North Central District Annual Conference, April 15-17, 2007

Sound Bites from the Superintendent
One of Peacemaker® Ministries’ advanced level trainers offered us this metaphor at the close of our mediation training last fall: “Conflict is to the Body of Christ what inflammation is to the human body.  There’s mounting evidence that chronic inflammation is responsible for many life threatening diseases, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, adult onset diabetes, and even cancer (just Google ‘inflammation’ for volumes of medical information generated in recent years).  There are proven measures (such as diet and exercise) that can be implemented to be preventative and/or remedial.   By God’s grace, let’s make it our mission to increase the health of the Body by effectively addressing conflict with Biblical, gospel-centered resources (Peacemaker Ministries).”  Our district conference will heighten your awareness and introduce you to some of those resources, for the Glory of God.  I look forward to seeing many of you there. 

Church Planting News
It is an exciting time for church planting!  Three new plants will be starting worship services in the near future, two of which are offspring of recent plants themselves.  Grace Alive! EFC of Albany is being planted by Harvest Community Church of Sauk Centre.  Joe & Pam Williquette are the planters of Grace Alive!.  Trinity EFC of Plainview is planting Anchor Point Church of Wabasha with planters Paul & Lori Langmade.   Ryan & Kristin Gerbrandt will be the planters in Edgerton, being planted by Cornerstone Free Church of Pipestone.  We are so excited to come alongside these new baby churches as they begin their journey of reaching out to lost people in their communities, and commend the mother churches for their support of church planting and passion for reaching the lost.  We are looking forward to developing several other planting prospects in the near future!

Student Ministries Conference is almost here!
Spring is just around the corner!  We are gearing up for this year’s Student Ministry Conference at the DECC in Duluth, MN!  The theme is “More or Less of Jesus?”  Geoff Stafford will be our speaker this year.  The group Mainstay will be leading worship and Happy Fun Time will be doing improv skits.  The seminars this year are going to be very challenging.  There will be many opportunities for service projects, as well as time to hang out as a group.  Hope to see you there!!!  Please go to www.ncdyouth.com for details on how to register. Hurry! We are filling up.  Other questions??  Contact conference director Dave Bostrom at 651-777-5180.

What is the Antioch Initiative??
As part of the 20/20 Vision, the Antioch Initiative is a culturally diverse strategy for ongoing leadership multiplication which leads to reproducing ministries and targets emerging generations.  Check out the new page on the NCD Website to learn more about the Antioch Initiative, or contact Antioch Initiative Director Andy O'Rourke at 612-338-1716 or email andy @ ncdefca.org.

Antioch Summer Experience
As many of you know, younger generations of Americans are becoming increasingly unchurched. We at the NCD are passionate not only about reaching young people with the gospel, but also equipping and empowering them to make an impact in their world for Christ. As part of our Antioch Initiative, we’ve recently organized a one-week "Summer Experience" for high school and college-age young adults who desire to do ministry. This will be an exciting opportunity to experience ministry in an urban environment (Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area) during the summer. For more information you can download the "Summer Experience" brochure by clicking here.  Together we’re trusting God for an army of young leaders who are willing to be a part of reaching the next generation with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Take a rest and read a book!
Associate Director of Pastoral Care, Jim Anderson, has published a book. For God’s Sake, Rest! Discovering the Pleasure of His Rest will be available at the district conference through Next Step Resources.  "This is a book that I wish I would have been able to read years ago. I am grateful for it now!  Jim Anderson has written a superb book on the incredibly important subject of rest.  I believe that God will use these Biblical and practical insights not only in the lives of those of us who tend to be workaholics, but also in the life of every reader."  - Dr. Paul Cedar, Chairman, Mission America  

A little more about rest...
Next Sabbath Retreat: Friday and Saturday, March 23-24. Pastors, you will want to take or send your church leaders to this retreat. For more information email Jim Anderson at productiverest @ integra.net.

