June 10, 2016

Connections   
End of year celebration Connection with Bob Stromberg gives leaders a 'mandate to create'
 
Roughly 60 people from four connections who have been meeting monthly this year gathered together for one big celebratory end-of-year event with author, storyteller, speaker and comedian Bob Stromberg.
 
The event included lunch (the bring-your-own kind) and testimonies of how God is at work in our lives and ministries. Children and youth ministers, church planters and senior leadership all mingled together in a mixer that tested everyone's linguistic skills in creating crazy run-on sentences about ministry.

CHET Northwest Conference
CHET Northwest Conference graduation celebrates 12 students

CHET Northwest Conference recognized student achievement at graduation on Monday, May 23, held in Minnehaha Academy's Hognander Chapel. Twelve students completed the six-course certificate program on the Life of Jesus.
 
For one couple, this was the first graduation either of them had experienced. CHET Northwest Conference is so very proud of the accomplishment of these students and their perseverance to arrive at this point!
 
The Ceremony was marked by participation from around the Covenant: Superintendent Mark Stromberg and other Northwest Conference staff were present, local pastors (both Hispanic and Anglo) were present, CHET Board President Captain Rich Martinez was present to confer their status as graduates, ECC Missionaries Julio Isaza and Erika Clausen were able to participate in the ceremony as they have been on home assignment. Julio gave the commencement address, and Erika gave the closing blessing.
 
The next round of CHET classes will begin on Sept. 12, with registration on Aug. 22. For more information about this ministry of the Northwest Conference, go to CHET NWC's website or Facebook page. 
 
See pictures on flickr

June Finance Connection rescheduled  
Tuesday, July 5 - 7 p.m. @ NWC Office  
 
The Finance Connection originally set for June 14 will be rescheduled to July 5, 7 p.m., at the Northwest Conference office. Contact Sandy Norris for more information.
 

Finance 
 Department of Labor FLSA changes could impact your church's pay practices
 
The Department of Labor recently updated minimum pay levels for workers earning a salary to go into effect Dec. 1, 2016. The pay level is just one of the criteria used to determine if a worker is entitled to overtime pay.
 
Other than clergy, who are exempt from FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) provisions, evaluate the job responsibilities of each employee to determine if your pay practices must change effective Dec. 1.

Download our Decision Chart to help determine if changes are necessary.

Contact sandy@northwestconference.org with questions. 
 


From the Evangelical Covenant Church    
Covenant Community Bible Experience promo kits       
 
Have you seen it? By now, your church should have received a very special promotional kit for Covenant Community Bible Experience (CBE). We hope that the tools and information inside get you even more inspired to participate in this unique discipleship opportunity to be "People of the Book" together!
 
Send us a photo of your creative CBE display and you could win your first 12 books for FREE! Show us how you are encouraging people at your church to participate in Covenant CBE by emailing that photo to mdd@covchurch.org. We'll take entries through August and announce a winner at the end of the month.
 
Ready to commit to Covenant CBE and order Bibles? You can now go to CovChurch.org/CBE for easy ordering online.
 
The Make and Deepen Disciples team wants to partner with you in fueling a movement of renewed Bible reading, so please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help you promote and build enthusiasm for Covenant Community Bible Experience. Just email mdd@covchurch.org.
 
We continue to pray that this experience will greatly deepen disciples who make disciples and powerfully unite us, equipped to fulfill the mission of God.
 
Making Disciples Together,
 
Michelle Sanchez
Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples
Evangelical Covenant Church  
To see the full NWC Calendar, visit northwestconference.org/events/

June 18-25, 2016
Adventures in Leadership - Adventurous Christians, Grand Marais, MN

June 23-25, 2016
Gather 2016 - Phoenix, AZ

July 28-31, 2016
Triennial XV - Kansas City, MO
 
August 4-6, 2016
MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

September 7-9, 2016
CRIM Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp, McGregor, MN

October 3-5, 2016
Ministerial Association Retreat - Chase on the Lake, Walker, MN

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