LEADERSHIP UPDATE of the Southeast Region
Volume 3,
Issue 2
February 2008
Pastors:
Please distribute this to your delegates, leaders & congregation
PREPARING THE WAY
This past week we had a guest stay
in our home for a week while she was taking an intensive class at Asbury
Seminary, Orlando. We had never met her, as the initial contact had been made
through a pastor in another state. To complicate matters, we were only going to
be in town for 2 days in the middle of her 7 day stay, and she was flying in
and did not have funds to rent a car. Logistically, arrangements had to be made
to provide for her transportation. In order to make sure that she could get
into our home and know where to find everything, there were several emails back
and forth, telling her where to find house keys, what bed to sleep in, etc. We
tried to put ourselves in her place and anticipate her needs. We even tried to
think through unexpected problems that might occur in our absence, and so we
asked neighbors to be on call in the event she needed assistance. A lot of
planning went into preparing the way for Kelly. But it was worth it we felt
blessed to have had the privilege of encouraging her ongoing walk with God.
This past weekend I visited a
Hispanic congregation. They have also been busy preparing the way. About
a year ago, this church plant moved to their present location, a formerly closed
FM property in
As we anticipate the beginning of
Lent on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 6), I want to encourage each of us individually and
as congregations to focus upon preparing the way. First, lets be
more intentional about preparing the way for God to have
fuller-access to our own lives. May we have open hearts cleared of rock
and weeds through the practice of daily spiritual disciplines, so that we might
more deeply hunger for God and desire to obey His Word. Secondly, lets prepare
the way in our congregations by being more Christ-like in our
relationships. Lets take the initiative in exemplifying humility and extending
grace to one another - bearing each others burdens, confessing our sins to
each other, and deferring to others preferences over our own.
As we prepare the way by
inviting the Spirit to work in our personal lives and in our congregations, we
will be transformed into the enticing people of God. We will become Gods voice
and presence to our neighbors and local communities. As our lives shine
brightly with Gods love, we will prepare the way for others by illuminating
the darkness so that they might catch a glimpse of the Savior. As our lives are
sprinkled with selfless acts of service and kind words, we will become savory
salt preparing
the way so others will become curious, wanting to know the motivation
and source of our joy. It is our privilege to prepare the way for others
to meet Christ.
Supt/ Darrel Riley
Make a road for the Lord through
the wilderness;
Make Him a straight, smooth road
through the desert.
Fill the valleys; level the
hills;
straighten out the crooked paths
and smooth off the rough spots in the road.
The glory of the Lord will be
seen by all mankind together.
Isaiah 40:1 - 3
INWARDLY HEALTHY & OUTWARDLY
FOCUSED OPPORTUNITIES
SOUTHEAST REGION
WEBSITE LAUNCHED:
Weve been thinking, praying and planning for
two years. With the aid of a WAVE grant and the expertise of web designer
Christi Bunn (wife of Andy Bunn, church planter in
CHURCHES TAKE AN ANNUAL
PHYSICAL:
Doctors recommend that both growing children
and mature adults, have an annual physical.
In addition to checking obvious things like height, weight and vital signs,
additional probing and blood work are often done to see whats going on
beneath the surface. This year each congregation is asked to intentionally
assess its health by probing beneath the surface using 2 tools:
1)
The 2007 YEAR END REPORT, which each FM church files electronically with
2)
The SER ANNUAL ON-PURPOSE PROCESS, initiated by Supt Riley, is designed to be
completed as a leadership team, including the pastor, delegate & various
other lay leaders and staff members. The PROCESS is as important as the final
results, because the form is designed to get each churchs leadership talking,
praying, dreaming and prioritizing together about what God wants their
congregation to BE and DO in the new year. The completed ANNUAL ON-PURPOSE
PROCESS form should be turned into the District Leader
Appreciation to all churches which
completed both reports by the requested Jan 31st deadline. Those who
have not completed the forms are urged to do some immediately.
JOIN THE SECOND WAVE:
Every
congregation in the Southeast Region needs to view the 3 minute DVD clip: The Second Wave. If you havent seen
it yet, contact your District Leader who has a copy. It can also be downloaded
from the web. Relief coordinator Pastor Greg Nitchman recently shared that
there is a tremendous need for a second wave of volunteers to come to the
THERES POWER IN THE
DETAILS:
Could you describe the major
ministries of each of our conference missionary families? Do you know their
current prayer requests and details about each family member? If not, get
personal with the Longs, Fajardos and also the Munos. Recent newsletters, blogs
and support information on each missionary are available on-line at www.fmwm.org
(then click on Missionaries tab). Emails:
JFajardoM@aol.com Josh & Susy
Fajardo (
Longmm@the.forthnet.gr Mike & Maria Long (
haitiforChrist@yahoo.com Jack & Jeanne Munos (
Remember to monthly utilize
resources from the 2008 HANDS FOR THE HARVEST missions packet - there are DVD clips for worship, Bible
studies, childrens programs, etc.
2008: EVERY
PERSON A PASSIONATE
PRAY-ER
Pray
daily for the following churches. Use the Southeast Region Pictorial Directory
to visualize each pastor as you pray. Emails are included for sending greetings
to one another; check the Yearbook or contact the Rileys if you need postal
addresses. When you are the prayer focus, please contact the Rileys to share
your personal & church prayer requests.
