Pastors, Elders, Staff, and Ministry Leaders,

The EFC-ER Church Health Team would like to invite you to a one-day workshop that will help our churches, ministries and each of us individually to begin thinking and living missionally. The term "missional" has been a hot-button word in the church for the last ten or more years and, quite frankly, it’s difficult to pin down an actual definition for it. For our purposes, we are working toward ministry events and initiatives that reach in to the greatest mission field God has given us: the communities within which we worship, live, work and play. 

The day will include practical, hands-on teaching and sharing about the things that are working well in our churches, so your participation is greatly valued! 

Please consider joining us and bringing along anyone in your church who could benefit from an event like this, especially elders and ministry leaders! 

Visit www.efcer.org for more information and registration. Two locations are available at this time:

According to  Operation World , Ireland has an evangelical population of around 1.6%, which is the lowest percentage of any country in the English-speaking world. Since their arrival in Ireland in 2008, the Howells have shared the message of grace, hope, and peace with a people they now consider friends. It is their desire to create a place to worship where anyone can come and seek after the heart of a loving Father (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

David and Jonathan Howell, father and son missionaries to Ireland through EFM, will be in EFC-ER during February and part of March. Contact Julie Jenkins ( [email protected] ) to schedule the Howells. They are available to share in a variety of settings, including Sunday morning worship, mid-week small groups, and family meals.

Our love and sympathy to the family of Barbara Chess , wife of former pastor Jim Chess (Urbana Friends Church), who passed away on Saturday, January 19, 2019. A funeral service was held on Thursday, January 24, 2019. Condolences can be sent to Pastor Jim Chess at [email protected]. You can read the obituary here.

We remember the family of recorded pastor Elsie Dodd , who passed away on Monday, January 28, 2019. Elsie served in various capacities, including at Lisbon Trinity Friends Church. Visitation will be held from 6-8pm on Thursday, January 31, at Reed Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 1:00pm on Friday, February 1, at Reed Funeral Home North Canton Chapel. The obituary can be found here.

Prayers for the Church (4/7) - A prayer for redemption (Dan Reiland)

"Jesus, thank you for the price you paid on the cross that makes a way for the forgiveness of our sin. Your love and grace are overwhelming and extravagant. We pray that our passion for those who are far from you would be contagious. We ask that our hearts would be broken for the lost like yours. We desire to see a flood of decisions to follow you, and baptism stories that move the hearts of many."

Full-time pastors recently received an enrollment form and letter signed by Quinn Parker of GDK regarding the Mutual of Omaha VOLUNTARY life insurance offered through EFC-ER. Please note:

 

Visit the events calendar on our website at www.efcer.org/events .

* February 8-9 - Malone University Board of Trustees meetings at Malone University.

* February 12-13 -  Oversight Board meeting at the Evangelical Friends Headquarters.

* March 2 - One-Day Equipping Workshop at New Life Community Church. Info here .

* March 9 - One-Day Equipping Workshop at Shiloh Chapel Friends Church. Info here .

* April 8-9 - Church Health Team and Multiplication Team meetings at the EF HQ.

* April 10-11 - Leadership Development Team and Finance & Administration Team meetings at the EF HQ.

* May 6-10 - Pastors Conference in Gatlinburg, TN.

* July 20-23 - Yearly Meeting at First Friends Church in Canton, OH.