the Mount Washington neighborhood

Transcription

1 ESTABLISHING REPRODUCING CHURCHES Cincinnati church plant seeks undesirables Leaders hope congregation reflects neighborhood s socioeconomic diversity. Kristi reimer, FECONNECTIONS editor SPRING 2013 the Mount Washington neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, contains streets lined with million-dollar homes. It also has blocks of Section 8 housing inhabited by people the city calls undesirables. Dustin Nimmo hopes the church he and FEC are planting there draws both types of residents and everything in between. This is not a cool neighborhood, says Dustin, who lives in Mount Washington with his wife, two children and a baby on the way. There s a lot of drugs and poverty, and the city literally calls people who cause problems the undesirables. My hope is that we can reach the undesirables and let them know they are desirable by God. The flip side is we also want to reach the ones who call those people undesirable. We want a church that looks like this community. Dustin has been working with FEC since 2011, when he met President Rocky Rocholl and Church Planting Director Scott Wagoner through an FEC connection who knew of Dustin s passion to plant a church in Cincinnati. I liked them immediately, Dustin says. I loved that they were about disciples making disciples and planting churches multiplication through replication. I saw humility and a willingness to invest in a guy they didn t know at all. Of course, they did their due diligence to make sure I wasn t a heretic. Still, Dustin was concerned that there wasn t another FEC church in Cincinnati, and he knew he needed a mother church to partner with. In fact, he thought this might kill the whole partnership before it had even begun. He had a follow-up meeting scheduled with FEC in Fort Wayne, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Cincinnati. I just knew they weren t going to go for it, he says. But the next morning I woke up with a confidence from the Holy Spirit that FEC was the partner. I met with Scott and Rocky again, and they said, We ll figure out a way to make it happen. They sent Dustin to a church planter s assessment in January 2012, and a few months later he was credentialed through FEC. In the meantime he was getting to know a church in Cincinnati called Christ the King. That church s missional call resonated with his own vision, and FEC agreed that Christ the King could be his mother church. Dustin has been a resident there since April Last fall, Dustin met fellow pastor Chris Massey at a church conference. They got to talking and realized they had both grown up in Cincinnati and had a number of friends in common. Chris sent me a messsage on Facebook the next day, Dustin says. He said, This is going to sound weird, but I can t get you off my heart. I think the Continued on page 8 Partners in the gospel 2 International Ministries updates 3-6 Awakening FEC Convention 7 CSF under new leadership Quizzing results 8 The good news in an age of extremes Dustin and Jamie Nimmo, with daughters, Isabella and Oakleigh.

2 INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES nelsons to join Yalunka initiative team in West africa in memory of missionary statesman James Bertsche steve and Pat Nelson of Pine Hills Church in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, will be joining the FEC Yalunka Initiative team in West Africa. The vision of this team is to establish reproducing communities of Christ-followers among the unreached Yalunka people group of West Africa. For the past four years Steve has served as Africa regional director for FEC International Ministries. In this role he has provided visionary leadership to the Yalunka Initiative through heading up the initial investigation process, casting the vision, making a variety of exploratory and logistical trips, developing a strategy for the initiative, recruiting and training initiative personnel, and even directing a team evacuation during tense times this past January. Through recent months, God has confirmed within Steve and Pat His call on their lives to join the Yalunka team in West Africa to provide experienced leadership on the ground. Steve will continue to direct the Yalunka Initiative from the FEC Resource Center over the next year as he and Pat work through the transition and move to West Africa. Steve and Pat have valuable cross-cultural ministry experience in Africa, having served as missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 10 years during the 1980s and 1990s. They have also led numerous short-term ministry teams to Africa since their return to the U.S. and have visited the continent over the past several years through Steve s work as director of FEC s Africa region. We praise God that He continues to build a team from within FEC to establish His church in Yalunka land. The Nelsons join Troy, Gerri, Chloe and Cora Masters (Solid Rock Church, West Unity, Ohio), Michael and Jenn Sprunger (Berne Evangelical Church, Berne, Indiana) and Ashley Freytag (Crossroads Evangelical Church, Wauseon, Ohio) as part of the team God is raising up to establish reproducing communities of Christfollowers among the Yalunka. missionary statesman James Jim Bertsche ( ) passed away on February 27, He left a rich legacy of commitment to Christ and helped to establish His church around the world through mission leadership. In 1948, Salem Church (Gridley, Illinois) sent Jim and Jenny Bertsche into missionary service with the Congo Inland Mission, now known as Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM). For 26 years, their missions work in Congo included village itineration, teaching, preaching, mentoring new workers, Bible translation, and mission and church administration. In 1974 Jim was called to serve as executive secretary of AIMM, where he and Jenny served until retiring in During his retirement, Jim continued to pray for the AIMM missionaries and the work they were doing. He also researched, wrote, raised funds, and spoke of God s work and his experiences in Africa. Jim encouraged and mentored young leaders and missionaries, and during AIMM s centennial celebration in 2012, he represented the amazing work the Lord continues to do in Africa. Among other things, Jim will be remembered for his enthusiastic love for the Lord and his family, his humble and gentle wisdom, his storytelling, his ceaseless gratitude and an unwavering faith. He is survived by his wife, Jenny, and three children: Sandra, Linda and Tim (Tim is currently chairman of the FEC Elder Board). Through Jim s gracious and humble yet resolute commitment to the Lord, God has blessed FEC, AIMM, and the hundreds of churches and thousands of Christ-followers throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with numerous other nations on the African continent. May God receive all the glory! 2

