Sabbatical Ends
Loretta and I completed our two month sabbatical (September-October) with a cruise to the Western Caribbean. Loretta had attended the training for the ‘Truth Project’ that was recommended and accepted at our 2006 General Conference. During the cruise we listened to the 13 DVDs and studied the material.
I cannot recommend the Truth Project in strong enough language. Through the lessons a biblical world view is developed that allows individuals to engage our culture and determine any changes that are necessary in their life. If the American local churches would go through this training I believe a fertile cultivated soil for revival would emerge for our entire country.
Loretta and I will be traveling to Portland, Oregon, on November 30th for a meeting with our Northwest Superintendent, Clyde Zehr and Leona. Loretta and Leona will be working on a plan for the 2008-2010 Sacred Assemblies of Prayer. Clyde and I will work on material for the Comprehensive Strategic Plan in preparation for a conference call with the district superintendents in December. The following Monday begins the Northwest Pastors’ Retreat at Shiloh Inn by the Sea for two days. We look forward to the fellowship with our pastors and spouses in the Northwest.
The situation for our EMC pastors and churches in Southeast Asia continues to be oppressive. Many of our people are living near starvation levels due to last year’s floods of the rice fields and the unbelievable inflation. The Annual November Missions offering for our entire mission program should not be confused with the mid quadrennial denominational offering this spring. In 2004 we raised approximately $60,000 for MexicoUSA. In 2008 this offering will be for the Conference Center for our Southeast Asian EMC Mission Conference. Every local church raises monies and brings their offering to their annual district conference where it is presented at the Missions Service. Our prayer is for $100,000 being raised for this one time project. The Conference Center will make an unbelievable impact for the EMC Conference in this country.
Our trips to Southeast Asia in November 2007 and February 2008 have been canceled due to the political unrest and violence. Please pray for the believers. As you know I am not mentioning the exact location for security reasons.
Vernon Perkins and I will meet with a potential multicultural church planter in Minnesota in December. These contacts come from our Change the Nations African church in Greensboro. The Atlantic Conference has three new churches this fall: a Hispanic and Sudanese in North Carolina; a new church in Maryland. Our Sudanese church worships in Arabic.
