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Advent Blessings from the ECO Staff
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"It was in Jesus' very nature to empty Himself for the people He wanted to redeem."
- A word from ECO Synod Executive, Dana Allin
Confession time. For the first few years of my pastoral ministry I did not enjoy preaching during Advent. I have always liked to preach through a book in the Bible and felt as if Advent interrupted the book I was working through with my congregation. Plus, to have to preach four weeks AND Christmas Eve on concepts all relating to the preparation for and birth of Jesus was challenging to keep fresh and new, year after year. I knew it was powerful that God became flesh in Jesus, but in my evangelical mindset, the power of the incarnation was primarily...
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God is Transforming the Muslim World, and ECO Churches can be Part of this Story
- A word from ECO
Executive Director of Ecclesiastical Support, Nate Dreesmann
"I grew up as a Muslim and have lived in this Muslim country all of my life. One day, Jesus came to me in a dream and revealed himself as the Messiah and Lord. I was afraid because becoming a Christian would cost me everything-it would cost my relationship with my family, my job, and perhaps my life, but I knew that was what Jesus wanted from me. I was able to find a copy of the New Testament that had been passed through many different people. As I read it, I understood that Jesus loved me. I wanted to follow Him. My family has disowned me and I lost my job, but Christ is with me and I trust in him..."
When a group of ECO church leaders recently traveled to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and London, we heard countless versions of this story as we met with believers from Iran and the Arab Peninsula. Their testimonies of how God, through the persecuted church and His glorious power, is leading Muslims into...
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Check out this article from our National Gathering keynote speaker Ed Stetzer, featured in the latest issue of Outreach Magazine:
Read Article
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Hurricane Relief Shirt Update
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T
hank you to all of you who ordered shirts to support hurricane relief efforts in Texas and Florida! The funds we raised will be divided between both presbyteries.
We have sold out of all of our shirts, so they are no longer available. If you would still like to donate to hurricane relief, you can find information here:
Donate
Thank you for supporting our brothers and sisters in Texas and Florida following these devastating storms.
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Check out our three new Flourish Resources:
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Becoming a Flourishing Church
This course focuses on both discipleship and diagnosis. It helps session members and other church leaders focus on their individual growth as disciples. This course will help leadership teams uncover how God is calling them to grow and move forward in ministry.
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Flourishing Disciples
This course will train and equip an initial group of congregational leaders to grow as disciples, disciple other around them and help to establish a disciple-making culture in their church as a whole. We're all in this together.
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Flourishing Leaders
This course is a journey to embark on with your fellow church leaders (elders, lay leaders, committees, staff) to facilitate your Spirit-led transformation as a leader, and reveal more effective ways to lead a Flourishing church together.
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Hello, my ECO Peeps! As you're hustling and bustling with Christmas to-dos, or as you're pondering in your heart the coming of our Lord through this Advent season,
I have a quick plug for the upcoming National Gathering in Houston where we will have
two
great breakout sessions focusing on MAGs:
- MAGs: Let's Get It Started is designed to help any churches and leaders who are still not sure what MAGs are about or how to get engaged in the work of MAGs.
- MAGs: This Is How We Do It will include a panel of leaders from across ECO who will share stories about what they've learned and experienced in MAG groups, and why you should be doing MAGs too!
If you have any questions about either of these sessions, please let me know! You can attend these breakout sessions even if you did not mark them on your initial registration.
I look forward to seeing your sweet faces in Houston in January!!
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Welcome New ECO Churches!
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We are delighted that FPC Newport has joined ECO as church #358!
Their transitional pastors, Kimberly and Paul Merrill, will begin December 17th. Join us in praying for this new ECO church.
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City Church Houston, TX
"We're thrilled to be part of the ECO family because it is so outward-facing and gospel-centered. This will help us make City Church a safe place for those
outside Christianity to explore it."
Leo Schuster, Lead Pastor
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"We are extremely excited to officially be ECO at West Point Presbyterian! Being part of a Gospel centered movement that values the sufficiency of God's Word and seeks to empower local congregations for ministry is both refreshing and inspiring! We truly look forward to working together with ECO to build up God's Kingdom in our little part of the globe!" Jerry Ledbetter, Pastor
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Please join us in saying goodbye and offering a huge "thank you" to Matt Lee and Emily Day as
they transition off of ECO staff.
We are
so grateful for the lives they have impacted, and the creative and thoughtful ways that they have led in their capacities while
serving our ECO congregations and staff.
We have been blessed by their years with us, and trust that God has great things in store for both Matt and Emily.
Emily's last day with us was November 15. Going forward, if you have questions regarding communications, please email them to
[email protected].
Matt will transition off of staff at the end of December. After that, please direct any questions regarding church planting to our Church Planting Steering Team: Becky Lahna ( [email protected]), Wes Barry (
[email protected]), or Keith Case (
[email protected]).
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From the Texas Presbyterian Foundation
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The end of 2017 is quickly approaching, and with it comes the perfect time to remind your congregation of the tax savings that come with gifts they make to your church. To assist you in these efforts, ECO and TPF are pleased to offer, at no cost to you, a new bulletin insert created to inspire generosity during this special season.
If you prefer not to use the Internet for ordering, and/or have special instructions, please call Stefanie Marsden at 800-955-3155 or email her at
[email protected].
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Book Review -
Emboldened by Tara Beth Leach
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I think a lot about women in ministry. Perhaps, for the obvious reason that I am a woman in ministry. But more so, because I believe passionately in seeing women encouraged and unleashed in their Kingdom callings. When that happens, we experience all the more the wild and beautiful redemptive movement that God is bringing about through Jesus Christ--the Kingdom coming down to earth...
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Reviewed by Katie Fowler, Pastor of Discipleship, FPC Colorado Springs
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Advent Opportunities -
From Frontier Fellowship
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Christmas Gift Catalog
In this 2017 gift catalog, you'll find giving
opportunities that make a tangible impact on the ministries of our partners around the world.
They're faithfully serving in often difficult contexts,
introducing Jesus to those who don't yet know Him and working for the holistic transformation of their communities.
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Advent Devotional
Click the link below to follow along with daily readings on
Frontier
Fellowship's blog, written by Frontier Fellowship staff, board members and ministry friends. We pray it helps you journey through Advent with renewed hope and joy, reflecting on the Good News ushered in with Jesus' birth and the promise of His future coming Kingdom.
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5638 Hollister Ave. Suite 200, Goleta, CA ยท 855.326.3268
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