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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.

Upcoming Events
* February 11 
- Grand Board Retreat and Executive Board
 
in Canton, Ohio. Board members: please RSVP to Julia this week
* March 18-20 
- Reconnect 
retreat for youth workers at Orange Friends Church in Columbus, Ohio. Details above and download the brochure here
* April 22-24  
- Soul Blast  
in Battle Creek, MI. Visit www.soulblast.org for registration and details. Check it out the promotional video here: https://vimeo.com/148521620.
* April 29 - May 1 
- Men in Missions Retreat 
visit www.meninmissions.org for updates.
* May 10-13 
- Pastors' Conference
 
at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia ( www.oglebay-resort.com). Details to come. 
* July 23-26  
- Yearly Meeting
at Malone University in Canton, Ohio.

We trust that every church is sharing these prayer requests within their local prayer community. Here is this week's request: 

1 - Canton First Friends is celebrating financial freedom on January 31 with a special worship service in the morning and a debt free party in the evening. We rejoice with them and lift them in prayer as they decide future steps. 
Celebrating with Friends
 
Alli ance First Friends Church took a busload of twenty-seven individuals (the group from Trinity Van Wert pictured above) to the annual  March for Life  in Washington DC on January 22nd. On the way home, our bus was one of over 50 buses and other vehicles stranded on the PA turnpike. We were stranded for 26 hours before the authorities allowed us to leave our spot. We praise God for His provision and protection as well as the opportunities to serve and share Christ. The young adults and teens assisted stranded motorists by shoveling snow and preparing the area so those cars could leave. We were also able to exemplify the love of Christ to our bus driver who took his responsibilities for our safety and provisions very seriously. We thank God for the prayer warriors back home who spend much time in prayer for us while we were experiencing this unexpected adventure.  - Written by Connie Bancroft

Damascus Friends Church hosted their monthly senior adults' luncheon, and invited the Mexico mission team. The luncheon was held as a Mexican fiesta. This was held to help bring more awareness and support about what the youth will be doing to witness to ALL the world! The team shared with our seniors about what they will be doing in Mexico this June. They will be going to Ensenada, Mexico with an organization called Youth With A Mission to build a home for a family living in poverty, to work with children, and overall to share the gospel with the people.  - Update from Joey Adams
News from the Center
Please send in your Christian Education reports and end-of-the-year statistical forms
by  February 5th
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Please return your church's updated  Yearbook page  ASAP. Thank you to those that have already sent them. 

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Pastors: Sunday is the deadline for Voluntary Life enrollment. If you are a pastor who would like additional life insurance for yourself or your spouse, contact Quinn Parker, of GDK, at 1.800.589.2692 or email  quinn@gdkandco.com.

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As you plan ahead, the 2016 EFM Easter offerings will go to Ireland and the summer offerings will be for Bangladesh.
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The Revision Team will meet again February 2-3. To see what they have developed so far, you can download the proposed Mission, Core Values, and Desired Outcome here. Please continue to pray for the team and EFC-ER as we work to bring new vision to the Eastern Region. 

Orange Friends Church is looking to hire a 

DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE MINISTRIES.

The position is 20 hours per week, and responsibility is over the church office. 

If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please email a cover letter and resume with at least 3 references to Pastor David Mabry at:
CONTACT US
World Outreach Center
5350 Broadmoor Cir., NW
Canton, OH 44709
1-800-334-8863
Julia McDonald, Editor
jmcdonald@efcer.org

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A Little Extra.... QUOTE  FOR THE WEEK:

"Father, keep our eyes on Your word and our lives in Your hands." - Liz Curtis Higgs

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 ( jmcdonald@efcer.org ) any of your suggestions, quotes,  and/or ideas for weekly encouragement .