To Go to Togo

In June, ReachAfrica (the Missions Alliance of African Evangelical Free Churches) and T-Net International held the first church multiplication and discipleship training program in the nation of Togo. Pastors Nubako Selenga and Dave Kiamu from ReachAfrica, a pastor from Cameroon and a U.S. pastor provided the training. Of the 80 participants, 60 will continue the second phase of training in October. Leaders from ReachAfrica and ReachTogo met to clarify plans to reach the 38 unreached tribes in Togo. Over 50% of the Togo population practices traditional animistic religions and over 25% is Muslim. Pray that God will raise up African church planting missionaries.

To learn more about ReachAfrica, the work in Togo, or other opportunities in Africa, please contact Pastor Nubako Selenga, ReachAfrica Team Leader, at Nubako.Selenga@efca.org or Kevin Kompelien, ReachGlobal International Leader for Africa, at Kevin.Kompelien@efca.org.

To give to the ReachAfrica fund: http://www.efca.org/reachglobal/where-we-serve/africa/about-ministry-africa/projects-africa/reachafrica-fund

Father/Son Football Camp

Highland Park EFC, Columbus, NE, is hosting a Pass It On Father/Son Football Camp led by Nebraska Football Coach Ron Brown for 3rd to 8th grade boys. Sponsored by the Columbus Family YMCA and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the registration fee includes a T-shirt, snacks, books, breakfast, and great fun and fellowship.

An Un-Sale

Open Bible Evangelical Free Church, Lansdale, PA welcomed the community to its first Recycle Yard Un-Sale where items were sold at a very low cost. In addition, they offered be a puppet show, coloring table and beading for kids, plus refreshments. Louis Giglio's DVDs, "How Great is Our God" and "Indescribable," were shown in the sanctuary.

CareFest: Rochester

For the fourth straight year, more than 1,000 volunteers will spread across Rochester, Minnesota, for CareFest, a church-sponsored event that focuses on sprucing up the community. Around 1,200 people have signed up to work at about 60 sites around Rochester, according to the Rev. Larry Orth of Calvary Evangelical Free Church.

The largest number of CareFest volunteers will work at Graham Park, where around 200 people are expected to do painting, landscaping, power washing, and other cleaning, Orth said. Around 300 people worked at the fairgrounds during the event last year.

For the full story as reported by Matt Russell in the Post-Bulletin:
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=404172

Adapting to the Multicultural Reality

David Myles, Family Life/Community Outreach Pastor at Brooklyn Park Evangelical Free Church, asked participants at the recent Coming Together 2009 conference (hosted by the Evangelical Covenant Church) what would happen to marketing executives if 25 percent of their market changed, but the marketing approach stayed the same? “We expect consumer markets to adapt to change. Why don't we expect the same of churches as their communities and neighborhoods change? He predicted that in 20 years there would be two kinds of churches - those that began adapting to the new multicultural reality, and those for whom it is too late.

Focused on equipping and networking leaders to better minister in multicultural and multiracial settings, local and national speakers addressed the gathering of 150 participants, which was held June 5 at Bethel Christian Fellowship.

To listen to the audio of Coming Together 2009: http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item7123

Two A Day

In partnership with members of the Milwaukee Police Department, representatives from Shielded Hearts, (an organization of police spouses started by a local EFCA church member), announced they would organize two meals a day for family members of Officer Graham Kunisch, 26. Officer Kunisch remains hospitalized with injuries from a shooting last week.

To read the complete Journal Sentinel news story posted June 14, 2009, by Nicolas Penzenstadler: http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/48035457.html

Comedic Fundraising

Faith Evangelical Free Church, Fall Creek, WI, and Community Arts recently presented the comedy "In the Nick of Time," a travel comedy written by Eau Claire playwrights Jim and Jane Jeffries. Proceeds from the play will benefit the Faith Evangelical youth program.

To see the original story reported by the Leader-Telegram News: http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-features.asp?id=BK5RLKL3K7P

EFC Conference in Japan

80 pastors are expected to attend the June 15-17 EFC of Japan Annual Ministerial Conference.

Pray for a spirit of love and unity as they turn their hearts toward the Lord.

Breaking Ground

Cornerstone Community Bible Church (EFCA), Sugar Land, TX recently voted to move forward with building their first permanent building. They expect to break ground in July.

Pray for Pastor Brent Burckart and the leaders as they forward with the church building project.

VBS: The Boomerang Effect

60+ dedicated workers and directors facilitated an exciting Vacation Bible School at Highland Park EFC, Columbus, NE. The week started with 23 children participating who were not regular attendees of the church. Thursday capped the week with the highest level of attendance--142 students. Wednesday, Pastor Lynn Kent delivered the Gospel and the teachers followed up the presentation in Bible study, clearly sharing the Gospel again in smaller groups. Twelve children indicated they wanted to receive Christ and made a profession of faith in Jesus!

And, God opened up a new opportunity for Highland Park this year. The Heartland EFC, Central City, NE and Evangelical Free Church of Aurora, NE are conducting the Boomerang Express VBS in the next couple of weeks. Highland Park EFC passed forward their VBS decorations to help those churches influence their communities.

Please be in prayer for those two events this month.

No Strings Attached

First Evangelical Free Church, Colorado Springs, CO, will join 35 churches and an estimated 1,000 people participating in "Project We Care" from June 7 through June 28. With the goal of serving and loving the community in tangible ways, the churches will complete a variety of projects. First Evangelical Free Church will clean up the Manitou Springs skate park.

For more information see The Gazette article on Project We Care:

http://www.gazette.com/articles/church-55819-churches-help.html

Christ EFC Hosts Damaris Carbaugh

Christian artist Damaris Carbaugh will perform at a no ticket concert at Christ EFC of Saegertown, PA, on June 26. Admission is free and a love offering will be taken at the performance.

Multiplying Cross-Cultural Church Planting

This week 35 students are participating in Cross-Cultural Church Planting school at the EFCA national office in Minneapolis, MN--some attending from other missions organizations. With the theme "Church Planting that Equips and Multiplies," 5 veterans of international church planting will impart their knowledge to the new church planters.

Pray for stamina, energy and joy in the Lord for the participants, teaching and preparation teams.

Growing Vista (Community Church)

Vista Community Church in San Antonio, TX, is praying and praising the Lord for:

1) 15 people baptized on June 7, 2009!

2) Sending out their first international missions team to Honduras with an EFCA District team the week of June 8.

3) Preparations to host their first Vacation Bible School in July!

Pray with them for continued growth in their community.

Asian-American Ministry Needs

Over 40 pastors, seminary students, and leaders met to focus on English ministry to Asian-Americans on June 3, 2009. The event was facilitated by retired pastor Wayland Wong. That same day, Daniel K. Eng noted in his blog post a reflection on the recent English Ministry Pastors' Fellowship hosted at the Chinese Evangelical Free Church in Monterey Park, CA.

Eng said, "It was a great time for me to network and connect with some guys that I’ve only known through the web, as well as many local Chinese-American pastors or those ministering to English-speaking Chinese-Americans. Also, it was a time to talk about and discuss different issues pertaining to Asian-American ministry today."

For key insights read the full blog post at: http://danielkeng.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/reflection-from-todays-english-ministry-pastors-fellowship/