Sound Bites from the Superintendent: Preventing Ministry Failure
My dear friend and mentor, Steve Hudson, is transitioning at year-end from 22+ years of unprecedented influence in the EFCA movement, to a very strategic organization and role impacting next generations globally.  About this time last year, Steve gave a number of our leaders a copy of "Preventing Ministry Failure" by Todd Wilson and Brad Hoffman (IVP, 2007).  I read it early in 2008... my notes are sketchy and of limited value, but Steve's summary (in pdf format) is a very helpful resource to those of us committed to finishing well.  Please print a copy and set aside a personal retreat day to fortify your own legacy to your sphere of influence within the Church.  Join me in thanking God for that short list of people who have indelibly 'marked' each of our lives for the Kingdom and cause of the Lord Jesus Christ, then stay the course!
-Tom Mouw, District Superintendant

Start Planning to Attend the 2009 Annual District Conference   
Start planning now to attend the 2009 District Conference!  This next conference will be held March 30-31, a change from April in previous years.  New Hope Church (formerly Crystal EFC) will be the conference host. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Addition or Multiplication?
Many times we do ministry through addition, which will continue to build the Kingdom of God.   We add a new follower of Jesus, a new leader, or a new pastor - all good things!  Can you imagine the following?  The new follower of Jesus reaches another person, while the first individual who led this new follower to Jesus reaches yet another person?  That is MULTIPLICATION!  How would multiplying new followers of Jesus, multiplying and releasing new servant leaders, and multiplying new pastors every year change the church?   I believe God’s kingdom would flourish, God would be honored, and the Gospel clearly presented to our world.  Multiplication can occur in any size church or group.   Multiplication always takes a God-sized vision with His supernatural intervention through His committed servants.   Why should we do this?  To reach Minnesota for Jesus!  We want to come alongside you and your churches to serve you in helping to develop a multiplication DNA and mindset.   An excellent way to start would be to host a Church Planting Overview.  A great resource on multiplication is the book "The Multiplying Church" by Bob Roberts.  Please feel free to contact me at 612-338-1716 or dan @ ncdefca.org, and let's talk multiplication!
-Dan Moose, Church Planting Director

Antioch Community Church Now Open!
Antioch Community Church has officially launched as a new church plant!  October 19th was our first public worship service.  It was a great time of celebration together as we marveled at God's faithfulness.  This first service is the culmination of over a two-year journey, and it's also the beginning of an exciting pathway into the future.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for this new church in NE Minneapolis.  We are very grateful for your partnership!
Antioch Community Church is part of the ongoing fruit of the NCD’s Antioch Initiative (an intentional effort to identify, develop, and deploy young leaders for ministry).  Leadership multiplication and church planting are essential to the vision of Antioch Community.  We currently have two full-time ministry interns being developed with a plan for many more in the years to come.  Young adults have much to offer the church and are often hungry to be developed in biblical thinking, Christlike character, and ministry skills.  We’ve seen mentoring become an especially effective method for investing in the next generation of leaders. Please feel free to contact me at 612-965-8910 or email andy @ ncdefca.org to share what your church is doing in the areas of internships and/or leadership development.  I am glad to be a resource in any way possible.  Together we will reach and develop the next generation!
-Andy O'Rourke, Antioch Initiative Director 

Student Ministries Welcomes Glenn Olson
Please welcome with me Glenn Olson as the new Student Ministries Director for The NCD! Over the past two years, God has been gracious in allowing me to transition to church planting and led me to co-plant Antioch Community Church, while holding on to an aspect of Student Ministries. God has been slowly reshaping and redirecting my passions during this time.  Also during the past two years, God has redirected and increased Glenn’s passion for shepherding the youth ministry leaders of the NCD. I will remain on the Student Ministries Council as a representative of the Antioch Initiative by resourcing and promoting leadership development of students and adults within the NCD. Glenn has a huge heart for God, prayer, and coming alongside youth ministry leaders! Please check out the newly updated student ministries website at www.ncdyouth.com. There you can contact Glenn with any student ministries needs you may have. It has been a privilege to serve within such a healthy ministry the past two years. I look forward to God leading, guiding, and directing our students under Glenn's guidance to leadership in the church.
-Jamie Buchanan, Student Ministries Director

Pastoral Care, Who Needs It?
“Pastoral Care is for the wounded, the sick, the bewildered, the tired, the broken, etc.”  That covers just about all of us.  Sooner or later, every pastor needs some form of pastoral care.  In my independence and seasons of pride I am quick to resent the thought of needing care.  When honesty cracks open my self-protective shield, I accept care from others.  The hard driving Apostle Paul articulated his own need for care (II Corinthians 1;3-11; 4:8-11) and frequently admitted that he was greatly comforted by the companionship of his co-laborers (Romans 1:11; II Thessalonians 3:5-9; II Timothy 4:11).  Pastoral Care Ministries of the North Central District exists that you might survive and thrive in life and ministry.  Click here for a list of opportunities that we would love to make available to you!
-Jim Anderson, Pastoral Care Director

Pastoral Care News

• Kelley Johnson is now officially on staff with Grace Community Church in Olivia.  This half-time position allows him to continue as the NCD Assistant Director of Pastoral Care.
• The book "Dark Night of the Soul" will be the subject of numerous encouragement email articles and pastor cluster meeting for 2009. Be watching for those!
• Sabbath Rest Retreat! Establish rhythms of rest and work by attending a Sabbath retreat. The next Sabbath Retreat is January 4-6, 2009, at Timber Bay.
• Pray Care Ministry! Prayer is powerful and should be the first response in times of crisis.  Regretfully it is often the last.  NCD Pastoral Care is developing a rapid response pastor’s prayer network, asking pastors to pray for fellow pastors, lifting them before the throne of grace in times of struggle.  We will keep you informed as this network develops.

