The Great Migration

This is the last post that will appear on this particular blog. The new site that we are building can be found at www.efccm.ca. It isn't quite finished, but it is just too much work to be duplicating posts on two different servers. To be taken directly to the EFCCM blog, click the link below:

http://www.efccm.ca/wordpress/?cat=51

We hope you will join us there, and that you will continue to add your own thoughts, questions and other input.

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!

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.

Children's Home Progress in Tarija

The following is directly from Heather, serving in Tarija, Bolivia:



"This past weekend was just incredible. We've been praying for a long time for a Home for the street kids and on Fri. afternoon we went to check out a place owned by a man from Belgium. All I can say is - God you are awesome! I won't give you all the details, but it is very much what we were looking for.

"In talking with the owner, who actually left for Belgium with his family yesterday to live there again, we realized that he is very in favour of what we are doing. He's not a Christian but has a huge heart. So, he is renting the house and the land that we can use to grow vegetables for $60 US a month. That's a total gift from God. We have to pay the expenses of building more bathrooms and a few other things, but it is way more than we ever expected God to do. That's just like God, eh? We signed the contract on Sat., and on Sun., went back to talk over a few details.

"We will keep up with the home we have already in the city (it's open during the day) because we need to keep up with all of our kids, but this home will be for the ones who are extremely abused or neglected in their homes and so often sleep in the street. We need wisdom in so many areas. Right now we are looking for a truck as the house is 7 kms from the city and we need a sturdy vehicle as the road isn't very good - especially when it starts to rain. (We're in contact with people who know about trucks, cuz what do I know?) We are also praying hard for the right people to live out there - our goal is to have a married couple, but that might not happen too soon. We've talked with a single guy who is helping us some and he's praying about it. We will start small. Maybe 3 boys and the worker - yet, it would be even better to have another man working with them.

"This morning, before the kids came, we worked on a brochure talking about the ministry with a part they can detach to commit themselves to praying for us, or giving food, [furnishings] or money. I'll present our DVD that talks about our ministry and this brochure in one of the churches I know on Sun. night. We plan to get into as many churches as possible here to share our vision and seek their support too. It's all very exciting."

International EFC in Alberta

The International Free Church in Red Deer is getting ready to celebrate the installation of Pastor Iran, who has come from Cuba (above pic is from his appearance at last year's Conference). This has been a longer, more complicated journey than was anticipated at the outset. Iran's wife and young son are still in Cuba, waiting for permission for the child to leave. It must be challenging to begin ministry without having your whole family together. Join us in praying for resolution there, so that they will be able to reunite soon.

The International Free Church will be in English and Spanish to reach out to the growing Spanish population in this central Alberta city.

If you live within driving distance, you are invited to be a part of a great celebration evening. Please plan to join us on Sunday, September 27 at 6:00pm. The church meets in a rented facility:
Church Of The Nazarene.