Sound Bites from the Superintendent
General Douglas MacArthur and a highly decorated admiral representing the Imperial Forces met on the deck of the battleship Missouri to bring about the surrender of Japan in WWII. As the ceremony came to the actual moment of surrender, the admiral extended his hand in the familiar gesture of friendship and peace, but the general refused to take it. Sternly he said, "Sir, your sword first, please." Then when the admiral handed over his sword, MacArthur grasped the Japanese officer’s hand. Why? Because the formal disarming of the enemy was the symbol of surrender. Until the weapon was handed over, the hostilities had not formally ceased.

Mark Your Calendar!
Multi-Site Church Conference, January 14-15, 2008
Don't miss the opportunity to hear from Larry Osborn, senior pastor of North Coast Church EFCA in Vista, CA, when he comes to Constance EFC January 14-15, 2008, to speak on Multi-Site Churches.  Larry will give us definition, direction, how to implement principles, and allow plenty of breakout times for Q & A.  Bring your staff and leadership team to learn together.  We are limiting this to North Central District churches only for you to get maximum personal interaction with Pastor Larry.  Click here for a brochure with conference schedule and registration form.  Learn all that you can about his movement that is sweeping the country.  "I want to encourage all of you to make the time to get to this conference. Our presenter, Larry Osborne is one of the best consultants around not to mention the (grand) father of the multi-venue, multi-site movement. Every session is designed so that each of us will have some very practical take-aways to help us in our local kingdom advance. You will receive great value whether you are currently considering multi-site or multi-venue in your local situation. Our staff has profited greatly with every interaction with Larry and so will you!" - Randy Discher, senior pastor, Constance EFC

Student Ministries Network Coming to a Location Near You!
NCD Student Ministries has started de-centralizing our monthly network meetings. Previously, all youth workers would travel to the Twin Cities once a month for prayer support, encouragement, Iron Sharpens Iron, and networking. We will still host a metro meeting at First EFC in Maplewood the first Tuesday of every month at 9:00 a.m., and all are welcome to attend that meeting. However, we will now have seven meetings around the state that happen once a month at various locations and on various days. Networking is one of the Student Ministry Team's core values, and we desire that every church in the NCD know that they have a resource contact in their area.  Check out this pdf to see who your contact is!  Please email Pam Buchanan or call Jamie Buchanan at the NCD office at 612-338-1716 if you have any questions about networking in your area. We want to help you create the healthiest student ministry possible in your local church!

Antioch Initiative Update
The Antioch Initiative is a strategy for the development of ministry leaders among young generations. We’ve recently explored new opportunities for the contacting and recruiting of potential leaders. This has been successful particularly among several Christian colleges. We’re also working to establish and promote various pathways for leadership development. These pathways include short-term urban mission opportunities for summer 2008, as well as various internship opportunities for college and post-college young adults. Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." As we strive toward a culture of leadership development, join us in asking the Lord to raise up workers for His harvest. Please contact Andy O’Rourke with questions or for additional information.

Pastors Need Prayer, Too!
Pastor, do you have a team of trustworthy people praying for you?  If you can honestly answer, "yes," great!  Now, how have you requested your prayer team pray for you?  Have you asked them to pray that the Lord merely change the circumstances that challenge you, or have you instructed your prayer team to pray that God challenge and change you in your circumstances?  God wants to change you and me so that we will be change agents in our circumstances.  Prayer teams will be the pastoral care emphasis for 2008.  Click on Pastoral Care Prayer teams to read more, or contact Jim.

For God's Sake Rest!
Over 1,000 copies of Jim Anderson's book For God’s Sake, Rest! Discovering the Pleasure of His Rest are in circulation (sold or given).  Check out www.productiverest.org to order your copy today!  You may also purchase the book through Next Step Resources.

Sabbath Retreats
Isn't it time you attended one?!?  The next Sabbath retreat is scheduled for December 3-4 at Timber Bay Retreat Center. Pastors, you will want to take or send your church leaders to this retreat. Click here for more information or email Jim Anderson.

Pastor's Teaching Conference Highlights
Our 2007 Pastor's Teaching Conference Money and the Minister, featuring speaker Brian Kluth, was a refreshing and challenging time.  Around 80 pastors and leaders were challenged through scripture in areas of stewardship, generosity, financial planning, and church finances among other money related issues.  Two helpful resources offered by Brian were his booklets A 40 Day Journey to a More Generous Life and The Christian Planning Guide for Getting Your House in Order, both available on his website www.kluth.org.  CDs of the conference are also available to purchase from the district office.  Contact Ardie via email or at 612-338-1716 if you are interested. Other activities at PTC included a workshop on sexual purity and the opportunity to give a little back to Camp Shamineau with a couple of work projects.  Click here for pictures of the work project and to read a comprehensive overview of PTC click here for a PDF document.