February 2008 |
|
AL-GA or GCC CONFERENCE |
Jan
27 Feb 2 |
Pastor
David Rigby (Linda) |
Pastor
Fred Summers (Faye) |
Feb
3 - 9 |
Clearwater-Largo Pastor
Rob McLaren (Dene) Katherine
Hodge revdrrob@tampabay.rr.com |
Pastor
Tommy Gammill (Mickie) ogfmc@hughes.net |
Feb
10 - 16 |
Clermont Spanish CPP Pastor
Marino Burgos (Martha) |
Olla, LA: Wayne
Ainsworth 190
Ainsworth |
Feb
17 - 23 DLEE:
Jan 21 - 23 |
Pastor
Sergio Peralta (Hicy) endservice@hotmail.com |
Olla, LA:
Summerville FMC Pastor
Glenn Roark (Levena) Glenn.Roark@bakerpetrolite.com |
Feb
24 March 1 |
Pastor
Harold Fisher |
Pass Christian, MS:
Word of Hope CPP Pastor
Greg Nitchman (Jeanne) |
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS & POSTINGS
ENTIRE SOUTHEAST
REGION:
Congratulations
to the 15 students from across the SER who participated in the FM History and Polity Class at Asbury
Seminary, Orlando. Supt. Riley reports that no participant was born into the
FMC, but all were seeking possible affiliation or candidacy with our
connectional family.
2008 BIGGIE DATES FOR ALL:
Sun, Mar 23: EASTER
Tues Thurs, April 22 24: Exponential:
The 2008 National New Church Conference in
Thu Sat, Aug 7 9: Willow
Creeks Leadership Summit; numerous
simulcast sites
Fri Sun, Feb. 22 -
24: Pastors & Spouses Retreat:
Holiness and Wholeness
AL-GA
and GC pastors & spouses will come together Friday PM Sunday afternoon,
Feb 22 - 24, at the Edgewater Beach Resort on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico
in Panama City Beach, FL for a time of replenishing and challenge. Supt. Darrel
and his wife will lead the 3 day, 2 night retreat.
AL-GA
CONFERENCE DATES:
Sat
Mon, Mar 29 31:
Supt Riley will be in AL-GA for an Executive
Team Mtg & MEG
interviews over the
weekend, and a combined Pastors Meeting on Monday AM.
Fri
Sat, May 2 - 3:
ANNUAL CONFERENCE at
Sat
Sun, Apr 12 13:
Supt Riley & Peggy lead Sat. AM Pastors
& Wives meetings, followed by afternoon
Administrative and MEG meetings.
Mon
Fri, June 9 13: FAMILY CAMP at the
Sat,
June 14: ANNUAL CONFERENCE (held at Edgewood
FMC in
News:
A big thank-you to our
Air Force Chaplain
Mark Williams has safely returned from a five month deployment in
SAC Youth Rally Event:
Over 125 attended the Reality Check Fear Factor event
for SAC teens on Saturday Jan 26. They represented at least 7 churches (Miami Melrose, W. Palm
Neighborhood Worship, Immokaleee,
Pastor Ruben Brito (
The SAC BOA has approved a new policy for those desiring
to solicit funds from individuals or other churches within the conference. In
the future, individuals will need to first seek the approval of the conference
BOA, and then receive the approval of the local church pastor.
Church planter Javier
Mendoza (Miami & Greenacres) is finalizing plans to take
a team to
Reminders:
Applications
for a Richard A Lehman Memorial Ministry Grant are due to the SAC
Financial Office March 1. Several thousands of dollars will be awarded at
Annual Conference. Apply now!
FL Incorporation
postcards
were mailed out in January; complete the postcard form and return it promptly to
be exempt from taxation during 2008.
The Early Bird Registration Deadline for the SAC Ladies Retreat ended Jan 31. Get
your reservation in for this May event: Keeping
a Princess Heart in a Not So Fairytale World.
Upcoming Dates:
Sat,
Feb 2:
AM - Conference Cabinet Mtg, AFT
Conference MEG Bd; both in
Sat.
March 8:
AM - Conf MEG Bd Interviews; AFT - BOA Mtg. Location to be determined
Sat,
April 5:
Final Conf MEG Bd interviews & BOA Mtg if needed. Location to be determined
Fri
Sat, April 18 - 19: ANNUAL CONFERENCE at Light & Life FMC in
MAY REGIONAL TRAINING
EVENT DATES & LOCATIONS:
Bring a copy of your January
April Trimester On Purpose Form with you:
Sat.,
May 10:
Sat.,
May 17:
Mon.,
May 19: Central FL:
Thu
Sat, May 15 17:
SAC LADIES RETREAT at the
Mon
Fri, June 16 - 20:
SAC YOUTH CAMP at EBM in Summerfield
(near
Sat.,
Sept 20:
SAC PASTORS & LEADERS RALLY DAY with Larry Walkemeyer; this is a not-to-be-missed event for all pastors,
delegates, ministry leaders and team members. The event will be held at St.
Pete: Cornerstone. Protect that date on your calendar NOW so you can attend.