Greetings from Tom
Tom Mouw and his wife, Joey, have been enjoying sabbatical time in Florida during January and February.  Please continue to pray for them as they return to Minnesota and Tom takes up his work again at the beginning of March.

The Harvest is Ready
Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest?'  Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”  Jn. 4:35   As pastors and church leaders, where is your harvest field located?  How big is your harvest field?  I am encouraged by the God-size challenge of Hill Country Bible Church in Austin, Texas, who saw their harvest field and have decided they would be responsible to personally share the Gospel with each person in Austin.  They are striving to reach their ‘Jerusalem’ through a church multiplication process. I want to encourage you as a church to take responsibility for your harvest field -- your town, your city, your suburb, or county.  Then ask the Lord of the harvest to help you do whatever it takes to reach these people for Jesus Christ.  Please join us at our Mission Minnesota breakfast on March 31 at 7:30 a.m. during district conference and let's start gathering the harvest together.
-Dan Moose, Church Planting Director

Mentoring: More than Coffee and Conversation, but that Easy!
What value do you place on mentoring? Many Christ-followers that I talk to are intimidated by the concept. Leaders should be equipping and multiplying leaders (Ephesians 4:11-12). The coffee and conversation needs intentionality and direction. This generation values relationship through quality time. Large group discipleship is good, but I have seen over 16 years of ministry that one-on-one is much more profitable for spiritual growth. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  I recommend the book Mentoring Leaders by Carson Pue as well as the training “The Mentoring Connection” by Cadre Ministries. We would love to bring this training to you, as well as share testimonies from local pastors as to how this training impacted their leadership.  Please contact me at jamie @ antiochcommunity.org or 612-269-3570.  Consider 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us." Please pray how mentoring might be a part of your life and ministry.
-Jamie Buchanan, Antioch Initiative Associate Director

New Vision for Student Ministries
I am honored to be serving as Director of Student Ministries.  For the past 22 years I have served as youth pastor at New Life EFC in Hastings, MN, and during my ministry have developed a passion to help youth workers and youth ministries. I have been involved in one-on-one relationships, small group networking of youth workers, bringing training to many places around Minnesota, putting on prayer retreats, assisting with the Youth Workers and Ministry Team Retreats, and over the last 6 years helping over 150 churches evangelistically reach their communities with inflatable games.  I first of all want you to know that I am very interested in helping your youth ministry become all that God wants it to be. I am planning on doing this through:

• Regular Communication: sign up for Student Ministry emails by emailing glennolson @ nlefc.org
• Student Conference: April 24-26, 2009 in Duluth, email Dave Bostrom dbostrom @ firstefc.org for info
• Leadership Development: Training, mentoring, networking in MN, email glennolson @ nlefc.org
• Prayerfully Dependent Youth Ministries: Day of Prayer in Watertown, MN, 2/21/09, email Troy tgravley @ wevfree.org for info

• Reconciliation: all churches, all sizes, from the volunteer to the pastor

This vision that God has placed on my heart can only be accomplished by God's grace and devoting myself fully to this task.  Would you pray with me as I am sensing God's call to raise enough financial support by April 2009 to have this be my full time ministry?  Please email me at glennolson @ nlefc.org anytime with any questions.
-Glenn Olson, Student Ministries Director

Why a "Dark Night of the Soul?"
What is God’s purpose in allowing or possibly inducing a dark night of the soul?  Is He just toying with us for divine delight or tampering with our spiritual equilibrium to amuse Himself?  Is He entertained by the physical and spiritual anguish of those who have committed themselves to Him?
I believe God’s goal is to produce in you and me a simple childlike trust which is no longer shaken by the threat of darkness or despair.  Our journeys through the dark nights of the soul wean us of self-trust and develop a confidence that God remains good and great no matter what happens in the world or to you and to me as His subjects.  I invite you to dialog with me regarding the purpose of Dark Night of the Soul.  Click here to read more on this thought-provoking book.
-Jim Anderson, Pastoral Care Director

Don't miss the next Sabbath Rest Retreat!
Sabbath Rest. The phrase conjures up images but what does Scripture say about the Sabbath?  How is Sabbath Rest related to my relationship with God? How do we weave the Sabbath into the fabric of our busy ministry lives? To find the answers to these questions and to provide some tools and direction for making Sabbath Rest a regular part of your spiritual health plan, Jim and Lois Anderson will be leading a Sabbath Rest Retreat, May 3-5, 2009.  The retreat will begin with a time of teaching under the direction of Jim and Lois, the director of NCD Pastoral Care and his wife. The retreat will end with each participant having a Sabbath Rest experience of their own.  Click here for more information. This retreat will be held at Timber Bay Retreat Center near Lake Mille Lacs.  If you have any questions or want to register, please contact Kelley Johnson at kelley.johnson @ frontiernet.net.

Missions News
All NCD churches can have outstanding missions ministry in their churches.  One way to do this is to have an understanding on what God is doing in the world and to see how churches are responding to the needs of the world.  We are here to help your church grow in its mission focus and commitment.  Kingdom Expansion 101 is a new course that mission minded individuals can take through EQUIP, the EFCA online training venue.  Kathy and I are available for weekend ministry in your church.  We love to come and share at mission conferences and can provide current and updated information on how missions is changing in our world today.  Contact us at 218-736-4412 or email Steve at steve @ ncdefca.org.  We look forward to coming to your church!
-Steve Austvold, NCD Mission Mobilizer

Family & Children's Ministry Training Summit
Don't forget! Inexpensive, strategic and equipping workshops for family and children's ministry are being offered at the Leadership Training Summit on Feb. 27-28 at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Lakeville. Speakers include children's and family pastors from Maple Grove EFC, Wayzata EFC, Calvary EFC in Rochester, South Suburban in Apple Valley and the regional director for Child Evangelism Fellowship. Check out this brochure for more info or click here to visit Trinity's website.

Senior Celebration 2009
Don't miss a wonderful time of fellowship, good food, great music, and inspiration!  Join us from 9:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at First Evangelical Free Church in Minneapolis and enjoy:

• Twin Cities Men of Praise Ensemble, with special music and inspirational congregation singing
• Updates on Senior Ministry
• Dr. David L. Larsen with 2 powerful messages
• Cost is $15 per person and includes a catered luncheon.
• Questions? Contact Tim Johnson at 952-934-6777

Peacemaker Training Coming to Minnesota
For more information on the training events listed below click here.
April 3-4, 2009
Reconciling Marital Conflict training
Case Administration training
Faith EFC, Austin, MN

June 11-13, 2009
Conflict Coaching training (basic)
Mediation training (advanced)
Certification training (most advanced)
Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN

Dates to Remember...
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

April 3-4, 2009    Peacemaker Training, Faith EFC, Austin, MN

May 3-5, 2009    Sabbath Rest Retreat, Timber Bay Retreat Center

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

June 23-25, 2009    EFCA Leadership Conference, Grace Church, Eden Prairie, MN

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

In His grip,
Dave Linde
ncd @ ncdefca.org