Ves’ Friday Facts February 22, 2008 #349

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

In This Friday Facts:

                        1. NEDA Conference – New Pricing Special

                            2. Youth Worker’s Seminar at the NEDA Conference

                            3. Sudan Project

                            4. Iron Sharpens Iron

                            5. Derby Church Hit Again

                            6. Borthwick Update February 2008 Reflections on Global Missiology

7. Summer Ministry Opportunity-Repeat

    8. Modules

    9. NEDA Website

1. NEDA Conference 2008 – New Pricing Special

The annual NEDA Conference will be April 3-5, 2008 at Valley Bible EFC in Haddam, CT. We are blessed to have D.A. Carson from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as our keynote speaker while we focus on Engaging Culture:  Touching and Reaching the Lost All Around Us.  Interim Pastor Ministries will be hosting a seminar on April 2^nd and 3^rd for all pastors and wives interested in learning more about interim ministry. Jim Fann, EFCA National Church Health Director and Tom Shirk, Senior Pastor of Calvary Bible Church will be sharing an extended seminar on Thursday April 3rd on How to Become an Externally Focused Church.  Finally on Saturday April 5^th there is a wonderful opportunity to take part in a variety of seminars applicable to Christian Ministry:  Prayer Walking, Children's Ministries, Youth Workers, Church Planting, Leadership, Peacemakers, and a Roundtable discussion on the Externally Focused Church. 

Cost for the Conference is as follows: A Special rate of $110.00 is being offered for the Thursday Seminar + Conference + Saturday Seminar (excluding youth seminar). Conference plus Saturday Seminar only (excluding the youth seminar) is $100.00; Thursday seminar alone is $40.00; attendance at Saturday seminar only (excluding youth seminar) is 25.00; the Saturday youth seminar is $49.00 per person or $39.00 per person for a group of five or more. If you attend the Conference plus the Saturday Youth Seminar, the cost is $100.00 + $49.00 (or $39.00 if there is a group). Please click on www.efcneda.org for complete information and registration.  Deadline for registrations (to include meals and host housing) is March 14th!  If you have any questions please contact the NEDA office at 860-674-9541 or LRand7777@aol.com

2. Youth Workers' Seminar at the NEDA Conference - please share this information with all youth workers

My name is Chad Patterson, youth pastor at the Westfield Evangelical Free Church, and I am writing to you on behalf of the Student Ministries Committee (SMC) for NEDA. The SMC for NEDA desires to bring yearly training for youth workers in NEDA. On Saturday, April 5, we will be hosting a Sonlife learning experience called Enroute. I would love for you and your team to spend a day with us discovering life and ministry in the way of Jesus. The event will take place from 9:30am-5:30pm and will be held at Valley Bible Evangelical Free Church in Haddam, CT (www.valleybibleefc.org). Enroute is a one-day learning experience for youth workers centered on the life of Jesus. Through exploring Jesus’ life, we will seek a design for life and a design for ministry. The attached flyer and sample sheets will give you more information, but also feel free to call me at 413-562-1504 or email me at pchad@verizon.net. I’d love to tell you more about it. This seminar will take place on the last day of the 2008 NEDA conference. Cost for this seminar will be in addition to the conference cost. Feel free to participate in the whole conference including the Sonlife training or you can come just for the training. The cost for the youth workers Sonlife training is $49 for those from a Free Church; $39 for churches who bring five or more and $59 for those from a non-Free Church (contact me if you need financial help). Please register with Lauren Rand at 860-674-9541 or lauren@efcneda.org. Register before March 31 to get the above rates. For more information on the NEDA conference go to www.efcneda.org. For more information about Sonlife go to www.sonlife.com.

I hope to see you on April 5!

In Jesus,

Chad Patterson

Student Ministries Committee

3. Sudan Project

Please pray for Calvary EFC's (Trumbull, CT) team that is heading to Sudan to construct desks and latrines for the recently built secondary school. 

4. Iron Sharpen Iron

Hartford, CT Conference in 16 Days!

Dr. Joseph Stowell leads a great line-up of world class leaders coming to Hartford for the March 8th ISI Conference. Additional seminar rooms have been added and the registration process has been streamlined to accomodate the growing number of men attending the Hartford Conference. For more information on this conference, go to the Hartford Conference page.

5. Derby church hit again, with printer and DVD player stolen

DERBY, Vt. -- A church that was vandalized with spray paint in December has been victimized again, with burglars making off with a DVD player, a computer printer and other items this week. The pastor of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church says he's unsure whether the incidents are related, though.

The Vermont State Police is asking for help in finding whoever was responsible.

The Rev. Glenn Saaman said Thursday his church, located on a side road just north of U.S. Route 5, is an easy target because it's off the beaten path.

"It's hard to think it might not be related," Saaman said. "I have no way of knowing. One is looking to deface and annoy, the other is to take something they can sell."

Sometime between Sunday and Wednesday morning, an unknown person or persons stole a computer printer, a combination DVD and video player and a number of other items, police said.

