Ves’ Friday Facts January 8, 2010, 2009 #433

Two years ago in early 2008, the NEDA Board of Directors established a committee to review the NEDA Constitution and By-Laws, and to propose revisions. The committee was chaired by Audie Thompson, and included Ves Sheely, Jay Pickerell, Dave Poscich, and Mark Overmyer. During 2008 the committee worked with the NEDA Constitution. Recommended changes were approved by the Board, and subsequently adopted by NEDA at the 2009 annual conference. During 2009 the committee continued its work by reviewing the NEDA By-Laws. Proposed revisions have been approved by the Board and will be presented for adoption at the next NEDA annual conference on March 19, 2010.

The proposed by-law revisions were sent to all member churches in December 2009. For several weeks now, a link to the revised by-laws including a side-by-side comparison to the current version and brief rationale for each change has been available on the NEDA website homepage Bulletin Board. The linked document provides a summary of all changes. The highlights are as follows:

Clarifies relationships between the Board, District, and mission status churches, now referred to as Evangelical Free Churches In Formation (EFC-IF)

Requires all office nominations including those made from the floor to be vetted by the Nominating Committee

Adds provision to suspend the District Superintendent, other Ministry Staff and Board members for moral, doctrinal or ethical issues.

Provides for the District Superintendent to select all staff positions, with appropriate Board and Conference approvals.

Changes the quorum for business meetings from majority of member churches to at least 25% of member churches.

Allows a person who has served a partial term to be eligible to serve two additional complete terms.

Changes the term of office for the District Superintendent from 3 to 6 years, to take effect when the current term is up.

Changes the fiscal year to June 1 – May 31.

We encourage member churches to review and prayerfully consider these proposed changes. If you have any questions, please address them to Audie Thompson, chairman of the Constitution and By-Laws Revision Committee. Audie can be reached at aethome@comcast.net

2. Rebuilding Haiti – A Kingdom Moment

Is God calling you and your church to be a part?

NEDA is doing what it can to coordinate the efforts of its churches for this historic opportunity. As you know our NEDA family has been directly affected by the tragedy and now the people of Morijah Evangelical Church (Waltham, MA) and Elim Evangelical Church (Fitchburg, MA) want to partner with you this summer in delivering assistance in the name of Jesus.

In talking to those leaders who have been to Haiti since the quake, it is thrilling to hear of “revival” fervor among the people and church of Jesus. Witnesses tell of verbal praise and worship music being heard well into the night and even early in the morning throughout the neighborhoods. People whose world view is already open to spiritual things are receiving the Gospel with power. The Hope-giver is delivering hope to a very needy people. In the midst of rubble, lives are being reborn and a new foundation for future Haiti is being laid. This summer could be a Kingdom moment for you to live out the prayer: Lord, may your Kingdom come and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

If there’s any chance that you might consider sending a team to Haiti this summer to help out in some way, please read on.

Here are some of the ways that your church can help:

1. Youth and/or children’s ministries – The children are lacking the normal structures of life. In as much as they are the future of Haiti, our investment in them is strategic.

a. English camp

b. Sports camp

c. Music/Arts/Drama camp

d. VBS

e. Crafts

f. Peer to peer

2. Carpentry and Construction Training – Working alongside Haitians we want to not just rebuild church buildings – but enable workers who will be equipped to continue after our teams leave. Replacing uninhabitable church facilities with simple shelters will greatly enhance the ability of a community of believers to deliver ministry to its neighborhood.

3. Medical Aid – if you are able to mobilize medical personnel and/or supplies, these are much needed and useful in many places.

4. Encouragement/Fellowship/Training for those who shepherd the hurting of Haiti. One can only imagine the toll this experience is taking on those who lead their people. Some in your church with gifts of teaching, encouragement, or mercy will find a ministry of presence that will be invaluable in helping choice servants of God to carry on.

Here’s why you should consider a coordinated effort with NEDA partners:

We have experienced translators who can travel with and guide your team.

We have a network of relationships with churches, pastors and people who need your help.

We have a network of relationships with people and relief agencies able to assist your team in Haiti

We have facilities that can house and feed your team while on the ground there.

We can assign to you an experienced coach who will help prepare your team to go

We have a goal to mobilize 3 NEDA teams (or groups of teams) over this summer – each able to provide a week to two weeks of service. If you are interested here’s what you should do:

Pray and ask God if he wants to use you and/or your church this summer.

Contact Mark Overmyer via email at mobiewan@gmail.com and note what you might be able to provide and when.

Attend a Q&A session during lunch at the NEDA conference March 18 or 19. Our Haitian brothers will be on hand to provide insights.

Invite one of the Haitian leaders to your church to present the opportunity and answer questions.

As you pray and consider your potential involvement here are some parameters to keep in mind:

Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by at least one adult

Cost estimate for food, water, electricity, housing and daily transportation is $20/day per team member.

Airfare estimate is $600+ per team member.

Vaccinations and boosters are required as well as malaria medication – see your doctor.

We need firm commitments from your team by May 1.

3. Rebuilding Haiti - an update-NEDA’s Summer Mission to Haiti

At least two churches have responded to the call for a NEDA coordinated response to the needs in Haiti. We’d like to plan for the following:

Building Training Teams – 3 parts - We are making plans to provide hands-on construction training to Haitian men by undertaking a project from start to finish with three separate but coordinated NEDA teams. If you have cement and cement block, plumbing, or electrical expertise, we’d like to include you in the planning and execution of this effort.

Medical Team – 1 part – We have identified a number of nurses and potential doctors willing to offer their services. If you would like to join this effort – please contact us.

English Camp – 3 parts – We’d like to coordinate 3 teams working in sequence through the summer to provide training for the children and youth who will be associated with the families involved in the Building and/or Medical portions of the project.

Music Camp and/or VBS – These ministries can stand alone in any of the three phases and will further bless the families of those involved with the Building and/or Medical portions of the project. You may choose to duplicate your local programs with your leftover resources and no additional preparations.

Some suggested dates:

Phase 1 – July 8-18

Phase 2 – July 24 – August 3

Phase 3 – August 12-22

Please respond with your questions, interest or potential resource commitments to Mark Overmyer via email: mobiewan@gmail.com. We need to have firm commitments by May 1. Further info can be found in the original announcement also included in this edition of Friday Facts.

4. NEDA Conference- REGISTER TODAY!!!

Our 2010 NEDA Conference which will occur at Grace Community Church in Spofford, NH and Camp Spofford, NH; is fast approaching! From March 18-19th we will have the privilege of learning from Jim Van Ypren, the founder of Metanoia Ministries and Alvin Sanders, the Executive Director of Reconciliation (EFCA Samaritan Way). Our theme is "Growing Christ-like Communities"- Acts 2:42-47. If you need another copy of the brochure feel free to find it at the NEDA website. Online registration is available at www.efcneda.org! Register today if you haven’t already!! If you have any questions, please call the NEDA Office at 860-674-9541 or email at Laurenrand7@gmail.com.

5. Children's Ministry Summit

YAHOOOOOO - tomorrow is the day - NEDA Children's Ministry Summit - Didn't sign up? Worried you won't get a seat? Gonna' miss out on the guest speaker and all the workshops? Well, you are blessed because all that wish to attend and have not registered, are welcome to join us. Just make your way to Wethersfield EFree Church tomorrow morning by 8:30 a.m. and you will be networking with us all (cost is $35 at the door). If you would like to call Cindy tonight and tell her you are coming, that would be great 1-860-563-8286. We can't wait to see you there.

6. Skowhegan ME Opportunities

Trinity EFC in Skowhegan, ME is willing to send a team to churches to explain about their shelter. If any would be interested, please contact Pastor Richard Berry at trinity_efree@yahoo.com .

Trinity EFC in Skowhegan, ME is looking for summer work teams made up of teens, adults and skilled workers to help construct the homeless shelter. Skowhegan is truly having “those type of people” living in the church, getting help, and hearing about Jesus. Please take some time to look at the website www.trinityevangelicalfree.com to observe the progress of the building.

7. Attention Women in Ministry

Plan on attending the NEDA conference March 18-19th! On Thursday, March 18th, you are invited to a networking luncheon with NEDA District Mobilizer Regina Robinson. Connect with other women in ministry from the district, encourage one another in respective churches, and hear the vision of reaching and supporting NEDA women in 2010. In an effort to build the women in ministry team for NEDA, the Thursday training session is provided to you free of charge to all interested women! Please contact District Mobilizer, Regina Robinson at robinson.regina@gmail.com to register or for more information prior to March 1^st.

8. Sanctuary

Please take some time to click on the link below and read more about the revival that is going on Maine.

http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2010/february/sanctuary

9. City Without Walls

Alvin Sanders please will be speaking in Boston April 15-17, 2010. The focus of this summit is on intercultural ministry. For more information please go to: http://www.citywithoutwalls.net/

10. Nancy Guthrie- Holding on to Hope

Life is difficult. God is good. Both of these things don’t always seem to be true, especially when we experience great loss. Events in our lives - health issues, broken relationships, the death of a loved

one, financial troubles - force us to ask the difficult questions.

On March 27, Nancy Guthrie, author and international speaker, will be sharing her story during a one-day seminar. Nancy and her husband, David, lost two infant children, Hope and Gabriel, to a genetic

disorder. During this time, Nancy asked God a number of tough questions, and she came to understand that He was working in their situation. As the Lord taught Nancy during this time, she is now reaching out through writing and speaking to teach others how to find hope in the midst of their own personal tragedies.

If you’re in the midst of coping with loss… If you know someone who is…. If you’re asking some tough questions…. If you want to hear a story of redemption…. Join us for a day called “Holding on to Hope”

with speaker Nancy Guthrie, as we walk together through the story of the Biblical character, Job.

This seminar will be held from 8:30am to 3:00pm on Saturday March 27 at Trinity Baptist Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. Registration cost (to be paid at the door) is $15, and includes a box lunch. In order to register, please call 203 520-5985 or e-mail GuthrieSeminar@yahoo.com

Among NEDA affiliates co-sponsoring this event are:

Beacon Hill EFC, Monroe CT

Living Hope Church, Shelton CT

Calvary EFC, Trumbull CT

The following link will allow you to download a three-minute video of Nancy promoting the seminar:

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=819639740&email=152d77fd6702c5f237874bfd12458ee6

You can also find out more about Nancy Guthrie and her books at www.nancyguthrie.com

11. Buddhism Seminar

This seminar is “Helping Christians to understand Buddhism in the hope that Christians will help Buddhists to understand the Gospel.” It will take place April 11^th from 1-4pm at Highrock Church in Arlington, MA. Also anyone for anyone who is a veteran in ministry to Buddhists, there will be two evening seminars designed for those in ministry to Buddhists on April 12 and 13. Please contact the NEDA office (860-674-9541 or Laurenrand7@gmail.com) or look on our website bulletin board for more information.

12. Camp Spofford Summer Camp Update

We still have availability in MOST of our Youth Camps, but space is filling in quickly.

Junior Week 2 is full for girls, which is July 11-17.

Family Camp has openings for the following weeks: Week 2 July 10-17, Week 3 July 14-24, Week 4 July24-31, Week 6 August 7-14, Week 8 August 21-28

Senior Week 9 August 28-September 3.

13. Prayer Request

Please pray for Pastor Neal Laybourne (Barre, VT) and another pastor from the area who are ministering with key ministry partners in the Gujarat area.

14. Modules

Maine Module- March 10^th 9:30am -12pm at Faith EFC in Waterville, ME.

Southern CT Module- April 28th, from 9:30-11:30 am in North Haven, CT. Please read "The Unlikely Disciple" by Kevin Roose. The entire book should be completed before our April 28th module meeting.

15. NEDA Website

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