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CONVERGE NORTHWEST UPDATE
October, 2012
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Greetings!
Five Secrets Pastor's
Don't Talk About
October is Pastor Appreciation Month
I don't know when it started, but October is often used to appreciate pastors for their loving service to the Lord and their congregations. Are you recognizing your pastor this month? I certainly hope you are. While you are at it, you may want to make sure that you thank the pastor's wife as well.
Being a pastor is not easy. I understand that about 1500 pastors drop out of ministry each month. The stress of modern ministry really does takes a toll. Even though I don't know who your pastor is, I will give you 5 secret reasons that he deserves to be honored.
- Love: Your pastor has loved you or someone in your congregation, who hasn't always been very lovable.
- Commitment: Your pastor has devoted more time this year, to the ministry, than you know or imagine. Most pastors average 55-60 hours a week.
- Sacrificial Service: Your pastor has sacrificed time with his family to take care of needs that you will never know about.
- Emotional Elasticity: Your pastor has cried with those crying and rejoiced with those rejoicing, often within moments of each other.
- Humility: Your pastor has endured unreal expectations and comparisons from members who love to listen to Christian radio or TV.
I am sure you have your own reasons for recognizing your pastor. Here are some websites that may give you some ideas on how to do so.
In His Grace,
Steve Welling Executive Minister
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ANNUAL GATHERING!
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REGISTER TODAY!
Dates: October 19 - 20, 2012
Location: Sylvan Way Baptist Church
900 Sylvan Way
Bremerton, WA
Speakers: This year, 3 teams of our very own leaders will be sharing!
- Phil Stevenson & Glen Douglas
- George Bedlion, Jr. & George Bedlion III
- Jan Hettinga & Nate Hettinga
~ REGISTER NOW ~
Schedule:
Friday, October 19, 2012
10:00-Noon Registration
12 Noon Lunch
1:30-2:30 Workshop Session 1
2:45-3:45 Workshop Session 2; Pastor's Wives Tea
5:30 Banquet
7:00 General Session/Celebration
8:30 Dessert
Saturday, October 20, 2012
8:00 am Continental Breakfast in foyer
8:55 Annual Meeting called to order
9:00 Columbia Conference Growth Fund
9:30 Bighorn Ministries
10:00 Converge Northwest/CBC
10:30 Lake Retreat/Adelphia Bible School
11:00 Break
11:10 Worship and Speakers
12 noon Lunch
1:00-3:00 Open House at Converge Northwest Office in Gig Harbor
According to our ByLaws,
"each Member Church is entitled to send as delegates to the annual meeting a pastor or designee and four other members who are in good standing of that church. A member church of more than 100 members may send one additional Delegate for each additional fifty members."
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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- 40 Days of Praise: Join our initiative to raise our collective voices from across our region with Forty Days of Praise, September 10-October 19.
- Ignite 2013: March 5-7th, Chandler AZ : For Church Planters, prospective planters, planting teams, and pastors exploring church planting or launching multi-site congregations. See more information at convergeignite.com
For the entire calendar of Converge Northwest Events please visit our website and go to EVENTS page.
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MISSIONS in the US and AROUND THE WORLD
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World Relief Sunday focusIt's the hungry season on Nigeria's Mambilla Plateau, where missionaries Art and Dorothy Helwig conduct a remarkably successful HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention project. Before harvest time, grain supplies have dwindled. Providing required nutrients to malnourished children in rural villages has proven extremely beneficial in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and has opened doors to present the life-changing gospel.
Converge World Relief invites your church to join us in providing food during Nigeria's hungry season, including transportation of a shipping container of meals from the port in Gembu, a community health worker to assess needs and teams to deliver the meals to remote villages.
We are asking Converge churches to designate Thanksgiving Sunday, November 25, as World Relief Sunday through a special offering for Nigeria hunger relief. Look for more information soon by e-mail and a mailing from Converge.
Iowa church takes missions local
Two years ago, leaders at Faith Baptist Church, Washington, Iowa, decided to focus their mission efforts within their community rather than take short-term trips to New York or Mexico. Discipleship pastor Tony Widdel w  as instrumental in launching FBC's "I love Washington" campaign. Church members installed steps on one house, a handicapped ramp at another and did lots of yard work for people in need. On August 2, FBC members handed out cookies and water bottles at the Washington Farmers Market, part of this year's renamed "Love you Washington" theme. The church is planning a Sunday a.m. worship service in Central Park, and bringing comedian Ken Davis to perform at the Community Center.
Says Widdel, "The reason we're doing this is not to get people to come to church. It's to live out what the Bible says... to love your neighbor as yourself."
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just thinking with susie
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Life is living in the moment and reaching ahead at the same time. We have Peace in knowing that our Heavenly Father is holding and guiding us no matter what comes our way.
I want to direct you to two friends whose hearts I love. Below are their blog links.
Tina Bustamante has moved to Chili with her family and we see this journey in wonderful detail through her eyes.
Tammie Taylor is a church planters wife in Meridian, Idaho with 3 darling boys. And she has time to blog.
I hope you enjoy them both:
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2nd 1/2 MINISTRIES
|  Stay Connected... Get the latest update link from our blog and check out our MINISTRY GOALS for 2012-2013. Convergeww.org for full news and events Purpose and Vision: 2nd ½ for Him ministries of Converge Worldwide exists to equip and encourage leaders who can develop powerful and effective ministries that address the needs and opportunities of an increasingly diverse group of age 50+ adults. Through ongoing resource development, leadership training, ministry leader networking and personal coaching, 2nd ½ for Him will support the ministry of the local church with persons in the second half of life. Contact:Dick & Leona Bergstrom
leona.bergstrom@convergeww.orgQuote from Dr. MacDonald, "The great question is: What is required to produce leaders or influencers who can serve a period of even 50 + years and continue to grow stronger, deeper, wiser and more effective with every decade of life?", |
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