The Connection

The Connection is the official publication of the Evangelical Methodist Church.

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The New Year is always a time for new ideas, new directions, and fresh energy to reach a goal. People are making ‘New Year’s Resolutions” and are open to change. The President addresses Congress on the State of the Union. It is the best time of the year to project fresh vision and celebrate the victories of the previous year.

There are some practical suggestions in sermon preparation.

1.       Be Positive – Present the challenges facing the church in realistic terms, but be positive that the church can face their ’Goliaths’ as King David did. God takes ‘5’ stones, ‘5’ loaves and fishes and works miracles.

2.       Be Biblical – Ask the Holy Spirit for a passage of Scripture that is specific to your church situation and the work God is doing in your heart. The goals and vision should have scriptural support and the wording reflect those specific verses.

3.       Be Historical – Review and celebrate the story of your church in the founding, the reason for existence, and the review of the core values. Show how the vision for the New Year connects with the core values.

4.       Be Missional – Focus on people, not the programs. How will the future be defined by changed lives through the Missional outreach? This includes social outreach ministries, evangelism, and church multiplication.

5.       Be Practical – How will ‘we’ get there? Review what progress has been made toward previous goals with specific testimonials.

6.       Be Creative – Place ‘windows’ in your sermon of illustrations, someone to give a personal testimony or being interviewed by the pastor, object lessons, or a short video presentation.

This also a good time to present a redesigned brochure containing your vision, mission statement, and core values. It is important your church leadership and board members have been in dialogue with the pastor about the content of the ‘State of the Church’ sermon. Church leadership should never be ambushed with vision and ideas that have not been discussed with them and they have had the opportunity to gain ownership. Pastors should remember the laity is not there to promote and carry out the personal vision and agenda of the pastor. There must be a joint ownership of the local church ministry.

This message should be recorded and consideration made of including it as a CD in the visitor’s packet throughout the year. If the pastor writes this message in full manuscript form then it can be printed for distribution.

I strongly suggest the pastor block off a full day to be alone in prayer and Bible reading as you begins to work on this sermon. Ask God to cleanse your heart and mind from self interest so that the only the finger prints of God are on the ministry of the local church.

-Ed Williamson

 I believe we have overcome xenophobia that we are all subject to when an organization commits itself to change. For the EMC we are realizing the CSP returns us to our founders’ original vision of the congregational and connectional sacred relationships among the ministers and local churches. Combining this with two years of prayer for renewal and ‘Fresh Wind’ places each local church in a position of renewal and revival.A unique aspect of these changes is the accountability for holy living and spiritual growth among the clergy. Some pastors do not want accountability with ‘equals’ and choose to be a part of an association of independent churches. I believe the laity will appreciate the fact their pastor is in an accountability relationship to keep himself pure and holy before the Lord with other pastors. It protects the local church from abuse and will preserve their pastor’s ministry in these increasing wicked last days before the coming of Christ. The accountability is built into this one conference model.I hope you will read the documents and pray. My hope as one who firmly believes in the congregational aspects of our organization is that the one conference model will be passed at the General Conference and sent to each local church for the final ratification vote.  In light of my travels in our conferences this spring, I believe if all the local churches could attend the Conference the vote would be overwhelmingly positive.

This Effort Will Increase The EMC’s Ability To Master Change. In general, our endeavor to make changes to the EMC organization will remind us once again of the basics involved in any change process.

• We will be reminded once again that resistance to change is a given. Regardless of the need for change or the proposal put forth for change, some will immediately be against it and want things to stay just as they are. There is no way to avoid this initial reaction. We need to anticipate this reality, seeking the Lord’s wisdom as to how to respond.

(None of us is ever really prepared for that which is wholly new. It takes inordinate self-confidence to face a major change without some inner trembling. A drastic change means that we have to adjust ourselves. It calls into question our self-esteem. A major change is really a test. We have to prove ourselves all over again. Some would prefer to simply “play it safe”, no matter how damaging such inactivity may be to their future well being.)

• We will need to accept the responsibility to set up a comprehensive agenda for change. This includes making a diagnosis of the conditions that require that a change take place, defining the transition process from the old way to the new, and developing strategies and action plans for managing the new way once it is in place.

(Or, in other words, change is hard work and takes time.)

