The Missionary Church East Central Region Newsletter Volume 475 February 2015 Inside this issue: From Our Regional Director 2 Oasis: Ladies Day Away 3 From Our Regional Ministries Coordinator 4 Coming Events 5 OnMission Learning Communities 6 Ludlow Falls Camp Happenings 6 New Lighting in Tabernacle 6 Your Regional Team: Dr. Jeff Kephart, Regional Director Email: jeffk@woh.rr.com Rev. Jeff Gerig, Regional Ministries Coordinator Email: jeffg@woh.rr.com Camp Sharing Banquet This year s Camp Sharing Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 6:00 PM in the Ludlow Falls Camp dining hall. God has been doing some amazing things through the ministry of the camp in recent years, not only in our regional events held at camp but through our rental groups and family reunions as well. We plan to share some of those stories with our friends and supporters who (Continued on page 3.) Mrs. Jean Gerig, Secretary Email: jeang@woh.rr.com Mrs. Wendy Dyke, Financial Secretary Email: wendyd@woh.rr.com Regional Office Information: Phone: (937) 339-0015 Fax: (937) 339-1924 Website: http://www.ecregion.org
Page 2 From Our Regional Director Following On Purpose A quick reading of the Gospels might leave the impression that Jesus ministry was somewhat random. Casual observers might sum up Jesus efforts by suggesting he called some disciples, did some miracles, taught some parables, changed some lives, did the death-resurrection thing to provide salvation, then headed home. Such a summary misses the fact that Jesus ministry tactics the specific actions he took were guided by an overarching ministry strategy given him by His Heavenly Father. Jesus ministry was characterized by Spirit-led intentionality. Jesus did not make up things as he went along. Throughout the three plus years of his public ministry, he prayerfully and purposefully unfolded a plan of disciple multiplication that would spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. His plan proved so effective that, 2000 years later, we Christians stand as evidence that Jesus methodology continues to bear fruit. Scripture gives evidence that Jesus ministry was built upon intentional steps borne of Spirit guidance. The Gospels identify specific people groups that Jesus engaged: the lost, the Pharisees, the crowds, the seventy-two, the twelve, and an inner circle of three Peter, James and John. Jesus intentionally ministered to each of these groups with varied Spiritdirected investments of love, relational connection, challenge, service, teaching, mentoring and empowerment. He did not treat everyone the same way and hope things would work out. His individual actions contributed to a larger goal that he never wavered in pursuing. Jesus was aware he was on a Father-assigned mission that entailed specific work to be accomplished, and he followed that Holy Spiritrevealed plan. He was never rushed, but he never gave the impression of coasting or winging it. As John 17.4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do reveals, he was aware of an overarching purpose that he intentionally pursued to completion. (At the time point of John 17 he had not yet died, so he can t be referring to the work of salvation. The context of his John 17 prayer suggests he is referring to his work of preparing his disciples for Kingdom multiplication.) Jesus directly challenged those first disciples, and us as well, to go and do likewise As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (John 20.21) By contrast, some churches efforts seem random. They have worship services, they do service projects, they have classes, and they try to promote Godly living, but those efforts flow more from a sense of the traditional and familiar than from intentional pursuit of an overarching Spirit-led strategy for accomplishing God s mission. As On Mission training suggests, we should be able to identify disciple making pathways in our churches, the ways in which we are intentionally encouraging, training, and promoting moving persons from nonbelievers to new believers to growing believers to multiplying disciples. We should be able to identify Jesus followers moving through that process, engaging non-believers (Continued on page 3.)
