Mason, and Jordan are in their final weeks of raising support before they leave this summer as FEC missionaries to Guinea, Africa. The Pages will first attend Missionary Training Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a few weeks and will then speak at the FEC Convention (see pages 3-6 for more information). After Convention they ll head to Dakar, Senegal, in time for the kids to start school on August 12 at Dakar Academy, a school for missionary children. Kevin and Becky will spend a year in language training in Dakar before heading to Guinea in Here are the Page family s prayer requests: political peace for Guinea raising support finishing the school year saying farewell to family and friends learning the language adjusting to the culture. Kevin and Becky Page, with their children from left to right, Jordan, Lauren, Mikala, and Mason West Africa expedition (continued from page 1) An able ally During their stay, Steve and Kevin also had to navigate Dakar s transportation system a confusing puzzle in which foreigners were often an easy mark. One of our most difficult challenges in the beginning was trying to learn the taxi system, Steve says. We thought we were doing everything right, but we learned later that some of the taxis were gouging us. Along the way Kevin and Steve met some locals who helped them become more streetwise. One of these was a Muslim man who owned a cell phone boutique on a busy roundabout in the area. This man was friendly to us as we explained our situation, Steve says. He taught us how to use the taxi system and what good rates were. We began to stop by every day to tell him what we were doing and get his advice. He became a good friend to us. The best part? Turns out this man s shop is just down the road from where Pages will be living. He and some of the other contacts we made will be huge allies for them, Steve says. Steve and Kevin also managed to get the kids enrolled in school and set up French teachers for Kevin and Becky individuals who fell out of the sky, Steve says. In fact, God s orchestration of circumstances and people in Dakar was blatantly obvious eventually. It all came about in the last couple of days, Steve says. The contacts we d made, the places we d gone, even the difficult things we d experienced those were pieces of a puzzle that finally fell into place. It was amazing to see how God made it happen. Going to Guinea After Dakar, Steve and Kevin traveled to Guinea for a time of retreat and planning with the team there. They discussed policies and logistics for getting the Pages established in Guinea in 2011 after their year of language study. God did amazing things for us there too, Steve says. Complications that could have happened didn t. Looking forward, Steve says he s pumped to share the vision of what God is doing in West Africa with the rest of FEC. I come back from a trip like this thinking, how in the world can I make this real when I sit down with pastors and mission teams so that they get excited too? he says. He ll also continue to recruit for the work in Guinea as it unfolds. There s a need for a variety of missionary positions including, for example, an ethnomusicologist. It s such an oral society, Steve says. To have someone work with the people to write songs about the gospel from their own cultural background it could be a tremendous opening for the gospel. There s also a need for church planters. Church planting there is finding a reason to live in a village and build relationships, Steve says. Maybe you re teaching literacy. Maybe you re working in community development. Maybe you re an ethnomusicologist. The idea is to earn people s trust so the gospel can be shared and they ll want to hear. What s more, similar efforts are needed over a huge geographical area. We still don t know where all of the Yalunka villages are, so we need to continue to explore, Steve says. And when we do find them, we don t want to send one family out all by themselves. Each area needs a team of three or four families. The task may seem huge, but so is God s vision for the Yalunka people. We know there are Yalunka in Mali, but no one s working with them, Steve says. They re in the southeastern part of Senegal, where New Tribes is working, but it s a very large area. There s a Yalunka area in northern Guinea. So, gently and as opportunity avails, we want to come alongside the people in a wholesome way and target the whole Yalunka land. 2

