EFCCM Overview Video Clip

This was the video that we presented at Conference 2008 on behalf of the EFCCM. There are a lot of people that contributed footage and stills to this project — many of them may not even know. Thanks go to all of them. And a special thanks goes to Jay who provided the voice for this piece — the voice gets the most comments and compliments by far.

Copies of this video were handed out liberally at Conference — if you would like one for your church, or just for yourself, drop us an e-mail.

Missionaries in Europe

Renewal! Refreshment! From all reports, the Europe Area Conference was a great time. All our missionaries congregated in Lithuania, a country suitably central to the EFCCM’s presence there.

But while it was a time of bonding and encouragement, there is also an element of sadness. This marks the end of several families’ service with the EFCCM in Europe. I would personally ask you to pray especially for our missionaries in Ukraine. The team has shrunk over the last couple of years, and that shrinking has accelerated in the last few months. Their big team has been reduced to half the size it was two years ago, maybe even less. The remaining families, and of course their Ukrainian brothers and sisters, need the Lord’s direction and encouragement to continue forward strongly in ministry. Pray also that the Lord would raise up new missionaries for our Europe Area. There is a great spiritual need on that continent!

EFCC Conference 2008 Wrap-Up

Well I was hoping to be on the blog a lot more while in Alberta, but as has become boundlessly obvious to you by now, that didn’t happen. So here are the broad strokes: People got together and decided stuff. There. The end. No, just kidding — it’s actually just the beginning!

A New Leader for the EFCC

Bill is replacing Ron as the head of the EFCC. His title is changing from President to Executive Director to reflect the grassroots nature of the EFCC. (Note: I previously made it sound like this was Bill’s own executive decision. The truth is that it was a consensual one between the EFCC and EFCCM leadership and was given Conference approval.) The thinking is that Presidents make top-down decrees, whereas Executive Directors interact with their constituents to make decisions and take action together. I like it. After Bill and his family settle into their new home in BC’s Lower Mainland, I hope I can get some of his input into this blog directly. It would be really cool if I could get Ron’s input too. I’ll try to make that happen for you, dear readers.

A Revised Statement of Faith

The Free Church prides itself on being an example of inclusiveness. Therefore there was a strong effort to make sure that the official Statement of Faith only holds the most basic, unalterable essentials for faith in Christ. After long hours of passionate discussion, the revisions were voted in with a 92% acceptance. That is an exciting expression of solidarity!

Each of our missionaries and leaders were grateful for the time of interaction and sharing that Conference provided. Sometimes that was in front of the whole assembly, and sometimes it was one-on-one conversations.

In the time of share, care and prayer, we had a lot of opportunity to get a better look into the lives of our missionaries.

They face many challenges! But there are also lots of cool stories about what God is doing that I have to share with you. There will be lots more Conference-related posts on the way!

What Happens in Edmonton Won’t Stay in Edmonton!

Conference is finally upon us. Tomorrow the Home Office staff descends on the (not very) distant province of Alberta. In amongst all the inspiration and connections being shared over the next few days, your intrepid blogger will be on hand to share it with you wherever possible. We’ve made arrangements to record several of the speakers, and I will have a digital camera, webcam and numerous other tools and toys to help out getting the word out.

Stay tuned, and I’ll be here on the EFCCM blog as much as I can be. For me at least, it’s going to be a wild ride.

Video Clip from Bolivia

I was just alerted to a video that was created for Rudy and Erna in Bolivia. This is a really good overview of our ministry there.

Escaping to the Streets…and From Them

What if your home was an unwelcome place? If your parents were abusive, and the relationships in the household were dysfunctional, where would you go? For countless numbers of children, it’s the streets. I’m sure we’ve all heard scary things about living on the streets, and what an unwelcome place that is for anyone, especially kids. Imagine the desperation that makes the streets look better than the alternatives. Heather the EFCCM missionary heading up Candelero Kids, an outreach to street kids. She would like to introduce some of them, and share their stories.

Chavela (foreground) has been living on the streets for about four months, and is starting to return to his home to sleep at least. But his mother is not an easy person to live with, which makes it hard for him. He’s far behind in his education, and can’t read or write much. With help, his self-image is improving.

