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Welcome to EFC-ER's Weekly Encourager. We trust that this will become a bright spot each week in your emails. The purpose of the Weekly Encourager is to provide up-to-date information about region-wide events, prayer requests, and helpful resources from the local churches. We will close each email with a quick quote and/or survey to gather helpful resources from leaders to share with our wider Friends family. 
Meet Roy Twaddell from EFM
 
Roy and Jinky Twaddell, in cooperation with Evangelical Friends Mission and Evangelical Friends Yearly Meetings, assist local communities to reach out and plant churches among people from the many Middle East countries. Roy will be available to speak in our Eastern Region churches during October.  To take advantage of this opportunity, contact Julie Jenkins at the WOC to schedule. As Sunday dates are limited, consider hosting Roy for smaller gatherings where you will get to know him one-on-one.
News from the Office:
* Please send in your VBS monies to Debbie Entwistle at the World Outreach Center as soon as possible. Thank you for your help! 

Upcoming Events:
* September 12th 
- Beth Moore Simulcast
available at three of our churches:
* September 25-27 - Focus on Discipleship Conference at East Richland Friends Church. Visit www.focusconference.info or watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX_1fXfXgos for information. Use the code EFCER50 to receive a $50 discount. 
* October 15 
- Adult Ministries Fall Retreat 
from 11am - 3:30pm at the Amish Door in Wilmot, OH. For more information, visit www.efcer.org  or download the brochure here . The cost is $24 before September 9th and $29 after. 
* October 23-24 
- Equip2Serve
ministry conference at Malone University. The cost is $50 and includes breakfast, lunch, and all workshop materials. For more information and to register visit www.malone.edu/equip2serve or download the flyer here.
Malone University Chancel Players Now Scheduling
The Chancel Players perform faith-based comedy and drama for schools, churches, civic groups, and community organizations, as well as youth events and conferences.
The Chancel Players travel during the academic year (September-April) and are now available for bookings. Please contact Chris Abrams, Vice President for Student Affa irs, at  [email protected]  to secure a performance date. Or visit:  http://www.malone.edu/chancel-players.  
Things Said to Pastors and Other Church Leaders 
by Thom S. Ranier
"Few people are truly aware of the constant requests, complaints, and criticisms pastors and other church leaders receive. I must admit, however, I was surprised when I asked church leaders on Twitter to share some of the more unusual comments they received."

"We need a small group for cat lovers."
"You need to change your voice."
"Our expensive coffee is attracting too many hipsters."
"Why don't you ever preach on Tim Tebow?"
"We need to start attracting more normal people at church."
"I don't like the brand of donuts in the foyer." 
"You don't look at our side of the worship center enough when you preach."
"Your sermon needed more calories." 
"You shouldn't drink water when you preach." 

"Pastors and other church leaders must have great patience and strength. They are faced with these and many other comments and demands every day. I love these church leaders, and I thank God for them." 
We Would Love to Hear from You
In the future, we hope to have a blog or section in our website to share stories. We would love to celebrate and thank God with you. Please consider the following questions:
  • What has worked best for your church as a back-to-school or harvest outreach?
  • How many of you did summer missions trips? Where did you go and how many from your church participated?
Please send your responses to Donna Neff at [email protected].
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WMF Retreats


The Northern Retreat will be held
October 9-11 at the Heartland Retreat Center.

 The Southern Retreat will be held
October 16-18 at the Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks.

For registration information, visit www.efcer.org. 

NOTE: Evelyn Titus' (Northern registrar) number is (937) 363-2140 and her address is 19607 State Route 292, Ridgeway, OH 43345. 
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Friends from Raisin Center, Raisin Valley, and Riverbend (formerly Tecumseh Friends) churches have been meeting together to ring the bells that were purchased from memorial money at Pastor Don Esch's passing in 1983.  It is a three octave set of bells made by the Schulmerich Bell company, but many are in need of repair due to the aged rubber springs.  Repairs and shipping expenses are costly.  We are looking for anyone who has experience with repairing this brand.  In addition, we are looking for a set of hand chimes, sometimes also called choir chimes or melody chimes.   Please contact Heidi Chandler, the Pastor's wife at Raisin Valley Friends Church 
at 
(517) 263 - 8532  
CONTACT US
World Outreach Center
5350 Broadmoor Cir., NW
Canton, OH 44709
1-800-334-8863
Julia McDonald, Editor
A Little Extra.... QUOTE  FOR THE WEEK:

"The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, 
because this whole thing is His." - Francis Chan

We hope you've enjoyed catching up with news from the EFC-ER office.
More information and news will be coming each week. 
Please send Julia ( [email protected] ) any of your suggestions, quotes,  and/or ideas for weekly encouragement .