Two weeks ago, at a New Leaf Design Shop in Vancouver, the Church Planting Department decided to give some advice from CliffsNotes a try. Instead of putting everyone up in hotel rooms like we normally do, we decided to stay together in an Airbnb. As a result we really got to know each other. 8 people sharing a 5 bedroom house will do that! Here is a snapshot of an evening after 8 hours of teaching: Some met in the kitchen. Others were glued to the TV watching the opening matches of the World Cup. Some went for a walk. Others hung out on the back deck. Others spent a little alone time resting in their rooms and poked their head out to say goodnight. It was normal people doing the normal stuff of life together. We did dishes together. Made snacks together. Made coffee together. Watched TV together. Used our phones and laptops together. Spent hours pondering the intricacies of BC garbage collection together. The results were more than I imagined.
There’s an important discipleship lesson in there. As a people, God has given us the everyday stuff of life as a means of grace. We have always shaped each other in an “as you go” fashion. When you wake up. As you walk along the road. When you go to bed at night. Churches that depend solely on the Sunday morning sermon or some kind of discipleship class are missing key parts of the human experience. Denominations that depend on the same methods are equally missing something.
Here’s a translation of a thank you note our team received from one of the participants:
I wanted to thank The Free Methodist Church for the opportunity we had to participate in the New Leaf Design Shop training last week in Vancouver. It was a special and very interesting time when we learned many things to encourage church planting and the good development of the new churches.
Thank you Jared (Siebert) for all the teachings and what you brought
Thank you Jay (Mowchenko) for your interventions and your testimony of life, it was edifying and encouraging
Thank you Jessica (Isaak)for your good organizational work, it is very appreciated
A big thank you to Tim Tjosvold for the translation, he did a very good job
Thank you also for the resources translated into French, it’s really appreciated.
A big thank you to our Lord God who allows us to serve him in his Kingdom and gives us the strength and wisdom to fulfill the ministry he entrusts to us.
Jared Siebert
Director of Church Planting
2018 Fall Minister’s Conference
The dates for the Fall Minister’s Conference are as follows:
Eastern Conference: Wesley Acres Retreat Centre and Campground, Bloomfield, ON – September 25-27, 2018
Western Conference: Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre, Saskatoon, SK – October 2-4, 2018
Please mark these dates on your calendars. More information will follow shortly so that all our minister’s can prepare for this great retreat.
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – We All Contribute To Pastoral Health: https://fmcic.ca/we-all-contribute-to-pastoral-health/ New
News & Stories Blog – Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church steps up in fight against human trafficking: https://fmcic.ca/harrowsmith-free-methodist-church-steps-up-in-fight-against-human-trafficking/New
the conneXion – a Free Methodist theology blog: 3 Minute Theology 2.5: Knowing the Bible Inside Out: https://fmcic.ca/3-minute-theology-2-5-knowing-the-bible-inside-out/
New Leaf Podcast: Jeff and Jan Steckley – Contemplative practice, second half of life & the art of starting: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-53-jeff-and-jan-steckley-contemplative-practice-second-half-of-life-the-art-of-starting/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Leonard Bruce – appointed Lead Pastor at Warkworth FM Church, Warkworth, ON, effective July 16, 2018
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
Dave Moriarity, Almonte, Ontario – ordination service on October 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm, Cornerstone Community Church, Almonte, ON
Brent Steeves, Sarnia, Ontario – ordination service date and time TBA
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
November 2-4, 2018 in Ontario (location TBA*)
Wesleyan Theology:
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Théologie de Wesley
6 au 8 juillet 2018 à l’Église Méthodiste Libre de Rosemont, Montréal, QC
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
6-week online course (FRENCH) – Fall 2018
Culture and the Missional Church:
Course starts October 9, 2018
Advance online engagement: Oct 9-Nov 1 / In-class: Nov 2-3 at a local FM Church in Ontario (TBA)
(deadline to register – October 4)
(*these locations will be selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
Registration is online for all courses at this link: https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/. Those tracking for credentialed ministry should take the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology if possible.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is October 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for courses taken during both the spring/summer and fall semesters of 2018.
October 15 is also the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships.
Here is the link for both types of scholarships: https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca or 289-228-1225 (deadline to apply in brackets)
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (July 24)
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON (Aug 7)
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca or 289-228-1225] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)
Athens FMC, Athens, ON (Angel Valentin-Transition Pastor)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Randy Williams
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Verona FM Church