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4 2010 Conve Make us one Guest speaker Rev. Roger Andrews will address what it means to be one in the body of Christ. As Christians we are one with Christ and His church. We are also created as individuals with unique gifts and personalities. Likewise, as member churches in FEC, we experience different local church visions and ministries. With all our individuality, both as persons and as churches, we are called to be unified in the body of Christ. Rev. Roger Andrews messages will come from the book of Ephesians and focus on our being one in Christ. Roger is a graduate of Taylor University (BA 1970) and Asbury Theological Seminary (1973). He is currently the senior pastor of Lawton EMC and is working with Kyle Douglass to plant Life Point Church in Portage, Michigan. Roger has served in several FEC churches through the years, including having planted Oak Bend Church in Perrysburg, Ohio, and Pathway Church in Strongsville, Ohio. He has also served as our denomination chairman and is currently a member of the FEC Elder Board. Please welcome Roger and Linda and come prepared to learn from Roger s teaching. Following are some more highlights of the Convention weekend: Worship Services In addition to the Friday evening worship service we will gather on Friday and Saturday morning for a time of praise. These times of worship will give us an opportunity to not only learn what it means to be one in Christ, but also to demonstrate it as we give Him praise for the local church ministries. Friday Women s Luncheon On Friday, Becky Page from Pine Hills Church will share her firsthand account of how she and her husband Kevin and family were led to become FEC s newest missionaries to Guinea, Africa. Her heartfelt story will touch all who hear. Kevin and Becky have four children: Mikala, 14; Lauren, 13; Mason, 11; and Jordan, 9. The luncheon will begin at 12 p.m. The cost of the luncheon is $6 per person if you register for convention or $10 per person if you attend only the luncheon. Purchase your ticket prior to the event by using the registration form. Saturday Morning Men s Breakfast Join the men of Northwoods Community Church for breakfast on Saturday morning beginning at 7:40 a.m. This start time ties to the theme of being 7:40 men (see I Chronicles 7:40). Kevin Page from Pine Hills Church will share his journey of how he and his wife Becky heard the call of the Lord to prepare for missionary service in Guinea, Africa. The cost for this event is $4. Tickets can be purchased now using the registration form. Quizzing The exciting competition between our church quiz teams begins on Friday afternoon and concludes with final quizoffs on Saturday afternoon. Both junior high and senior high teams from across the churches of FEC will compete for the championship title. Brackets and quiz times will be posted at Quiz Central. Be sure to attend and support your home team. If you do not have a quiz team at your local church, we invite you to attend the quizzes and learn how your church can compete next year. Children s Ministry Childcare will be provided for infant through grade 6. See the convention schedule for times available. Sunday You are invited and encouraged to attend one of the FEC churches in the area. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about another FEC church. A list of FEC churches in the area will be provided in your registration packet. I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. John 17:20-21

5 ntion Fellowship of Evangelical Churches 2010 Convention Schedule Thursday, July p.m. Elder Board Meeting 2 8 p.m. Registration 2:30 5 p.m. Workshops 6 8 p.m. Credentialed Personnel Dinner 8:30 p.m. Tour of Northwoods Community Church Friday, July 30 8 a.m. 9 p.m. Prayer Room Open 8 a.m. 7 p.m. Registration 8:30 9:30 a.m. Workshops 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Children s Ministry Infant through Grade 6 10 a.m. 12 p.m. Worship/Delegate Session I 12 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Lunch (included with registration) 12 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Women s Luncheon Page-Turners: What s God Up to Next? (purchased ticket required) 1:30 5:15 p.m. Children s Ministry Infant through Grade 6 1:30 5:15 p.m. Delegate Session II 1:30 6 p.m. Quizzing 5:30 6:30 p.m. Dinner (included with registration) 7 8:30 p.m. Children s Ministry Infant through Grade 6 7 8:30 p.m. Worship/Communion Rev. Roger Andrews 9 p.m. Social (included with registration) Saturday, July 31 7:40 9 a.m. Men s Breakfast (purchased ticket required) 8 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Registration 8 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Quizzing 9 a.m. 12 p.m. Prayer Room Open 9 a.m. 12 p.m. Children s Ministry Infant through Grade 6 9:30 11:45 a.m. Worship/Delegate Session III 12 1:30 p.m. Optional Lunch (purchased ticket required) 2 p.m. Quiz Finals (awards program to follow immediately) Sunday, August 1 You are invited and encouraged to attend an FEC Church in the area. A listing of area churches