February 17, 2016

2016 Annual Meeting
Join us for the NWC Annual Meeting and explore Duluth and the North Shore!
 
The 2016 NWC Annual Meeting will take place April 28-30 at Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN, and we've got great speakers and events lined up! Consider extending your stay and exploring Duluth and the North Shore ...

The Twin Ports area is a popular destinations in any season. Canal Park, the Great Lakes Aquarium, historic sites like the Glensheen Mansion, and a wide variety of lodging, dining and shopping options make Duluth a great getaway location. Come early or extend your stay, and check out Visit Duluth for details on local attractions. Keep reading for details about hotels and reservation deadlines associated with the meeting.
 
Lodging Options + Reservation Deadlines
Visit Duluth states that the port city features over 4,600 hotel rooms ... we've helped to narrow your lodging search by reserving blocks of rooms at three great hotels. But don't wait too long. Each hotel block has a reservation deadline. See below:

Country Inn & Suites / Standard Room: $129 / Suite: $149 or $159
4257 Haines Rd. / 218.740.4500 / website
Reservation Deadline: March 28

Edgewater Resort & Waterpark / $149
2400 London Rd. / 800.777.7925 / website
Reservation Deadline: March 28

Hampton Inn / $119 - $159
310 Canal Park Dr. / 218.720.3000 / website
Reservation Deadline: March 3

Theme: Serve Globally
While correlating to one of the mission priorities of the ECC, our 2016 theme primarily emanates from the historic commitment that NWC churches have had to proclaiming the good news of Jesus around the world. Join us as we celebrate the good things that are being done to do just that through our churches and people!

Speaker: Al Tizon
Al Tizon is Executive Minister of Serve Globally, the international ministries arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
 
It's not too early to start selecting delegates and making plans to attend this year's meeting. For more details as they become available, and to register online, visit our 2016 Annual Meeting page.

Registration deadline approaching for workshop with Dr. Mark Yarhouse on Feb. 27 at Salem Covenant Church
 
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Salem Covenant Church
2655 5th Street NW, New Brighton, MN 55112
 
The deadline is fast-approaching for the upcoming workshop led by nationally renowned expert, Dr. Mark Yarhouse, Psy.D. It is entitled, "Sexual Identity & the Christian: Positioning the Church to Be Both Faithful and Engaged in a Changing Culture."

The registration deadline is Monday, Feb. 22.

Please note that the content and approach provided by Dr. Yarhouse will not be a repeat of the content provided in our recent workshops with Bill Henson. As has been stated, "While Henson provided an overview, Yarhouse will take things deeper."

We strongly encourage you to join us for a discussion on how people of faith navigate sexual identity questions in their lives. Sexual identity refers to the labels people use to discuss their sexuality-labels like gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight. In the morning we will discuss two of the most frequently asked questions: "What causes homosexuality and can it change?" and, "What are the experiences and challenges encountered by people of faith who are navigating sexual identity questions in their personal lives?"

Then, in the afternoon we turn our attention to practical ministry tools for helping individuals and families, as well as strategies for positioning faith communities to engage and provide ministry in a dramatically changing culture.

This event is open to pastors, ministry staff members, lay leaders and key influencers in NWC churches and affiliated ministries. The workshop is free of charge. However, refreshments and a box lunch will be provided for a suggested minimum donation of $10.00/person.

Please RSVP with how many people are planning to attend from your church or ministry by Monday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Jessa Anderson at the NWC office by phone (612-721-4893) or by e-mail at jessa@northwestconference.org. We encourage you to make use of this valuable resource. It will be time well spent!

Evangelical Covenant Church  
Covenant ministries join efforts to help Flint

The Great Lakes Conference, Covenant World Relief, and the Love Mercy Do Justice mission priority will work together with several other organizations to help bring relief to the people of Flint, MI, who are experiencing hardship due to the water emergency.

"This is a collaborative effort to aid children and families whose lives have been completely upended by the devastating water crisis in Flint," said Cecilia Williams, executive minister of LMDJ. "Benevolent Covenanters have already sent aid, participated in distributions, and gathered to consider ongoing intervention. We continue to receive inquiries daily as to how congregations might get involved in serving the people of Flint."

Read the full story on the Covenant Newswire

To give directly to relief efforts, click here and indicate that your gift is for Flint Disaster.

Children & Family Ministry
Save the date for NWC Family Go: Serve  
Saturday, May 7, First Covenant Church, St. Paul, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Go: Serve is in its third year of offering ministry and learning experiences for families with elementary-aged children. Even young children can have an impact in their communities, and a new location in East St. Paul means new opportunities for ministry and service.
 
Postcards are being mailed to each church. Also, you can find information on our Go:Serve 2016 page, including a link to this short 30 second promo video. Online registration will open March 1.
 
Youth Ministry 
MOVE: Unsung / April 15-16 
Minnehaha Academy 

In this culture of Instagram fame and Snapchat celebrities, God still uses the average person to do amazing things. Bring your high school students for this incredible life-changing two-day event focused on compassion, justice and service.

Hector Saucedo (remember him from CHIC Basecamp?) is our speaker and Blue Oaks is leading worship. Cost: $30 for students and $20 for adults. Registration materials are online on our MOVE 2016 page.

Youth Ministry
Adventures in Leadership 2016 promo materials available online
 
AIL 2016 is set for June 18-25. Nominate one or two of your students who have strong leadership traits for a transformational, weeklong leadership development experience.

AIL is for select high school students (completing grades 9-11) and is based at Adventurous Christians camp. It's a powerful time of exploring Christian leadership principles and putting them into practice, all in a guided, challenging environment.
 
Information and materials are available on our AIL 2016 page.


Pastoral Installations 
Steve Hoffer installed at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Roseau, MN
 
Congratulations to Steve Hoffer who was installed as pastor at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Roseau, MN, on Feb. 7. Steve has served as interim pastor at the church for an extended period of time. Prior to that, he served as executive pastor at Woodridge Church in the Twin Cities.

Brad Kindall installed at Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, MN

We also want to congratulate Brad Kindall who was installed as the lead pastor at Faith Covenant Church in Burnsville, MN, on Feb. 14. Previously, Brad had served as the church planting pastor at The Gallery in St. Paul. 
 

Download
2015 Superintendent's Letter to Churches Gathering in Annual Meetings Available
 
Click here for your copy of Superintendent Mark R. Stromberg's letter to churches gathering in annual meetings.
 
Feel free to include this letter in your annual meeting booklets or provide a copy to your church family via a bulletin insert!

To see the full NWC Calendar, visit northwestconference.org/events/

Feb. 27, 2016
Dr. Mark Yarhouse Workshop - Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN
 
March 11-12, 2016
Women Ministries Renewal Conference - Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park, MN
 
April 15-16, 2016
MOVE - Minnehaha Academy, South Campus, Minneapolis, MN
 
April 28-29, 2016
Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church + First Covenant Church, Duluth, MN
 
April 29-30, 2016
Northwest Conference Annual Meeting - Lakeview Covenant Church, Duluth, MN

May 7, 2016
Go:Serve - First Covenant Church, St. Paul, MN
 
June 18-25, 2016
Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN
 
August 4-6, 2016
MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

Northwest Conference, 3106 47th Ave. S.  |  612.721.4893  |  northwestconference.org