We would like to welcome you to our first edition of Zipline for the North Central District!  We hope that you will find this a useful tool for learning what is happening across the state of Minnesota in the Evangelical Free Church.  Since this is our first edition, there will surely be typos, broken links, etc., our apologies!  Here is a little challenge for you, whoever can find the most errors will get a $10 giftcard to Caribou Coffee.  Just email your findings to sara @ncdefca.org.  We'll announce the winner in our next edition!

Sound Bites from the Superintendent
The Zipline and an updated website (http://ncdefca.org/index.asp) are our latest efforts to upgrade communication with local churches and leaders in the NCD. Please check out the website, especially the Stories tab, which contains testimonies and my video message at our annual conference, as well as the Calendar, containing important dates and events. You’ll also find our Home page, and much more on our 20/20 vision, Church-based Training, Church Planting, Pastoral Care, Placement, Credentialing, Student Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Senior Adults, and more.  We hope you'll check it out!

Church Planting News
What an exciting time in the North Central District for church planting!  We continue to have new plants multiplying by planting new churches themselves.  Cornerstone EFC of Pipestone will be planting in Edgerton, Hutchinson EFC will be planting in Glencoe, and Harvest Community Church in Sauk Centre is currently building a core team to plant in Albany.  Trinity EFC of Plainview will be planting in Wabasha as well.  Our ethnic plants in Willmar, Austin, Fairmont, Monticello, St. Paul, Brooklyn Center and Robbinsdale all continue to experience conversion growth.  If you would like more information about church planting please contact our Director of Church Planting Bob Nieuwendorp at bob @ncdefca.org.

Pastors mark your calendars...
This year's Pastors Teaching Conference will be held October 16-17 at Camp Shamineau.  The theme this year is "Overwhelmed or Overcoming?"  Our speaker this year will be David Hansen, senior pastor of Kenwood Baptist Church in Cincinnati and author of Loving the Church You Lead,  The Art of Pastoring, and Long Wandering Prayer.  Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to discuss the important topic of thriving in ministry amidst its demands and snares with David.  To learn more about David check out his bio on the Kenwood website by clicking here.

Welcome to NCD Staff Andy O'Rourke!
We are excited to welcome Andy O'Rourke to the North Central District Staff to fill the role of 20/20 Vision Implementer.  Andy joins us from Hope Community Church in Glenwood, MN where he served as the church planter/senior pastor since 2001.  A graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Andy has participated in Transforming Ministries, and has experience mentoring, coaching and training leaders.  He is looking forward to his new ministry within the district and working together with the local churches to make an eternal impact for Christ and his kingdom!  Andy, wife Sara, and daughter Ava will be making the transition to the Twin Cities area this summer.  (Want to buy a house near Glenwood?  Here is one for sale... click here!)

Need to take a Sabbath Rest?
The next Sabbath Retreat is scheduled for August 28-29 at Timber Bay Lodge east of Mille Lacs Lake.  There will also be a Sabbath Retreat offered in the Rochester area November 13-14.  For more information regarding Sabbath Retreats contact Jim Anderson at productiverest @integraonline.com or check out the Pastoral Care page on our web site by clicking here.  To read a pastoral encouragement article from Jim click here for the pdf file.

Attention:  Women who need a break (isn't that ALL women??)...
Plan on joining us at the 2006 Women's Fall retreat at Camp Shamineau September 15-17.  We welcome back with us speaker Barbara Francis, who will be speaking to us from Philippians 3:10 on the theme of "Deeper Still."  Come ready to enjoy fellowship, relaxation, a break from your routine, and great food, all with no one to clean up after!  Thanks to host church Pine City EFC for all of their work for this event!  For more information or registration forms contact Judy Glaze at 651-222-2280 or Diane Peach at 651-296-5380.

Pastor’s Personal Retreat / Study Day...
Summer is a great time to begin to renew your practice of a personal retreat day and/or study day. If you’ve never set a day apart or just gotten out of the rhythm, commit a date on your calendar now. Our denominational camps already offer their facilities for this purpose. For those of us in the metro or E Central MN, here’s another option: Bundy Hall in Menomonie, WI (40 mi. east of Hudson) is offering One Free Day of facility usage. Call 715-235-7761 or email bundyhall@hotmail.com, and mention you saw it in the NCD Zipline.

Peacemaker Conference
We consider these Biblical principles to be about wholesome, authentic relationships in the church, as much as they’re about reconciliation. These priceless resources will never be more convenient than this year’s conference in Bloomington, MN, September 21-23 (Note: pre-conference training, 9/18-20). This rich content will benefit every church that attends, not just those experiencing conflict. Go to www.Hispeace.org for registration and schedule information. Your Superintendent highly recommends the investment!

Are you looking for a good read??
Then check out this new release!  Last year's speaker at Pastors Teaching Conference, John Ensor, has recently finished the revision of his book Experiencing God's Forgiveness (NavPress, 1997).  It is now titled The Great Work of the Gospel: How We Experience God's Grace (Crossway, 2006).  It is available at NextStep Resources (800-444-BOOK).  To learn more about John and his ministry click here.

Featured Church
Willmar EFC was recently recognized at the District conference this past May for being a reproducing church.  Willmar has partnered with plants in Hutchinson and Redwood Falls, and has a daughter church in Olivia.  Willmar is also planting soon in the Spicer/New London area, while continuing to add growth at home.  Pastor Brooke Solberg is currently the interim pastor.  To learn more about Willmar EFC check out their website by clicking here.

Dates to Remember...
September 14  CCBT (Center For Church-based Training) Seminar at Maple Grove EFC
Questions contact Mark Schmitke mark@lakecommunitychurch.com

September 18-19  Senior Adults Fall Retreat at Camp Shamineau
Questions contact Tim Johnson timothy.johnson1@worldnet.att.net

For a more complete listing, click here for the NCD website calendar.

In His grip,
Tom Mouw
ncd @ncdefca.org