July 27, 2010

Dinner on the Grounds on the First Day of District Conference

Sarasota Alliance Church is planning a delicious barbecue for our "Dinner on the Grounds" on Monday, September 13th, for all delegates to District Conference. The cost is included in your $20 registration fee.  Online registration is open until August 30th.  For links to the information sheet, online registration, and lay delegate certification, go to www.sedcma.org and click on the button on the right for District Conference.

If you would appreciate staying with one of the families of the church this year for economic reasons, be sure to inquire directly at distconf@sarasotaalliance.org.

We are to elect representatives to serve on six committees for the 2011 General Council in Kansas City.  The Nominating Committee would like your help in this process.  If you, or one of your church delegates, will be attending the General Council, would you please inform the Nominating Committee of your availability?  Your recommendations may be emailed to any member of the Nominating Committee.   The officers are Chris Greaves (chrisgreaves@bellsouth.net), Bob Formica (pastor@facorlando.com), and Tom Myers (tom.nac@embarqmail.com).  All committee members must be present for their work on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.  This is the day before General Council begins.

Youth Pastors

Jason Ostrander will be joining us at our District Conference.  Plan to join us as we gather together during the conference to hear the vision for the Alliance Youth and to connect  and develop plans to grow our ministries together.  Please bring your calendar of ministry events so we can begin planning.  If you have any questions, contact Dan Klassan (klassens3@hotmail.com) or Tom Walsh (tom@sanibelchurch.com).  Pastors, please share this information with any volunteers or youth leaders in your churches.

Are you attending Rock The Universe with your Youth Group in September?  We have arranged great rates at the Nickelodeon Hotel.  For details contact Tom Walsh at 239-472-2684.

Fall Student Ministry Team Retreat
 
Registration forms are now available to download at http://web.me.com/nacstudents/sedministryteam for the Student Ministry Team Retreat October 15-16 at Lakewood Retreat near Brooksville. Cost is $55 ($65 after Sept. 15). Promo postcards for your team are available on request.   This is a great opportunity for us to draw our ministry-minded students (middle and high school) together with your volunteers to encourage & equip them as leaders. Please contact Laura Slezak at Neighborhood Alliance Church (321.356.7589 or laura@cadreministries.com) for more details, to help or to update us on your involvement.

Special Prayer Need

Please have your congregations pray for the church family of Saint’s Sanctuary Alliance Church in Pompano Beach.  Their church van, filled with adults and children, was in a major accident 10 days ago on the Florida Turnpike while returning from Orlando.  One person died, and several were injured.  Some are still in the hospital, including Pastor Matthieu Jean-Gilles’ daughter.  To follow this and other prayer matters, go to our District Family Praise and Prayer page on Facebook.  You need not be a Facebook member.  Updates will be posted.
 
Communicating in a Crisis- A Resource from Church Safety

What would you do if you were the pastor of an ordinary evangelical church and a member of your flock suddenly became the most controversial person on this planet? Journalist Terry Mattingly gleaned answers to this question after an unlikely incident. When then-Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska became the GOP nominee for vice president, the Reverend Larry Kroon's Wasilla Bible Church became the epicenter of a media feeding frenzy. After the dust settled and the camera crews all went home, Kroon sifted through the experience, looking for lessons to share with other church leaders. While the media attention that Sarah Palin drew wasn't precipitated by a crisis, the attention itself became a crisis of sorts for the church.

Most churches will not be faced with this level of intense media scrutiny, however, churches handle crises every day that require an internal communication strategy, as well as a plan for managing media attention in case the situation grows. A new ChurchSafety.com download—Communicating in a Crisis—helps you prepare for disruptive events before they happen, whether you're faced with the need to broadcast a church closure to your congregation or deal with a barrage of reporters in your church.

Kids Camp Report

Rejoice that of the 178 children who attended Kids Camp this year, we have record of 27 who made first time decisions for salvation, and 14 for re-dedication.  There were 12 who indicated a call to ministry, with many others raising their hands when the opportunity was given.  What is exciting is the many testimonies of adults who made decisions at camp and look back at those moments as life-changing!

July 20, 2010

John Soper Will Be Our Featured Speaker at District Conference This September  

Our Vice President of Church Ministries, John Soper, will speak Monday evening and Wednesday morning at District Conference this year.   Conference will be Monday – Wednesday, September 13 – 15 at the Sarasota Alliance Church.  Online registration is now open .  For links to the information sheet, online registration, and lay delegate certification, go to www.sedcma.organd click on the button on the right for District Conference. 

First Construction Team to Haiti 

Plans are in place for the first construction team to go to Haiti to work alongside national workers in rebuilding church facilities.  The dates will likely be August 28th – September 5th, and the cost per worker will be about $1000, including travel from Miami and provisions in Haiti. Those who have already contacted us will be given first opportunity.   We are looking for more skilled tradesmen, including masons for block-laying, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and related trades, who can give a week or more of their time to go to Haiti to train local workers and work alongside them in re-building churches and homes.  Please have interested people contact Harris Campbell at harris@sedcma.org . 

“What’s in a Name? 

The Christian and Missionary Alliance has federally registered its name, brand, and acronym. The proper use of these registered terms should be adhered to as follows, paying particular attention to upper and lower case letters as well as the use of “and” or “&”: 

The Christian and Missionary Alliance
the C&MA
The Alliance 

Please help us to ensure correct usage whenever using these terms in print.” 

Day of Prayer on July 31 

A one day prayer event is planned for Saturday, July 31, from 10am until 2p.m., at Minneola Alliance Church.  It is sponsored by the College of Prayer.  Please register for this event, so that adequate provisions can be made, with Becky Corrick at 352-489-0249 or becky_corrick@bellsouth.netby Thursday, July 22, 2010. There is no charge to attend and we are planning on having light refreshments at the noon hour.  A love offering will be collected to help offset the expenses of the church. 

Alliance Women Beach Retreat

"On the Move with Spiritual Disciplines" August 27 - 28, 2010 at Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront.  Keynote Speaker will be Becky Skellie.  Registration fee is $35 and the deadline is August 13, 2010.  To download a pdf or jpeg version of the flyer go to the downloads page of our website.

Links & Events

Southeastern District Workers' Blogsite

District Family Praise and Prayer   (you do not need to be a member of Facebook to view this)  (Click on the Wall Tab)

Church Planting Prayer Video Links

District Website, www.sedcma.org

District Calendar.  Please note these upcoming events:

July 31, Day of Prayer, Minneola
August 13-15, ENTICE, Sanibel Island - Youth Pastors
August 23-26, New Official Workers Forum, Colorado Springs, CO
August 27-29, Alliance Women Ministries Beach Retreat
September 13 - 15, 102nd District Conference, Sarasota