CliffsNotes – March 27, 2018

I think that God just gave FMCIC $5!!

I was walking my dog through the green space near my home. This is not a busy pathway it’s just grass. I was praying and I ended up thinking about my mom. We were four children and mom was the only income so money was tight. When I was around 11 years old, she had experienced a new vital relationship with Jesus that involved her embracing fully her opportunity to be an intercessor – turns out that this is also one of her spiritual gifts. She can pray for long periods of time for one person or situation. Intercessors tend to also have strong faith, which stands to reason: I mean, if you pray and hear God, and see Him at work, then naturally one’s faith grows. She told us stories about finding money on the ground when our family needed it most. I can remember at least two stories: one was gas money in the middle of nowhere – on the ground at the right time; another was grocery money, rolled up on the ground, and enough for a week’s worth of food! These stories about God’s goodness impacted our family. For me, these stories made me often keep my head down looking for money when I walked!

So the other day, I was praying for FMCIC and I caught myself looking for money on the ground. I smiled but then I remembered God’s provision for my family in the past, thinking about God’s goodness to us back then, being thankful for what He once did, and grateful for being raised to look for money on the ground, when at that very moment, on a grass path in a field that is not well used, there was a five dollar bill! I laughed out loud, and then clearly heard this inside my spirit: “I still Am!”

“I still Am the God who provides!”

“I still Am the God from whom you can expect miracles!”

“I still Am, so keep looking all around for what I will do next! Anticipate. Have faith.”

I AM risen from the dead. I AM alive. I AM moving in, stirring, awakening My people and Canadians.”

I didn’t need a wad of grocery money at the time, though I would have accepted it gratefully! I didn’t need gas money, so a $5 bill, on a grass path, in a field, as I prayed for us (the FMCIC), $5 as I remembered my mom, as I looked for money, at just the exact right moment, was the perfect amount in order for God to make His point: “I still Am!”

FMCIC, let me invite you out of skepticism, stuck-ness, boredom, hurt, unfaith, bad spiritual habits, and invite you into trusting Him anew – into dynamic courageous faith!

I believe that God is saying to us: “I still Am!”

In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

(Next week I’ll tell you about the third Regional Gathering – it took place at Wesley Acres. I’ll also tell you about my visit “home” to Arlington Woods in Ottawa – my first church family.)

The next Regional Gathering will be held at St. Joseph Island FM Church, St. Joseph Island, ON- to register click here for the form: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/St.-Joseph-Island-Registration-Form-2018.doc


2018 Regional Gathering

LOCATIONS & DATES

  • NORTHERN ONTARIO @ St. Joseph Island FMC, 1589 Hilton Road, Hilton Beach ON [St. Joseph’s Island]  April 7, 2018
  • CENTRAL ONTARIO – NORTH & EAST GTA @Wesley Chapel, 2385 Warden Ave, Scarborough, ON [Toronto] – April 14, 2018
  • NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO @ Dryden FMC, 261 Van Horne Avenue, Dryden, ON [Dryden] April 28, 2018
  • BRITISH COLUMBIA @ New Heights Community [Mission] May 12, 2018
  • ALBERTA @Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 3920 57th Ave. Red Deer, AB [Red Deer]  May 26, 2018
  • SASKATCHEWAN @ Arlington Beach Camp [Cymric] June 2, 2018
  • MANITOBA @ Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, MB [Brandon]  – June 23, 2018

Please see the website for more details – https://fmcic.ca/regional-gatherings-2018/


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – Great Churches Aren’t Perfect Churches:https://fmcic.ca/great-churches-arent-perfect-churches/ New
News & Stories Blog – A Church with Mission in mind – Interview with Greg Elford :https://fmcic.ca/a-church-with-mission-in-mind-interview-with-greg-elford/
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: Kevin Makins – Holy Shift: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-52-kevin-makins-holy-shift/ New
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/FMCIC

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PHOTO GALLERY
Wesley Acres Regional Gathering


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ANNOUNCEMENTS

None

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
None


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/

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES

Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 1-3, 2018 at Hampton FM Church, Saskatoon, SK

Wesleyan Theology:
June 1-3, 2018 at Holt FM Church, Mount Albert ON
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)

Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
8-week online course (FRENCH) – begins April 9, 2018

Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA*

(*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.


CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Madoc Wesleyan/Free Methodist Church, Madoc, ON
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK
Thunder Bay Free Methodist Church, Thunder Bay, ON
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON


Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.

Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (deadline April 3)
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON (deadline April 10)
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON (deadline April 3)

 

Preparing Profiles

(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [[email protected] 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)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON (Hanford Branscombe-Interim Pastor)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Richmond Hill FMC (English & Chinese), Richmond Hill, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK


Functioning with approved local arrangements
Avonlea FMC, Avonlea SK
Campbell’s Bay FMC, Campbell’s Bay, QC (Orville White)
Church On The Hill, Orillia ON (Charles Tanner)
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON (Robert Boutilier)
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON (Joshua Walters)
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)


PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Chad Vankoughnett
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor of Next Generations  – Trulls Road FM Church
Director of Youth Ministry  – Trulls Road FM Church
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Cadet Chaplain –  Vernon, BC
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
Worship Coordinator – Arlington Wood Free Methodist Church