Equipping for Excellence speakers will include Free Methodist Church – USA Bishops David Roller, Matthew Thomas and David Kendall.
Equipping for Excellence (E2) is a two-day event allowing pastors and local church leaders to hear from Free Methodist bishops and other ministry experts.
“The purpose of our gathering, as suggested in the name, is to share how the Lord of the Church is at work in the Free Methodist branch of the family to call forth and equip leaders for a 21st-century mission with excellence,” Bishop David Kendall said. “We will celebrate what God is doing around the country in relation to the nine strategies we have identified for advancing our mission.”
E2 is coming to seven regional locations in early 2014 to ensure participation throughout the Free Methodist Church – USA.
“Once every four years, there is an opportunity for every local pastor to meet with all three bishops, hear the heart of the church and return home with powerful tools that can take our local churches to the next level,” FMCUSA Chief Operating Officer Larry Roberts said. “This time it’s called Equipping for Excellence, and that’s what we expect it to do.”
All FM pastors are expected to attend an E2 event along with a layperson engaged in leading the local church’s missions strategy. If the church does not have a youth pastor, a youth leader should attend. Members of conference Ministerial Education and Guidance (MEG) boards also will attend.
E2 events will be held:
- Jan. 31–Feb. 1 at Cornerstone FMC in St. Petersburg, Fla.
- Feb. 3–4 at Spring Arbor FMC in Spring Arbor, Mich.
- Feb. 7–8 at Prayer of Faith Church in Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Feb. 21–22 at Foothill Community Church in Azusa, Calif.
- Feb. 26–27 at Des Moines Central FMC in Urbandale, Iowa
- March 6–7 at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, Wash.
- April 21–23 at Doubletree Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster, Pa.
To learn more and to register, go to fmchr.ch/e2fmcusa.
NEWS BRIEFS:
WALKEMEYER’S NEW BOOK
Long Beach, Calif.
Aldersgate Press recently released “A Good Walk Home: A Parable on Living and Dying Well” by Larry Walkemeyer, the lead pastor of Light & Life Christian Fellowship who also serves as the Central Region and church planting superintendent for the FMC in Southern California. Go to fmchr.ch/goodwalk to learn more and order the book.
TEENS TAKE THE PLUNGE
Spring Arbor, Mich.
Spring Arbor FMC youth group members have twice traded in their relaxing weekends to take the plunge into Omaha, Neb., and visit faith-based organizations working among the poor. The Urban Plunge provides 48 hours of working with the poor, feeding the homeless, visiting people in jail and serving. Go to fmchr.ch/uplunge for more details.
SERVING NORTHEAST D.C.
Washington, D.C.
FM Pastor Ron Hampton teamed up with FM congregations from Pennsylvania and Maryland and with ministries in the Washington, D.C. area to serve people in northeast D.C. Residents received food, clothing, items of necessity, intercessory prayer, music, games and church resources to nurture strong spiritual foundations. Ten of the 400 in attendance received Christ.
TYPHOON RELIEF UPDATE
Ormoc City, Philippines
Bishop Jim Tuan and other Free Methodists in the Philippines are grateful for the prayer and financial support they have received since deadly Typhoon Haiyan. Donations to the relief efforts can be made through the Bishops’ Crisis Response Fund. Go to fmcusa.org/bfund to donate and watch a video about past relief efforts in the Philippines. Go to fmchr.ch/jtuan to read more.