Lidia is 9 years old. She’s escaped to the streets well over fifty times. The authorities threatened to take her away from her mother, so she consented to let us look into the possibility of sending Lidia to a YWAM home for street girls in Santa Cruz. God worked out many details and Lidia arrived at this home on June 9. We’ve heard that she is doing well and thank God for His provision for her. Pray for her Mom, who is a tough, lost woman.

On the left is Luis, Lidia’s brother. He hasn’t been coming lately and it seems the enemy is working big time on his life in so many areas; He sure needs prayer. The other one goes by Grover (though his real name’s Roberto). He has been on the street for many years but right now the family of another Candelero Kid, is taking him in. He is talkative, though he has his “moments”.

It is the stories of all these kids that have prompted Heather and others to put forward their vision of a full-time residence. God has supplied a great house for Candelero Kids: “It is 5 blocks from the open air market, where many of the kids work. There is a gym, a small park, and a soccer/basketball court across the street. We don’t have access to all of the rooms on the bottom and top floors, but the second floor, with several rooms, is very adequate for our needs and the deck on the top floor is very spacious. We see many advantages to this location and thank God for answering prayer!”

We at the EFCCM are putting plans in place for enabling child sponsoring through Candelero Kids (and some other places, too). More details will be forthcoming in the next little while, but if you’re really eager to find out more, you can drop a line to Steve — he’s the EFCCM’s Latin America Area Director.

If you would like to ensure that this project gets a healthy start, you can donate to it directly by clicking here. Your gift can help meet the following needs:

Rent of the house – $200US/month
Salaries of Bolivian staff – $520US/month
Meals for the kids – $145US/month (average)

Don’t forget to include the following information:
Tarija Street Kid’s Ministry – Account #2-5028

Ramping Up To Conference 2008

Wow there are so many things that need to be completed still! I’m looking at the print work, the video/presentation production and a host of other bits and pieces. I’m so grateful for all the time and energy that have been put into planning and ensuring that this Conference is the best it can be — especially those who are taking some of the pressure off me!

If you can make it, you’re encouraged to come join us in Edmonton from July 23rd to 26th. It will be a great chance to connect with other pastors, leaders and members of the EFCC. You can find out all the details by clicking here. (You can even register right from that site.)

Whether you can make it or not, please pray that this will be a great time of personal connection, of united energy and of vision casting. And please pray that we can each fulfill our varied roles in achieving those goals.

Update from Bolivia

Jake and Dorothy pass on this report from Bolivia, where they have been serving for a number of years:

‘We continue to be encouraged with letters and calls that we receive. Here is a letter from one of our listeners, “Your programs are so edifying , they help me so much. Your radio is my favorite radio, it is my companion, as it fills me when I am discouraged. I am thankful for this Christian radio. I want to encourage all the dear people who work in radio to keep going ahead, do not get discouraged, we will keep praying for you, great blessings to you now and always. Here is a huge hug from me.”‘

‘Construction is keeping us very busy. This month we got the huge roof on out in the country at the radio station, and also all the cement work. The railings are also up (see accompanying pic below). This project will be a huge blessing for our Quechua staff, it will provide for a home for our caretakers, plus a huge storage room for our radio materials, also it will provide for more guest rooms for teams and guests, and a huge area for parking for our tractor and shop. Construction is also progressing in the city of Santa Cruz.’

And then on a more personal note:

On June 19th, Dorothy was standing on a stacking stool reaching to get something from the top shelf in their bedroom closet. She fell badly, and broke her ankle, and tore some tendons. Depsite being home alone, she found help and was taken to Emergency in one of the best hospitals in Santa Cruz. The doctor said that they would have to operate. 6 painful hours after it happened surgery began. They put in 6 screws and a plate. She felt pretty upset as their children are visiting in July. She says: ‘I did have a talk with the Father above and just did not understand His timing. Why? I did some crying which by the way did not help. The very next morning I read in my devotions all about, NO griping. I was touched when I read, “When things go wrong, I would not be a grumbler, complaining, seeing everything as grim, For when I think of how the Lord has blessed me, I cannot help but give Praise to Him.” Yes, I do have lots to praise Him for.’

Perspective sure means a lot! Please keep Dorothy in your prayers for healing, and that even in this injury and setback, she would be able to see and share God’s enduring faithfulness.