MNA Online
October 2019
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The fall season reminds us of God bringing new life. Even as we enjoy the beauty of fall color from leaves dying, our thoughts are drawn to the grandeur of the coming spring, when new life begins. In this same way, we look forward to the Lord bringing new life as his people are faithful in proclaiming the gospel. Your gifts to MNA will be well used for that proclamation. 

Thank you for your prayers and gifts to Mission to North American as we share the love of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ through church planting, church renewal, and missional partnerships across the United States and Canada. Your generosity has been used by Jesus to further our many avenues of ministry.

Click here  to donate online to the General Fund and click here to donate to an MNA Ministry or project . You can also mail donations made out to Mission to North America to:
 
Mission to North America
PO Box 890233
Charlotte NC 28289-0233
Upcoming Events
Bent Tree Gathering

October 7-11, Allenspark CO. Early bird pricing of $325 ends August 7! After that the price goes up to $375. Come out to the mountains and spend a few days with Richard Pratt and your fellow ministers as we seek to be reminded of our callings and pursue them afresh Click here for more information and here to register. Bent Tree's goal is to remind church leaders of their callings through avenues of rest, wisdom, and fellowship
Church Planting and Renewal Conferences

This three-day event features topics such as rural, suburban and urban church planting, mentoring, and the nuts and bolts of planting. This event is now being offered in multiple locations. Upcoming dates:

October 29-31, Denver CO. Plenary Speaker: Paul Hahn
November 5-7, Pittsburgh PA, Plenary Speaker: Mike Khandjian
November 12-14, Milwaukee WI, Plenary Speaker: Brian Fikkert
January 7-9, 2020, Chattanooga TN, Plenary Speaker: Thurman Williams

For more information and to register, visit https://churchplantingrenewal.com/.
World Street Experience

November 4-8, Vancouver CANADA. A training bootcamp to empower missional leaders to make disciples through kingdom prayer.

  • Gather The World to Pray for the World
  • Learn to Lead Prayer for Kingdom Advance
  • Train Leaders & Grow Your Ministry 

Click here for more information.
Considering Church Planting?
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“I’m leaving feeling that this is one of the best things I’ve seen going on in the PCA.”… Fantastic week of learning, growing, stretching, and fellowship…Appreciate all the encouragement. ” Considering Church Planting? Then the MNA Assessment Center is for you. The cost of assessment is less than half of one month’s salary and operating expenses for a typical church plant, and a very wise investment that individuals, churches and presbyteries can make in starting a new church . The next open Assessment date is January 28-31, 2020 with an application deadline of December 2, 2019. Please plan ahead! An absolute three-week lead time minimum is required prior to each application deadline in order to apply, and we often run at capacity. Not convinced? Here are a few more kudos for MNA Assessment: “The assessors were the most valuable component of the AC… Loved the process, conversations, insight and the people. This is a life-long memory that I will certainly cherish…Getting the opportunity to learn from others in church planting and peers interested in serving the Lord in a similar way. It doesn’t happen often in the “real world” context and I felt supported and encouraged and challenged…. So much grace and love for those attending…I loved assessment, was encouraged and I’m leaving feeling that this is one of the best things I’ve seen going on in the PCA.”

Click here   for more information or email Mary Ellen Garofalo at mgarofalo@pcanet.org .
MNA News
Support the MNA Thanksgiving Offering - Support Our Future Leaders

right now other single moms and dads are terrified that they cannot provide.  They walk by churches whose doors are closed, whose members never go out into the neighborhoods, who never demonstrate the love of Christ even if they preach it from their pulpit.

We want to mobilize our congregations to show compassion and mercy to the poor in ways that are effective and life-changing. To that end, we must raise up leaders in poor communities and send gospel driven ministers to such places. Each year we ask that you give generously to the Thanksgiving Offering so that we can encourage, train, and motivate new leaders to help the poor, share Jesus, and grow the church in communities of need.

You may give individually or as a congregation. We make brochures available for distribution to your church family. Click here to learn more.