But the thief didn't take other objects that might have been worth more, Saaman said.

In December, a blank wall was spray painted with what Saaman described as images and words that some people found offensive. The graffiti was seen by some parents who were arriving at the church for a rehearsal for a Christmas pageant.

"It was pretty upsetting for kids to see that," Saaman said.

The graffiti was repaired within a few hours.

"This is upsetting to us, but we're trusting that the Lord will take care of us," Saaman said. "This is the world that we live in."

6. Borthwick Update February 2008 Reflections on Global Missiology- Repeat

Brothers & Sisters, here is a report from Paul Borthwick, formerly of Grace Chapel Lexington, MA and of missions fame. He has the ability to see trends. After reading this update please consider what these trends in the global mission of God, "Missio Dei," are telling us in New England and for God's mission to New England?

The past eight months or more have been a whirlwind of activity for us, and as 2008 has started, we've managed to get away for a break - a time which affords better reflection on our ministry involvement and the corresponding relationships we have through Development Associates International (DAI), Gordon College, Urbana, and a host of other networks including LausanneCommittee for World Evangelization as well as Board membership withPartners International and World relief. 

For those who are new to the "Borthwick Update" list, a quick review.  The past eight months have included: Both of us graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.Involvement in mobilization-for-missions conferences in Egypt, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, Jamaica and Nigeria. Our Development Associates International staff conference in Nigeria (more than 25 participants from 15+ countries).  Teaching at Gordon College (ongoing) as well as in Sri Lanka, India (the DAI Masters program), and most recently at Columbia International University (SC) [teaching the DAI Course on Culture. Diversity, & Ethnicity].
Other overseas trips to Hungary & Malaysia (Lausanne Committee -related), as well as Croatia and even the Cayman Islands. Interacting with books pertaining to "Global Missiology" by Philip Jenkins and Tim Tennent - as well as personal interactions with global leaders like Bishop Hwa Yung of Malaysia, Pastors Oscar Muriu and John Gichenga of Kenya, and others from Egypt, Indonesia, Taiwan, and more (not
to mention our DAI staff team). Christie embarking on training in spiritual direction (which has provoked
us taking more time to ask questions like, "What is God saying?" and "Are we listening?"

The following are some random observations and thoughts that stem from reflecting on all of these interactions and learning events.  For many of you, these are repetitions of themes you've been hearing from us or others for awhile.  For others, the thoughts might be new.  But for all, the observations pertain to how God is at work in the world and where we fit (and because we write as North Americans, our thoughts often pertain to challenging the world view of our North American sense of where we fit -thus each observation has a 'lesson').

OBSERVATION #1: FROM EVERYWHERE TO EVERYWHERE
In the last few months, I (Paul writing here) have met Americans working in Turkey and Egypt, an Egyptian married to an Irish working in North Africa, a Sri Lankan serving in Pakistan, Camerounians serving in Nigeria, and Nigerians serving in the USA.  Our DAI team features an American helping equip Indians to serve in Nepal, a Nigerian who oversees 300+ Nigerian missionaries in 14 countries, and Ugandans training leaders in the Sudan.

In Jamaica, we commissioned a young man going to serve with SIL/Wycliffe in Nepal. In Taiwan, young people, whose parents were often taught to resist everything about the Peoples Republic of China, raised their arms in openness to go serve in that vast country of 1.3 billion souls.  In Indonesia, generally regarded as the most populous Muslim nation on earth, 500+ young people committed themselves to inviting that nation to worship Jesus.  And in Nigeria, 6200 students gathered for five days in living circumstances that would test the mettle of even the heartiest disciple -all to explore how they could be lights to the nations (starting with their own).

LESSON?  Wake up and join the team!  God is doing something global, and ifwe really want to be part of the "Missio Dei", the mission of God in the world, we need to be learning about somewhere else so that we can pray,celebrate, and get involved.  Christie and I have found that staying updated on God's work elsewhere often keeps us encouraged when things seem slow or discouraging in our own neighborhood.  So we'd encourage you: don't be content with a 'my country only' vision.  The USA is about 5% of the world's population; therefore, most of our Christian family is someplace else.  Get to know them.

OBSERVATION #2: NEW PARADIGMS OF SENDING
For most of the "modern era" of missions (from roughly the 1790's and William Carey's ministry to India to the late 20th Century), the sending paradigm has been that of people from wealthier countries going to serve in poorer countries and people from more powerful nations going to serve either in less powerful nations or in the colonies of their own nations.  [The preceding statement is perhaps over-simplified, and there are notable
exceptions, but most would agree that the richer-to-poorer, powerful-to-powerless paradigm has prevailed - from the colonial era up through the post-World War ii and post-USSR communist era]

The newest paradigms of sending turn the older paradigm on its head.  InSri Lanka [one of the poorest and more recently de-stabilized [again!]countries in Asia), Paul met in October with 30 young people committed to encourage them as they are pursuing God's will concerning cross-cultural missions.  If they get to go to the Muslim world, it might be the SaudiArabia peninsula, and they may go as maids or other types of domestic workers.  The young man from Jamaica going to Nepal must trust God for his financial needs being met by churches that might not be able to support their own pastors in Jamaica.  Those going out from Indonesia or Malaysia might have better financial resources, but they are often regarded as
socially 2nd-class because they are Christians in predominantly Muslim nations.