• We will need to face the possibility of faulty communications about the change. In the beginning of any change process, faulty communications tend to be widespread, often go unrecognized, and are hard to repair. Therefore we must put forth a conscious effort to avoid/minimize them. More than any other single item, faulty communications trigger unfounded fears and bitter resistance. Open, accurate communications are essential. Repetition is essential. Time is required.
• We will need to deal with the fear of the unknown. This is a common human reaction, especially so when a change is vitally needed but ill defined in the early stages. This often produces a stand-pat opposition on the basis that “the devil you know is better than the one you don’t know.” The proposed change needs to be widely distributed as soon as possible. A change should be decided on the basis of its’ actual merits.
• We will need to do everything we can to insure that all those affected will make the change their own personal view, not something imposed by others. This can be done by listing the benefits to be derived from the change. In every change process, only benefits motivate!

Benefits From Having a Unified, One-Conference Structure to the EMC

• An Easier Path. A streamlined EMC organization would work better. Communication throughout the denomination would be better. Unified planning would be less complicated. Consistency in relationship between the conference and each local congregation would be improved. Redundant layers of organization would be removed. Gathering of statistics and the processing of data  would be centralized. When right sized, the EMC would work better.
• Increased denominational unity. By reorganizing, streamlining and rightsizing the EMC into one unified conference, everyone would have ownership of the whole denomination. Everyone would have something at stake, with equal access, privileges and responsibilities. In addition, this one conference plan would improve the “connectional” side of our organization. We have done an excellent job over the years with the “congregational” aspect of the EMC, but have been less successful in connecting local churches together in fellowship and joint ministries.
•  Denominational identity. With the unified conference boards leading the way by developing comprehensive, consistent policies and action plans, we would be able to say with regard to any aspect of the denomination- “This is who the EMC is, and this is what the EMC does, anywhere in the USA.”

In other words, we would be going from “fragmented task activities” to “holistic processes.” Thinking of an example, we now have six district evangelism boards, each having a different policy and approach to the planting of new churches. With one unified evangelism board we would have one holistic policy for planting churches that would apply anywhere in America.

•  Strengthening conference leadership. The “college”/”cabinet” of conference superintendents, headed by the General Superintendent, would result in greater unity, team spirit, and mutual assistance than the “cabinet” of somewhat remote district superintendents, some part time and some full time, each having differing district involvements and constraints.
• Regional training sessions. The envisioned regions of local churches, established by geographical proximity, provide excellent settings for training sessions that can be “tailor made” to meet unique needs in specific areas around the country.

In addition, these regions would greatly reduce the travel cost in time and money for churches to function jointly. Given today’s busy schedules and high travel expenses, each local church would be encouraged to primarily team up with the churches closest to it for ministry and fellowship.

• Keeping in focus. The criticism has well been made that “in the past 40 years polity has replaced theology in many evangelical denominations.” The point is that we say things in organization/administration in order to say something else more effectively. We do things in organization/administration in order to do something else more effectively. That “something else” is the Gospel of Christ, and producing transformed lives through its’ power. To spend inordinate amounts of time, energy, and money on the administration of the church organization is essentially to be side tracked from the main objective. The unified conference plan would boldly stand against this flawed trend of our generation. “Business” would be kept to a minimum. “Joint ministry and outreach” would clearly be identified as our focus.

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What people want is evidence of the type they need to convince them that there is amandate  for organizational change in the EMC .

• Keeping current organizationally.   Beginning around the year 1989, impact-loaded social and economic trends, plus incredible technological advances, fundamentally and forever restructured organization…local, regional, national, global- the entire organizational world. Many referred to this historical development as “the re-inventing of the work place.” Essentially what occurred was the demise and elimination of middle management. Almost overnight that level of the organization had little contribution to make.  As a level of control, administration, and decision making organization Since the function of the “district conference” level of the EMC organization is increasingly time consuming, expensive and redundant, to continue to operate this way opens the door for thoughtful observers to conclude that the EMC is not serious about growth or effectiveness, especially so when better options are available.
• Non-functioning boards and committees. By streamlining and simplifying the EMC organization, there will be fewer boards and committees but each will be highly functional; comprised of skilled, committed personnel; with each having one comprehensive, consistent action plan.
•  Lack of encouragement. Some in the EMC have at times expressed the sense of being alone, and the feeling of having limited contact and fellowship in the denomination. This will be eliminated by (1) each local church relating directly to the conference headquarters regarding finances and organizational matters, and (2) by the twenty regions of local churches designed specifically for growing relationships between local congregations.

