Big Video Project Completed!

We are pleased to launch this rather significant video effort which highlights our ministry involvement in Bolivia. The EFCCM Manager of Communications was invited to join the Latin America Area Director to visit our missionaries and ministries. The trip even coincided with a short-term work team to capture even more action! This set of videos is currently being duplicated onto DVD, and will be sent out to our churches to be used at they wish. But we also want to present them on this site.

Not only is each clip available for online viewing, but we’re also providing links to downloadable video files for computer playback. Simply right click on the link, and you can pull the file onto your computer.

Enjoy, and take a moment to make a comment below!

Bolivia Overview

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Update from CCL in Ukraine

This week Home Office had the privilege of hosting Orban, Trish and their three teenagers. They are back from Ukraine on a short Home Assignment. I was able to spend a few moments with the family, and I specifically wanted to get a sense of their new ministry directions regarding the Centre for Christian Learning. It was invigorating!

Orban wanted to make clear that in its transition from DBI to CCL, they’ve kept the same goals and the same philosophies, it’s just the program that’s been altered.

CCL offers a much broader scope than DBI did. It can get more people participating because the participation doesn’t imply a two-year commitment. In fact, many of the courses and seminars are just two days. It also has the advantage of being light on its feet. It it much more able to address specific needs being felt in the churches, and put together short sessions to address them.

CCL is always on the lookout for those willing to share their expertise with Ukrainian leaders. If you have a special skill, we’d love to hear from you — contact us today.

The IMT Begins a Wider Dialogue

The International Mission Team (formerly EFCCM Board) has taken on the task of personally connecting with our churches throughout Canada. The key is that they want the whole denomination to think about how we can ‘do missions better’.

This level of discussion will show up at our district conferences this fall, and will hopefully get some ‘airtime’ at next year’s EFCC Conference as well.

My prayer is that just having these conversations will inspire fresh energy for the EFCCM, and will help to fine-tune how we connect with our constituency going forward. I believe it can!

Mennonite Outreach in Bolivia (Video)

We are involved in several methods of outreach to Mennonite colonies in Bolivia. Their strict emphasis on tradition has robbed them of a rich, vibrant relationship with Christ. In some colonies, this has resulted in significant problems, and the existing structure doesn’t have the mechanisms to correct them. In their desperation, they are starting looking for help from the outside community, and this is giving us an important opportunity to offer Christ’s healing and restoration.

Download video file to your computer (right click or option click to save):
BoliviaMennonites.wmv (should work with most PCs)
BoliviaMennonites.m4v (should work with most Macs)

Bolivia Radio Ministry (Video)

Much of Bolivia is inaccessible by road, but that doesn’t slow down radio waves at all.

Download video file to your computer (right click or option click to save):
BoliviaRadio.wmv (should work with most PCs)
BoliviaRadio.m4v (should work with most Macs)

Bolivia Compassion (Video)

Here is an overview of the Compassion Ministry that the EFCCM is engaged in within Bolivia. This includes the ways that we are working to directly intervene in circumstances that are beyond people’s control. This is an important part of being the hands and feet of Jesus, shining the light of his hope into dark places.

Download video file to your computer (right click or option click to save):
BoliviaCompassion.wmv (should work with most PCs)
BoliviaCompassion.m4v (should work with most Macs)

More Visa Delays (Updated)

I just heard from one of our families heading back to their country of service that their visa did not come in time to make their scheduled departure. They were able to work with the airline to postpone their flight, which I’m sure is a big relief (flights are expensive!). They have been given assurances that the paperwork is being pushed through, and everything will be official imminently, but the timeline is unclear at this point. While they’re happy to have some extra time with friends and relatives in Canada, please pray that they would hear good news quickly, and would be able to return to the field soon.

Update: I’ve heard word that the visas have come through, and the family has made plans to leave on Saturday. Good news!

The EFCCM Goes Social Media

Before you jump to conclusions, I’m not announcing a Twitter feed on behalf of the EFCCM or anything like that. Actually, from my perspective this is even better!

I was just alerted that Warren in Bolivia has created a cause through Facebook. (See what I mean here.) This is so cool! It’s using social media for the advancement of causes that we deeply believe in. This is available to all of our missionaries to create for themselves, and it has the potential to really catch on with supporters. (212 people have signed up as members at the time of this writing.) It’s simple to make, and even simpler to participate in.

Danny and Warren have obviously been working on this together because it’s linked in with the AguaYaku blog, a picture gallery not to mention video clips. I think it has the potential to connect with a myriad of Facebookers.

Thanks Warren and Danny — I wish you great success with this effort!

Goal on the Horizon

As mentioned in a previous post, we have been helping the Kramatorsk church with their building. It was exciting for them to have this building, but local regulations stated that in order to keep it, they need renovations — roughly $17,000 worth. I have just had a report that almost $14,000 has come in for the project so far! This is great news!

If we can get the money in before February 2010, then this building will continue to be an excellent long-term home for the ministries of Kramatorsk EFC.