Page 3 Following On Purpose Continued from page 2 relationally with the love of Christ, and then seeing those persons come to Jesus and move through the process as well. Each activity, program, class or event we offer should contribute a specific element to moving persons another step forward in this journey. Kingdom fruitfulness will not happen by accident we must choose to pursue it on purpose. It is not sufficient to stay busy with church things and hope everything comes out OK in the end. An intentional response to Jesus Great Commission is to prayerfully seek God s heart for those in our relationship circles and assist them in taking the next step in their journey toward Jesus. As churches, we must seek God s wisdom and heart to align our ministry programs and structures so that we resource those engaged in this journey. Let me close with these words from Paul, another disciple of Jesus who advanced God s Kingdom purposes through intentional pursuit of a God -sourced and Godempowered mission: He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1.28-29) Banquet Continued from page 1 attend. The Camp Sharing Banquet will also be everyone s first chance to see the new lighting installed in the Tabernacle and the nursery renovation. The Camp Sharing Banquet is free to all who would like to attend, with baby-sitting provided for age 3 through grade school children. There is no charge for the banquet but an RSVP is necessary to attend. To reserve your place at the banquet contact the regional office at (937) 339-0015 or at jeang@woh.rr.com. Nursery Renovations A Ladies Day Away A day of fun, relaxation and spiritual renewal for ladies of all ages Pleasant View Missionary Church (5231 Gettysburg-Pitsburg Rd, Greenville, Ohio) 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Cost: $10* per person [*Includes entrance fee, lunch and speaker, workshop] Several vendors will be available for you to order and purchase items, along with the photo booth and workshop. Guest Speaker: Tracy Artz Sign up through your local church. Reservation Deadline: Sunday, March 29, 2015 Sponsored by ECR Women s Ministries Committee
Page 4 From Our Regional Ministries Coordinator Winning in Life What an amazing game! 42-20, Ohio State over Oregon in the first ever College Football Playoff Championship! Life is good! I know there are several out there who don t share my sentiments. I can even picture the scowl on their faces as they read this article. All I can say is OH IO! I didn t always like Ohio State. Being an Indiana Hoosier transplanted in Ohio, I would cheer for Notre Dame. I also cheered for the underdog in the Michigan Ohio State rivalry so that the better team would have their season ruined. I didn t like Ohio State, but I hated Michigan even more. Then something happened about twenty years ago. I realized If you can t beat em, join em. Why not cheer for a winner? I was still somewhat of a fair weathered fan though. But that all changed January 3, 2003. My oldest daughter, Jenna, was born and I know exactly where I was, over at Joe and Dianna Wenger s house celebrating Ohio State s defeat of the Miami Hurricanes, 31-24 in double overtime. The two events are forever linked. I also spent quite a bit of time disliking Urban Meyer, the coach of Florida, who led his Gators to a national championship over Ohio State, 41-14 in 2008. I had a party over at the house that night; everyone left at halftime. What a bummer. Now I love Urban Meyer. He s my favorite coach in all the world. But it s not because he led Ohio State to the National Championship this year. I love Urban Meyer because on the day he made the decision to coach OSU, he signed two contracts, one with the university and one with his family. If you don t know the story, Urban Meyer led Florida University to two national championships, but at the cost of putting football ahead of his family and his health. He demanded perfection from his coaches and players. He lost 35 pounds and couldn t sleep. His success all culminated in his collapsing on the floor, a 911 call, and soon after, his resigning as head coach of the team. Knowing he needed a break from coaching but never one to sit around, he took a job as an ESPN analyst. It was a more relaxing pace for Meyer, but he knew he was gifted to walk the sidelines. Then one night he picked up a book entitled LEAD... for God s Sake written by Todd Gongwer. In it, Meyer learned that every word, attitude, and behavior can either discourage or encourage someone God has put in your path for His sake! The book changed Meyer s life. He secretly went on a yearlong project interviewing other successful coaches asking them the question, How can a person be a good dad and husband and still have success? During Meyer s coaching sabbatical, he became a better husband and father, but would he be able to do so while coaching football, what he felt called and gifted to do? Soon after, Ohio State University came calling, wanting Urban to be their next head coach. While ready to jump back into the thrill of coaching, the rest of the family wanted some assurances that things would be different this time around. Shelly, Urban s wife, called a family meeting to discuss the opportunity. The result of the meeting was a family contract written up by Urban s eldest daughter, Nicki. It contained ten promises that Urban was to adhere to if he was to coach the Ohio State Buckeyes. Here s the Meyer Family Contract signed at the same time Urban signed his Ohio State contract. 1. My family will always come first 2. I will take care of myself and (Continued on page 5.)