 I’ve been told that to start a revolution you need revolutionaries. To start a rebellion you need rebels. To blaze a trail for fresh vision and empowerment for the 21st century you need trailblazers.

Every local church pastor love the trailblazers who form a team with their pastor for a fresh work of the Spirit and  introduce a Missional ministry that impacts the local church community. But local churches and pastors have experienced the revolutionary who wants to throw everything of the past out including chancel furnishings and symbols. What about the ‘rebels’ who oppose every new idea and ministry of the Board of Stewards and their pastor? They create a rebellion in a congregational meeting or a ‘fifth column’ working undercover in opposition? Who is the Lord most pleased with? My answer is the trailblazer (Read 2 Chronicles 16:9). The Lord searches the earth for them.

Who does the EMC need as we pray over the Comprehensive Strategic Plan (CSP)? The answer is “Trailblazers”. The CSP is a fresh strategic plan that is neither revolutionary nor rebellious. It blazes a fresh streamlined organizational model and fresh ministry strategy for our century.

Simply stated the CSP is ‘the application of paragraphs 101 & 102 in the Discipline assigning areas (regions) to elected general superintendents for greater connectively between churches and pastors resulting in a strategic plan of church health and evangelism.” The CSP is already in the Discipline. The CSP substitutes the district conference model with the ‘one conference model’.

Indispensable to the CSP is call for a two year commitment to prayer, ‘A Fresh Wind’. I am asking every pastor and church to pray once they receive the draft from the General Council. A local church and denomination moves forward on their knees. Prayer is the lifeblood of a ‘Trailblazer’ who follows the Lord’s leading. The General Council in a unanimous vote believes we are moving under the guidance of the Lord for the EMC. Wouldn’t want your local church to earnestly pray over a unified vision and ministry plan from the Board of Stewards? I urge you to pray.

I share with you an edited and personalized copy called the ‘Winds of Change’ from the Wesleyan Department of Evangelism and Church Growth.

USA Today ran a series of articles entitled “10 Things to Absolutely, Positively Change Right Now”.
The series dealt with changes readers felt were needed in the world of sports. The articles came to several conclusions:
•Change is never easy.
•Change is best when it is meant for someone else.
•There are always people who like it better the way it was.
•Those who change tend to be more effective.
•Change that can be linked to tradition is more readily embraced.
•Change will happen.

Change whether it is in sports or the change experience the similiar journeys. Churches and church leaders tend to resist the idea of change. It is as Mason Cooley says, “I resist change even as I call for it”
(USA Today, August 27, 2004).
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Many church leaders want guarantees before they enter the change process. And, as we all know, there are no guarantees — except change. Or as the Greek philosopher Heraclites said it, “Nothing is permanent except change.”

Our hesitancy about change must not override the necessity of change. The denomination cannot remain as we are, but move toward a fostering of a Missional multiplication movement. There needs to be a rebellion against the status quo of a 30+ year organizational model of a previous century. The rebellion is not one of
adolescent agitation toward the “establishment”, but a rebellion of desperation…a desperation that understands that if we do not change we will be rendered ineffective in our century.

Yogi Berra has said, “I never blame myself when I’m not hitting. I just blame the bat. And if it keeps up, I change bats” (USA Today, August 27, 2004). It is time for the church to change bats. We call it the CSP for the Evangelical Methodist Church.

The CSP if adopted will allow consideration of the following changes.
1. Change the definition of success. Success has too long been defined as “how many at one place at one time.” The result is ministry that revolves around getting people to come to us. This is not a Missional approach. A Missional approach dictates that we go to them.
2. Change the view of church growth. A growing church is a multiplying church. Church growth should be framed in the context of ministry influence and church health, not ministry influx.
3. Change the role of tradition. Tradition should not be that which confines, but catalyzes. Our traditions provide a foundation on which to build. If possible, link what we are doing today to what happened yesterday.
4. Change the purpose of programs organization structure. Programs and organization are vehicles to achieve mission. The moment they cease to facilitate such movement, let them go. Necessity, read the SWOT analysis, must override hesitancy and fear. Faith for fresh ministry is the compass.
5. Change the perspective of change. We have to shed the attitude that to change is to compromise. Many in the church see it in this light – as if change compromises the gospel or is the beginning of denominational demise. Change keeps us sharp and in tune to the culture.
6. Change the emphasis on who needs to change. Leaders will say the church needs to change; churches will say the denomination needs to change. It is leaders who must change. What Gandhi said is very true: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” (USA Today, August 27, 2004). In the New Testament we
find no one must change in  order to hear the gospel. It is the church that must change!

