SPECIAL INSERT: REC Board of Foreign Missions
www.recbfm.org RECBFM @RECBFM
New REC Missionaries Going to Malawi Fr Bob and Mrs. Traci Gresser with their sons Andrew and Peter leave March 14 for a four-month mission in Malawi (East Africa). Bishop Fanuel Magangani of the Diocese of Northern Malawi has invited Fr Bob to teach at the Leonard Kamunga Theological College in Zomba, Malawi. Traci will home school their teen-age boys and use her experience as an educator to encourage families, especially those with special needs children. Fr Bob has served over 20 years in the military, first as a Marine, and then as an Army Chaplain. He and Traci have already served short term in Uganda and Ethiopia. Following this semester, Fr Bob will resume his Ph.D. studies in view of further ministry teaching in Anglican seminaries overseas. Find more information on the Gressers’ page: www.recbfm.org/missions/Africa/default.html
January: Visit to Cuba A team of three Reformed Episcopalians and four other ACNA representatives visited the Reformed Episcopal Churches of Cuba January 17-27 attending the annual Synod and visiting parishes and members. Three presbyters, one Deacon and two Lay Readers completed Moore College courses this year. Eight more are preparing for their exams. Building for the future, a select group of ministers is preparing with Bishop Willians Mendez to teach their own Anglican Seminary courses. Pictured at left, Bishop Walter Banek (REC Mid-America), greets Cuban Church members. To his left are Bishops Trevor Walters (ANiC Canada) and Eric Menees (San Joaquin) and Fr Ben Bernier. Bishop Willians Mendez is seated to the right.
Croatia Partner Visits US, Speaks at Reformed Episcopal Seminary
Thank You! Thank you for your gifts! Our
supporters provided over $160,000 in mission donations in 2018.
Church Planter and Seminary Professor Almir Pehlić visited the USA in February with Missionary Professor Tom Smith. They met with ACNA and other parishes and individuals in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia to share their vision for Reformed Episcopal Church planting and seminary education in Karlovac, Croatia. Fr Almir spoke at a Convocation and in Chapel at Reformed Episcopal Seminary (Blue Bell PA) and in the Evening Prayer Meeting at Holy Trinity Church (Fairfax VA).
PLEASE NOTE AND USE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Board of Foreign Missions Reformed Episcopal Church 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd, Ste H120 #642 Katy, TX 77494
SPECIAL INSERT: REC Board of Foreign Missions
www.recbfm.org RECBFM @RECBFM
New Tools to Build Communion with our Overseas Ministries 1. Beginning in Lent, the Board of Foreign Missions proposes a Mission Prayer Calendar. Every Sunday through the rest of the year an REC Parish, Missionary, or Partner Ministry is highlighted for prayer in your personal worship and Parish Services.
2. Circles of Three: BFM member Fr John Boonzaaijer and Canon Bill Jerdan are presenting this project in our synods this winter. The goal is to build healthy friendships between two North American Parishes of separate REC dioceses to together befriend one of our overseas parishes in Cuba, Croatia, Germany, England and Brazil. These partnerships are primarily for friendship, promoting the shared healthiness of each body, through activities such as Parish Pen Pals; Parish Picture Exchange; Holiday Visits, Pulpit Exchange; REC100 Best Ideas; Veritas Success Stories, Prayer List Exchange; Youth visits and more that you can imagine together! Christsein Entdecken Pray for Fr David and Mrs. Patricia Ayres, planting Christ Church in Berlin. On Saturdays, they offer
an 8-week course in the basics of the Christian Faith. Using the German adaptation of Christianity Explored (developed under the ministry of the Rev. John Stott), the Gospel of Mark is read to understand Who Jesus is; Why He came; and What it means to follow Him.
Coming Mission Events
Mark Your Calendars! May 17-19
Presiding Bishop Ray Sutton will visit our Partner Churches in Croatia
May 20-22
Free Church of England
May 24-26 Germany
July 14-20:
Anglican Bridge in Germany with Bishop and Mrs. Gerhard Meyer and Deacon Mark Woolsey (Texas), followed by optional one-week Mission Tour, and possible volunteer ministry at the Knuell Camp.
September 26-29:
New Wineskins Anglican Mission Conference newwineskinsconference.org “Better Together� is the theme of this triennial conference which is the largest gathering of Anglicans interested in Global Mission. Archbishop Ben Kwashi from Jos, Nigeria and new General Secretary of GAFCON, will be a plenary speaker. Discounts for early registration. Held at Ridgecrest, NC.
September 25:
Check the New Wineskins site (above) for Pre-Conferences. There are several interesting gatherings by groups like American Anglican Council, Always Forward, and perhaps an REC Conference with teaching from an Anglican Diocese that moved from Status Quo to Mission Multiplication at home and abroad, plus current REC mission outreach.