Concerned?  Need some release??
The Pastoral Care emphasis at the Church Planters Retreat in February focused on Releasing Concerns to the Lord.  When asked, “What was helpful” one participant responded, “The exercise to release and take a Sabbath.  Even though we know to do this, it is helpful to have instruction and a plan to encourage us on our walk in ministry.  The time to just be with God, our spouse and others was especially appreciated."  Check out some helpful information on exercising the Sabbath that Jim Anderson has put together by clicking here, or contact Jim at productiverest @ integra.net.

Looking to be Licensed??
The EFCA History and Polity Course, a useful tool in preparing for licensing, is being offered at the following times and locations.  For more information contact Dave Linde at the NCD office at 612-338-1716 or email dave @ncdefca.org.

• TEDS, March 23rd, April 13th, and April 20th (8:00 a.m.-12:30).  Contact Gene Swanstrom to register (gswanstr @tiu.edu).
• TEDS, June 1st (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) and June 2nd (8:00 a.m.-Noon).  Contact Gene Swanstrom to register.
• BLACKHAWK EFC IN MADISON, WI, May 7th (1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.) and May 8th (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).  Contact Ashley Moore at (608-238-0183) to register.
• EFCA NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN MINNEAPOLIS, June 26th (Noon-9:00 p.m.) and June 27th (8:00 a.m.-Noon).  Register through the conference registration.

Preaching Resource
Dr. Bruce Waltke, noted Old Testament scholar, gave four lectures at Dallas Seminary last month on “Preaching the Book of Proverbs.”  The four lectures are available for listening, viewing, or downloading at http://www.dts.edu/media/podcasts/archives/.  In these intriguing lectures Waltke, who recently wrote a two-volume commentary on Proverbs, deals with such themes as the structure of the book; a suggested plan for preaching the book; the components of expository preaching in general; features of Proverbs that ought to govern the way Proverbs is preached; and the use of Proverbs in training children.  You will find these lectures challenging for your own life, thought-provoking in their implications for ministry, and exemplary of a heart sensitive to God, to the text of the Old Testament, and to today’s hearers.

Featured Church
We are excited to have Crystal Evangelical Free Church as this year's host of the annual district conference.  Crystal EFC (soon to be New Hope Church) along with Pastor Steve Goold and the leadership have made the courageous decision to stand firm and remain in their rapidly changing community.  Rather than follow a much more common pilgrimage to a sprawling campus on the outer edge of suburban development, they have made a conscious decision to turn toward the changing composition and needs of their increasingly urban community. It is their ongoing commitment to increasingly become biblically diverse as a congregation and in ministry leadership positions in reflecting their surrounding community.  We recognize the Spirit-led boldness required for this transformation to occur, and we affirm their faithfulness to what God has called them to be and do.  Check out their website at www.cefc.com for information on their location, staff, and various ministries.  Be sure to check out Pastor Steve's recent message series  "Our High and Holy Calling" to learn more about their exciting vision.

Parish Nurse Workshop Coming Up!
Attention nurses, health professionals and health-minded persons interested in having a Health Ministry in your church.  The NCD EFCA Health Ministry in cooperation with Elim Care Centers will be having a Spring Workshop on Saturday April 14 at Cornerstone Assisted Living in Plymouth.  For more information contact Mary VanDerWerf at 763-561-0146 or 612-385-3495.  For a flyer with registration information click here.

Dates to Remember...
March 23-24, 2007    Sabbath Retreat at Timber Bay Retreat Center

April 14, 2007    Parish Nurse Workshop at Cornerstone Assisted Living in Plymouth, MN

April 15-17, 2007    North Central District Conference at Crystal Evangelical Free Church, Crystal, MN

April 20-22, 2007    North Central District Student Ministries Conference in Duluth, MN

October 8-9, 2007    Pastors Teaching Conference at Camp Shamineau

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

In His grip,
Tom Mouw
ncd @ ncdefca.org