News from the Northwest Conference

From the Superintendent

Who wants to go to yet another meeting?

By Mark R. Stromberg, NWC Superintendent

Mark-Stromberg As NWC Superintendent, I hear that question from time to time. My answer? "Well, that all depends." Is it simply to hear about the mundane and to pretend to be excited about things that don't really matter? If that is the case, then I would rather stay home, as well.

However, if it is about sharing vision, being inspired by words of witness, praising our Lord Jesus, and having the opportunity to be part of what God is doing through His people ... then count me in! If the gathering is more about the future than the past and is a way of committing to be in it together, then sign me up! If our time will include moments of personal reflection and teaching that strengthen both my resolve and capacity to be a healthier and more missional leader, I am all in ...

Dear friends, these are the things we desire for our NWC Annual Meeting; that you would be engaged, equipped, encouraged and empowered to be a greater force for good in your local church setting, but also a greater voice for collaborative ministry within our geographic region.

Therefore, please join me in Rochester at the NWC Annual Meeting the beginning of May for a time of celebration and commitment. After all, we really are better together!

2014 Annual Meeting

The 2014 NWC Annual Meeting will take place May 1-3 at Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN. We've got great speakers and events lined up this year! Here's a few highlights:

Theme

The Northwest Conference is on the move! And part of that movement involves planting new churches as an expression of our desire to advance the Kingdom of God, as well as reflect our love for both God and those for whom Christ died and rose again.

It is also a reflection of our willingness to live in obedience to our Lord's admonition to share His love in both word and deed. More will be shared at the Annual Meeting on how we intend to do just that ...

Speaker

John Teter is the Church Planting Team Leader for the Evangelical Covenant Church. Teter also serves as Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Covenant Church in Long Beach, CA, which he and his wife, Becky, planted in 2007.

A Bible expositor, Teter has written two books, "Get the Word Out" and "Jesus & the Hip Hop Prophets," co-authored with Alex Gee.

Ministry Fair

The Friday Business Session will conclude with the "Celebration of Mission" Ministry Fair. Delegates and attendees will have an opportunity to learn about and interact with a whole host of conference-related ministries including representatives from our camps, Women Ministries, Town & Country Ministries, Covenant Trust Company, CHET and many more.

CHET: Special Offering

The offering at the 2014 NWC Annual Meeting is for our local satellite campus of CHET (Centro Hispano de Educación Teológico), the Covenant Spanish-language theology school in the Northwest Conference. It is now entering its fourth year of classes; operating on Monday evenings at Minnehaha Academy.

For more details as they become available, and to register online, visit our 2014 Annual Meeting page.

Youth Ministry

Adventures in Leadership registration deadline is April 8!

Adventures In Leadership (AIL) promotional and application materials are now posted on our AIL page.

We hope you will consider nominating 1 or 2 of your students (current 9-11th graders) to apply for this transformational experience in leadership this summer, June 21-28.

Please go to the Northwest Conference website for more information and to download all related materials.

If you have questions or would want the conference to provide hard copies of any of the AIL materials please alert Jon Kramka.

Children & Family Ministry
NWC Family GO: Serve

Who: NWC Families
When: April 26, 2014
Where: Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This is a new NWC Family event, intended to bring Northwest Conference families together for a shared learning and outreach opportunity.

This NWC Family event is targeted to families with children in pre-K through upper elementary school. Go: Serve is an opportunity for families to learn and grow together, in a family-friendly, yet stretching, environment suitable for younger children. Families can expect to have their worldview expanded, to be inspired by God's kingdom workforce in the world, and to have opportunity to extend the hope and love of Christ with those experiencing unmet needs.

Registration packets were mailed to churches recently, and can also be downloaded HERE. Please register as a family by mail, email or phone directly with the Northwest Conference office by Monday, April 14.

612-721-4893 or cheryl@northwestconference.org

Ask the Lord of the Harvest

2014 materials available now

It is our annual tradition to celebrate our intentional evangelism efforts at the Northwest Conference and Evangelical Covenant Church annual meetings. "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" (formerly "Bringing My World To Christ" and "What's Your One Step?") encourages us to keep praying for those we know and love who need Jesus.

To participate:

READ the letter from the ECC.
PLAN an "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" Sunday. The denomination has suggested March 16. If that Sunday does not work for your church, choose a Sunday between now and April 27.
ORDER "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" brochures from the Covenant Bookstore (covchurch.org/resources/72-evangelism-training) or DOWNLOAD the brochure for copying from the Northwest Conference website (northwestconference.org/sites/default/files/documents/Ask_brochure-2014.pdf).
COLLECT the completed prayer cards during the worship service on your "Ask the Lord of the Harvest" Sunday.
BRING the prayer cards with you to the Northwest Conference annual meeting (prayer cards can also be mailed to the Northwest Conference office).

Materials are also being mailed to each NWC church related to this initiative.

NWC Website
Church Resource Bank

Our website features a great tool for churches requesting or giving away materials and resources. On the Church Resource Bank page, you can browse available requests or give-aways, and submit a new resource to share with churches in need.

April 3, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE

From the Superintendent

2014 Annual Meeting

Youth Ministry Events: AIL Deadline

Children & Family Ministry Events: GO: Serve

Ask the Lord of the Harvest

NWC cal icon tan

April 4-5, 2014

MOVE - First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

April 26, 2014

Go:Serve - Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park, MN

May 1-2, 2014

Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

May 2-3, 2014

NWC Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

June 21-28, 2014

Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN

July 19, 2014

Covenant Softball Tournament - Fridley Community Park, Fridley, MN

August 7-9, 2014

MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

September 3-5, 2014

CRIM (Covenanters Retired in Ministry) Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp

October 6-8, 2014

Ministerial Association Retreat - Sugar Lake Lodge

November 8, 2014

IMAGINE - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN

November 8, 2014

VIVE - Location TBD

New CHIC website goes live
The next CHIC will be held July 12-17, 2015, on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. Visit the CHIC 2015 website.

NWC Job Postings Page

Pastors and ministry leaders, if you have people in your congregation who are exploring ministry, on a part- or full-time basis, please refer them to our job postings page.