oct 2010 family newsletter, northeastern district christian and missionary alliance
TRANSCRIPT
As we enter another annual Pastor's Appreciation Month, I want to express my great appreciation, admiration and respect for all the pastors and other official workers (and your spouses) of the Northeastern District. Your faithful service and ministry to the Lord, His church and the District is appreciated more than I can ade-quately express. My hope is that you will know from the congregations you serve that they also are appreciative of your love and faithfulness to them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was blessed in the churches I served to know throughout the year that I, and my ministry along with Elaine’s, were strongly supported and appreciated throughout the year. It made for a wonderful partnership between pastor and people. My prayer is that each of you enjoys that kind of relationship with the congregations you serve. May the expressions of appreciation you receive this month be indicators of a healthy and mutual respect you enjoy throughout the year. Blessings to you and your spouses.
I am writing this from a weeklong vacation with my son as we enjoy a long-dreamed of fishing trip in Montana together. It's great to be here with him. For the remainder of my article, I am sending along the most recent C&MA Headlines from the National Office. As you read and share them with your churches, join me in praising the Lord for His faithfulness and blessing.
Development welcomes Darren and Marilyn Rurup, retired missionaries, who will be
volunteering in Archives and CM for the next six months. A major blessing! Doug Wick’s excellent article in Outcomes magazine on being a Kingdom connector. The Pacific Northwest District is seeing some significant success in the implementation of
a “proactive” intervention program for official workers with “personal issues.” Daybreak Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania has successfully launched a satellite
site at a Holiday Inn. After two weeks the attendance is leveling off at 230 people with several staff members from the hotel attending the service!
Rebuilding work continues in Haiti with damaged churches and communities. C&MA workers are reaching out to both the churched and unchurched with help and reconstruction aid.
All seminar speakers for Council have confirmed. U.S. Alliance is sending delegates to Cape Town, South Africa, 2010 next month. The
Alliance will be part of this follow-up to the Lausanne Conference. More than 4,000 leaders, most of them from the global south, will participate. The purpose is to discern the best way forward to see Christ’s mission accomplished, especially as more and more cross-cultural workers from the global south get involved in missions. The U.S. Alliance delegates will be Chris Braun, Ron Julian, and Bob Fetherlin.
Alliance Benefits new Web site rolled out. New MyCMA site launched.
Keep looking up,
Dan
Thoughts from Dan
VOLUME 9 ISSUE 10
The Northeastern District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance; 6275 Pillmore Drive; Rome, NY 13440 Phone 315-336-4720 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nedcma.org
Northeastern District Family Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Church Health/Multiplication Northeastern District Staff Clergy Appreciation Month
2
District Items of Interest District Calendar District Directory Updates
3
Parsonage to Parsonage Ordination/Consecration In-service Training
4
Evangelism Minute Pulpit Supply Rekindle the Flame
5
OCTOBER 2010
“RINGS OF CHANGE” Recently, I have been reminded about necessary changes. I married the girl next door 26 years ago, but some 20 years prior, she and her family moved into the rural neighborhood on Route 7 when her parents bought a parcel of land from the Martin Family Farm in Northeast Ohio. As part of the landscape, they planted two small pine trees in the front yard - not really anticipating the height they would grow nor the eventual electric line entanglements. Following year’s of delicate pruning and a sparkly fire, the electric company finally cut down both trees. Wow, what a huge change! The unattractive large electric pole that used to be engulfed by the large pine tree is now fully exposed. The U-Turn instantly became more functional. And the front lawn is a bit bare. It seems that few people anticipate or welcome change. Yet with the four seasons, could that be God’s object lesson to help us move on in life and cope better with change? Being challenged in seeing certain colors, this year’s fall foliage seems different. The vibrant red leaves are catching my attention. God is a change agent. He transforms lives. Recently, Debra and I were visiting a church plant and a new family to the community shared with us the change the Lord had made in their lives. The Lord had so transformed their family that each child was given a “new” name. The age rings in the pine logs at my in-law’s lawn indicated that those trees indeed changed over time. What about us and our walk with the Lord. Are we pretty much the same Christian we were last year, the year before, five years
ago or even ten? Are we seeking the Holy Spirit to be our teacher? Do we regularly depend on Him and eagerly wait for Him to lead us? Has our quiet time become precious to us? Or are the “rings” of our life almost on top of each other, with little or no space between because if we are honest with ourselves and to the Lord, we have not seen much spiritual grown in our walk with the Lord from one year to the next. God desires that we change that pattern. If we are not changing, growing, maturing spiritually, how will His church make a difference and impact a world that so desperately needs to see Jesus. Natural Church Development conveys this thought about “Painful Urgency” “Change rarely happens without painful urgency and a holy dissatisfaction with the status quo” Change Dynamics:
Healthy churches grow Growing churches change Change forces us to trust God, Trust leads to obedience, Obedience makes us healthy Healthy churches grow and reproduce!
