BuzZ Online Episode 11! (Updated)

Click here for the audio.

Thanks for joining us for this episode of the EFCCM's official podcast. Jumping right in, this episode is taken directly from a session that Randy offered at Missions Fest 2008. Here he talks about the strength and diversity of house churches in North America and around the world, and offers insights into how they start, and how they work best.

The video clip that Randy references in this session can be found by clicking here.

Randy works with the EFCC, and he heads up The Journey, an outreach ministry dedicated to house churches in Canada. If this session has inspired you in some way, and you'd like to respond, please leave a comment below. If you'd like to get involved in church planting in some way, please drop us a line.

Update: Randy generously included his PowerPoint presentation to this podcast. If you'd like to follow the visuals while you're listening, click here.

A Personal Inspiration

I thought I'd share something personal that I wrote roughly a week ago. It was extremely challenging to write it, and I hope that is both challenging and encouraging to read.

Click here for the blog post.

(Please keep in mind that this is a link to my personal blog, and opinions expressed there do not necessarily reflect or represent those of the EFCCM.)

A Time of Connection

It's getting to be that busy time again at Home Office. The EFCCM Board and the International Leadership Team are converging here for their twice-yearly meetings. There is lots to discuss and to plan, and to come to terms with -- on all sides! Pray for travel plans (one important flight was already canceled which will delay some people), and for safety.

Also pray for clarity, honesty and unity. Ultimately, we each want to see God's will at work through the EFCCM, affecting His world with His love and glory!

Summer '08 Youth Ministry Team

Hermosillo: Due to a change in planning at one church, we now have the summer ministry slot open for one of our EFCC congregations churches to answer the call. If you have been planning to take your youth or a group of families on a Short-Term Mission Trip, this could be the opportunity you are waiting for. This July we need a group to go and serve together with the host church, Agua Viva, in Mexico.

If this could be you, drop us a line for more details and information.

Call to all Construction Trade People

This comes from Steve, the Latin America Director:

All hands are pushing to get the Agua Viva Ministry Center finished to a point of occupancy as soon as possible. Reg, our resident host for Canadian Work Teams in Hermosillo, needs qualified Trades people to head to Mexico to help him get some of the more technical stuff done on the building this spring. If you have the skills and the time to make this work, please contact me and I will put you in contact with Reg. March and April are the months when the help is needed.

A Sad, Sad Story...

This story brings into stark relief the challenges we face as we work with Mennonite colonies in Bolivia, and the fear and oppression that are deeply ingrained into them.

Rudy and Erna in Bolivia have been involved with the family of a ten year-old girl named Maria, who was burned very badly in a gas explosion in their family bathroom. It is estimated that 95% of her body is covered in burns. (I have a picture of Maria in her hospital bed, but have elected not to post it.) Rudy and Erna are personally involved with the family, and were monitoring Maria's condition with the medical staff.

The family is under a great deal of pressure from their colony which has forbidden them to accept outside assistance. Maria's grandparents have been on hand -- mostly, it seems, to ensure that the family obeys the colony's orders, and make sure that there is no 'interference'. But neither the family nor their colony can afford the medications, dressings or treatments that Maria needs. Maria's parents began to covertly accept financial help, but it is a very delicate situation. It is a very grievous offense for individuals to go against the orders of the colony.

Hospital staff said that in a case like this, just after the initial accident, the burn victim appears to be on the mend, more alert and in less pain, and this has been true for Maria, too. But it is at this point that she is at her highest danger of infection, and her lowest ability to fight it. Even with the best efforts of medical staff, they said there is little chance of saving her life. And it is at this precarious time that her family chose to secretly remove Maria from the hospital. A doctor told Rudy and Erna that there's really no hope for her survival now.

And here's the kicker: Rudy and Erna could contact the authorities and have Maria brought back to the hospital. But if they do that, they burn all their bridges that they've been working to build with the Mennonite communities, and any chance of future ministry to them. As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult time for Rudy and Erna. Pray for their strength, and wisdom in what their next steps should be. And pray that God would work through this very difficult, tragic situation to somehow bring His light of hope to the oppression of the Mennonites in Bolivia.