Mobilize Your Church for World Missions
Churches are sometimes not interested or involved in missions worldwide.  How can we come alongside your church to become strategic in your mission focus?  Share with your church “The State of the Gospel” power point presentation from Operation World.  Listen to a presentation on what God is doing in the Middle East through MENA, the new region where ReachGlobal is working.   We just returned from Lebanon and Egypt after a 10 day vision trip to this region.  Let us know how we can help your church to become strategic in your mission focus. We are available for weekend ministry to your church and are eager to visit the churches in the NCD.  Contact us at 218-736-4412 or email Steve at steve @ ncdefca.org.
-Steve Austvold, NCD Mission Mobilizer

Pastors Teaching Conference Addresses Sexual Purity
Pastors Teaching Conference was held at Camp Shamineau in early October.  Keynote speaker Sam Storms addressed the theme of sexual purity in an unexpected and encouraging way, emphasizing the richness of God’s glory as a superior pleasure to the illicit pleasure of sexual compromise.  In three messages from the Scriptures, Sam brought good news to the conferees: God desires our happiness and fulfillment, and points us to Himself as the source of that happiness.  Within that context God tells us to kill lust and sin.  Sam reminded us that God’s call is not either-or but both-and: incomparable pleasure in Him and unmistakable purity of life.  The former is the foundation of the latter.  Sam’s messages were timely and powerful and can be heard on our website.  Irv and Elsie Woolf of the National Coalition for Purity presented workshops at the conference and were part of a panel discussion, also available on our website.  Conferees also heard more about Project Purity, the district initiative to assist pastors in the battle for purity.  Project Purity is in the final stages of preparation, with launching aimed for winter or spring 2009.

Tax Time is almost upon us...
Ministers face important tax and legal issues under our current system of laws.  One helpful resource that can guide you through some of this maze is www.newminister.com.  This website, sponsored by Church Law & Tax Report, asks 12 important tax and legal questions, giving helpful summary answers.  The questions include matters of housing allowance, Social Security, clergy confidentiality, and reporting child abuse.  The website is also a gateway to further expert help on these matters.  It’s worth checking out even if you’re not a new minister, and it’s worth telling your church treasurer about.
-Dave Linde, Church Resources

Women's Ministries Update
Things are changing in EFCA Women’s Ministries! The purpose statement of Women’s Ministries is: Multiplying healthy women in ministry among all people - partnering with EFCA districts to encourage, equip and multiply women in ministry to become disciple makers for kingdom impact. This includes leadership training and development for women, incorporating women into the overall structure of local churches and specific opportunities for women to be equipped and serve. We are asking for your help! As the NCD mobilizer, Kathy White would love to know who is the women’s ministries coordinator in your church to be able to assist and come alongside them in their ministry. Kathy can be contacted by email at kwhite @ stonecroft.org or phone 763-458-9520.  You can also contact the NCD office for further information or suggestions. Thank you for your help as we equip women to serve the body and reach into our communities and world.  Click here to read more information about women’s ministry.

Family & Children's Ministry Training Summit
Pastors, leaders and teachers in family and/or children's ministries - here's an opportunity for training, enriching your vision for ministry, and networking with other family and children's workers!  Trinity EFC in Lakeville will be hosting a Family & Children's Ministry Training Summit, February 27-28, 2009.  The summit will offer various training workshops (cost is only $10/workshop) as well as refreshing worship and networking opportunities. Workshops, offered at various levels of ministry development, will be offered both Friday evening as well as Saturday morning and afternoon. Brochures will be e-mailed to all churches in mid-Dec. For more information, please contact Julie Andersen at janderson @ trinityefc.net or 952-469-6235.

Family & Children's Ministry Resources
Check out the new Family & Children’s kit for church planters or for any church who desires to start or refresh their family-focused children’s ministry to help reach your target communities. This resource will help you evaluate your effectiveness and learn about some of the newest aids for a safe, community-oriented, fun, and biblically relevant family-based ministry that will help your church to thrive. Questions? Contact Julie Andersen, the NCD representative on the national EFCA Family & Children's Ministry Council.  Click here for more information about the kits.

Upcoming Sabbatical for Tom Mouw
Tom Mouw will be on a sabbatical leave during January and February 2009.  The NCD staff team will be covering Tom’s responsibilities while he is gone.  Direct general or uncertain inquiries to Ardie at the district office.  Consulting and church conflict inquiries can be directed to Dave Linde; he may redirect you to another staff member as we try to spread out the load.  Check our contact page as to where to direct other questions you may have during this time.  We look forward to serving Tom by serving you well in his absence.  Please uphold Tom and his wife, Joey, in prayer as they seek rest and refreshment during this sabbatical time

Peacemaker Training - Save the Date!
What:  Advanced Peacemaker Training, Track 1: Conflict Coaching and Mediation, or Track 2: Certification Training
Who:  The NCD, in conjunction with Bethlehem Baptist Church
Where:  Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis
When:  June 11-13, 2009
Hold the dates!  More details to come.

Dates to Remember...
January 4-6, 2009    Sabbath Rest Retreat at Timber Bay

January 9-10, 2009    Church Planting Overview, Grace Community Church, Olivia

February 27-28, 2009    Family & Children's Ministry Summit, Trinity EFC, Lakeville

March 20-21, 2009    Church Planting Overview, Hope Community Church, Glenwood

March 30-31, 2009    North Central District Annual Conference, New Hope EFC, New Hope

June 11-13, 2009    Advanced Peacemaker Training, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

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

In His grip,
Tom Mouw
ncd @ ncdefca.org