W Encourager Header  
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-the minute 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. 

New News:
Marriage Enrichment Programs
* Pastor Dave Mabry, in cooperation with the EP & E Board, is creating a list of those within EFC-ER who are Certified Facilitators for the Prepare Enrich Marriage Assessment (
www.prepare-enrich.com).
This program is a powerful tool in assisting couples towards life-long marital health. Please contact Pastor Dave (david@orangefriendschurch.org) if you are a Certified Facilitator or are interested in more information about the process for leaders in the local church. * A complete, updated Marriage Support Brochure has be added to the EP & E Board resource page of the website (www.efcer.org/EPE )  
 
Important Reminders:
Monday Emergencies:
Although most of the office staff take Monday as their Sabbath, we now have a superintendent on call every Monday. Simply call the World Outreach Center and Marybeth will contact the superintendent.
Health Insurance Update:
* As many of you know, our pastors group policy had to be terminated as of April 30th. This was due to so many pastors opting for cheaper insurance plans  - plus necessary policy changes related to the "Affordable Care Act." 
* Our representatives at DiStefano Insurance Services have been actively working with pastors since February and they report that all former participants have coverage. 
* We still have other insurance plans including: dental insurance, gap-filler insurance, disability insurance and life insurance available. Contact the WOC for more details.
Moving Digital
* Please be sure to invite other leaders to stay connected. We want all EFC-ER leaders to register for the Weekly Encourager at our website. Or, print a copy and pass it on.
 
 
LEADERSHIP/MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES! 
We're highlighting quality, training & leadership development opportunities being offered at a few local churches. 

SPECIAL NOTICE: 
East Richland Friends regrets that the Evangelism Seminar 
(The Ways of The Alongsider) has been CANCELLED.  

* May 15-16, 2014 - Canton First Friends SPORTS CONFERENCE
"The Sports Conference" - 3 levels of training in one conference!

Conference will cover starting sports ministry, "Ministry to the Bleacher" (ways to minister to the entire family, not just the kids), and much more! Brochures and details available on the EP & E Board webpage.

 

* August 14-15, 2014 - Willoughby Hills Friends Church

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT - Willoughby Hills is a Premier Host Site for this powerful simulcast for Christian leaders who want to be better and unleash the full potential of their teams. Details available here. 

 
Thank you for continuing to Pray...
OUR SYMPATHIES TO THE FOLLOWING FAMILIES:
* Our sympathies to the family of Wayne Blizzard who passed away on April 23rd at the age of 87. Wayne served as Executive Board President for 12 years. Please continue to pray for Zelda, his wife of 64 years, and their family.
* We also extend sympathies to Pastor Jeremy Ray on the recent passing of his father.
Spring means transitions for some church leadership. Please be in prayer for these churches with pastoral openings this spring.
* Penn Friends Church (Michigan District) *
* Raisin Valley Friends (Michigan District)
* Goshen Friends (Western Ohio District)
* Mt. Carmel (Western Ohio District)
* Salem Southeast Friends (Northeastern Ohio District)
* Shiloh Chapel Friends (Western Ohio District)
* Portsmouth, RI (Colonial District)
      (*Penn Friends is a new affiliate, pending delegate approval.)

Pray, too,  for the up-coming Pastors Conference and Men in Missions Retreat.

Northeastern Ohio Golfers! 
Mark your calendars to attend the Randall A. Neiswanger Memorial Golf Outing at Buck Run Golf Course in 
Salem, Ohio  Saturday, June 7th - Format- 4 Man Scramble
Registration Deadline May 27th
Contact Beloit Friends Church for more information.
More details on Facebook. Search for Randall A. Neiswanger Memorial Golf Outing on Facebook.
 
Staying connected with Friends, April 30, 2014

Yearbooks are at the printers and will be shipped to churches soon! 
May Calendar of Events

1 EP & E Board, WOC 9:30 am

2 Malone Baccalaureate   

3 Malone Commencement  

2-4 Men in Missions Retreat,     Marengo, OH  

6 Ministerial Accreditation Bd  (Gatlinburg, TN)  

6-9 Spring Pastor's Conference  (Gatlinburg, TN)  

10 Finance Bd., Malone, 9:30 am* 

9-10  Malone Spring Board Mtgs

17 Comm. Bd., WOC 9:30 am

26 Memorial Day, Office closed  

29 Executive Bd., WOC 9:30 am

* NOTE DATE CHANGE.

 


LET'S MOVE INTO THE DIGITAL AGE... but not leave behind those without digital skills.
Please be sure to print out copies of this newsletter for those without access to a digital copy.

Moving into the 
Digital Age... means keeping current with the EFC-ER website. 
* Invite your church to go to the website, bookmark it, and sign up for the Weekly Encourager. www.efcer.org 

Camp Gideon invites eager workers to "come on down any day in May!" to help update & prepare the facilities 
for summer. 
Contact Tom Lincoln 
for more details.
 (330) 806-1383
CONTACT US
World Outreach Center
5350 Broadmoor Cir., NW
Canton, OH 44709
1-800-334-8863
Donna Neff, Editor
dneff@efcer.org

 A Little Extra.... QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:
I have learned that faith means trusting in advance 
what will only make sense in reverse.  

- Philip Yancey

 
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 Donna any of your suggestions and/or ideas for this weekly encouragement.
Stay tuned.... we've just begun!


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