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PRAYER & SUPPORT FOR
ECO CHURCHES IN TEXAS
Dear friends,
This week, members of the Synod staff have been in contact with churches in the path of Harvey's devastating destruction. Most of the churches themselves have made it through with minimal damage. However, our covenant partners' homes have in many cases been severely damaged. At the writing of this newsletter, even though the rain has stopped in some of the most heavily
affected areas of Houston and surrounding cities, they are still dealing with danger from continued flooding, failing chemical plants, and overflowing reservoirs. We have been receiving calls and e-mails asking how to help.
Our first response is always to connect people to
World Renew.
World Renew is
an ECO partner and disaster assistance organization that mobilized in the Houston area before Hurricane Harvey even hit. You can stay informed by signing up for
email updates or visiting their website
WorldRenew.net to read about their
ongoing efforts for Hurricane Harvey, or scanning their
volunteer page,
which lists numerous on-the-ground service opportunities for people who desire to help victims of the storm.
Secondly, we suggest
sending funds to The Presbytery of Texas. With so many of our Texas churches affected by the storm, and with direct contact to those churches and communities,
the presbytery is in the best position to administer those funds to people in need.
Checks can be made out to:
ECO: Presbytery of Texas
c/o Highland Park Presbyterian Church
Attn. Mark Story, Moderator
3821 University Blvd.
Dallas, Texas 75205.
**If you would like to donate digitally, you can select "Hurricane Harvey" when you click Here and give directly from our website!
Lastly, it is amazing to see God at work in the midst of a terrible situation. We are hearing stories of our churches serving as shelters and deeply caring for the communities in which they serve. Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church is one such example. They are set up to be a Red Cross shelter, but when the Red Cross staff couldn't make it in, the good folks of MDPC stepped up and filled in the gaps. Several of these churches have their own funds set up to receive donations as well. Here is a listing if you prefer to use technology to expedite sending relief funding:
Thank you for your continued support and prayers,
The ECO Synod Office
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The mission of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians is to build flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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"ENTERING INTO THE MESSINESS"
- A word from ECO Synod Executive, Dana Allin
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August was a month that was headlined by stories of messiness and
even cruelty. We all continue to have Hurricane Harvey in Texas, as well as the continuing tensions related to race in places like Charlottesville at the forefront of our minds. It is interesting to see how people respond to these types of situations...
Read more.
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FEATURED CHURCH PLANT:
The Chinese Mandarin Church of Dallas, TX
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Since its inception in 2011, the Chinese Mandarin Church (a church plant and partnership of Highland Park Presbyterian Church) has been reaching and faithfully ministering to the Chinese community of Dallas, TX. Under the leadership of Ben Wang, it has flourished and witnessed growth, and hopes that by being rooted and established in love, Dallas' Chinese community will know and grasp how wide and long, high and deep Christ's love is for them.
MORE ABOUT CMC
After continued growth in numbers and under the leadership of Rev. Wang, the church plant has a Sunday worship service, Saturday Fellowship and weekly small groups to study and discuss the Bible. Please continue to pray for Rev. Wang and the Chinese Mandarin Church Plant; that by being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. - Ephesians 3:17-18
Learn More!
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For more on
Church Planting in ECO
:
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GET CONNECTED |
MAGS RESOURCES
- Notes from Director of Mission Affinity Groups, Anna Kent
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In the next few months, we will be updating and adding to these resources, so stay tuned to your inbox for upcoming announcements. If you have any questions about MAGs or PCGs, feel free to contact Anna Kent at
[email protected]
or
(256) 251-5518.
Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Hebrews 10:24-25
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In seeking to be a movement, not just a denomination, one of the core values we hold to is Missional Centrality: We believe in living out the whole of the Great Commission - including evangelism, spiritual formation, compassion, and redemptive justice both in our communities and around the world.
One of the ways our ECO churches have lived out redemptive justice is sharing in the work of the International Justice Mission. Read more.
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ECO is proud to announce our partnership with Texas Presbyterian Foundation, a low-cost financial services institution, to help expand the reach and mission of your church. TPF helps churches and other nonprofit organizations create gifts that last for generations, resulting in long-term, indefinite legacies.
Together, we've developed a series of resources that inspire generosity and activate stewardship of your congregation. Read more.
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We believe ministry and mission are cultivated through community.
ECO events are opportunities to come together for training and connection.
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TRANSITIONAL PASTOR TRAINING EVENT
OCTOBER 9-11, 2017
You are invited to participate in this Transitional Pastor Training Seminar where you will learn how to recognize the issues congregations face, how to provide a consistent, non-anxious presence, and how to guide the leadership and the congregation to envision God's plan for them. In the process, you will give the Search Team and the congregation the space they need to prepare for the next called pastor.
Learn More.
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ECO CHURCH PLANTERS CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 23-25, 2017
ECO's vision for church planting is to catalyze a movement of gospel-centered, healthy, contextualized, missional church plants throughout the United States. This october, ECO church planters will gather in Houston, TX to pray, share with one another, and become better equipped for their unique ministries. Please be praying for us! This is an invitation only event. If you have not received an invitation but would like to attend, please email:
[email protected]
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HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR
#ECO2018NG
YET?
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The national gathering team and the entire Synod staff grieves with Houston over the devastation Hurricane Harvey brought to their city. We are very much looking forward to gathering in January in order to encourage our Houston area churches, bring revenue to their wonderful downtown area, and praise God for His continued faithfulness through the storm.
Please be assured that we are and will continue to be in conversation with the Texas presbytery, as well as local congregations about how we can serve the community and help in practical ways. It is too soon as of now to know what will be needed in January, but know that we will keep you updated on any opportunities that you and your team may participate in before or after the gathering.
After opening registration at the beginning of August, we were thrilled to see such an enthusiastic response! In just one month, we've already filled 1/3 of our maximum capacity! With that in mind,
If you or your teams have not yet registered, we urge you to secure your spots before our early bird sale ends on October 31, and especially before space runs out. **Special Note: All commissioners must be registered by October 31st!
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Kyle is an author, preacher, assistant professor of Spiritual Theology and Formation at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and co-founder of Metamorpha Ministries. (
Read more.) We are grateful to host Kyle as one of our keynote speakers at RENOVATE. Don't miss his message -
Register now.
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Help us welcome our newest churches:
Pyung An Presbyterian Church | Auburn, WA
New Hope Presbyterian Church | Brogue, PA
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5638 Hollister Ave. Suite 200, Goleta, CA ยท 855.326.3268
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