LET’S PRAY
I do hope that you had a refreshing May long weekend. I would like to invite you to pray this week. On the one hand, the sun has been shining and covid restrictions seem to be moving in the right direction, but on the other hand, our world is not in a good direction! Let me offer a very incomplete prayer list:
- Parts of Ontario were devastated by a storm this weekend. Ottawa looks like a warzone in the aftermath, with buildings torn a part, power lines down, trees uprooted, and most painful, 7 deaths caused by the storm. Pray for the Church, that it would shine in this time;
- Remember the victims of the floods in Alberta and NWT;
- Ukraine. The Free Methodist Church continues to collect money for our churches and missionaries in the region, who are rescuing, sheltering, feeding, clothing the many who are displaced;
- Sri Lanka continues to be in chaos. I believe that you will hear more this week from our Intercultural Engagement Team about Sri Lanka, but for now, please pray. They are dealing with critical food and fuel shortages. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka;
- Monkey-pox is creating a new wave of fear;
- Tensions between China and US (and others);
- The Canadian economy. You are aware of the damage that is being caused to businesses, and personal lives. In economic times like these there are increases in mental health issues, domestic abuse, drug abuse, and suicides;
- And if you are anything like me, then you have loved ones in your close circle who are not well (for instance, I have several loved ones dealing with cancer), and other loved ones who don’t yet know Jesus, and really need Him!
God’s solution is a royal priesthood who will help people reconcile with God. His plan is that His “people of peace” would minister His peace into our communities, into the world. Re-read the bullet points. It seems that the solution, or Biblical word that comes to mind in terms of God’s response to these bullet points, is PEACE. His peace is active, powerful, effective, merciful, and is directly connected to His Spirit pouring into and through people’s lives. So this week let’s pray.
The third episode of the BOA Info Sessions provided by Chair, Dave Kreutzweiser, is ready! It can be viewed here.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
History of the Free Methodist Church in Canada video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QKbI1xqJ7g
https://vimeo.com/694065642
New Website Tour Video:
https://vimeo.com/702077871
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
June 12 at 2:00 pm – Erika Mills – Blue Mountain FMC, Thornbury, ON
June 26 at 2:00 pm – Benjamin Platz – Next Church, Kingston, ON
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/
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 3-5, 2022 – Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University: https://www.tyndale.ca/
seminary/course/theo-0629
- FMC-USA as a 7-week intensive online course: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/
courses/ Wesleyan Theology [#74W] Dr. Robert Vaughan – start dates: Apr 19, June 7, Jul 26, Sep 13, Nov 1
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 and Church 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!)
2022 SCHOLARSHIPS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP):
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 deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the summer and/or fall semesters of 2022. The 2022 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2022.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
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 2022 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above. Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs) https://fmcic.ca/
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.
For those who took courses and/or did in-depth research and learning about how to make the changes required during the pandemic (ie how to live-stream services), add the number of those hours to your annual CEU report.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC
Oshawa, ON – The Corner Church (Free Methodist / Church of the Nazarene)
Saskatoon, SK – Lakeview FMC
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC
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)
Hamilton, ON – Rymal Road Community Church (full-time) [May 31]
Harrowsmith, ON – Harrowsmith FMC (full-time) [May 31]
New Westminster, BC – First FMC (full-time) [May 31]
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church [June 21]
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.
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FMC, (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FMC
Dunnville, ON – Dunnville FMC
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Pastor of Children and Their Families – Whitby FMC
Associate Pastor of Youth & Outreach – Trulls Road FMC
Church Administrator – UNA Church
Tearfund has a number of current openings for interns and students. You can access their list of available positions here.
