Don't forget to register your team for Converge 2012, which will take place at Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park, MN, on Oct. 27. The cost for Converge includes lunch and is just $17/person with a maximum cost of $99 per church. Registration forms are due to the NWC office by Tuesday, Oct. 23.  

"As the NWC superintendent, I am so pleased that we are able to sponsor quality events and workshops for all 'ages and stages.'  Certainly, we are committed to resourcing the leaders within our churches. Converge is just one expression of our commitment; one which we hope our leaders will take advantage of." - Mark R. Stromberg, Superintendent 

The one-day event will feature a variety of workshops designed for pastors and lay leaders to come together to learn and be inspired. Some of the topics that will be addressed include: church communications, local church governance, church finances, processing setbacks, small group ministry, funding strategies for local churches, risk management, working with volunteers, and more.

Visit our Converge page to download a promo poster and flyer/registration form.

We are excited to offer a fall training event for your children's ministry teams. Geared specifically for volunteers, Tiger McLuen will tackle the issue of helping your volunteers take seriously their role of engaging in the spiritual formation of kids and families.

Join us at Crossroads Covenant in Forest Lake on Nov. 10 for a day of learning, networking, fellowship and team building. We're confident this will be time well spent. The Northwest Conference believes in children and families and so we are offering this whole event at no cost to you. Even lunch is free!

The Evangelical Covenant Church's Town and Country Commission will be offering three summer internship scholarships to North Park Theological Seminary students in town and country settings in 2013. These internships, $3,000 each, are made possible through the generosity of the Dusty Larson Fund. 

The goal of the scholarship program is to give students the opportunity to learn and experience what town and country ministry is like. The internship experience is intended to allow the student to learn rural hospitality, to know what it means to belong, to discern what healthy/missional ministry in a rural context is, and under the guidance of the local pastor to participate in all aspects of pastoral life: preaching, teaching, community outreach, visitation, leadership and more.

For the local church, this three month summer intensive will allow your congregation the gift of investing in a student's life and all the energy and fresh perspective they will bring to your church family. We understand that hosting an intern can be a financial burden for many of our rural congregations so we want to assist you with the finances while your congregation gifts a student with a positive learning experience.

These funds are available by application. The local church is responsible to provide housing for the intern (single, married, family). The student is responsible to provide their own transportation and a commitment of at least 12-weeks of summer ministry. For congregations who wish to apply, please fill out the Church Application found on the ECC website and submit to John Wenrich,director of Congregational Vitality at john.wenrich@covchurch.org. Applications are due by Dec. 31, 2012 and selections will be announced by Jan. 31, 2012. If you have any questions you can contact Randy Young at 612.219.2688 or ryoung@crosslake.net.

Covenant World Relief has recently mailed new materials to each church. In each sample packet you will find a new poster, update, DVD, brochure, soup can label and more.  

All of these materials are available to download or order online at CovChurch.org/cwr.  

If you have questions about these materials or would like someone from CWR to come visit your church, please call us at 773.907.3301 or email covenantworldrelief@covchurch.org