Rudy and Erna's remaining heartfelt prayer is that Maria won't have to suffer much longer...

Update: We received news this week that Maria has succumbed to her injuries. Please pray for the grieving family and colony, ultimately that they would seek God for His comfort at this time. And continue to lift up Rudy and Erna as they process this situation, and many others. They are so grateful for your prayers, and have expressed that there's no way they could be where they are in their own strength.

St. Petersburg Team Opp

The Summer Institute team heading to Russia this summer is looking for someone (a couple would be ideal) to help serve in lunch preparation. This would involve shopping at the market, as well as food preparation.

As this team member, you are also encouraged to engage the Russian students in conversational English to help them practise their new language skills. The team has a strong history in Russia, with education in business and teacher-training being strong points. But the most valuable part of the Summer Institute is the lasting relationships that have been established, and the positive impact that has been made for the cause of Christ.

For more information, please drop us a line, and we'll put you in touch with the team leaders.

BuzZ Online Episode 10!

Click here to listen to Episode 10 of the BuzZ Online!

Hey, I just broke into the double digits! This is the tenth podcast that I've completed for the EFCCM, and this time I was talking to Greg. Greg and Shelli have served in Hermosillo, Mexico for the past 7 years, and we talked about some of their impressions of the country, and new developments they see the Lord at work on there.

Listen for a brief report on their first Mexican missions trip to Canada! That's a pretty cool reversal, eh?

The Experience of Missions

In my role, I do a lot of thinking about how to get people to cross boundaries. How do you make dormant people curious? (That's probably the toughest hurdle right there.) Then how do get them to direct their curiosity? How do you fuel curiosity into passion? And how do you help someone channel their passion into action?

I think the fundamental truth of missions is that you can't understand it until you've done it. God's grace and enabling have to be experienced to be understood. So more and more, we're seeking to provide opportunities to enable people to experience missions firsthand. If you'd like to be involved in some form of missions, why not consider a short-term team involvement to start! We have several for this year, which you can take a look at by clicking here.

Ultimately the boundaries that we get really excited about people crossing, are the ones where action becomes lifestyle. And lifestyle becomes contagious!

Do you have something you want to share about how missions is interacting with you? Feel free to add in the comments below!

Immediate Need in Central Asia

The EFCCM has an urgent need for two teachers in a CAC (creative access country -- a nation opposed to overt evangelism) in Central Asia. The school is a one-room environment that covers a pretty wide age span, from approximately grade 1 to grade 10. Classes are held in English to North American students, and classes are taught by a team of three teachers. Teaching and/or home-schooling experience would be a plus!

If you're interested, drop us a line.

Report From Compass Direct

Recently I've read so many sentences like the following: "As the world turns its attention to China this year with the coming Summer Olympics, there are growing reports of human rights issues within the country." There are many reasons for hope for China, and yet there are persistent blots in the periphery.

Compass Direct has an article outlining some of the most recent problems. As stated there, these aren't the sum total of issues, as many of the cases will never be disclosed. Pray for wisdom and peace to prevail in China. Pray for the strength and unity of the church. Pray for growing freedom to be exercised in the country. It is my hope that the world's attention would be a positive thing for the Chinese population, and that benefits would be felt in unanticipated ways.

Missions Fest 2008

We were glad to be a part of Missions Fest 2008 in Vancouver. It was a great time to connect our support team and to meet some of our EFCC supporters. People entered our little give-away on behalf of several EFCC congregations within BC. Congratulations go to the following churches -- I hope these prizes are a blessing to them!

1st Prize: $500 for Missions Budget – Mountain View EFC
2nd Prize: $500 for Missions Budget – Richmond Chinese EFC
3rd Prize: Missions DVD – Johnston Heights Church
4th Prize: Missions DVD – Kamloops EFC
5th Prize: Missions Book – Quadra Island Bible Church
6th Prize: Missions Book – Grace Community Church

There are a couple of sessions that I was able to record for presentation here -- they should show up soon, so stay tuned!