April 26 Impact Newsletter

Welcome To Gateway

"I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings; And shall not be ashamed."

Psalm 119:46

Easter Services still are a wonderful celebration of worship and acknowledgement of Jesus Christ in the U.S. despite the decline of Christianity in our country. The reports that came in from around our conference are strong and encouraging. We had LARGE attendance numbers, multiple types of services, high lay involvement, and evidence of discipleship, conversions and baptisms abounded!

Now,,,, two weeks later you get up to present the message God has laid on your heart and you wonder, “ Where have the crowds, the excitement, the spiritual evidence of God’s presence gone?” Walter Brueggemann once said. “ …hope is subversive, for it limits the grandiose pretension of the present, daring to announce that the present to which we have all made commitments is now called into question.”

I assure you, God is still active and present regardless of the intensity of the demonstrations. It is OK. The work is there. Go to work. You will not be ashamed. Speak joyfully of the testimonies. If you do regularly in all places, those the Spirit of God is calling though his active prevenient grace will respond. We are to worship and proclaim. God shall handle the rest.

On the ADVENTURE with you,

Supt. Ben

The Bishop Search Committee and the denominational Board of Administration are pleased to present the slate of nominees for bishop for the coming election at General Conference 2023.

In this e-mail you will find links to a short video presentation from each nominee. Please watch them so you can get to know the nominees both personally and professionally.

The videos and other forthcoming information and media will be posted on the GC23 website at https://gc23.org/nominees.

Please join us in prayer that the Lord of the church would guide all of our hearts through wisdom and discernment as we consider our selection of bishops for the next quadrennium.

Sincerely,

Alex Soto and Bishop Emeritus David Roller, Co-Chairs of the Bishop Search Committee

Susan Agel, Chair of the FMCUSA Board of Administration

Durley 2023 Summer Camp Schedule

June 2-7-Family Camp Week

June 10-Day Camp (Grades K-2)

June 12-16-Young Teen Camp 1 (Grades 6-9)

June 19-23-Young Teen Camp 2 (Grades 6-9)

June 26-29-Guide Camp (Grades 4-6)

July 5-7-Trailblazer Camp (Grades 2-4)

September 1-20-Senior Teen Weekend: Labor Day Retreat (Grades 9-12)

Important Information:

Churches should have received packets with detailed information.

Dealine for Youth Camp Early Bird Pricing is May 15 ($20 increase in price of all overnight camps and $5 increase for Day Camp after that date)

Scholarship bucks are available

Registrations will be processed online again this year (paper form is available in packet if needed) Register online at Durleycamp.org/camps

Click here to view letter given with packet

Strategy Development Goal Marketing Vision Planning Business Concept

May 31, 2023

Local Church Grant Initiative Letter of Inquiry Due

To further the goals of the Free Methodist Church USA and Gateway Conference, you are invited to submit a proposal that advances the opportunity for local churches to begin new initiatives that support these goals. Specifically, the Conference desires to support initiatives that engage the local church in the life and lives of the community in which they serve.

PROCESS, DEADLINE AND EXPECTATIONS:

A letter of inquiry (one page) must be received by the Superintendent by May 31 to begin the process. The Superintendent will ascertain if the inquiry meets the Grant criteria and vision for the conference.
June 5 - Grant Application is sent to selected inquiries by Conference office via e-mail. The completed Grant Application must be received in the Conference office (either via email or standard mail) by July 5. Incomplete grant requests will NOT be considered. Confirmation of receipt of proposal, as well as request status, will be sent to the address and contact on the application form.
SDFGC will review applications from July 5-August 5 and send recommendations to the BOA Chair and Superintendent for dispersal to the BOA for approval or denial.
September 1 – notification of awards will be sent
Dispersal of grant awards will occur in January; grant cycle will be one calendar year unless multi-year awards are made.

Click here for more information