and times of service will be included in your convention packet. Workshops See the registration form for days and times of these workshops. Captivating Teaching: Tapping into the heart of those who hear Have you ever poured out your heart in a preaching or teaching experience and wondered what actually took root in your hearer s heart? No matter what age you re leading, this focus group will cover how you can tap into the heart of those who hear your heart. The best part is that there s more to this experience than just the deliverer and the hearer. The additional element is right before your eyes and all around you. Multiplication for Mobilization: Effectively moving people from nervous to service What do you want done and by when do you want it? Who s going to do it and why? This focus group will review and discuss the major organizational elements of successfully involving volunteers, and connecting their passion to your mission so that everyone wins. Leaders: Lori Escalante-Allen and Keith Lindgren Lifetime Stewardship: Honoring God with my Time, Talent, and Treasure This workshop will focus on balancing the ingredients of a lifetime of stewardship: time, talent, and treasure. Learn how to use your gifts and talents in God-honoring ways, and discover the answers to these questions: How should I manage the treasure God has entrusted to me? and How can I be more productive for the kingdom? Come join others in an open discussion about lifetime stewardship. Leader: Al Rupp Youth Ministries: Get Your Heart Encouraged and Your Hands Equipped Take time to recharge your heart for God and students with training from Bill Allison of Cadre Ministries. This afternoon of training will be fun, engaging, practical, and biblically based. Come to get your heart encouraged and your hands equipped. Leader: Bill Allison Session 1: Encouragement for Your Heart Your First and Most Important Job as a Youth Leader What s the most important thing you can do as a youth leader in your church? You might be surprised at what you discover in this 90-minute interactive training lab. Session 2: Equipping for Your Hands Youth Ministry 101 or 911: Care or Counseling? Working with students can be challenging. This 90-minute interactive training lab will help you determine if a student is in a youth ministry 101 situation or a 911 situation and what you should do about it. 5

6 2010 FEC Convention Registration Step 1 Last name: First name: Spouse s name (if attending): Name, age, and grade completed for child(ren) attending: Will children be involved in Children s Ministries? Yes No Address: City, State, ZIP: Home phone: Cell phone: Work phone: Church or organization: In case of emergency, contact: Phone: Please describe any disabilities or specific needs that require special accommodations: Workshops: Indicate number planning to attend each workshop. Thursday 2:30 p.m. Thursday 4 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. Captivating N/A Multiplication N/A Stewardship N/A Encouragement (Youth Min.) N/A N/A Equipping (Youth Min.) N/A N/A Step 2 Convention Registration Fees cover event costs and include Friday lunch, dinner, and evening social and Friday and Saturday delegate sessions. Choose either Family Package or Individual Registration. Family Value Package $ 120 Individual Registration Adults (18 and older) $ 65 Teens (non-quizzers) $ 30 Children (age 6-12) $ 5 Registration Fee $ Step 3 Special Events with Registration Friday Women s Luncheon $ 6 Men s Breakfast $ 4 Saturday Lunch $ 7 Additional Tickets $ Step 4 Payment Registration fee (from Step 2) $ Special event tickets (from Step 3) $ Total due to FEC Make checks payable to FEC. $ Registration for special events only For those not attending convention Friday Women s Luncheon Saturday Lunch Men s Breakfast $10 $10 $4 Total special event tickets $ FEC Convention will be held at Northwoods Community Church North Allen Road Register by July 16, 2010 via: Mail: 1420 Kerrway Court Fort Wayne, IN Fax: (260) B.Swihart@FECMinistries.org Website: Cancellation Policy Should you need to cancel, please contact us by telephone at (260) or fax at (260) , visit our website at or B.Swihart@FECMinistries.org no later than July 23, You will receive a refund, less $25 per person. Suggested Hotels The following hotels have a block of rooms reserved at a special rate, but you must register at the hotel of your choice by June 15, 2010, to get this rate. Please contact the hotel directly to make your reservations. AmericInn 9106 N. Lindbergh Dr. (309) Country Inn and Suites 5309 W. Landens Way (309) Wingate by Wyndham 7708 N. Route 91 (309) Candlewood Suites 5300 W. Landens Way (309) Springhill Suite by Marriott (Quizzers) 2701 W. Lake Ave. (309) Feel free to make copies of this form.

