This past weekend we were in Winnipeg. Churches from Saskatchewan and Manitoba came together, including the mayor of Wawota, SK, who is also the co-pastor of the Wawota FMC! We wondered if Pastor Kevin’s wife, the Reverend Beverly Kay, calls him, “his worship” at home? We doubted it! It was once again a very good Regional Gathering time. We opened God’s Word, prayed, learned and discussed. We ate Ghanaian food. Thank you, Crestview for hosting well, and the wonderful service we enjoyed together Sunday morning. I especially loved the “12-Disciples’ Rap” which the children performed!
Great news: we have hired a Senior Director of Church Health. I will be sending out much more information about this newest team member including a video introduction.
I watched a video someone sent me. The preacher was angry, or at least he sounded that way. That video ended and another started – I ended up watching 3 short videos in a row and realized how quickly 8 minutes was wasted. It felt like roadkill: I didn’t like what I was seeing but I couldn’t help but look. All 3 presenters were saying angry, ignorant things from their perspectives. After only 8 minutes of watching these “Christians” my soul felt tired, hurt, sad and angry. 8 minutes!
I then wondered what 16 minutes of social media would have done in manipulating or corrupting my soul?! Canadians spend, on average 2 hours and 5 minutes per day on social media! I appreciate that you can watch uplifting social media posts, but often “uplifting” can mean that they simply agree with you!
If you are serious about a move of God in your family, in your church family, in your city, in our country then that average needs to come down! Take time to read the desperate longing of the Psalmists for “souls” to be filled with God, cleaned, created new, attuned to Him. We need to see our social media average go down, and our Bible, worship and prayer engagement time go up – this is the stuff of renewal.
The many outpourings of God’s Spirit around the world are first of all times of confession, repentance and cleansing. Clean souls. Souls awakening to God, His Word and voice (as opposed to all the alternate “voices” out there that fill your soul. Take a moment and write out a Biblical definition of “soul”.
Social media is not all evil, and not the cause of division in the church, but it is a cause.
Soul-check moment:
- What is the state of my soul? The Bible tells us that we are to invite God to examine us, and He has provided church family to help us know ourselves.
- What’s my plan to lower my average social media time, and increase Bible-worship-prayer engagement?
- Pray for renewal in the FMCiC, and pray for blessing.
UPCOMING REGIONAL GATHERING REGISTRATION DEADLINES:
WEST SPRINGS FMC (AB) – being held on Saturday, June 24 – deadline to register is WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
None scheduled
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://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:
Date and location TBA*
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: 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:https://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://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.
Send a report online anytime you have hours to submit for CEUs: 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
Brampton, ON – Bramalea FM Church
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FM Church
Kingston, ON – Polson Park FM Church
Madoc, ON – Madoc Free Methodist/Wesleyan Church
Sault Ste Marie, ON – Hillside FM Church
Church Profiles Available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – davika.dotson@fmcic.ca (deadline to apply in brackets)
Salmon Arm, BC – Lakeside Community Church (full-time) [July 25]
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
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FM Church (Rev. Leonard Bruce – Interim Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FM Church
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FM Church
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
Nepean, ON – Arlington Woods FM Church (Rev. Mike Hogeboom retiring May 31/24)
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)
Salmon Arm, BC – Lakeside Community Church
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
