| a ministry of southwest cba |
July 2012 |
|
|
|
to invest in the
ministry of SWCC
|
|
Pastoral Search
Remember to keep our churches that are searching for new pastors in your prayers. Click on a link below to see their website or to get an email for more information.
Calvary Baptist, Tempe
FBC Arivaca
FBC Benson, Youth
Associate
Grace Community
Church, Salome
FBC Mammoth
p/t worship pastor
Trinity Baptist, Mesa
 |
|
Director's Column
 | |
Dr. Bert Downs
Regional Director |
"You must love change. Seems like you're always changing something."
The words of a friend offered to a friend . . . me. Truthfully, I'm not sure anyone "loves" change. After all, change is so intrusive . . . so disrupting . . . so demanding. Oh yes, and so needed.
Growth in life, growth that's positive and God-intended, always requires change. Physical growth brings change. Intellectual growth brings change. Spiritual growth brings change. And ministry growth will bring change as well. Like it or not, if we're going to embrace life as God intended it to be for us through Christ, change is a very present and very necessary element. If we're not citizens of this world and just passing through then change is our constant traveling companion.
This edition of Connection Magazine might be called "the change edition." Its stories uncover the constant movement of life and ministry under the guiding hand of our Lord. You'll learn, for instance, of a new network ministry model now taking shape and of the team that will shape it as we enter a new season of regional ministry. And in our heritage feature you'll meet a man, Chuck Saletri, who has helped bring change and new life to many regional churches. Change always requires training and eventually a time of retreat to rest up from the work of change . . . you'll read about a training event as well as two retreats that will fill the bill for growth and rest. And then there's Facebook . . . you know, we're there . . . just look for Southwest CBA . . . our site is filled with strong, current resources to help us all on our journey of change and impact.
Love change? I don't particularly love change, but I've learned to love the results God brings through it in preparation for that instant "when we shall all be changed" . . . forever.
Bert |
|
New Ops Model Anticipates Gain, Growth
You know you've reached a particular season of life when your doctor begins every conversation with these words, "At your age." I was at "that age" upon arrival here in Arizona. It was therefore clear to me that only a few simple mandates were before us: with the help of local leaders, find a new lease on life for the association of churches; find a way to stretch resources so that new lease had a chance to work; and lastly, find an outstanding group of local leaders to carry the "lease" into its future.
While it's certainly not fully matured, we have found that new lease in the Southwest Church Connection and all its potential, in the relationships that have blossomed and matured among pastors and association leaders and in the leadership of an amazing board of trustees. We've also been able to stretch existing resources and in some cases find new resources to help us move that new lease forward. Lastly, we've been led to a model and to a group of servant leaders to help move the network forward into its next phase of service and impact.
The model is simple: it's all about grassroots connection. The graphic depicts it effectively . . . the association or network as we now call it is made up of various sized congregations . . . they are the association. SWCBA/SWCC serves the network. In that role, we live in the lines and we make connections . . . connections to resources, training, ministry help, placement and search services, coaching, peer relationships, new church development, church renewal, mediation, ethnic ministries and other requested services.
And like a church that grows beyond the solo pastor model, we now need a team to handle where the Lord seems to be taking us . . . to develop and mature all of those connections. Like the network, that team needs to be grassroots, pastoral based. Each member serves one or more active ministry roles in our region's churches . . . each is creating margin to help unfold the future God has for us. SWCBA/SWCC, at your age, it's time for a change, a change that will bring newness readying you for the new horizons of ministry God is now opening.
|
|
|
|
Ministry Team Keystone in SWCC Effectiveness Model
 Many entities including local churches fail to grow in impact and effectiveness because they fail to structure for it. They experience God's potential for them, but struggle to adjust to the realities of change necessitated by realized potential. Two of those realities involve leaders leading differently and structures moving toward team actualization. The leader must move from doing ministry to leading and empowering ministry; the ministry moves into the hands of team members that focus their energies on specific aspects of the growing organism (ministry). These movements in leadership and team are the essence of the model described in the preceding article. The aim? To serve the SWCBA/SWCC network of churches with increasing energy and effectiveness.
 | |
Rev. Steve Engram |
The team is energized by the Regional Executive who has a catalyst and developer role to play in moving the model and related vision forward with both existing and new leaders and churches. The network's Regional Executive going into the 2013 season of ministry is Rev. Steve Engram of Desert Springs Community Church. Steve has worked through the new model's entire building process from vision to values to structure to system and finally to participants.
