Summer 2010

Page 1

The Free Methodist Church in Canada | Summer 2010 | Volume 7 Issue 2

Reflecting the diversity of ministry expression within the Free Methodist family

CONTENT IT’S OUR LEG OF THE RACE! | BISHOP KEITH ELFORD herefore, since we are surrounded by “T such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the COVER

It’s our leg of the race! by Bishop Keith Elford FM Numbers PAGE 2 Editor’s Desk Are we ready? by Jared Siebert

Foundational course offerings PAGE 3 Ministers Conference 2010 International Child Care Ministries by Paula Moriarity Scholarship Reminder

sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Hebrew 12:1-2 (NIV)] These are words written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to call the people of New Testament days (and all of us who follow in continuity with them) to persevere together as a community of God’s people in the running of the race of faithfully representing the Lord Jesus well in their daily living. The principles of running well are clear.

PAGES 4 & 5 Ministerial Candidacy: The journey begins by Kim Henderson Crossings: My ministry path by Philippe Reichenbach PAGE 6 Passages Transforming trends by Sandy Crozier Global Partnerships PAGE 7 The road to “yes” by Cameron Montgomery Discovering God’s call by serving others by Elizabeth Down Becoming a MC helps me live out my passion by Dustin Laird Spiritual growth has been part of my story by Jason Tripp PAGE 8 Indian Focus: unreached peoples and gateway cities by Dan Sheffield

MOSAIC

is a publication of

First, everything that hinders and saps strength is to be thrown off. Olympians wore only the essentials so that all the energy they had could go into running – not carrying. This is not an ambling through the park with lawn chairs and picnic coolers toward a family reunion around picnic tables where baskets are to be opened to fill the tables with food. It’s a race … a long race … a marathon in which generation by generation the baton is passed and each generation has its section to run. We are to run stripped of the non-essentials. Secondly, every generation needs to watch its step and pay attention to what is on the path. The language of the passage suggests trailing vines that could entangle the runners’ feet and trip them up, resulting in temporary stumbles that would cause them to lose their stride and cost them precious seconds, or even worse, a serious fall and debilitating injuries that would ultimately put them out of the race. The entanglements of sin are to be stepped over, stepped around, and watched with guarded and serious attention. Perseverance has to be the mindset because this is not a sprint, and any distance runner will tell you that the marathon requires a tough, sinewy way of thinking that is even more well-conditioned than the runner’s cardiovascular system and muscle groups. There has to be a well developed determination not to give up when the course turns uphill and voices within whisper, “Give up! Give up! You’re not going to make it! Give up!” Instead, runners must

2011 General Conference theme | taking place in Mississauga, Ontario [May 20-23]

find their stride, adjust their pace when they are battling head winds or coasting downhill, but no matter what the case, they must keep going. They must summon all their inner reserves and be determined to finish their leg of the race well.

The General Conference Planning Committee wants the 2011 General Conference to be a time of inspiration, discernment and challenge that draws us as a movement into a clearer focus on the mission of God. Distance runners also know that in order to reach the finish line, they keep their eyes fixed on the runner ahead, and, ultimately, on the one who is leading the pack. They must watch their moves and match their pace and when needed, they put out to press past them all the time mentally rehearsing stories of the outstanding finishes in the great races run by the famous. If they are

4315 Village Centre Court Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1S2 T. 905.848.2600 F. 905.848.2603 E. mosaic@fmcic.ca www.fmc-canada.org For submissions:

mosaic@fmcic.ca Dan Sheffield, Editor-in-Chief Lisa Howden, Managing Editor & Production Mailed under publication agreement #40008369 Return postage guaranteed

FM Numbers

The Free Methodist Church in Canada

Report on Core Core Giving from local churches primarily supports the ministry of our National Leadership Team (NLT) and the ministry areas they represent. Core Giving funds the oversight, empowerment and administrative ministries of the NLT.

Local churches are asked to contribute a tithe (10%) of their monthly Operating Receipts toward these leadership ministries which support the development of healthy churches across Canada and beyond.

going to run well and the team is going to cross the finish line, their heads have to be in the race. They don’t run for the fans or against the critics. They run for the prize. The Christian does all these things— eyes fixed on Jesus, who in spite of great adversity, ran well and triumphed in his resurrection. This is the passage that is going to preoccupy us at the 2011 General Conference. The planning committee is already working on arrangements and this passage was chosen as an anchor for the planning, not only because of the intensity of its challenge to all of us who are together presently engaged in discerning and doing the mission of God in this leg of salvation history, but because of the strong sense of continuity with the past that undergirds the passage. Hebrews 12 follows Hebrews 11, and the two chapters connect with these words: “These (the heroes and nameless non-heroes of faith highlighted in chapter 11) were all commended for their faith,

THIS ARTICLE CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 - “RACE”

We have currently fallen below our 2009 core giving levels by $39,000 [or approximately 8.5 % down over last year’s figures]. This is an unprecedented situation and of concern to our National Leadership Team.

Giving Streams We are also below 2009 levels by approximately $44,000 in Giving Streams with Global Missions being the most affected fund. If you require more information contact our Administrative and Financial Services Team at the Ministry Centre.


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