Church Health
| Church Pastors Network in Your Area Chances are, a Healthy Church Pastors Network is meeting in your area of the district. All pastors of the Allegheny District are welcomed. If you would like to get involved or would like more information feel free to contact these Healthy Church Network leaders: West Virginia - Jeff Powell, Jeff.adefca@gmail.com, (419)962-4586 New York - Ron Linton, wccef@yahoo.com, (585)533-1172 Ohio - Armand Tiffe, atiffe@ameritech.net, (440)442-6470 Pennsylvania - Matt Mitchell, pastormatt@lansefree.org, (814)345-6500 |
| Workshops and Training Events The Allegheny District has more than 25 workshops and training events available to our district churches. Do you have something scheduled yet? Check out the "Resources," page of the district web site www.alleghenydistrict.com/resources.html for a complete list of workshops. Contact District Superintendent, Jeff Powell for more information and to make arrangements, (419)962-4586 or email jeff.adefca@gmail.com |
| Pastors
and Wives Retreat this Fall The 5th Annual Pastors and Wives Retreat is scheduled for October 3-5, 2008 at the Renaissance Quail Hollow Resort in Painesville, OH. Our guest speaker will be Steve Hudson, Senior Vice President of the EFCA. The deadline for reservations for this event is August 18, 2008. It's not too late to contact the district office and make your reservation (800)365-4722 or email alleghenydistrict@verizon.net |
| Blast
2009 Winter Retreat January 30-February 1, 2009 is the next district wide youth retreat. Save the date! |
Church Planting
| District
Church Planting Support Jim Culbertson, Director of Church-Planting, and Wally Kephart, Fundraising Coordinator, are seeking to schedule meetings with churches to present the significant progress. They are wanting to present to Pastors, Elders, Adult Bible Fellowships or entire congregations. As part of the presentation they are sharing the vision of gaining 1,000 prayer and financial partners who will pray and who will give a minimum of $10/month over and above their regular offerings in their local church. If we can see this happen, not only will we cover Jim's support, but we will also make up the difference between the district budget and the actual income we are seeing. If you or your church wish to partner with Jim and the Allegheny District, contact Jim at alleghenyharvest@gmail.com (814)450-3737 or Wally at wally.kephart@gmail.com for more information on how you may help meet the current need. |
| Find
out the Latest Church Planting Happenings Check out Jim Culbertson's Blog at www.alleghenyplanting.blogspot.com to find out the latest happenings in Allegheny District church planting movement. |
| District Church Planting Web Site Check out the District Church Planting Web Site at www.alleghenydistrict.com/churchplanting.html Further development of the web site is planned and will continue to progress. Check back often and learn about the church planting movement in the Allegheny District. |
| Announcing:
The Allegheny District-EFCA Pittsburgh Urban Ministries Director District Board Member Stu White has accepted the newly created volunteer position of the Pittsburgh Urban Ministries Director. Stu will seek opportunities to plant indigenous ministries in Pittsburg urban areas lacking vibrant gospel evangelism, interact with city officials and non-profit organizations and ministries to assist in community improvement initiatives, and partner with other gospel evangelism efforts in the city of Pittsburgh. Stu will also be establishing a multi-ethnic team to pursue these objectives. Stu White is a member of Waterdam Church in Canonsburg, PA just south of Pittsburgh. If you have interest in becoming part of team, contact Stu White at fernstan81@yahoo.com or (724) 941-1219. |
| Mark
& Kendra Petras (Crossroads Community Church, Altoona, PA) Mark and Kendra Petras have begun their ministry at Crossroads Community |
| Jason
& Janeen Oesterling (ikon Church, Medina, OH) Jason has been working 2 days a week at Trinity EFC in Amherst, OH developing small groups, and spending the rest of his time developing ikon's strategy and core group. Ikon held a series of events from July 28 through August 10th geared toward reaching out to the lost and seeking to continue to build their core group. Four area EFCA churches helped financially to pull off this effort. Many others supported them in prayer and volunteered before and during the event. To see a little more of what's going on with ikon, check out www.ikonmedina.com Contact Jason at (330)410-3445 or at jason.oesterling@gmail.com |
| Nate
& Teri Childers (Mill Creek Church, Boardman, OH) Nate's job with Mathias Media drops to part-time this month. He will have to seek other part-time work until additional support is raised. Four churches and ten families have already partnered with them as part of their support team. Contact Nate and Teri at 330-788-8878 or at nate@mymillcreek.net . |
| Alex
& Jennifer Ielase (Redeemer on the Mount, Mt. Washington, PA) Alex & Jennifer are getting to know their neighbors and developing a core group. They are also preparing to send out their funding letters. Alex and Redeemer on the Mount received a $5,000 grant from the National Office for Urban Ministry. Contact Alex at (412)352-8876 or at fisherofmen376@aim.com www.redeemeronthemount.org |
| Dan
& Teresa George (Dunkirk, NY) Dan and Teresa are working to complete our assessment process. Due to timing, Dan has already completed our Bootcamp in November, and he has taken several recommendations and placed them into practice. |
| Dansville