Will there be Spirit led trailblazers that blaze a fresh Missional path for the Evangelical Methodist Church? Let me know if you are willing to be a praying trailblazer.

-Ed Williamson, General Superintendent

The 28th General Conference approved the report of the General Board of Evangelism which included strategies for denominational restructuring and future strategic planning for the denomination to become a Missional multiplication movement. Their report is included in the Appendices.  The General Conference also approved “the study and implementation of realignment of district conference boundaries by the General Council.”

This Comprehensive Strategic Plan (CSP) fulfills the directive of the July 2006 General Conference.  This process was approved by the 28th General Conference, July 2006.  The preparation for the birth of this CSP has seen a 12 month process.  This concept of organizational changes has been shared in written form and discussed at two different sessions of each Annual District Conference for approximately six years.

INTRODUCTION of the SWOT ANALYSIS

Lyle Schaller, in his book, A Mainline Turnaround, observed, “The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell on September 11, 2001 because they were subjected to conditions they were never equipped to bear. (They)…were designed to withstand the impact of a medium-sized aircraft carrying only a modest load of fuel and traveling at a speed of perhaps 350 miles per hour” (p. 15). The same challenges face the EMC and our sister denominations. We have not been designed to function in the challenges of the 21st Century. The challenge is to be structured to facilitate a Missional multiplication movement. “Missional” is defined as going out, not simply inviting people into the church.

A truly missional focus requires a system that embraces change, endorses flexibility in methods and acceptance of ministry stylistic differences. The highest priority is on contextual church planting available in all ethnic contexts and a local church community based ministry. Change for a Missional purpose, not change for change sake. We must be willing to adjust in order to minister in the changing face of our North America mission field.  This will make us look at the church more organically than organizationally. We must design our denomination to more easily embrace change.

We must dispel any fears that adjusting to a changing culture is the same as adapting to that culture and losing theological distinctive and biblical moorings. What are the changes we can make to become a Missional movement? To do nothing is not an option. We are proposing to streamline the denomination and empower the local church.  The plan is to reduce the organizational structure to a more efficient model.

Our Vision: The promotion of scriptural holiness as a positive message and lifestyle for our local churches and their communities with worldwide church multiplication Missional priorities.

Our Purposes:
• To provide a climate in which a movement of church multiplication emerges for the entire denomination—consistent in each conference.
• Elimination of present growth inhibitors by planting conferences with a fresh DNA infusion of vision, purpose, and multiplication.
• Constructing the models for church multiplication with flexibility for the emerging ethnic diversity and regional cultures across the USA.
• Equipping the pastors and lay people for ministry and growth in their communities.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY PREFACE

Auditing Standards/Nonprofit/Politics
• The auditing standards for nonprofits are increasingly changing requiring competency of the bookkeeper and additional ‘risk and controls’ standards.
• In the context of the war on terror the not-for-profit status may become a renewal status requiring stringent independent auditing standards for renewal.
• Following Enron, Congress passed Sarbanes–Oxley legislation. These regulations are now being applied to not-for-profit organizations.
• Tax exemption for churches and nonprofits may be challenged.

Ethnic Changes in North America
• The census bureau estimates by 2014 people of color will comprise 50 percent of ages 1-18. The nation’s minority population now tops 100 million according to the US Census Bureau estimate released May 17, 2007. That’s one in three U.S. residents.
• Hispanics remain the largest minority group, at 44.3 million, and accounted for almost half the nation’s total growth of 2.9 million from July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006.
• Non-Hispanic blacks group grew 1.1 percent to 36.7 million in 2006 from 2005.
• As Hispanics settle in areas where whites are aging and fewer are being born, they’re transforming classrooms, workplaces and entire communities.
• The non-Hispanic white school-age population grew 4% since 2000, while the number of Hispanic school-age kids surged 21%. The white under-15 population declined in all but nine states since 2000.
• The white population has shrunk in 16 states this decade, including California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
• There are 2.5 million more non-Hispanic Asians since 2000, a 24.4% increase to 12.9 million.
• The ethnic churches of the EMC are: Filipino in California, West African in North Carolina, and Hispanic churches in Idaho, North Carolina, Arizona, and Texas.