Steve will coordinate a team of director-level coaches who will spearhead key aspects of our connection ministry:
 | |
Barb Eymann |
 | |
Ed Clavell |
Dr. Ed Clavell will handle network business, guide communications and lead in the development of specialty coaches for our ethnic and women's ministries. He will also provide general guidance for the entire model. Barbara Eymann will continue in her role developing our various communication tools but on a half-time basis . . . seems she wants to focus a little more on
 | |
Sandra Maki |
grandchildren. And Sandra Maki from our Prescott Pines team will provide
 | |
Dwight Hunt |
part time help in executing specific communication tasks as well
as some social media development.
Dr. Dwight Hunt will give guidance to church health ministries, pastoral coaching, placement and church search services, pulpit supply, interim pastoral needs and an array of grassroots, mission-building projects. Dwight is already well known and much loved by
 | |
Carol Tetzlaff |
many of our churches and pastors.
 | |
Steve Doerksen |
Rev. Steve Doerksen, a church planter himself, will take the point for coordinating our church planting ministries, will guide the development of our Connection groups and their coaches, and will serve as liaison with our events development team. Carol Tetzlaff and Meri Marion, both from Mesa Baptist and both gifted events developers, will serve as our events coordinators.
 | |
Meri Marion |
These roles are all focused and part time, involving very specific tasks and results that help us "live in the lines," making the connections a healthy, growing network of churches and leaders requires. Finally, the model is crafted to make these focused and needed transitions well within the boundaries of our constitutional mandate and current personnel costs making this not only a timely and functional development but a very cost effective one as well.
Current executive director, Dr. Bert Downs, views the development as "the result of growing relationships and excellent team work from many pastoral leaders in the region and especially those involved through the Board of Trustees. An awakened and empowered regional ministry now requires team expertise and focus to sustain and advance its momentum. That team must effectively function from within the network rather than from the historic model that embraced an institution positioned outside of it. This insider model is exactly what will advance Christ's work in and through the network most effectively. For me personally, the launch of this model is the attaining of a long-envisioned goal." While moving into an active (read that "working") retirement, Dr. Downs will continue to serve the region and guide the transition for the rest of 2012, and then will coach the team in 2013 as it grows into its "regional clothes." |
|
True-Faced Leader to Minister at Leadership Couples Retreat
Save the dates. The Leadership Couples Retreat (formerly the Pastors and Wives Retreat) returns to Prescott Pines a final time October 15 - 17. Yes, you read that right . . . a final time . . . but you'll have to come to the retreat to find out what's next! As always, the retreat focuses on the renewal needs of our church leaders and their spouses, and as always, singles are welcome as well as this is not a marriage retreat . . . it's a ministry "rest up and renewal" retreat.
Our 2012 renewal guide will be Bill Thrall, one of the three principle leaders of the True-faced Ministry. Many of you know Bill from his work in the region (he's based in Scottsdale) and from the True-faced team's impact at our 2011 Annual Growth Conference. Bill will be focusing his ministry with us on various aspects of our retreat theme,
"Growing in Christ in Spite
of Being in Ministry."
His very personal and almost fatherly approach will bring a much needed tone to this critical area of our lives.
That tone is a reason why everyone from CEO's of worldwide companies to heads of churches and mission organizations to the newlyweds down the block want to have Bill Thrall as their mentor. His experience and wisdom prove true as he helps others establish trust in all their key relationships and nurtures grace-based communities. His eloquence and integrity have given him opportunities to teach True-faced principles internationally. His wisdom has been penned throughout the entire series of The Ascent of a Leader, Beyond Your Best, TrueFaced and several other recent publications. Prior to joining Truefaced, Bill founded and shepherded the influential church, Open Door Fellowship, for over 20 years. In his spare time, Bill can be found fishing, crafting furniture for his family in his wood shop or cultivating fruits, vegetables and herbs in his beautiful backyard garden. Bill and his wife, Grace have three grown children Wende, Bill, and Joy and nine grandchildren.
Well, there's a taste of what will be one of our strongest Leadership Couples Retreats to date. Put Bill's ministry along side sweet worship, quiet surroundings, God's presence, great companionship, lots of friends and some special surprises, and the retreat will surely hit its target: your rest and renewal. So save those dates: October 15 - 17. And get your ministry team and spouses ready to relax and grow.
For our SWCC churches, cost for the retreat is $70 per couple, $35 for singles, for those staying at Prescott Pines, and $30 per couple for those staying in local hotels . . . a true value for you, our much cherished ministry leaders. Finally, watch our website, www.swchurchconnection.org, for registration details beginning August 1. Now save those dates! |
|
Meet "Mr. Interim" . . . Our Own Chuck Saletri
Serving churches as an intentional interim pastor. It's an amazing and uncommon calling. It's the calling that filled the oh-so productive ministry years of an incredible servant couple, Chuck and Sue Saletri. Though packing an earned doctorate and the wisdom that can only come from many years of effective experience, it was the servant hearts of this couple for which they will be best remembered . . . servant hearts and a remarkable gift to take old, declining church situations and make them new again.
