| The Official eNewsletter of the Anglican Mission in the Americas
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Dear ,
We hope you enjoy reading about the creative mission and ministry around the Anglican Mission in this edition. Be sure to let us know what's happening in your congregation as you seek to extend God's Kingdom. We want to highlight summer outreaches in the September issue of The Wave, our quarterly print magazine. Email us your stories and photos here.
Cynthia Brust
Director of Communications, Anglican Mission in the Americas
Click below to send a copy of Currents to a friend. 
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Consecration Details Announced
 The Service of Ordination and Consecration of Missionary Bishops-elect Todd Hunter, Doc Loomis and Silas Ng has been scheduled.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
7:30 PM
The First Church of the Nazarene
of Pasadena
3700 East Sierra Madre Boulevard
Pasadena, California
A reception will follow at the church.
Hotel Accommodations:
Embassy Suites Hotel, Arcadia-Pasadena
211 E. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 445-8525
The special nightly rate of $129 includes a "cook-to-order" breakfast and a complimentary Manager's Reception each night. There will also be a shuttle service (seven-passenger van) available on a first-come, first-serve basis between the hotel and the church.
In order to take advantage of this rate, reservations must be made by August 18, 2009. Be sure to reference the Anglican Mission when making your reservations.
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Phoenix Children Take a Journey through "Rome" at VBS
Desert Mission Anglican Church partnered with Christ Church Anglican last month in Phoenix, Arizona, to host a Vacation Bible School for seventy children living in the area. Over half of the kids were from families with no affiliation with either congregation!
Using Rome and the Underground Church, a curriculum from Group.com, organizers transformed church classrooms into an authentic Roman marketplace. Costumed volunteers acted out daily dramas illustrating the sacrifices that Christians made throughout history to be followers of Christ.
 The children visited "Paul" while he was under house arrest, witnessed a shopkeeper lose his business because of sharing Christ with others and were invited to attend an underground church by a stranger.
"We had a volunteer who made Mediterranean delicacies for snacks each day," reports Kim Brewer, Children's Ministry Coordinator for Dessert Mission. "They ate feta cheese wrapped in grape leaves and even tried octopus!"
"As a small congregation, we cannot host our own camps and Vacation Bible School. It was a great experience for us to partner with Christ Church because our kids felt a part of the larger community of saints."
Teens from both congregations led various parts of the VBS during the week, connected with each other, and made lasting friendships in the process as well. "One of [the teen leaders] told me he was having so much fun he wished he were one of the kids!" exclaims Kim.
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As We Forgive Airs on PBS
As We Forgive, an award-winning documentary film by Laura Waters Hinson, premiered on PBS World stations across the nation on July 15. The film shows the remarkable stories of two Rwandan women struggling to forgive perpetrators who killed their family members during the horrific genocide that left one million people dead in 100 days.
Laura has been traveling throughout all thirty districts in Rwanda this month to host screenings of her film for the first time to the most influential people in the nation, as well as thousands in prisons, schools, churches and remote villages. Read more about her journey and watch Laura's interview on Fox News here. (Scroll down to June 18th posting to view video.)
As We Forgive will also air in more than 25 states in the coming weeks. This powerful film is a great opportunity to open a discussion on reconciliation and forgiveness in your sphere of influence. Look for program times on PBS channels in your community here.
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Worship Leaders Get Inspired and Encouraged in Atlanta
"We fill up to overflowing..." shares Elana McClure from All Saints Anglican, Morehead City, North Carolina.
 Elana is just one of sixty principal Anglican Mission worship leaders
who gathered from the United States and Canada in Atlanta, Georgia, June
1-3 for a Worship Leaders Retreat. Hosted by the Office of Worship
Development, under the direction of Andy Piercy, the retreat included
internationally known worship leader, songwriter and singer Matt
Redman. Matt inspired participants with messages on "Getting a Bigger
Picture of God" and "Mixing the Old with the New."
Small
group breakouts and dynamic forums generated feedback and provided
creative and inspirational ideas for participants. "...we share our
experiences and challenges, and then go back to our churches with new
ideas, energy and resources" Elana continues.
Other guest speakers included:
- Lex Buckley from River City Church in Jacksonville, Florida, shared on "Empowering Women in Worship".
- Martin Chalk from Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, spoke on "Getting Ready for Growth".
- Marty
Reardon from Trinity Vineyard in Atlanta, Georgia, presented his
congregation's journey of incorporating Anglican liturgy into their
informal worship setting.
"It was such an encouragement to
meet other worship leaders and to have the opportunity to refuel and
receive refreshment," shares Jessica Wilson from HopePointe Church, The
Woodlands, Texas. "It is powerful to see how God unites hearts across
the nation."
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Partnering with "Sister" Congregations in Rwanda
Three Anglican Mission church leaders returning from Rwanda this summer shared a common conclusion: face-to-face meetings with their sister parish accelerates and deepens relationships and gives clarity in understanding each others real needs.
The trips are part of the Anglican Mission's Sister-to-Sister effort to pair our North American congregations with "sister" churches throughout Rwanda for ongoing outreach, fellowship and projects.
 A team from Church of the Holy Spirit, Orchard Hills spend time with
Pastor Mathias and family in the Gahanga parish.
"Projects dissolve, but relationships last forever," says Sharon Barbour from Church of the Holy Spirit, Orchard Hills in Roanoke, Virginia, who led a team during her fifth trip to Rwanda this month.
Sharon's consistent visits have fostered a deep friendship with Pastor Mathias and his extended family in their sister parish in Gahanga, Rwanda. "We used to be more project oriented in our trips, but this year we participated in the ministry of presence everywhere we went," shares Sharon.