Community Church (Dansville, NY - Joe Becker & Derek Wadsworth) Pray for DCC as they grow their core group and seek to secure their first facility outside of their homes. They have narrowed down the search and are working on a possible location right on Main Street. DCC now has a new web site, visit www.dansvillecommunitychurch.org for the latest information. Contact Joe at (585)278-0643 or at jbecker@trane.com or Derek at (585)991-3951 or at derekw75@gmail.com |
| CORE
Community Church (Shelby, OH - John & Lisa Stevens) CORE Community Church has grown to nearly the 200 mark and is in serious need of bigger facilities. Josh Harpold became the full time youth pastor on June 1 after graduating from Ashland Seminary. On July 19th, eight new Christians were baptized. Contact John at (419)571-6050 or at john.corecommunity@gmail.com |
| Crew
Community Church (Huntington,
WV - Josh & Sarah Perry) The church has seen numerical and spiritual growth. They are currently preparing to restructure and expand small groups and implementation of the "Center for Church Based Training and Leadership Development Pathway." Contact Josh at (304)733-3902 or at jponajourney@yahoo.com |
| Bigelow
Church (Portsmouth, OH - Frank Tallerico & Brian Evans) Pray for this independent church as they consider a church-planting partnership with the Allegheny District. Contact Frank at franktal@verizon.net or Brian at brianandtripp@verizon.net |
| Trading
Post 317 (Buffalo, NY - Mike & Kristie Krantz) Trading Post will gear up for the fall by teaching on their core values and also offering membership. Pray growth at Trading Post. Pray for the several people who have trusted Christ over the past year to continue to grow in their faith and knowledge in Christ. Contact Mike at 716-908-4423 or at mkrantz2@aol.com |
| John
& Kristine Meaux (Cleveland Area) John is now working for the VA and they have plugged into Providence Church. John and the leadership of Providence are now seeking God's leading in the planting process. |
| Larry
James (Euclid, OH) Larry is an African American brother with a church-plant. We are coming alongside of Larry and possibly others in the African-American Community (with Larry's help) to bring training and support to their already-existing ministries and consider further partnerships with the EFCA. While leading his church-plant and working for AT&T, Larry is also attending Cornerstone Community EFC (Mayfield Heights). Contact Larry at (216)246-7605 or at minjames@sbcglobal.net |
| Alfredo
Marquez (Cleveland, OH) Alfredo is a Hispanic brother interested in developing outreach to Hispanics in the Cleveland area. He attends Providence Church. Pray for the unfolding of this opportunity in the days ahead. |
| Oberlin,
OH - Possible Church Plant Trinity EFC in Amherst, OH is preparing a team of people for the eventual planting of a new church in Oberlin, OH. Contact Pastor Arnie Fleagle at (440)985-2419 or at pastorarnie@trinityefree.org |
| Other
Church Planting Contacts We are in the beginning phases of discussion with Andy Albertini from Charleston, WV, Thomas Richardson from Martinsburg, WV and Max Ulderridge from Warren, OH and Leo Wisniewski from the Pittsburgh area, Chris Schweisthal, Bill White, Doug Miles and Bruno Johnson. |
District News
| Allegheny District Web Site Always remember to check the Allegheny District Web Site at www.alleghenydistrict.com for the current happenings in our district. If your church has scheduled events or news to share, contact the district office to arrange posting your information on the "News," page, 800-365-4722 or email: alleghenydistrict@verizon.net Special prayer concerns are welcomed also. These can be posted on the "Prayer," page by contacting the district office. |
| Pray
for Our District Churches in need of Pastors - Faith EFC in Mt. Lake Park, MD as they begin the pastoral search process in the coming months. - Fellowship Bible Church, Ashtabula, OH |
| District
Budget Shortfall The new fiscal year began May 1st with a shortfall of nearly $64,000. Although giving to the Allegheny District increased over the last year it continues to be behind the budget by nearly $2,000 per month. As you schedule your annual business meetings for this year, please remember and prayerfully consider a significant increase in giving to the district ministries in your budget. Your support allows the district to continue providing a wide variety of programming and resources for our district churches. |
National News
|
District Churches Support
New ReachGlobal Initiative |
| National
Ministries Update Please check out the latest edition of the National Ministries Update. Go to http://www.efca.org/mailer/archive/efcaupdate/195.php to access this helpful and informational newsletter. There are articles on Church Planting, Church Health, and Family and Children's, Student, Women's and Men's Ministries. |
| HISTORIC
CONFERENCE APPROVES PROPOSED REVISION OF THE EFCA STATEMENT OF FAITH President Bill Hamel began this historic discussion by asking two questions: would the Conference affirm a new Statement of Faith strengthening our commitment to evangelical, historic faith? And would we debate and vote with godly character? The answer to both questions was "yes." On June 26, 2008, delegates of the 124th EFCA National Leadership Conference approved the Proposed Revision of the Statement of Faith – 86% of delegates voted for the Proposed Revision. Throughout the debate and decision, God’s presence was evident as delegates kept in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), manifested the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), and left an aroma of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-16). The conference concluded with President Hamel leading the attendees in a strong and passionate confession of the new EFCA Statement of Faith. Here is a link to the Statement of Faith: http://www.efca.org/about/doctrine/ To God be the glory, great things He has done . . . and continues to do in the EFCA! |
