Evangelism? Part 3/4
If you haven’t already, then please take a moment to read Cliff’s Notes from the past 2 weeks (parts 1 & 2) – use this link:https://fmcic.ca/category/cliffsnotes/
Below are discussion points for you and your Church family:
There are, absolutely, brilliant Holy Spirit moments when you have an opportunity to tell a stranger about Jesus. Some people are especially gifted with evangelism and when they open their mouth, another person comes to know Jesus – one of my friends has the gift of evangelism, and once introduced someone to Jesus in a drive-thru (my friend was the server). God is not limited by our form, methods or sensitivities. In those moments with a stranger, you need to pay careful attention to the Holy Spirit, and clear teaching on Gospel essentials. However, evangelism in Canada is relational, authentic Gospel living, and peace. Allow me to expand on these.
In a previous section I mentioned the need for evangelism to be in the context of friendship. Jesus lived it out this way. It is one of the reasons His religious contemporaries hated Him: He was a friend to “sinners” & “welcomed” them (John 15)! It is a type of friendship that does not depend on the other coming to Christ. We can not consider our neighbour a project or notch on our “fishers of men” belt! We are to love, just like God does, and offer friendship, just like God does.
“Authentic Gospel living” is simply being careful to live holy. Easy enough! Actually, it is the journey we are all on, the point I would like you to consider is this: some Christians have lived “authentic Gospel lives” (to their best understanding) which have been more concerned with no dancing, no swimming on Sundays, wearing their best clothes on Sunday, and sending money to the mission field (often, for some, it didn’t really even matter where). By “authentic” I mean, how Jesus lived. He never compromised truth, but found a way to love “others”. He lived truth in such a way that others wanted to be with Him. That’s the story of the Church for her first 25 years or so as recorded in Acts 2:41-47 – others saw how they lived with each other and they wanted in too! Daily, others were added to their number. Have fun and create a personal purpose statement, and I hope it will look something like, “Love God and love others” (this is after all the great commandment). Live with Jesus, and for Jesus in such a way that others want to know Him.
Peace is another element of evangelism today (the other two mentioned above are relational, and are a Jesus-like lifestyle). Question number one for your local Church: “what is a Biblical working definition of peace?” This is very important, so please take your time to develop a definition that reflects the nuances between Jesus-peace and peace outside of the Church. A Biblical definition of peace will also offer you a strategic path forward. For instance, one element of Jesus-peace is forgiveness and reconciliation. A path forward for your Church then might be: let’s take a month to learn about forgiveness and reconciliation and then make sure that all hearts are clear in our Church family.
Christians, you have in your heart the Prince of Peace. Being with Him 24/7 should impact you! Colossians 3:15-16 says it very well,
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (my note: the result of the Prince of Peace in your life), since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
“Rule” here means to arbitrate, control, be the basis of every decision you make. Note also that the writer of Colossians is quick to highlight that it is not only private peace, but together, Church, we embody peace. We are to be a people of peace: peace-makers and peace-bringers. I hope that I do not have to convince you that this is not how the Church is known in Canada. My question for your own local church and then for us as a movement, is “how will you bring Jesus-peace into your community?”
Evangelism in Canada is relational, authentic Gospel living, and requires us being a people of peace.
ANNUAL REPORTS (due February 26, 2021)
We kindly ask that you make completing the Annual Report a priority. We have included a guide (pdf) to help you understand and complete the Annual Report. We trust that it will be helpful to you in completing the form.
ANNUAL REPORT ONLINE FORM (English):
https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
ANNUAL REPORT GUIDE
https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FMCIC-Annual-Report-Guide-2020.pdf
NEW THIS WEEK:
New edition of the MOSAIC: https://fmcic.ca/mosaic/
What’s Got You Thinking – Episode 3 Dennis Ball: https://vimeo.com/521391582
Financial Impact of COVID-19: https://fmcic.ca/financial-impact-of-covid-19/
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
Tuesdays: Cliff’s Notes
Thursdays: Church Health Thursday article share
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
3rd Wednesday of each month: Get the Scoop with Lisa and Alison
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
Wednesday, January 6: Message from Jared Siebert
Wednesday, February 2: Message from Marc McAlister message
Wednesday, March 2: Message from Bishop Cliff
ADDITIONAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
News & Stories
New Leaf Learning Centre
FM Video Blog
Intercultural Engagement Team
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None at this time
ORDINATION AND COMMISSIONING SERVICES
Wilder Boutin – date and time TBA – Centre Biblique Louange a L’Eternel, Montreal, QC
Leonard Bruce – date and location TBA
Erika Mills – July 25, 2021, Time TBA – Blue Mountain Community Church, Thornbury, ON
Benjamin Platz – date and time TBA – Next Church, Kingston, ON
Douglas Smith – May 2, 2021 at 2:00 pm, Fellowship of Joy, St. Williams, ON
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:
Nov 5-7, 2021 – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
Nov 5-7, 2021 – location TBA*
Also available:
- May 7 to June 25 – hybrid online/livestream course – “John Wesley’s Theology” [THEO 0629H] at Tyndale University with instructor Rev. Dr. James Pedlar: https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/summer/courses/theo-0629h
- through FMC-USA as a 7-week intensive online course with several start dates: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/
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! )
SCHOLARSHIPS
2021 APPLICATIONS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP):
October 15 is the deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the summer/or fall semesters of 2021. The 2021 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2021.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during the 2021 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/introduction-to-continuing-education/
Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (except retirees) are to annually report Continuing Education Units (CEUs) acquired during each year. Check the link above for information on CEUs, the report form and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
Note: For those who attend the fall Minister’s Conferences or the spring Regional Gatherings, add 6 hours of CEU credit for each event when you send in your annual CEU report.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON [Interim Pastor-Neale Robb]
New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 416-240-7845 (deadline to apply in brackets)
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
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 FMC, Campbellford, ON (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON
First FM Church, New Westminster, BC
Frankford Community Church, Frankford, ON
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
New Horizons Community Church, Sarnia, ON (Rev. Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Trinity Christian Centre, Dresden, ON (Rev. Alan Adams – Interim Pastor)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Transition Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Camp Director – Harbour Ridge Camp
Angelic Treasures Christian Daycare Newmarket – SUPERVISOR