Peacemaker Training
Zimmerman EFC will be hosting basic and advanced level training in Biblical principles of resolving interpersonal conflict. A team from Peacemaker® Ministries will be leading this training on March 13-15, 2008. Training will be offered in conflict coaching and in mediation. Mediation training brings to life the principles and concepts learned in Conflict Coaching (counseling one party) and develops the skills and introduces the processes for reconciling two or more people who cannot resolve conflict on their own.  This training, provided by experienced conciliators, gives special attention to communication and problem-solving skills that are needed for effective mediation. This event is designed to encompass both Conflict Coaching and Mediation training; however, you may sign up to take the Conflict Coaching portion only.  You may take the mediation portion only if you have previously completed Conflict Coaching. More info, including cost and registration info, is available at by clicking here. We strongly encourage pastors and lay leaders to attend this training. It is an excellent resource for dealing with conflict in the church (proactively as well as remedially!), and this event brings the training closer to home geographically. Take advantage of it.

Family & Children's Ministries
Does your church need fresh ideas or effective training opportunities to help make your family and children's ministries more effective?  Contact the NCD representative to the EFCA National Family & Children's Ministry Council, Julie Andersen (Director of Children's Ministries, Trinity EFC, Lakeville) for information on networking within your region, training seminars planned for the 2007-2008 school year for children's ministry workers, and for consulting on family and children's ministry issues.  Julie can be reached via email by clicking here.

What is a CPO??
CPO coming to a church near you!  A Church Planting Overview seminar will address topics of why plant churches, principles and strategies for reproduction, disciplemaking, and more.  Each CPO seminar is Friday evening 6:00-9:00 and Saturday 8:00-3:00.  Join us Nov. 16-17 at Hope Community Church, Minneapolis, January 25-26 at Calvary EFC in Rochester and at The Lighthouse Church in Hackensack in Janaury/Feburary (exact date yet to be determined).  For more information about CPOs click here, or contact Bob Nieuwendorp or Dan Moose if your church would be interested in hosting a CPO.

Gospel in Action - "Uttermost Parts"
Get in on the ground floor of an effort to come alongside Liberian nationals to rebuild their homeland, which was ravaged by fourteen years of civil war. Constance EFC is taking the lead on phase 1 construction of a mission compound in Liberia, in conjunction with Hope Tabernacle EFC of Robinsdale. Lord willing, plans include construction of a school, a clinic, and a ministry training center, over the next few years. The needs and opportunities are overwhelming and resources are extremely limited. If you are looking to adopt a region where holistic ministry is being coupled with aggressive evangelism and church planting, you are urged to contact the local coordinators by clicking here.

Feature Church
We are pleased to feature Pastor Randy Discher and Constance EFC of Andover as they partner with us to provide a unique opportunity for you and your leaders.  Besides hosting the Multi-site Church Conference, Pastor Randy and his staff team have historically been a wonderful example and willing resource to other congregations throughout the NCD on matters of strategic planning, governance, infrastructure, community ministry, and many more facets of becoming a healthier church. Check them out for yourselves at www.constancefree.org.   Looking forward to seeing you in January at the multi-site conference!

It's never too early...
Start planning now to attend our annual District Conference, April 14-15, 2008, hosted by Calvary EFC in Rochester, MN.  Author and pastor Dr. Jan Hettinga will be our speaker.  Watch for more details and registration information in the next issue of Zipline, on our website, and via email from the NCD.  You won't want to miss out!

Dates to Remember...
November 16-17, 2007    CPO at Hope Community Church, Minneapolis, MN

December 3-4, 2007    Sabbath Retreat at Timber Bay Retreat Center

January 14-15, 2008    Multi-Site Church Conference with Larry Osborn, Constance EFC, Andover, MN

January 23-25, 2008    Mid-Winter Ministerial in Albuquerque, MN

January 25-26, 2008    CPO at Calvary Evangelical Free Church, Rochester, MN

March 13-15, 2008    Peacemaker Training at Zimmerman EFC, in Zimmerman, MN

April 14-15, 2008    North Central District Conference at Calvary Evangelical Free Church, Rochester, MN

April 25-28, 2008    Student Ministries Conference in Rochester, MN

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

In His grip,
Tom Mouw
ncd @ ncdefca.org