Supt. Bill Welch and the Presbytery invite you to join them for a season of prayer during the month of October.  We encourage you to invite your church family to join together at special times throughout the week to pray. 

On November 1 at 7:00p.m., Pastor Bill will be leading a Network wide prayer service, hosted by Pastor Jack Aiken and King's Way Ministry Center.  For those who can't make it to the service, this prayer service will be simulcasted live by Voice to the Village.  This is an excellent opportunity to gather your church together to pray for a move of God in Alaska, joining with other churches in Alaska.  You can read more about the call to prayer from our General Secretary here.

This Saturday, Pastor Pam and the AMN Children's Ministries are partnering with AKSOM and Voice the Village to provide an exciting training event for anyone working with children's ministries. Assemblies of God National Children's Ministries Director Scott Berkey will be at Anchorage Native Assembly Saturday, October 20, at 10:00am. If you are not able to attend live, this event will be simulcasted live on the internet. You can access this by going to the AMN website, AKSOM, or Voice to the Village.  Notes are available on these three websites as well.

Chuch Administration is an important topic for churches and ministers, and one that can get us into trouble if we are not prepared.  Fortunately, there are resources that can help.  One example is the Church Administration Essentials series recently developped by General Treasurer Doug Clay.  He has created 35 to 40 minute videos with experts on topics such as risk management, budgets, IT, Human Resources, Employee Benefits, and Church Governance.  These are not all released, but as they are, we are posting them on our website, www.akministrynetwork.org, under the Resources tab, under Church Administration. This link will take you directly there.   These videos are excellent, and I encourage you to use them as a resource.  We will also  be working to develop a library of video resources and links to helpful information.  Another example is a video on volunteer screening featuring Dr. Richard Hammar and Jerry Sparks, President of AG Financial Insurance Group.

The deadline for application and all paperwork for both new credentials and upgrades is November 1.  If you have any questions regarding your credential application, contact Melanya.

You will be able to renew your credentials online again this year.  The General Council Secretary's office has informed us that the online system will be available by Dec. 1 at the latest.  You will receive communication from us and General Council when it is available.  You will still be able to renew by hard copy if you like.  However, we encourage you to renew online, as it is easy and fast.  In fact, we are offering an incentive for everyone who renews their credential online by Dec. 15.  Your name will be entered into a drawing, and the winner will receive a $100 gift card!

You can prepare for online renewals now by making sure you can log in to your AG Passport and that your dues are paid.  Remember that the AMN dues in 2012 are 80% of ministerial tithe or $750 annually, whichever is greater, for all credential levels.

Saturday, Nov. 3, Superintendent Bill Welch will be teaching the Book of Acts, and Wade Cogan will be teaching Systematic Theology.  You can watch the classes live, beginning at 9:30am at www.aksom.net.  If you have any questions about how AKSOM can be a blessing in your church, contact Director Wade Cogan at the Network Office.

 Northern and Peninsula Region minister's gatherings have already occurred.  The Southeast Region Minister's Conference is in Juneau Nov. 8-10, and will feature Dr. Joseph Castleberry, President of Northwest University.  Western Region Campmeeting will be November 5-8 in Bethel.  Evangelist Tiff Shuttleworth will be the speaker.  The Central Region Holy Spirit Conference is coming up in January 13-16.  We encourage you to attend your regional minister gatherings, as they are valuable times of resourcing, inspiration, and fellowship.  For more information, contact your Regional Presbyter.