Technology
• The use of new technologies such as Pod casting and other new delivery tools of information are stretching the technology of local church ministry.
• A web presence is becoming the norm for people seeking information about the denomination and local churches.
• Local churches continue to make increasing use of the internet and email for weekly information services.
• Denominational communications are increasingly dependent upon the internet.
• Increasingly, people will expect access to everyone anywhere anytime. This includes communications with pastoral staff and church ministries.

Economics
• We are currently experiencing historic increases in the price of oil.
• The global economy is more integrated than ever, which means changes in one place will ripple quickly around the globe.
• Only 8 percent of 71 million households have incomes over $100,000.
• The cities with the greatest job growth are Las Vegas, Orlando, and West Palm Beach.
• Health care will take an increasing share of the GNP.

Societal and Cultural Changes
• The changing definition of the family such as children living with grandparents, same gender couples, unmarried co-habitation, will impact the work place and church ministries.
• The 55 and older group (Baby Boomers) is re-emerging and re-inventing itself. . “None of them think they’re old or are ever going to be old” (USA Today, 3.9.07).  Previous definitions of ‘Senior Adult’ will be inadequate for the 21st century. Ministries will need to be more ‘youth oriented’ than traditional senior adult ministries.
• Persons over 55 are not transient. Retirees are no longer moving to Arizona or Florida. “Only 5% of people over 55 move in any given year, and of those, half stay in the same county and three-fourths in the same state…” (USA Today, 3.9.07).
• Persons over 55 are working past the ‘typical’ retirement age. Most of their life has been one of quality. They will not settle for a below average ministry for those 55-plus. Ministry with excellence must be the norm.
• Active retirement communities for 55 and older are a new phenomena and on a fast track. It is estimated that “Homebuilders will start construction on 145,000 homes in 55-plus communities this year…” (USA Today, 3.9.07)
• High School graduates will peak in 2009 at 3.2 million young people. Today there are 33 million teenagers with only 4% projected to be evangelical believers. Compare this to 35% evangelical adults in the present Baby Boomer generation. This is a 31% decrease.
• Ninety per cent of all people who come to Christ do so before the age of twenty.

SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
• Commitment to the Scriptures as divinely inspired, inerrant, and the rule of faith and practice. A strong biblical heritage for orthodoxy.
• Commitment to the teaching and preaching of entire sanctification as a positive experience where the heart is cleansed from self-centeredness.
• Commitment to global evangelization from the founding of the denomination of 1946. EMC personnel are represented in 27 countries around the world.
• A stewardship of the scriptural vision of John Wesley and Francis Asbury’s for Methodists in America.
• A positive atmosphere of growth with clearly articulated Missional priorities.
• A Cabinet of Superintendents with the ministry experience, commitment to kingdom growth, and an emerging team concept.
• An encouragement for the growth in the last eight years has been a functioning office of the General Superintendent and a commitment by the Cabinet of Superintendents to act and function as a team.
• A modest, but growing EMC endowment.

WEAKNESSES
• A declining denomination as we entered the 21st century had produced a negative self image. The denomination experienced a decline of -37.6% in membership; -45.8% in worship attendance; -40.7% in conversions; -25.2% in churches from 1976-1999.
• In 1976 there were 140 congregations with 10,502 members. The composition was 59 churches with less than 50 members; 41 churches with 50 to 100 members; 12 with 100 to 125 members; 12 churches with 125 to 150 members. The decline is greater if the starting point is 1968 with 151 churches.  (See graph, Appendix 5)
• Superintendents and pastors lacking expertise and training in goal setting, development of vision and mission statements, and skills in strategic planning.
• Boards of Ministerial Relations using differing standards for pastoral candidacy for entrance into the ministry.
• Independent minded pastors, lacking commitment to the denomination and Discipline, encouraging local churches to withdraw from their conference.
• Lack of understanding of the ‘connectional’ aspect of the denominational structure. This is seen in the fear of ‘centralization’ at the general level.
• An unwillingness to surrender to what has been our historical administrative structure for what is best for the Kingdom through the EMC.
• An urgent question facing the EMC in these days, and has been for several years is, what to do with middle management ministry. Missional Priorities and denominational programs such as Pastor’s continuing education and credentialing the Pastors School set by the General Conference are sometimes non-existent in a district.
•  Instead of the ability to bring a unified vision through a one conference concept, every district superintendent created individual visions for their conference. The result was a ‘silo’ management structure that isolated superintendents and districts into separate entities. The connectional aspect of the church was minimized. There was no unified vision or Missional priorities.
 

