Final 2011 Presbytery Meeting

Final 2011 Presbytery Meeting for your planning:

Wednesday, October 26, 12:00 – 4:00
Covenant Presbyterian Church
2012 West Dickens Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
http://www.covenantchicago.org/
773-486-9590

Audio: The Gospel Coalition National Conference

Please find the audio from The Gospel Coalition here.

PCA Response to the Aquila Report

Many are perhaps familiar with the Aquila Report. Here is a response from the PCA's Stated Clerk regarding the new Administrative Funding Plan that was passed last year at General Assembly.

Click here for the response.

Update on New Hope Haitian

Here is a recent newsletter from New Hope Haitian Community Church: Download Newsletter

Haiti Mission Trip - July 2011

We are beginning the preparations for the next Haiti trip in July 2011.  As you know these trips are an integral part in supporting the on going work of ESMI.  The Chicago Metro Presbytery is sponsoring a medical missions trip this summer July 22-30. We welcome your support, involvement, and prayers as we prepare to serve the Haitian people.

Churches and individuals have an opportunity to get involved on different levels.

Download the promo flyer

Pray: We ask that you would be in prayer for the leaders of El Shaddai Ministries and this trip,  for a strong team to form across the churches, for the collection of materials, funds, and necessary items be provided, and for the spiritual and physical needs of the Haitian people.  While the team is in Haiti churches and individuals can receive daily updates and pray specifically for the challenges the team is facing.

Support:  We are in need of underwriting the cost of drugs and medical instruments associated with this trip.

Pack:  Each team member on the trip will bring two 50 pound duffel bag filled with necessary items--clothes, shoes, medicine, and hygiene items.  Churches can collect items and help pack these duffel bags that are essential to our mission. An item priority list will be sent to you soon.

Go:  Individuals who are interested in being a part of this team are invited to attend an informational meeting Friday, April 8 at Naperville Presbyterian Church at 7pm or Thursday, April 7 at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 7pm. 

Attached is an informational flier that churches may use to promote the July trip.  Please feel free use this information in your newsletters, bulletins, and email communications.

If you or your church would like to be involved please contact Chris Kerslake or AnnaMarie Stastny at cmphaititrip@gmail.com.

Midwest Connection - A Conference for the Midwest Region

Connecting for vision, encouragement, and equipping.


Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at noon
to Thursday, May 12, 2011 at noon
Chicago IL

Click here for registration information.
Questions? Please contact Ann Powers at apowers@pcanet.org
 
Why a regional conference?

• The Midwest DOES have its own mindset, culture, and sensibilities. Live somewhere else for a while and then come back and you'll see that more clearly! A regional event can equip you to reach those you are ministering to - most if not all workshop facilitators will have deep experience in this region.
• A regional event can provide exposure to church planting and church growth principles in an exciting teaching environment for staff and laypeople in an economical way. Bring a whole team!
• To encourage the far flung and sometimes isolated planters and pastors in the Midwest and their spouses. It gets lonely out there sometimes!

You'll benefit in these ways:

• Something for everyone - No matter your situation, you'll come away with valuable insights that will apply to your ministry. Some things in the lineup:
• The Praying Life, led by Bob Allums of seejesus.net
• Church Planting Strategies for the Local Church
• Redemptive Preaching
• Outreach and Ministry in
• Campus Communities
• Urban Contexts
• Small Towns and Rural Communities
• Effective Evangelism in a Postmodern World
• Going the Distance: Thriving in Ministry Over the Long Haul
• Serving the Community Through Ministries of Mercy, Service, and Justice
• There will also be time for worship, sharing stories of God's grace, and casual interaction/free time. Special roundtables over meals for MNA Chairmen, church planters, and women.
• Small numbers - so there's lots of interaction time with presenters and other participants who are in similar ministry positions. The teaching team will be anchored by Church Planting Coordinator/Midwest Regional Coordinator Ted Powers. Some of the content will be filled in as we hear of your questions and needs between now and the registration deadline - so register early and help us resource you!
• Inexpensive - a minimal registration fee covers most meals. You cover two nights in a hotel room, one meal on your own, and all transportation both to Chicago and while in Chicago. There's even an option for complementary housing in a host home if that makes it easier for you. The lower cost and shorter timeframe also allow you to bring additional team members from your church, which we highly encourage.
• Centrally located in a hub city- you can get to Chicago from just about anywhere in ½ a day. Our schedule accommodates same day arrival, saving most participants the cost of another night in a hotel. Our host church, Naperville Presbyterian Church in suburban Naperville, is equally convenient by car from either Chicago airport. (There are no airport shuttles; you will need your own local transportation for the duration of this event.)
• Free time to relax, refresh, and pick each others' brains over a meal or some ice cream by Naperville's scenic River Walk or a jaunt into the city.

Click here for registration at $89 per person.
This covers 3 meals and snacks. Please register everyone in your group using this link. We encourage you to tell us your questions and issues. We will tailor the event to address the needs of registrants. There will be also be time for interaction, Q & A, and consultations with presenters outside of seminar times. You may list your questions and issues when you register at the link above.

Haiti 2011 Mission Trip

Next Haiti Trip: July 22-30. Commitment date will be April 11; information meetings to be held very soon. Watch this space for more info…

Haiti 2011 Mission Update #9

I have to thank you for your love, your strength and your determination to serve our Lord Jesus. You have demonstrated the heart of a genuine servant of Jesus among us. Our heart is overwhelmed by such a miracle. Thank you so much.

Sunday's services was incredible at La Savannes. The church was pact and their was no more room inside so people had to stand outside. Your last trip is a life changing experience in this community. They will never forget you. Pastor Mongerard and his wife are so happy. They cannot wait to see you in July.