7 A never-ending circle Funds deposited with CSF go on a kingdom-building journey. By Al Rupp, CSF President What happens when a person invests money in the Christian Service Foundation? A multistep process begins and affects many aspects of the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches. Someone in an FEC church sends money to deposit in CSF. CSF loans that money to a church that is building, expanding, renovating, or just starting. The church pays interest and principal back to CSF for the loan. CSF pays interest to the investor. The investor makes a charitable contribution to his local church. The church uses the money for programming or outreach. The church grows and needs to expand. The church asks CSF to borrow funds. CSF asks individuals and other churches to deposit money in CSF to provide funding for loans. Someone in an FEC church deposits money with CSF, and the circle continues. Throughout these activities, kingdom work is being accomplished in the ministries of FEC. Everybody benefits depositors get a good rate of interest on their investment, almost always higher than they could get at a local bank. Churches have a source of funding that may not be available locally. Usually the rate of interest paid on loans to CSF is lower than banks would charge. CSF operates on a narrow margin, with a portion of its income given to the FEC Unified Budget supporting FEC s ministries, a portion used to fund scholarships benefitting individuals in FEC, and a tithe given back to churches and affiliates of FEC. This describes a win-win-win situation with God getting the glory. CSF exists to serve God and all entities of FEC. God has blessed the work of the Foundation for more than 60 years. We value your partnership in accomplishing His work through FEC. To inquire about investing with CSF or for more information about the Christian Service Foundation in general, call Sara Smead, Bookkeeper, or Al Rupp, President, at (260) or csf@fecministries.org. Brandon Jeffers in Germany After wedding this summer, he ll go back for a third year. Brandon Jeffers, a member of Oak Grove Bible Church in East Peoria, Illinois, is completing a two year short-term assignment at Black Forest Academy, a boarding school for missionary children in Kandern, Germany. Brandon has been serving as a resident assistant in one of the boys dorms, helping with daily needs and building relationships with the high school boys. Brandon has felt God calling him to continue to serve at BFA and just recently accepted a position there to fill the role of Middle School Chaplain for the year. Some of his new responsibilities will include supervising Chrysalis, a program in which middle school students come to the school on Wednesdays for fellowship and to participate in small groups led by high school seniors; arranging middle school chapel; teaching eighth grade Bible class; helping with other spiritual events during the school year; being available for students. Another exciting event for Brandon is his upcoming wedding this summer to Lizzy Schultz. Lizzy has been serving as a resident assistant in a girls dorm at BFA and just recently accepted a new position at the school as advisor to the student council and senior class. Spring 2010 Quiz-Off Results Top 10 junior high quizzers 1. Colleen Williamson, Brookside 2. Tim Williamson, Brookside 2. Tyler Webster, Highland Bethel 2. Kayla Too, Pine Hills 5. Elizabeth Powers, Pine Hills 6. Carissa Diller, Archbold 6. John MaGee, Upland 8. Jillian Pflederer, Eureka 9. Alexandra Perala, Pine Hills 10. Hannah Zobrist, Grace Top junior high quizzer from each church Archbold: Carissa Diller Berne: Drew Litwiller Brookside: Colleen Williamson Crossroads: Rebecca King Eureka: Jillian Pflederer Grace: Hannah Zobrist Highland Bethel: Tyler Webster Pine Hills: Kayla Too Upland: John MaGee Top 3 junior high quiz teams 1. Brookside: Julian Colon, Seth Cureton, Colleen Williamson, Tim Williamson, Cassie Rigdon 2. Eureka: Ty Maurer, Jillian Pflederer, Karl Maurer, Megan Armstrong, Bekah Coon 3. Highland Bethel: Tyler Webster, Isaiah Norris, Jackson Odle, Steven Sorrell Top 10 senior high quizzers 1. Melissa Felker, Grace 2. Kelly Hirschy, Berne 2. Lydia Klassen, Grace 2. Eric Holder, Upland 5. Grace Diller, Archbold 