Observant readers will understand that this is not really a new paradigm at all; it is merely a return to the way Christians went out from the church in the first few centuries of Christianity.  Many came from postures of poverty, weakness, and low social standing to spread the good news (see ICorinthians 1:18-31).  This biblical perspective of Christ's power being evident in those who are "weak" is what provoked Kenya pastor Oscar Muriu to ask a group of Western leaders, "Why do you in the West find it so
difficult to see the immigrants as the new missionary force?"

LESSON?  We have had to confront our tendency to equate  the mission endeavor with Western affluence (i.e., that only the churches "rich enough" should be owning the vision of making disciples of all nations.  Instead, the Sri Lankans and Indonesians and Nigerians are teaching us that the Lausanne slogan is right - "the WHOLE church takes the whole gospel to thewhole world."     

OBSERVATION #3: NEW PARADIGMS OF SUFFERING AND THE PURPOSES OF GOD
Although the association of suffering with being a disciple of Jesus permeates the New Testament ("take up your cross daily" certainly implied a life of suffering to serve others), our Western teaching of following Jesus(combined with extreme examples of "prosperity theology") often overlooks this basic component in the ministry of the Gospel.  In contrast, four recent experiences have underscored this truth that following Jesus is often accompanied by suffering. 

Our long-time associate and friend, Ajith Fernando, in Sri Lanka (where the suffering index has been increasing again) has recently released "The Call Joy and Pain: Embracing Suffering in Your Ministry."  It introduces us to the joy-in-spite-of-prison Gospel that Paul personifies in the book of Philippians.

In Orissa, India - where we held DAI Masters level training in July 2007 -radical Hindu opposition to the Gospel has intensified, with hundreds of incidents of violence against Christians in December and January.
[Violence in a place where we've just served always brings the reality of suffering home to us.]

In Nigeria, a young man traveled 12 hours by bus (each way!) just to greet "Uncle Paul" - we had corresponded for three years but had never met. Abraham told his mesmerizing story of conversion from Islam, attempts on his life by his own family members, his father's dramatic conversion and
subsequent violent death at the hands of Islamic leaders, and his own life in a Muslim area.  Threats and danger surround him, but he perseveres "because of all Jesus suffered for me."

And finally Kenya - often seen as a stable foundation for East African Christianity - has been re-introduced to suffering resulting from corrupt politics, people who value an ethnic identity over their identity in
Christ, and governmental leaders apparently intent on stirring up strife.

The point is this: following Jesus is not easy nor did Jesus promise it would be easy.  

LESSON?  For us, the challenge has been to address our own desire for a nice, peaceful, suburban American-dream life.  While these are normal desires, we've been forced to realize through our international brothers and sisters that our supreme desire must be to glorify Christ - even if it
means loss of safety and security.  In short, we need to beware the seduction of comfort-zone Christianity.

So that's our encouragement to you as well.  Find where God is at work in the world and join him there (a la Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God)." Remember that God delights to reveal his power through weakness.  And learn to see suffering as God's tools to make us and his church around the world into the image of his Son. 

7. Summer Ministry Opportunity- Repeat

One of our newest church plants is located in Fitchburg, MA.  Arthur Demosthenes is the pastor of Morijah Evangelical Church which meets at Hope International Church in Waltham, MA (Paul Reid , Pastor).  Last fall, God opened the door for him to begin meeting with a core group of Haitian families in Fitchburg.  Since October, they’ve been conducting worship services in the facilities of a messianic congregation.  So far, three families have come to Christ.  A grand opening and baptism service is being planned for this spring.  Meanwhile, there is a need to conduct a VBS type ministry this summer in Fitchburg.  If your small group, youth group or ministry team would be willing to plan an outreach this summer, please contact Mark Overmyer (mobiewan@metrocast.net) for more information.  The possible dates for an outreach in Fitchburg are wide open with only 7/12-19 being NOT possible. 

8. Modules

Southern CT Module – February 27^th beginning at 9:30 a.m. at North Haven.

Boston Module – March 5^th beginning at 3:00 pm at Waltham.

CCT Module – March 18^th beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Wethersfield.

Western MA Module – March 26^th beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Juice Java.

NH Module – March 25^th beginning at 9:30. This will be Ted White’s Ordination Council.

VT Module – March 27^th beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Bradford.

9. NEDA Website - Repeat

Please check out our website at www.efcneda.org for the latest information, brochures on upcoming events and even the weekly Friday Facts.  Please feel free to email us with any feedback concerning our website as our desire is to serve you better.

God bless,

Ves