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.