For a Healthier Today and Tomorrow, JON
Page 2
District Superintendent Rev. Daniel D. Miller
Director of Church Health and
Multiplication Rev. Jon A. Martin District Business
Manager/Bookkeeper Mr. Frank E. Whiting
Administrative Assistant/ Executive Secretary to the
District Superintendent Mrs. Tracy M. Murphy
Church Health and Multiplication
Administrative Assistant Mrs. Debra A. Martin
Church Health and Multiplication Northeastern District
Office Staff
Page 2
To every pastor, other official worker and spouse in the Northeastern District, we say “THANK YOU”
from the District Office staff. Please know that you are deeply appreciated and highly revered for your
sacrificial and faithful service not only in October but all year long. Of course your greatest reward will be when you hear those cherished words of our Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Enter into
the joy of your lord.” Matthew 25:21
Clergy Appreciation Month
District Items of Interest
Northeastern District Family Newsletter
Articles for the November Newsletter should be sent to
[email protected] by Monday, October 25, 2010
Looking for Pastors or Interim Pastors in NY
Arcade, Corning, Frewsburg, Geneva,
Port Crane, Schenectady Walton and Whitesville
Looking for Assistant or Associate Pastors in NY
Kingston, Oswego, and Syracuse
Page 3
With Deepest Sympathy: Mrs. Dolores J.
(Harold D., Sr.) Schlaegel Wife of Former District Pastor
and Former DLBCC Staff August 31, 2010
Membership Certificate Orders Please contact Debra at the
District Office 315-336-4720 ext. 204 [email protected]
OCTOBER 12 Ordination/Consecration In-Service Training
(Continuing Ed), DLBCC, 10:00 AM-3:30 PM 19 LO&CC Mtg., District Office, 10:00 AM 21 Missions Comm. Mtg., District Office, 10:00 AM 25 Newsletter Items Due at District Office 26 CMTeam Mtg., District Office, 10:00 AM 26 DEXCOM Agenda Items Due at District Office NOVEMBER 9 DEXCOM Meeting, District Office, 10:00 AM 11 Evangelism Comm. Teleconference, 3:00 PM 13-17 Dist. Superintendents Conf. Colorado Springs, CO 13-17 Engage ’10 (Dist. Youth Point Person Conf.) Colorado Sp. 22 Newsletter Items Due at District Office 25-26
Rochester/New Life Web Site (page 6): nlbc.us Ticonderoga [email protected] Troy [email protected] Rev. David M. Prahst [email protected]
In Transition Rev. Timothy B. Kong
to Leave of Absence
Rev. Daniel J. Richter to Unassigned
Mr. Andrew J. Schuh to Unassigned
Directory Updates
District Calendar
Northeastern District and Prayer Conference Monday – Wednesday March 28 – 30, 2011
Oswego Alliance Church 371 Thompson Rd., Oswego, NY
The new District web site has been up and running for a few
months now. This tool is a wonderful resource for your use. Items such as our District Church Directory, Church Health and
Multiplication forms and resources, Continuing Education forms, District Newsletters, District Events Calendar, Alliance Women’s
Ministry, Alliance Men, District Committees, plus much more. Please take some time to check it out.