Jude is doing well now. He is ok. His life is change for ever. Even thou we did not take the needle out, he can start to feel the changes in his life. He understood the word the Lord placed in your heart for him. He'll live with the thorn in his flesh, but it get no power over him anymore. His Lord is greater. Alleluia! He was at church on sunday worshiping the Lord by lifting up the hand that the devil used to use in the past.

Thank you for the money you'll send for the river at Cherette. It is amazing! We are going to act quickly because we would like to finish it before May. ESMI has no words to express its gratitude toward you and your brothers and sisters for such a blessing. We are so happy to be able to get this blessing to save our ministry in Cherette. With out this work, we would lose the church and eventually the school and the orphanage buildings. The whole community is happy. Not only you are going to save the ministry property, but also you are providing more than 375 new jobs. We are going to need that many people to dig, to place, to cary rocks and fill the gabbions. Cherette will never be the same.

Pastor Mongerard is so happy to know that God has answer the prayer of his congregation about the floor of the church. Now they'll be able to stand properly and worship all together, the whole Body of Christ at La Savannes. As soon we get the money, we'll have it done and we'll send all the pictures to you dear Brother.

Our joy is unspeakable. Please share our best regards with your lovely family and all the team members for their tremendous efforts to share Jesus' love with our nation. May His grace be with you all for ever and ever.

Blessings,
Louis

Living Hope Church Update

February 25, 2011: Good news brightens a cloudy day in Chicago:

1. Last night the purchase of 6414 S Cottage Grove was successful, and it all cost just under $100,000.  On top of it all, we now have conclusive evidence that the basement of the building functioned as a speak-easy during prohibition days, and that the building also is one of the pool halls in the movie "The Color of Money."  I'm not sure that ten years ago anyone in our neighborhood would've imagined that this place as one day a house of Christ-centered worship and service in the community.  Visit our Facebook page "Vision 2020" for more information.

2. We also received news that a sister church, Naperville Presbyterian, has raised $18,000 for us to purchase the new roof which is the repair most needed right now, to begin to protect the building, which is now God's gift to us to steward well.  Thanks to Naperville for their generosity and God for his grace.   Please continue to pray for large and small acts of generosity to continue as we stand humbled and thankful at the Body of Christ helping to make Vision 2020 a reality.

3. Please enjoy the 5 minute video that gives a glimpse of what the building looks like, a bit of the demo work, and a few brief interviews with some of our younger members of Living Hope.  Feel free to share the link with others who may want to partner with us and pray for us.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf3RcELCyS4

4. Please pray for the hope of neighborhood to be renewed by the hope of the gospel of Jesus.  In the past week alone, three young men have been shot within 3 blocks of our home.  Cornell is a 19 year old who played on a summer league basketball ministry team that I helped to coach. Last week he was shot in the knee one block from our home and is recovering in the hospital (in January, another young man who played on our same team was shot and killed).  In the exact same location, a block from our home, another 19 year old was shot and killed just Wednesday.  And three blocks away, another young man shot and killed while sitting in his car.    I've noticed that the news doesn't jolt me like it used to, but we continue to be burdened by the broken lives around us, and as God instructed the prophet Jeremiah to do for God's city of old, we continue to pray for the shalom of this city, for in its peace will be our peace.

Thanks for all your support and prayers, and may you find great joy in our living hope in the living Christ and set your hope fully on the grace of God yet to be revealed in Him,

Brad

Haiti 2011 Mission Update #8

The week in Haiti culminated on an incredibly high note for the Cambry-based team today in Savanes.

It started months ago, when everyone on the team committed to going, began to pray and plan in the US. And it began in Haiti with Pastor MonChera in Savanes praying fervently for this week, as well as Louis, Dony, and everyone at ESMI.  It continued this week as hundreds of people who requested daily updates on the team’s activity prayed.

And today, besides the excellent medical care provided to the residents of the wrong side of a poor town in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the tangible, pulsating, power of God was on display.

Amidst the non-stop work on people’s bodies, Haitian souls were touched as well. The team was asked questions like “How do I have Jesus in my heart?” and  heard things like “I want to follow your Jesus”.  At every station along the way providing medical care, the team prayed for people before moving them along. Towards the end of the day, a team member went looking for Pastor MonChera to introduce him to yet another person who had just prayed to receive Christ with him. Meeting Louis along the way and explaining why he needed Pastor MonChera, Louis said “ANOTHER one?”.  It was truly a day of healing, answered prayer, and heart revival in this poor, dirty, heartsore corner of the world. The team’s prayer for Savanes is that this week of ministry might indeed turn the tide from darkness to light for this community. What a day for rejoicing!

The team is exhausted and exhilarated, clearly delighted at being used to touch so many lives in so many ways, and doing it with such a true team effort, where everyone had multiple roles to play and supported each other throughout. Praise God, all remained healthy this week, as well.

Tomorrow is a day of travel and “re-entry”. Life back in the US will seem surreal, no doubt, after the experiences of the week. Please pray for safe travel on Saturday; the Cambry based team will leave at 4:00 a.m. for the drive to Port au Prince (which should be a four hour drive), the team in Jeremie will rendezvous with them at the PAP airport. The plane for Miami leaves at 1:00 EST. Also, please pray for  the opportunity to decompress over the next week at home after such an intense time. Lastly, please pray for Pastor MonChera in Savanes, Pastor Nerva in Cherette, and the 150 pastors who attended the workshop earlier in the week, for Dony and Louis St. Germaine and all of the ESMI staff. They are the modern day heroes of the faith in Haiti, the ones who are in it for the long haul against such great obstacles.

This will be the last team update unless a specific need for prayer pops up tomorrow. You’ll be hearing from team members in person very soon!