Youth Ministry 

CHIC 2015 Transportation 

CHIC Transportation

Ride the NWC bus to CHIC for only $205! A deposit of $100 is due March 1 for each rider. Registration information coming soon to northwestconference.org

CHIC Volunteers Needed

Cedarbrook Church to host Mending the Soul Basic Training Conference 

Cedarbrook Church in Menomonie, WI, will host a Mending the Soul Basic Training Conference on Nov. 14-15 for anyone interested in learning more about domestic abuse and how to help those in your community seek help. The event serves as training for facilitators who want to set up local Mending the Soul groups.

According to the event brochure: "Those who attend will have a greater understanding of abuse, the effects of abuse, their own personal need for healing and how to safely walk alongside others. This training also covers the ins and outs of facilitating MTS groups within your church or organization."

The cost to attend is $30 per person, which will include registration fees, breakfast, lunch, and snacks. An additional fee of $11.50 will be applied for those who wish to purchase a training manual. Conference organizers are encouraging pastors and their spouses to attend, and are offering special scholarships of $40 per couple.

2014 Ministerial Association Retreat highlights "Building High Trust Cultures"  

The annual Ministerial Association Retreat took place Oct. 6-8 at Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN. On Sunday evening and Monday morning, two pre-retreat events drew about 30 pastors. NWC Director of Church Planting Mike Brown met with Church Planters to focus on self-care issues. The new Clergy Care Team met for the first time for orientation and a training session led by retreat speaker, Mark Novak, Executive Minister of the Department of the Ordered Ministry.

The theme Novak followed for retreat teaching sessions was "Building High Trust Cultures." There were more times than in years past for informal gatherings where pastors and spouses could connect with each other. This was very appropriate given the increased emphasis on pastoral connections and because of the material on building trust. A team from Mission Covenant in Poplar, WI, led attendees in worship each day, and Kara Stromberg preached during the Tuesday evening communion service.

Faith Community Nurse Retreat focused on 'Bringing God Near'   

By Corrine Benson, FCN Commission Chairperson

The annual Faith Community Nurse Retreat-which took place in the beautiful setting of Covenant Pines Bible Camp, Oct. 7-8-is always a welcome time away to be refreshed, renewed and encouraged in ministry at the various churches represented.

This year's retreat focused on "Bringing God Near: Spiritual Care for Faith Community Nurses and the People We Serve." Our speakers Mary Thompson, RN, BSN, MS, FCN, and Dee Huanca, RN, BSN, MSN, FCN, gave us a rich experience in assessing spiritual needs in ourselves and others and the ways we can meet those spiritual needs. They included the description of spiritual care, with a biblical view of health; time for reflection and journaling; role-play in meeting spiritual needs; and closed with a worship and blessing service.

Faith Community Nurses who attended the retreat commented:

• This retreat enhanced my walk with God
• Had many enriching conversations
• Frequent opportunity to pray together was a blessing
• Personal stories shared add so much
• Networking with other FCNs always a plus
• New insights and resources received

Covenant Clergy Women's Breakfast Club  

Great news! The Breakfast Club for the Twin Cities Covenant Clergy Women has been set up for the 2014-15 year. We will be meeting at the NWC office on selected Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for fellowship, prayer, discussion and to offer a place where we can give and receive of ourselves in honoring our call.

The dates for this affinity group's meetings are as follows:

• Oct. 30
• Dec. 4
• Jan. 15
• March 12
• May 7

Obituary: Charles "Chuck" Walles 

Retired president of Covenant Trust Company Charles "Chuck" Walles died Oct. 18. He had been in hospice care.

At a ceremony honoring Walles at the 2010 Covenant Annual Meeting, denomination President Gary Walter told delegates that he and Chuck had discussed how "success is about the life I live, but significance is what lives on because of the life I lived." On Saturday, Walter said, "Chuck lived a life of significance that will continue to advance the gospel. He embodied what it meant to be fully committed to God, to family, and the work of Jesus in the world."

Chuck joined Covenant Trust Company (CTC) in 1991 as financial services representative for the Mid-America region. He was named vice president for marketing in 1995 and became executive director of Covenant Estate Planning Services and president of CTC in 2001. He retired in 2010. In the nine years that he was president, distributions to Covenant causes through CTC grew by more than $100 million.

Before joining CTC, he served on the North Park University Board of Directors and served as chair of Plymouth Covenant Church in Plymouth, MN.