You Can Support Our Chaplains Financially Without Costing Your Church a Penny!

We need your help getting the word out regarding the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). MNA/PRCC Chaplain Ministries is an approved charity (CFC #38370) for federal employees to donate their payroll deduction gifts to. We need churches to let their federal employee members and friends know about this opportunity to help support our Chaplains. Sample bulletin inserts and an info letter are on our website.  The Campaign runs from October 1 – December 15, 2019.  Click here for more information, and for printable fliers to hand out to your congregation.
Together for the Kingdom!

Who is there for you? When you are lonely, confused, broken, or need prayer? When you are “on the mat” (like the paralyzed man in Luke 5) and need someone to lower you through the roof to Jesus?

Parakaleo is Here for Her every day of the year, providing training and support for church planting spouses and pastors’ wives. 

  One ministry wife, “Patty,” told us,

I came to Parakaleo in search of practical answers. How do I love my husband when he devours our time with church planting? How do I remain patient when my children are all screaming at the same time? How do I bear up under the criticism everyone seems to share so freely? How do I speak truth to myself in the midst of crazy? This is a short version of the long list of solutions I expected to walk away with after my week of training.
Instead, I got the gospel. [It] calmed my mind and revealed so many places where I had been in bondage to my own idea of what it meant to be a wife in leadership/ ministry. It freed me to embrace me the way God made me. ... It connected me to scripture. It challenged me to move outside myself because I don't have to self-protect or fear. It made me feel safe, cared for and free. It was truth. It was resources. It was rest. 

I returned changed and people have noticed. I am more confident and gentle. … I feel challenged to move outside myself because I'm safe to do so, and because I'm called to do so, and the One who does the calling is also the One keeping me safe in Him.
 
Will you help train and support church planting wives in Parakaleo’s  Here for  Her  campaign? We’re trusting God and have a big goal—to go from 115 giving units to 500. Our staff, network leaders, and other Fans of Parakaleo have set up Crowdrise campaigns to raise funds so that women like Patty can be trained and supported. More information is also on our website, www.parakaleo.us. Help us be Here for Her!  
LAMP Develops Mentoring Tool

Church leaders often lack the resources to mentor and develop leaders for the Gospel Ministry. LAMP has developed a tool to help in the evaluation of those you are seeking to develop for the ministry. The Developing Leaders In Ministry Tool focuses on the candidate’s progress in his calling, character, competency, and credentialing. This resource will help target those areas helping the candidate continue to progress in his development as a future leader in the church. Check it out at the resources link at www.LAMPseminary.org .
Connections and Conversations: A Gospel-Centered, Disability-focused Book Club for Families

Families living with disability often find it challenging to connect with others who really understand the impact of disability on everyday life. Join our new monthly book club,  Connections and Conversations, for real encouragement alongside others who love and care for someone who has a disability. 

If you enjoy reading, discussion, and connecting with others—without ever leaving home—this book club is for you!  

  • Each month we discuss one gospel-centered, disability-focused book. 
  • The book club time includes teaching and discussion on key points in the book. 
  • You can purchase the book and read beforehand OR simply join us for the conversation. 
  • The book club is on the 3rd Monday of each month. Choose either the morning or evening session. 
 
Join the group via a free, live Zoom conference call from any computer, tablet, or phone. Invite your friends and family. Grab a cup of coffee, and prepare to be encouraged! Remember, you don’t have to read the book ahead of time.  Click here for dates and books.
What Is Your Cultural Intelligence?
Among many congregations in America, Sunday morning at 11 remains to be a segregated hour. Nevertheless, there have been excellent movements within the PCA to welcome and include the ethnic minorities that God has placed all around us. I find few tools as helpful to prepare me to minister to others outside my culture than the IDI. – A recent Assessment Center candidate

Cultural Intelligence is the ability to function effectively across various cultural contexts. – Resilient Ministry
 