5. Caleb Andrews, Oak Bend 7. Bekah Steiner, Highland Bethel 8. Adriana Gehman, Brookside 8. Sara Lindenfelser, Grace 10. Eric Rupp, Archbold 10. Rachel King, Crossroads 10. Abby Sells, Upland Top senior high quizzer from each church Archbold: Grace Diller Berne: Kelly Hirschy Brookside: Adriana Gehman Calvary: Judah Sistrunk Crossroads: Rachel King Eureka: Liesel Pflederer Grace: Melissa Felker Highland Bethel: Bekah Steiner Lawton: Nick Beam Oak Bend: Caleb Andrews Pine Hills: Noah Powers Salem: Ben Parks Upland: Eric Holder Top 3 senior high quiz teams 1. Grace 2: Melissa Felker, Grace Lawler, Dan Getz, Maggie Davis, Sierra Kindred, Jordan Goodyear 2. Eureka: Ben Mock, Ashley Steffen, Liesel Pflederer, Clarissa Leman, Deidra Klaus 3. Grace 1: Lydia Klassen, Sarah Roberts, Becca Butterfield, Matt Rossi, Heidi Schoenbein 7

8 1420 Kerrway Court Fort Wayne, IN President s Corner A healthy heart By Ronald J. Habegger, FEC President Two years ago I had a heart attack. I praise God that it was a mild one and thank Him for the good doctors who made the correct diagnosis and provided the right treatment. With some lifestyle changes, mainly diet and exercise, I am doing very well. Regular checkups with the cardiologist help me keep my diet and exercise plan active. Which leads me to the title of this article. Taking good care of our physical bodies is important, but what about our spiritual condition? How are our hearts doing spiritually? Do I have a humble heart? James 4:6 tells us that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Stress is known to be a major contributor to heart disease. Dr. Gary Smalley defines stress as the difference between reality and expectations. When we expect a certain outcome in life and experience another, it can cause stress in our lives. Conversely, if we place Jesus on the throne of our lives and trust Him completely for the outcome, we will find grace in abundance. Do I have a heart that loves God? My immediate response is, of course I do! He s the Holy One, the Most High God who so loved me that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for me while I was yet a sinner. Yet Scripture clearly teaches that if I love God, then I will love others. John writes that if anyone loves God and hates his brother, he is a liar. Therefore, while my response is that I love God, the spiritual cardiologic measure of our hearts love for Him is our love for others. Do I have a heart that loves others? Here again my response is, of course! Then I begin to reflect on how I act toward those of different cultures, those who are disadvantaged, those who don t agree with me, and I find myself asking God to fill my heart with love for them. The Great Commandment teaches that we are to love both God and our neighbor because the entire Law and Prophets hang on these two. Without love, from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 we are condemned without hope, without the blood of Christ. It is by His love for us that we know Him as Savior and Lord. It is by our love for others that we are known as Christians. Do I have a thankful heart? Are my prayers filled with thanksgiving? We are instructed to bring our prayers and petitions before God with a thankful heart. A heart filled with thanksgiving, a gentle spirit evident to all, and a recognition that the Lord is near will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus. Diet and exercise are keys to having a healthy heart. Diet and exercise are also keys to a healthy spiritual heart. A steady diet of Scripture reading and the exercise of Scripture memorization can do wonders for your heart s humility, love, and thankfulness. I encourage you to commit Phil. 4:4-7 to memory as an initial exercise. May the Lord bless and keep you. FEConnections is provided by the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches Resource Center for people who are part of member congregations or who are involved in FEC ministries. The editors welcome submissions, suggestions, and questions. To reach us, write: FEC Resource Center, 1420 Kerrway Court, Fort Wayne, IN 46805; send an to L.Augsburger@fecministries.org; call (260) ; or send a fax to (260) Find us on the Web at Copyright 2010 by the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches.