Regional Gathering #2 happened in Harrowsmith, Ontario this past Saturday (please see photos from this event below). Let me just say that Una Church in Kitchener (RG#1) and Harrowsmith have been marvelous hosts! Thank you, Una and Harrowsmith! Again, the highlight for me was watching, listening, and engaging with the people of God in prayer. The whole atmosphere was joyful as we learned, were updated, discussed, laughed, watched Pastor Kathy scramble to turn off her phone
, ate and prayed. The next one is in Kamloops, BC on April 15th.
On Sunday I was with the Verona FM church family. I was warmly welcomed and it was good reconnecting with friends. We had communion near the beginning of the service which helped prepare our hearts for a prayer-healing time. We then spent a significant time praying with everyone (I think most people in the room came forward!). It was beautiful, real, with tears and filled with God-hope! Thank you, Verona.
I believe that the greatest longing every person has is to be heard, seen and loved. The greatest longing of the soul then is prayer, because in prayer we are really heard, really seen and really loved by the Creator of the Universe.
Prayer is your neighbour’s greatest longing, though they may not know it.
This season is particularly being marked as a season of prayer around the world. The “Asbury Revival” we are watching and hearing about is, apparently, not an isolated event. I understand that around the world there are pockets of these special out-workings of the Spirit (according to the International Director of 24/7 Prayer). Within the FMCiC we have been enjoying:
- FMCiC intercessors have been stepping up from across the country (3 weekly focused intercessory groups started by Linda Dixon). If you are interested let me know;
- daily (Monday-Saturday weekly) national zoom 30-minutes prayer time which has been going on for 12 weeks!
- last Wednesday of every month evening prayer, across the country, and you are welcome to join or jump into anyone of them! Encouraged even!
If prayer is our greatest longing, then it is also an evangelistic opportunity! “Can I pray for you?” or “Can I pray with you?” are generally welcomed questions by everyone. Sometimes you will hear a negative response, but most of the time people are quite receptive to prayer. My neighbour told me about serious issues their family was dealing with, and I told them that I would pray for them. As I walked away from the very brief driveway conversation, it occurred to me that I did not want to make prayer sound like a nice way to end the conversation, “ok, gotta go, will pray for you”. So I ran to his door, and explained, that when I said that I would pray, I actually meant that Karlene and I would pray right away. He said, “I know that about you, and I want your prayers…” which led to other significant and wonderful moments. Other times, people, neighbours and non-church family have allowed us to pray with them on the spot.
If evangelism is introducing people to Good News Himself, and prayer is being with Him (Jesus), then prayer becomes the purest form of evangelism, as it is an opportunity to help someone be with Him directly!
Pray for someone to pray with this week, and then Sunday morning make that a part of your being with church family, that you will pray with someone… I imagine that this is what a house of prayer looks like!
HARROWSMITH REGIONAL GATHERING 2023
The Lord’s Prayer
To view the Lord’s prayer video featuring our children and youth, please click here.
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
Check out all the latest photos from around the FMCiC here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fmc-gallery/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Elisabeth Natividad – released from appointment as Lead Pastor at Grace Methodist Church and in transition, effective June 8
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES http://www.fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/
Register online through the link above (Tuition payment is not required when registering for a course. Payment is due 10 days before the course begins.)
Lay Ministers tracking for credentialed ministry and those transferring ordination credentials into the FMCIC need to take the following two courses for full credit – and if possible, the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology.
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 2-4, 2023 – Uxbridge FMC, Uxbridge, ON
Wesleyan Theology:
November 3-5, 2023 – location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University – https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies
- Free Methodist Church-USA NEW! Anytime on Pathwright (multiple instructor choices)
- Self-paced, up to 8 months to complete
- 16-week intensive version, select Instructor Vaughan (session start dates: May 1, June 26, Aug. 21, Oct. 16)
- Central Christian College online, 6 weeks, asynchronous – deadline to apply: Sept 18 (start dates Oct 2 and Nov 12)
- Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University
Ministerial Candidates tracking for Commissioned or Ordained Minister are required to take the following two courses for full credit. Those who are already commissioned or ordained are required to either audit these two courses for 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) each or take the two courses and complete the assignments for 3 CEUs each.
Culture and the Missional Church:
Date and location TBA*
Personal Stewardship:
5-week online course – Start Date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
2023 SCHOLARSHIPS:http://www.fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP) [APPLY TWICE PER YEAR]:
[PLEASE NOTE: The FMCiC preference for LSP is for students to attend one of the approved schools on this list. However, if you decide to apply to a non-approved school, you must first send a request to the Credentialing Coordinator to determine whether the committee will approve funding for you to study at a non-approved school. Along with your request, please include a written explanation as to why you are choosing to study at a non-approved institution. It is strongly recommended that you do this before paying tuition, and well in advance of the LSP deadline. The Credentialing Coordinator, along with the LSP committee, will consider each request individually and according to LSP policy.]
The Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) provides financial assistance to candidates who are studying to meet the educational requirements for credentialed ministry, or for members of conference pursuing continuing education.
October 15 is the next deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the spring, summer and/or fall semesters of 2023. The 2023 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2023.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS [APPLY ONCE PER YEAR]:
The Special Scholarships provide financial assistance to those who are members of a Free Methodist church pursuing post-secondary education to grow in their Christian faith, to those who are pursuing credentialed ministry, and to members of conference pursuing continuing education.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during the 2023 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above. Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEU’S) https://www.fmcic.ca/introduction-to-continuing-education/
Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (except retirees) are to annually report hours acquired during each year for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Check the link above for information on CEUs, and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
You can now send a report online anytime you have hours to submit for CEUs. Here is the link: https://fmcic.wufoo.com/forms/continuing-education-unit-ceu-report-form/
Note: For those who attend the fall Minister’s Conferences or the spring Regional Gatherings, attendance is now taken at these events so 6 hours of CEU credit for each event will automatically be recorded.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Bracebridge, ON – New Hope FM Church
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FM Church
Kingston, ON – Polson Park FM Church
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church
Salmon Arm, BC – Lakeside Community Church
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Hillside FM Church
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Church Profiles Available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] (deadline to apply in brackets)
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FM Church (part-time) [April 18]
Preparing Profiles
If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Davika in the Leadership Development Office [see above] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.
Brantford, ON – The Open Door Church (Rev. Greg Pulham – retiring Apr 30)
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FM Church (Rev. Leonard Bruce – Interim Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FM Church
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FM Church (Rev. Neale Robb – Interim Pastor)
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Godfrey, ON – Cole Lake FM Church
Kingston, ON – Kingscourt FM Church
Marmora, ON – Marmora FM Church (Pastor Keith Deyo – Interim Pastor)
Mississauga, ON – Grace Methodist Church
Orillia, ON – Church on the Hill (Pastor Velma Shewfelt – Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Seeley’s Bay, ON – Pine Grove Community Church
Tillsonburg, ON – Open Arms Church
Wallaceburg, ON – Charlemont FM Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FM Church
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