Is your ministry context one in which you interact with a wide variety of people and cultures? Or…do you feel like you don’t interact enough with people who are different than you? Finding out about your “cultural IQ” is a stepping stone to deepening and enriching relationships with others who are different than you. MNA is offering the opportunity to take the Intercultural Development Inventory followed by an individual debrief of the results, including a personalized development plan you can use going forward. There is a cost for this service, but it’s an investment well worth making if you want to grow in this crucial area of life and ministry. You can read here for more information, or contact Ann Powers at idi@pcanet.org
Now Accepting Applications for The PCA Unity Fund Tuition Subsidy

Out of 4,882 Teaching Elders in the PCA, only 1% are African American, .8% Hispanic American, and 10% Korean/Korean American. The PCA Unity Fund aims to increase these numbers through training, mentoring and developing minority leadership in the PCA, primarily through providing tuition subsidies to support training at reformed institutions. There are both ordained and non-ordained options .   Click here to learn more about The PCA Unity Fund and here to access the applications. Deadline is March 30, 2020.


Upcoming Engaging Disability Training Opportunities

The Church and Diaconal Care in Disability Ministry 

Thursday, October 17, 2019 
8 pm ET | 7 pm CT | 6 pm MT | 5 pm PT 
Teacher: Ashley Belknap, Director of Engaging Disability With The Gospel 

Deacons are on the front lines of mercy ministry and taking care of the church building—two important considerations in disability ministry. How can others in the church support and join in their labors of love to meet the extra needs of people who have disabilities and their families? 

Developing a Disability Ministry Team 

Thursday, November 14, 2019 
3 pm ET | 2 pm CT | 1 pm MT | 12 pm PT 
Teacher: Ashley Belknap, Director of Engaging Disability With The Gospel 

To sustain and grow your church's ministry to people with disabilities and their families, you will likely need to consider establishing a disability ministry team at some point. 

Click here for more details on both trainings.
Metanoia Prison Ministries Is Looking for Mentors in TN and SC

Do you live in the Chattanooga, TN or Greenville, SC area? If you do, are you interested in mentoring a prisoner one on one, in person? If you are interested, please contact Mark Casson at  mcasson@pcanet.org . We would love to have you join us in the community mentoring ministry. 
2020 Events
How can churches engage with the arts?

Creative partnerships between churches and outside organizations can be mutually beneficial. Cultivating space for the arts to flourish in communities can expand churches’ impact, strengthen neighborhoods, and even benefit churches financially. Come to the Convertible Conference to learn how the Harrison Center and Redeemer Presbyterian have successfully partnered for almost 20 years and how churches can engage with the arts in your own community. 

March 6-7, 2020 | Pre Conference March 5
Indianapolis IN

Check out our calendar for more events in 2019
Volunteer Opportunities
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Opportunities About for All Skill Sets

Currently there are numerous PCA church planters and other ministries across the country seeking volunteers to serve on site. A variety of skills and abilities are needed. Anyone interested in seeing if there is a need locally where they live should take a look at the current Opportunities to Serve at the MNA SecondCareer website at www.pcamna.org/second-career or contact Barbara Campbell, MNA SecondCareer Facilitator, at bcampbell@pcanet.org (phone 804-339-5005).
Looking for a PCA Church
Know someone who's moving? Be sure to suggest they check this list of new church plants around North America as they look for a new church home. Don't see a new plant in a possible destination on the list? Contact us (678-825-1235) and we'll try to find out more information for you! You may also want to visit the PCA Church Directory for a list of established churches.
Check Out Our Other Publications
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Pray for Our PCA Church Planters 

The Intercessor is a quarterly letter with prayer requests from PCA church planters and MNA Ministry Leaders. The requests are organized by week, making it easy to follow along in individual or group devotions. They have expressed many times how grateful they are for prayer support.  Click here  to read online, where you will also see subscription options. 
Subscribe to Multiply and Learn More about MNA 

Multiply, available as both a print or email newsletter, goes out three times a year and brings you news from the church planting field as well as special features on MNA ministries.  Click here  to read. Want to subscribe? Click here - it's free!