Reminder: Along with the new District web site are new e-mail addresses for the District Office Team.
Office [email protected] Rev. Daniel D. Miller [email protected] Rev. Jon A. Martin [email protected] Mr. Frank E. Whiting [email protected] Mrs. Debra A. Martin [email protected] Mrs. Tracy M. Murphy [email protected]
District Web Site: nedcma.org
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We are currently in the process of preparing the District Directory for 2011. If you have any revisions for the Directory it would be
greatly appreciated if you would please send them to [email protected] at your earliest convenience. Thank you!
Reports to DEXCOM (District Committees, etc.)
and other items for DEXCOM consideration must be received at the
District Office at least two weeks before scheduled DEXCOM meetings in
order to be placed on their Agenda. It is very important to have information to Tracy Murphy ([email protected])
by October 26 for the November 9 DEXCOM meeting.
Welcome Mr. Gary A. and
Rebecca M. Croniser, II Assistant Pastor
Poughkeepsie, NY [email protected]
Mr. Lucas J. and Heidi P. Ankeny
Assistant Pastor/Church Planter (District Directory “Other”) 8451 Rollercoaster Drive
Cicero, NY 13039 509-393-0383
Parsonage to Parsonage
Page 4
October 12, 2010 10:00 AM—3:15 PM
Delta LBCC, Lower Level Rome, NY
A cordial invitation is extended to all District Official Workers and spouses to attend this training which quali-fies for Continuing Education credit. 9:30 AM – Registration; coffee, beverages, light snacks at Delta Café 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Dealing with Demonic Issues in the Church 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Dealing with Demonic Issues in the Church/with Rev. Bruce W. Guckelberg, Ph.D. 12:15 PM – Lunch 1:00 PM – 3:15 PM – The Pastor and C&MA Missions/GCF with Rev. Jonathan D. Philbrick Lunch and snacks will be provided at Delta at $10.00 per person. For provisional official workers and those preparing for ordination or consecration, and their spouses who attend, lunch/snacks are compliments of the District. Provisional official workers who choose to attend will receive In-Service Training credit towards their future ordination requirements. Please send the name of each attendee and $10.00 (if applicable) to the District Office (payable to Northeastern District/C&MA). For further information: 315-336-4720, Ext. 201 or [email protected]
Page 4
THE PASTOR’S WIFE There is one person in our Church
Who knows our Pastor’s life. Who weeps and smiles and
prays with Him, And that’s the Pastor’s wife!
The crowd has seen him in his strength,
While bearing God’s Sharp Sword As underneath God’s banner’s folds
He faced the devil’s horde.
But deep within her heart she knows That scarce an hour before
She helped him pray the glory down Behind the closet door!
She heard him groaning in his soul
When bitter raged the strife. As, hand in hand she knelt with him,
For she’s the Pastor’s Wife.
You tell your tales of Preachers brave Who marched across the world
And changed the course of history By burning words they hurled
And I will tell how back of each
Some woman lived her life Who wept with him and smiled with him,
She was the Pastor’s Wife!
Author Unknown
I know what it is like to cry with your man. I know there are nights you don’t sleep because your Pastor husband beside you is tossing and turning and sweating in agony over unresolved
church conflict. I know there are times you pray for your children until you have no words left. I know there are times you have trouble and you feel so
alone unable to share your heart with anyone. Those are the dark days in the parsonage.
I also know there are days when SON shines through the Parsonage windows. Who can fathom
the joy of lost sheep being found because your husband preached a life-saving message? How awesome of God to provide for your needs
over and above what you asked or imagined. What satisfaction knowing God uses you and your
husband to care for His Flock, to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice.
Could anything be more meaningful than leading the lost to eternity? It’s worth it.
Your life and your ministry matter.
I found this poem which I felt describes life in the parsonage pretty well. On this Clergy
Appreciation Month, I salute you and thank you for your sacrifices for His Kingdom.