3 Convention 2013 august 1-3 pine Hills Church Fort Wayne, indiana register now at a sense of what god s about to do Investigating what it takes to establish reproducing churches. BY rocky rocholl, FeC president as I visit our various FEC churches, there seems to be one underlying theme that I sense wherever I go. It is a feeling that there is something big, something exciting on the horizon. So just as we awaken each day with a new sense of expectancy, we all share that same anticipation for what God wants to do in and through us. The theme for this year s convention grew out of that sense of anticipation. This year s format will reflect our new vision statement to establish reproducing churches worldwide. The majority of our time together will be focused on encouraging and resourcing our churches and their delegates to fully engage in that mission. Our sessions and presenters will include: The Whole Gospel: Michael Clary will address our Multiplication Mandate. The Whole Church: Doug Shell will challenge Multiplication Participants. The Existing Church: Dave Reimer and Jay Nickless will describe the task of Multiplication Centers. The Whole World: Dr. Phillip Nelson will explore opportunities and barriers that we face with our Multiplication Strategy. Keynote speaker for both the credentialed dinner and our Friday night worship service is Rev. Bob Thune. Bob has served as a senior pastor for 38 years in North Dakota, Nebraska and California. He and his wife, Ruthie, have dedicated their lives to proclaiming the gospel and have a heart to build healthy families and shepherd young leaders in the church. They have two sons, Bob and Jeff (both pastors), and five grandchildren.

4 FeC 2013 Convention schedule thursday, august p.m. Registration 5-7 p.m. FEC ministers dinner 7 p.m. Tour of Pine Hills Church FridaY, august 2 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Registration 9 a.m.-noon Children s ministry: infant through grade :40 a.m. Worship, Session I: Multiplication Mandate 11 a.m.-noon Session II: Multiplication Participants Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch (included with registration) Noon-1:30 p.m. Women s luncheon (purchased ticket) 1:30-5:30 p.m. Children s ministry: infant through grade 6 1:30-3 p.m. Worship, Session III: Multiplication Centers 1:30-6 p.m. Quizzing 3:30-5:20 p.m. Session IV: Multiplication Strategy 5:15-6:30 p.m. Dinner (included with registration) 7-8:30 p.m. Children s ministry: infant through grade 6 7-8:30 p.m. Worship, celebration, communion 8:30 p.m. Social (included with registration) saturday, august 3 7:30-9 a.m. Men s breakfast (purchased ticket) 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Registration 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Quizzing 9:30 a.m.-noon Children s ministry: infant through Grade 6 9:30 a.m.-noon Worship, Session V: Multiplication Structure Noon-1:30 p.m. Optional lunch (purchased ticket) 1:30 p.m. Quiz finals (awards program to immediately follow) sunday, august 4 You are invited and encouraged to attend a local FEC church in the area. A listing of area churches and times of service is in your convention packet. The whole church taking the whole gospel into the whole world. Workshop session descriptions multiplication mandate The Whole Gospel. Throughout history, the gospel has been defined many ways. To some it is a declaration stating that the kingdom of God is at hand and encapsulates the good news that life is here. This view is described as life under the rule of God and life with God. To others, the gospel is not defined by one ruler or position but is strictly the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ on the cross. To still others, the gospel is defined by grace and living in complete freedom. We would contend that the definition of the gospel is the kingdom of God given by the Holy Spirit because of the cross based on grace. Led by Michael Clary multiplication participants The Whole Church. The concept of community in church small groups has traditionally been based on the teaching model, the facilitator model or the shepherd model. Many churches focus on community to help big churches feel small, to build relationships and to close the back door of the church. But those qualities of community are actually the fruit of the gospel, not the focus. There has to be a greater motivation and a deeper conviction for why the church engages in community. Bottom line? You don t have a missional church until you have missional people. Led by Doug Shell multiplication Centers The Existing Church. Many churches consider church planting as a defined project nestled in a defined period of time. For those churches, once the project is complete the church goes back to its normal routine. But church planting is more than a project, and the DNA for multiplication should become ingrained in the leadership and the congregation as a whole. Church multiplication should impact the church s organizational structure, leadership oversight and financial stewardship and continually mobilize the congregation. Led by Dave Reimer and Jay Nickless multiplication strategy The Whole World. If the local church is the hope of the world, what is the role of the local church in establishing reproducing church movements around the world? What is the role of planting churches among unreached peoples? For the gospel to break through in an unreached people group, it must be de-westernized, but how do local churches contextualize the message, the messenger and the movement? Our challenge is to understand how the local church distinguishes and appreciates people movements, church planting movements and inside movements. We need to go and send while avoiding the landmines that separate contextualization and syncretism. Led by Dr. Phillip Nelson