While Chuck and Sue served eight churches in the region in that way and coached many more, perhaps the crowning jewel of their ministry is Prescott Heights Baptist Church now known as The Heights. Through their ministry the groundwork was laid for the emergence of a work that would grow from a few dozen to a few thousand with influence extending well beyond its Prescott location. The pastor at The Heights through that season of growth, Lee Wiggins, will tell you it was the foundation put down by the Saletris that was the key to The Heights' amazing ministry journey. And while now retired and enjoying children and grandchildren, Chuck's ministry continues through his coaching of younger pastors and through the ministries of those he trained to continue the work of the intentional interim. Enjoy the video . . . it's Chuck at his story-telling best.
 | | Dr. Chuck Saletri - SWCC Heritage Series #5 |
|
|
SWCBA Facebook Filled with Ministry Treasure
 Okay, some of you have discovered the SWCBA/SWCC Facebook page and are mining it for its ministry resources. Great! However, many of you haven't made the journey there yet . . . haven't discovered the relevant resource articles gathered from the best of evangelical sources and put there so you don't have to search for them. Every day new articles from authors you know and some you don't find their way to our Facebook treasure trove. Those resources touch on developments both traditional and contemporary throughout the evangelical church community. Oh, did we mention controversial? Sometimes they're that, too!
Point is our Facebook "admins" are always scouting resources for you. A quick check to our Facebook page (Southwest CBA) each day may give you just the ministry or life insight you need at that time. Oh yes, occasionally it will also give you a link to a free Kindle book. So check it out . . . "LIKE" it . . . and get connected to resources that are easily accessible and ready for your use. Lastly, help us out . . . let us know the online sources you consult that have helped you so that we can mine those for our Facebook friends.
|
|
 Las Obras de la Iglesia
Empezando este Otoño el licenciado Pastor Edward Clavell, Facilitador de SWCC, empezará una serie de talleres con el objetivo a equipar; Pastores, Ancianos/Diáconos, Líderes y otros con las cosas esenciales básicas para la administración de la iglesia. Por la administración efectiva, los líderes de la iglesia guían a su gente a comprender y lograr el propósito de Dios para su iglesia. Las áreas enseñanza:
* Las Relaciones Legales y Financieras
* Misión y Visión
* Autogestión
* Recursos humanos
* Gestión de Tiempo
* Comunicación
* Bases Bíblicas para la Gerencia de la Entero-Vida
Por eficiencia apropiada de Administración de Iglesia, la orden, y la organización son traídos al trabajo de la Iglesia, así que todos los recursos-inclusive recursos humanos-son utilizados efectivamente para logros significativos del Reino.
Click here for English |
|
Keeping Records is Important
Author: Dr. Ed Clavell
SWCC Facilitator
The Chairman of the Board of a local church and I were discussing developing a strategic plan for his church. We had reached the part where I started to go over the list of church records and documents which would benefit the process. As I listed the information we would need, the look on his face said it all. He had no clue how to gather the information, where to start searching or worst of all whether the information existed. Churches are notorious for being poor record keepers. I am not suggesting this is true of every congregation. However, I have had enough experience as a pastor at various churches and as a consultant that allows me to make such a statement.
Let me state clearly that it is not a matter of not caring, but a case of not understanding the benefits, importance and legalities of proper records keeping as the title suggests, "Keeping Records Is Important" . . .
Read More |
|
Women's Camps in the Pines
Three camps, three themes, three speakers.
Need a break from the heat and your busy schedule? Would you love to have some quality time to spend with God? How about an opportunity to get to know and fellowship (i.e. laughing, playing, praying, eating, sharing, singing, learning . . .) with the women in your church? Maybe you'd like to meet others from churches all around our SWCC network. If so, our Women's Retreat at Prescott Pines Camp is the place for you.
Due to unforeseen family circumstances, Laura Kramer will not be joining us for this year's retreats. But not to worry, God always has a plan. We are blessed to have three wonderful speakers step in to minister to our hearts. Our speakers will be joined by Mary Naman and her daughter Julia for a special time of worship & praise at both weekend retreats.
- Retreat #1 - September 7-9, will feature Wendy Hagen who spoke at our recent Mother Daughter retreat. Join Wendy as she speaks to the theme for this weekend: "Transformed By God, Not By Culture!"
- Retreat #2 - September 11-13 - Join our very own Charmaine Newton as she shares "Breaking Bread" ... a series of messages designed to illustrate the power of prayer through knowing
 HOW to pray. - Retreat #3 - September 114-16, will feature speaker and author Anne Wiggins.
Check out all the details and registration information at Prescottpines.org.
Registration is open and space is limited. Register today!
Can you smell the pine trees already? They're waiting for you. |
|
|
|
|