Not only did they spend time with their Sister-to-Sister parish, but they also invested in the lives of the children living in child-headed households of Christian Hope Village who long for adult interaction, but rarely receive visitors. In each place they traveled, team member Mary Ford used her talent as a music teacher to give unplanned piano lessons to musicians who were hungry to learn new songs.
 The Rev. Jay Greener (pictured with Pastor Emile
on right), Rector of Church of the Redeemer in Chicago, Illinois, returned June 28th from his first trip to Rwanda. He found that information from Rwanda hadn't been easy to get. "I see now that my questions were meant to be answered, or at least encountered, face to face," Jay notes.
Church of the Redeemer's sister congregation is St. Michael's in Ruhengeri. St. Michael's serves as the worship space for Sonrise Primary School and the preaching point in a parish of seven locations that Pastor Mugisha Emile oversees. While visiting, Jay learned that St. Michael's is also the site for a new church plant in the community that meets for worship after the Sonrise students leave.
The Redeemer team learned that some things at St. Michael's were just as they expected them to be, while others were totally different. "We kept asking questions and gently pursuing clarification," explains Jay. "We learned that Pastor Emile works tirelessly in seven locations with no transportation, little support and a wife that is very ill. It shows me again why we must enter the dance face to face. We have a lot to learn."
 Peg Henjum, team leader for International Anglican Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, explains, "We have deeply entrenched relationships with the Kibali sub-parish in the Byumba Diocese. We have made several trips to Rwanda to worship, visit people in their homes, pray and listen. They know what they need, and we have tried to be faithful to listen."
While all the churches have contributed to numerous service projects designed to improve circumstances in the lives for many in Rwanda, they have reached the same conclusion: our being is more significant than our doing.
To learn more about Sister-to-Sister Partnerships email Sandi Harding or call (678) 602-3714.
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Interim Coordinator for Student Ministries Announced
Sayward Elliott has been appointed Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Anglican Mission (YAMiA). She has served as Assistant Coordinator since November 2008 and is also the Director of Student Ministries for All Saints' in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. She follows the Rev. Chris Zoephel who has moved to Boise, Idaho, to plant a church as part of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO).
 Chris served as YAMiA coordinator for two years before his move from Destin, Florida to Idaho.
Sayward will gather a task force of interested youth ministers to evaluate the best ways the Mission Center can serve and promote local youth and student ministries. This task force will present their findings and recommendations to Bishop Murphy by the end of the year.
"I am thankful for the strong network of talented youth and student ministers that Chris Zoephel has built in a very short time," noted the Rev. Canon Ellis Brust, Anglican Mission President. "His vision and heart for reaching young people with the Gospel has strengthened our missionary work in this vital area."
"Sayward has worked alongside Chris for many months and her networking and organization gifts will serve the Anglican Mission well as the task force evaluates and offers recommendations," he added. "I am personally thankful for the leadership gifts Chris and Sayward bring to the Anglican Mission and look forward to the new things God will do in our youth." |
Running for Rwanda
 The Rev. Mark Turner, describing himself as a "47 year old priest and church planter," will participate in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. October 25 to benefit two causes in Africa including the Mustard Seed Project which oversees the Sonrise Orphanage in Rwanda.
Click here for more information.
This is just one example of the creative ways individuals and congregations in the Anglican Mission support a wide variety of ministries and outreach programs in the Province of Rwanda.
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We Want to Hear from You!
Do you have any youth participating in outreach this summer?
If so, we hope you are able to capture them on camera, to share how God is using young people in the Anglican Mission to minister across the United States and beyond.
Share your photos for the September issue of The Wave by submitting two of your best to Shelly Miller here.
The deadline for submissions is
August 7th.
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Upcoming Events
Anglican Mission Men's Conference
October 9-10, 2009
San Diego, California (Liberty Station)
Calling all men!
Register for the upcoming Anglican Mission Men's Conference in San Diego, California, held on October 9-10 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Liberty Station.
Hear teaching on being the man that God has called you to be from Anglican Mission clergy: Bishop-elect Todd Hunter, the Rev. HG Miller and the Rev. Gabe Garcia.
Register online here.
Contact Fabian Palombo
or call 619-746-5106.
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Little Rock Network to Hold Marriage Retreat
August 26-28, 2009
The Peabody Hotel
Little Rock, Arkansas
Married and in ministry?
The Little Rock Mission Network is hosting a unique marriage retreat for clergy or full-time ministry staff and their spouses called "Two Shall Become One," led by the Rev. John Yates, Rector of The Falls Church, and his wife Susan, as well as the founders of FamilyLife, Dennis and Barbara Rainey.
The retreat will be tailor-fit to address the needs and challenges of marriage in the midst of ministry.
Participants should plan to attend the entire retreat as this is a highly structured event requiring all three days.
Click here to register and for more information.
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Learning to Listen Lab
July 27-31, 2009
Phoenix, Arizona
Led by the Rev. Michael Lessard
Did you know that the largest portion of our population is not the unchurched, but the inactive member?
Learn how you can help bring them back.
Pastoral Care Associates in Phoenix, Arizona, is offering a five-day training on ministering to the bored and apathetic Christian.
Participants will learn 11 active listening skills in a lab format that combines information and experiential learning addressing topics including:
- The top reasons people leave the church.
- How to recognize "cries for help" and minister to our congregations, and keep them active.
- Steps to develop a program for bringing the dropped-out Christian back to participation.
- Pastoral care skills to bring home to your church, and family.
The cost for the Lab is $250.
A registration fee of $25 covers the cost of your workbook.
Register here or call 602-226-9298.
Pastoral Care Associates is a non-profit corporation and is a participating ministry in The Lord of the Nations Network of the Anglican Mission.
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