5 + + YOUTH PASTOR MATH if you can make these three things into a sweet game, a sermon illustration or prank to your senior pastor s house there s a real good chance you re a youth pastor. Since there s no one else at your church that thinks the same way you do, we re going to have an FEC gathering of youth pastors for fun, for hanging out, for growing and for awesome. terry Linhart is a professor of youth ministry at Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana, and is the chair of the Religion and Philosophy Department. He is also a youth specialties coordinator. Terry will be joining us on Wednesday, July 31, and Thursday, Aug. 1, to help us think through what it means to challenge our youth to make disciples who make disciples youth to make discip and to encourage us in the area of leadership development with both adult and student leaders. tuesday, JulY 30 6 p.m. We ll start with a steak dinner (FEC is paying can t beat free food!) WednesdaY, JulY 31 9 a.m.-noon Session 1: Relational Discipleship Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch 1:30-4:30 p.m. Session 2: Developing Leaders 5 p.m. Dinner and evening activity thursday, aug a.m. Session 3: Soul Care Noon Lunch and afternoon activity rsvp If you are interested in coming to this youth pastor event, please RSVP by July 19 to Jonathan Hyde at j.hyde@fecministries. Youth pastors are invited to bring a few of their key adult leaders.

6 2013 FeC Convention registration FeC Convention will be held at pine Hills Church step 1 Contact information Last name: First name: Spouse s name (if attending): Name and age of 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: Delegates: Do you want your Delegate Notebook: ed Mailed (choose one) In case of emergency, contact: Phone: Please describe any disabilities or specific needs that require special accommodations: step 2 Convention registration Fees cover event costs and include Friday lunch, dinner and evening social and Friday and Saturday sessions. Choose either family value package or individual registration. Early-bird After June 30 Family Value Package: $ 135 $150 Individual Registration: Adults (18 and older) $ 75 $ 85 Teens (non-quizzers) $ 30 $ 35 Children (age 6-12) $ 15 $ 18 Registration fee $ $ step 3 special events with Convention registration Friday women s luncheon $ 6 Men s breakfast $ 5 Saturday lunch # Each $ 5 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) special events only (For those not registering for convention) Purchase tickets in advance. Friday women s luncheon $ 10 Men s breakfast $ 5 Saturday lunch $ 6 Total special event tickets $ (Make checks payable to FEC) 4704 Carroll road Fort Wayne, in Register by July 12, 2013 via: Mail: 1420 Kerrway Court Fort Wayne, IN Fax: b.swihart@fecministries.org Website: Cancellation policy Should you need to cancel, please contact us by telephone at or fax at , visit our website at or b.swihart@fecministries.org no later than July 26, 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 30, 2013, to get this rate. Please contact the hotel directly to make your reservations. Baymont Inn & Suites 2881 E. Dupont Rd. Fort Wayne, IN Country Inn & Suites 5926 Cross Creek Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN Hampton Inn by Hilton/Dupont 3520 E. Dupont Rd. Fort Wayne, IN Hampton Inn & Suites Ft. Wayne North 5702 Challenger Parkway Fort Wayne, IN Hyatt Place 111 W. Washington Center Rd. Fort Wayne, IN LaQuinta (Quizzers) 2902 Dupont Rd. Fort Wayne, IN Feel free to make copies of this form.