OPPORTUNITIES
• A Wesleyan coalition of networking holiness denominations in resources and personnel.
• Hamblen-Bruner endowment annual interest income has created financial stability and a stream of funding for USA church multiplication and global evangelism in Mexico and Myanmar.
• The opportunity to proclaim and live out the scriptural message of holiness in our local churches at a time when interest in holy living is increasing.
• Marketing the positive congregation connectional structure of the denomination that is appealing to American Christians, particularly the security of doctrinal soundness without drifting and the local church property held in trust by the congregation trustees.
• Opportunities through the web and technology to market the EMC.
• A positive atmosphere of growth. From 1999 to 2005 the denomination has experienced movement from decline to growth with +9.3% membership growths; worship +14.8%; conversions +16.5%; churches +1.0%. The denomination is poised to focus on adding new churches. The focus for improving the health of the local church has been modestly successful as reflected in the percentages.
• A further encouragement for growth is the instruction in and the proper operation of the “congregational and connectional” (par. 61) system of church government. What have we learned? Answer: Local churches and pastors began to understand the Discipline guidelines and operate with a unified procedure. This has eliminated some conflicts and growth inhibitors.
• The resolve and ability to deliver the greatest ministry impact of support for our local churches and our pastors.

THREATS
• Retreating from changing of the present organizational model/structure and not maintaining the growth patterns since 1999. This could result in a plateau by 2010.
• A structure that was created after 30 years of history in 1976 and now 30+ years later requires something different.  The present structure served the EMC to the end of the last century, a new structure is necessary for this century.
• A sense of being alone for pastors and churches who receive very limited contact and fellowship from the superintendents, fellow pastors, and other local churches. This is especially true of churches which are on the fringe areas of a district conference and have more contact with the district conference membership in the adjacent conference. This is due to geography and cultural affinity, e.g. being more mid-western than eastern or southern.
• The proposed legislation of government review and more stringent requirements for renewal of nonprofit status in the near future will most likely include financial auditing. Such nationally mandated auditing standards for “nonprofit” organizations are forcing significant changes by the General Board of Finance for all conference levels to meet the same standards. A key requirement is a person with competency in accounting practices to meet the auditing standards. This adjustment will require organizational changes. The advice from the auditors is immediate actions toward full compliance for all the standards.
• In 1976 only a portion of the restructure plan was adopted, the change from two annual conferences to seven districts. Instead of adopting a recommended Board of Superintendents, the office of General Superintendent was weakened, diluted, and redefined. What has been the effect of this structure? Solo management styles among the superintendents in each district. Instead of a denomination, an association mindset made inroads so we became seven separate denominations which we labeled as districts.
• General Council members becoming sectarian in their leadership that focuses on the district in which they serve above the needs and vision for the entire denomination.
• Loss of theological identification by society. Theology is becoming less important to church people.
• The young adult generations, baby busters and Mosaics (multi-cultural), are leaders in pursuit of new models of faith and expression. Within the next five years they will boldly introduce a flood of unique expressions of faith that will cause heightened tensions with the older generations of believers. (The Barna Group)
• The percent of adults who say they are Christian is dropping about one percent per year. (The Barna Group)
• Churches across America have de-emphasized Bible teaching. (The Barna Group) Increasingly American Christians are biblically illiterate. The younger a person is, the less they understand about the Christian faith. (The Barna Group)
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 The superintendents’ concerns are the same as yours for close fellowship among the churches and pastors, access to a superintendent, and maintaining the type of Pastors’ Retreats, Pastors’ Schools, and Indian Cave Youth Camp that have proven productive and vital to the ministry. I hope to share more with you later in the month on the ‘Fresh Wind’ two year prayer emphases that Loretta Williamson and Leona Zehr have prepared for the EMC

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.