Page 5 Winning In Life Continued from page 4 maintain good health. 3. I will go on a trip once a year with Nicki -minimum. 4. I will not go more than nine hours a day at the office. 5. I will sleep with my cellphone on silent. 6. I will continue to communicate daily with my kids. 7. I will trust God s plan and not be overanxious. 8. I will keep the lake house. 9. I will find a way to watch Nicki and Gigi play volleyball. 10. I will eat three meals a day. If you d like to read more about the Meyer story and his contract, go to http://espn.go.com/espn/ otl/story/_/id/8239451/ohiostate-coach-urban-meyer-newcommitment-balancing-workfamily-life. Urban Meyer was forced to make some life decisions because his life and family depended on it. Once he put his priorities in place, God rewarded him with not only further success but the ability to enjoy it. As I read the family contract I couldn t help but see a bunch of biblical principles jump out at me. 1. Keep the Passion Colossians 3:23-24 reads, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 2. Live a Balanced Lifestyle... Ecclesiastes 7:18b reads, The man [and woman] who fears God will avoid all extremes. 3. Remember the Family... 1 Timothy 3:4-5 says, [An overseer] must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God s church? 4. Trust in God Proverbs 3:5-8 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. While the story of the Meyer contract was written up in 2012, many just assume that since Ohio State won the first ever National College Playoff Championship, that he had gone back to his old ways and broken his contract with his family. How could a person reach that pinnacle of success and still spend quality time with his family. If you would like to know how well Meyer is doing, keeping his promises to his family, check out this recent article published by the Columbus Dispatch by Tim May on January 11, 2015. http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com February 21, 2015 Kids Quizzing True Life Church, Troy March 14, 2015 Kids Quizzing Finals Union Chapel Church, Lima March 20-22, 2015 Keeping the Faith Embassy Suites in Blue Ash April 18, 2015 Oasis: A Ladies Day Away Pleasant View Missionary Church April 24, 2015 Regional Conference Newson Missionary Church April 25, 2015 Camp Sharing Banquet Ludlow Falls Camp - Dining Hall /content/stories/2015/01/11/ contract-upheld.html. The more important question is How are you doing? Does your family need to work up a contract for you to keep you eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising properly, spending enough time with them, trusting God with your anxious thoughts, to name a few things? God doesn t call all of us to win a national championship or to become CEO of a Fortune 500 company or save lives in surgery, but he does call us to trust in Him, to live balanced lives, to live our passion and to manage our families well. So how are you doing? If the answer is Not so well, maybe it s time to call a family meeting and sign a contract.
Page 6 OnMission Learning Communities The East Central Region will be hosting two OnMission Learning Communities for all pastors who have attended any of the previous OnMission training or have a passion to see disciples making disciples in their local church. The Learning Communities provide the opportunity to dig deeper in target areas of OnMission, going beyond the training offered at a Basic OnMission Seminar. It is also a great opportunity to expand interaction beyond one s own cluster or huddle, learning peer to peer with other pastors. Our first Regional Learning Community is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2015 at the Regional Office in Troy from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. The cost is free but we will need you to RSVP in advance so enough materials are prepared for the day. You may register by emailing jeffg@woh.rr.com or calling the regional office. Ludlow Falls Camp Happenings Here are the dates for the 2015 Camp Season: Camp Sharing Banquet... April 25 Kid s Alive! (Rod Snow)... June 21-22 Kid s Kamp (Rod Snow)... June 22-27 Camp Meeting (Steve Jones, Sean Azzaro, Andy Petro)... July 18-26 Journey (Chad Seabright)... July 19-25 RENEW (Marty Longcor)... July 30-August 2 Harvest Party... October 2-3 Lumberjack Retreat... October 16-17 New Lighting in Tabernacle