7 We invite you to partner with us in benefiting all of the ministries of FeC. If you would like to know more about CSF, or if you want to inquire about investing with CSF, call Linda Burton, CSF accountant, or David Teat, CSF president, at or Christian service Foundation moves forward under new leadership FareWell From al rupp, retiring CsF president For nearly five years it has been my privilege to lead the Christian Service Foundation. Shortly before my arrival the foundation had begun a state registration process, and it quickly became clear that the time required was much more than Ron Habegger, then CSF president, was able to give while serving as FEC president. That was my first challenge after coming on board. Since then, CSF programs have gone from being registered in two states to being registered in 29 states, which covers the residency of all CSF investors. For the first 60 years of its history, CSF operated with ledger books as its official records. Some Excel files were created along the way to help store and retrieve information, but it was clearly time to make the change to professional computer software to manage the growing number of investments and loans. Making the change was not easy, but that goal has finally been accomplished. Linda Burton, CSF accountant, deserves much of the credit for completing that task. With these two major goals accomplished, along with several smaller changes, the timing is right for me to say farewell and transition into a new phase of life. I have no doubt that God led me to CSF and that He is now leading me in a new direction. I am pleased with the selection of Dave Teat as my successor and pray that God will continue to bless CSF in the future as He has in the past. Hello From david J. teat, new CsF president it is an honor to be able to serve the CSF board, members and investors as the new president. I appreciate the support of the board, Al Rupp and Linda Burton as I transition into the position that Al, Ron Habegger and Reuben Short have filled so well over CSF s long and successful history. I view my involvement with CSF as a wonderful way to serve the practical needs of FEC church attendees, an opportunity to earn a great investment and a way to help grow God s kingdom. I hope my background in investments and running businesses will benefit CSF s investors and churches. I have also been involved for many years in training Christians to start and lead Bible studies and spiritual exploration groups, called Q Places, for non-christians, that may lead people to join or start churches. With a heart for growing the church, I m very excited about the opportunity to help FEC start churches and support existing churches by providing mortgages and capital expenditure financing. Furthermore, I m looking forward to helping the CSF board and investors assist FEC attendees with college and camp scholarships and finding creative ways to help FEC members execute their estate plans while providing investors an excellent opportunity to earn a good return on their investment. I look forward to meeting and getting to know you and joining you in this effort with eternal impact. spring 2013 quizzing results top 10 Junior HigH quizzers 1. Brad Diller, Archbold 2. Jodi Steffen, Eureka 2. Kitty Trudeau, Upland 4. Caleb Gerber, Highland Bethel 4. Isaac Dean, Lawton 6. Regan Zobrist, Grace 7. Jeremy Too, Pine Hills 8. Rachel Knight, Upland 9. Tiffany Coon, Grace 9. Lily Too, Pine Hills top 10 senior HigH quizzers 1. Ashley Steffen, Eureka 2. Carissa Diller, Archbold 2. Nathaniel Mervar, Brookside 2. Rebekah Coon, Eureka 5. Erick Holder, Upland 6. Annabelle Kennell, Grace 7. Caleb Andrews, Oak Bend 7. John MaGee, Upland 9. Marty Litwiller, Dewey 10. Rebecca Lorentz, Grace top Junior HigH quizzer From each CHurCH Archbold: Brad Diller Berne: Angela Schwartz Brookside: Zach Williamson Crossroads: Alex Helmuth Eureka: Jodi Steffen Grace: Regan Zobrist Highland Bethel: Caleb Gerber Lawton: Isaac Dean Pine Hills: Jeremy Too Upland: Kitty Trudeau top senior HigH quizzer From each CHurCH Archbold: Carissa Diller Berne: Drew Litwiller Brookside: Nathaniel Mervar Calvary: TR Hoffman Crossroads: Megan Heiniger Dewey: Marty Litwiller Eureka: Ashley Steffen Grace: Annabelle Kennell Highland Bethel: Hannah Steiner and Tyler Webster (tie) Lawton: Abby Dean Oak Bend: Caleb Andrews Pine Hills: Amanda Hughes Upland: Erick Holder top Junior HigH teams 1. Pine Hills 1: Julie Blomeke, Daniel Moser, Natalie Neuenschwander, Lily Too 2. Upland: Abbey Braswell, Rachel Knight, Emily Knight, Kitty Trudeau, Adam Siegelin 3. Highland Bethel: Sarah Webster, Caleb Gerber, Paige Trammel, Michael Jacoby, Jackie Mellinger top senior HigH teams 1. Upland 1: Erick Holder, Brett Holder, John MaGee, Emmet Smith 2. Brookside: Nick Berry, Nathaniel Mervar, Colleen Williamson, Cassie Rigdon, Brandon Rigdon 3. Eureka 1: Ashley Steffen, Ty Maurer, Emily Armstrong, Faith Ford 7