You are appreciated and loved by both Dan and me. Blessed October!
May your harvest baskets be full. Elaine
Ordination/Consecration In-service Training
Page 5 Page 5
Evangelism Minute This month I am responsible for submitting the “Evangelism Min-ute” to the newsletter. However, I want to ask you this question:
Are you willing to give evangelism more than one minute? I have to be honest, as pastors and Christian workers,
evangelism is something that we talk a lot about, but is it something that we do a lot about? As the Christian and
Missionary Alliance we are all about “The Great Commission”. As you well know, “The Great Commission” was Jesus’ last instruction to His disciples, and to the Church, where Jesus instructs us to do two things: 1 “Go” and 2 “make disciples”.
Notice that both of those commands require action! We are not instructed to simply talk about evangelism, we are instructed to “Go” and share the gospel, whether that is around the world or around the corner. As pastors and leaders of God’s Church
we must lead. We should be the ones to set the example for the people who have been placed by God’s sovereignty in our care. It is easy for many of us to stand behind a pulpit and talk about evangelism, but are you personally involved in evangelism? If
you want people in the church that you serve to have a heart for lost people, and if you want them to care about evangelism, the best place to start is with yourself. If you care about lost people,
and if you care about evangelism, and if you consistently tell people about the “glorious gospel” of Jesus Christ it will be
contagious. We are the leaders, let’s lead! Charles Spurgeon once said, “If sinners be condemned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of
our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and un-prayed for.” We are the people who can warn them, we are the people who
should pray for them. Do you care enough to do something about it? Keith Wilson ,Delhi Alliance Church
Rev. David A. Wheatley, Jr. 239 Hamilton Drive, Delhi, NY 13753; 607-746-3601 [email protected]
Rev. Thomas Young – 7 Reservoir Dr., Queensbury, NY 12804 518-792-0057; [email protected]
Rev. Timothy P. Armstrong PO Box 69, Wellsville, NY 14895 585-593-4862 [email protected]
Rev. Michael D. Brady 22 S. Highland Ave., Wellsville, NY 14895-1416 Cell: 585-808-0099; [email protected]
Rev. James C. Bruinsma 95 Academy St., Mexico, NY 13114 315-963-2097; [email protected]
Rev. Wayne A. Cole PO Box 115, Nelliston, NY 13410; 518-993-3763 [email protected]
Rev. Maurice R. Irvin, Ph.D. 816 Foxboro Drive, Norwalk, CT 06852 859-229-1599; [email protected]
Mr. Ed Kenerson 25 Wabash St., Kenmore, NY 14217 716-873-2605; [email protected]
Rev. David E. Lewis PO Box 1934, 487 Mississagua St. Niagara-on-the-lake, ON, CANADA LOS 1J0 905-468-1361; [email protected]
Rev. Robert C. Lindsey (Summer) Delta Lake Bible Conference Center 6420 Pillmore Dr., Rome, NY 13440 315-336-3771; [email protected]
Rev. Jack L. Murphy 12 Kings Mills Rd., Gansevoort, NY 12831 518-796-0309; [email protected]
Rev. Gerald M. Myers 41 N. Amherst Ave., Schenectady, NY 12304 518-377-9409; [email protected]
Rev. Gerald A. Peterson 2289 Rt. 62, Kennedy, NY 14747 716-569-2936
Rev. Donald W. Propert 187 W. Main St., Angelica, NY 14709 585-466-3450; [email protected]
Rev. Roger G. Stewart 4128 Abby Rd, Syracuse, NY; 315-345-4114 [email protected]
Rev. James A. Wells 83 Ellistown Rd., Lot 4, Waverly, NY 14892 607-565-2645; [email protected]
Pulpit Supply
Mars Alliance Church
just outside of Pittsburg, PA
November 9–11, 2010 hosted by the
Western Pennsylvania
District.
For more information please visit
www.rekindletheflame.net Upcoming Gatherings Or call: Lynette Norris
Gathering Administrator 814-938-6920