8 PRESIDENT S CORNER rocky rocholl the good news in an age of extremes is God? We seem to hear this question whenever a catastrophe strikes. As I am writing, our country is still reeling from both the bombings in Boston and an Where explosion in West, Texas. So how do we respond when people around us pose this question? One of our local FEC churches addressed this question through the lens of a Scripture passage that I had never considered in that way before. Let me share some of the insight I gained. In Isaiah 6:1-8, the well-known text describing the prophet s call from God, I have always focused on the fact that God is seated on His throne, high and lifted up. Of course, that s true. God is always in charge. But I had never thought about this passage in the context of a nation that had just lost its leader of more than fifty years. Israel was reeling from the death of King Uzziah, and God was reassuring His people with this vision of exaltation that He was still in power. It s interesting that God s authority is seldom considered when things are going well. We think we can take care of ourselves just fine. But His right to rule and power to rule never change. Isaiah s vision teaches two more truths. First, God is completely holy, and we are not. The prophet s response to seeing the King, the Lord Almighty, was to fall on his face and put himself at the Lord s mercy. That is our only appropriate reaction. However, the Lord s forgiveness and mercy is equal to our depravity. He provides the means for our reconciliation to Him. Second, our response: Verse 8 ends with Here am I. Send me! That should be our only appropriate answer to catastrophe. Go! Tell the world the great news that God is still on His throne and that He is still in the business of forgiving and restoring His relationship with us. May the tragic events that we witness drive us to our knees and embolden us to take God s lifegiving message to lost and disillusioned world. 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. FEC Resource Center 1420 Kerrway Court Fort Wayne, IN L.Augsburger@fecministries.org phone FECMinistries Copyright 2013 Fellowship of Evangelical Churches CinCinatti CHurCH plant Continued From page 1 Lord is calling me to be involved in the work you re doing. He d had to fly out to Seattle that day and he signed it Sleepless in Seattle. Since then Chris has signed on, also becoming involved with Christ the King by helping with its church plant in nearby northern Kentucky. He s learning what it s like to set up and tear down every Sunday, Dustin says. It just so happens that Chris has a history in addictions counseling. And Mount Washington is one of the most heroin-trafficked areas in Cincinnati, Dustin says. Their vision is that in five to ten years that would not to be the case, and they ve already begun establishing addiction counseling groups. We believe firmly in the gospel and Scripture, which leads to the kingdom of God physically coming here, Dustin says. That means people who are addicted are set free from bondage. The core group is also planning evangelistic home meetings in the next few months. They re looking to launch Sunday morning services this fall or early next year and are tentatively planning to lease space in a local rec center. But Dustin has his eye on an alternate plan. There is a concentrated downtown area in Mount Washington where a ton of people walk or ride the bus, he says. I want to be where the walkers can walk to church. And there s one space that s perfect. It s an old Blockbuster that s been sitting there four years. But the price hasn t dropped, and we can t afford it. It s impossible. But Dustin is praying boldly. I want it strategically for the mission of Mount Washington, he says. The rec center is going to be a 15-minute walk. I would rather the walk be a minute or five minutes. I would ask the people of FEC to pray that God would somehow provide this location in an amazing or miraculous way. And he has reason to hope. Dustin says that while it s easy for action-oriented church planters not to depend on the Holy Spirit, in this case there s been little doubt who s making things happen. God is doing things in such a way that He s saying, There s no way you could have done this, he says. I ve been humbled by that. God is working and God is moving. I may be planting seeds and watering, but it s God who s causing the growth.