ECO | October 2017

With broken hearts we lift up prayers for the community of Las Vegas,

for physical and emotional healing for the hundreds of injured survivors,

and comfort for all who are mourning the sudden, tragic death of a loved one.

#PrayForVegas

The mission of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians is to build flourishing churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.

"RESOURCES TO HELP US FLOURISH"

- A word from ECO Synod Executive, Dana Allin

When discerning the types of resources that we desire to provide for our congregations (either through direct development or in partnership with others), we have used a framework in our discernment process that asks a few key questions. First, what are the largest needs within our congregations? As we talk to presbyteries and churches across the country, we get a sense of the biggest gaps in our churches. Read more.

2018 ECO NATIONAL GATHERING

LESS THAN 1 MONTH LEFT!

Early bird registration closes OCTOBER 31.

Don't wait: REGISTER before the price goes up!

2018 ECO National Gathering | Keynote Speaker: Ed Stetzer

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., holds the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College and serves as Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches, trained pastors and church planters on six continents, holds two masters degrees and two doctorates, and has written dozens of articles and books. Read Bio.

HURRICANE RELIEF: T-Shirt Sale!

Hundreds of ECO covenant partners were affected in one way or another by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Our continued prayer is that the Holy Spirit would kindle genuine unity among believers in those areas, and that they would not grow weary in doing good as they make long term connections and partnerships with their neighbors.

ECO is also raising financial support for our friends, by selling limited edition hurricane relief shirts. All proceeds go directly to the Presbytery of Texas and the Presbytery of Florida for distribution to those who need help the most. Make a difference and wear a tangible reminder to pray for our ECO families!

Please plan to gather with us in Houston, and embrace the opportunity to encourage others and be encouraged, to serve and be served, to teach and be taught, and finally to hear and share stories with one another about God's faithfulness through the storm and after!

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How have you seen or heard about God working in the midst of Harvey or Irma? Email [email protected] and let us know! May we never pass up the opportunity to testify about our Lord's sovereignty and mercy!

ECO GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

"MISSION COLLABORATION & CONNECTION"

- A word from ECO Director of Global Engagement, Jen Haddox

The more I talk with mission leaders in our churches, we're recognizing that we all have room to grow in living out this value. Making disciples of ALL nations is a big commission. And, living into the whole gospel ministry that encompasses evangelism, compassion, justice, and discipleship - the whole of the Great Commission - is a pretty big value to live into! And, it's not clear or easy to figure out how or where to start. Read more.

Upcoming Global Engagement Opportunities:

CONNECTING MISSION LEADERS

Oct. 26-28, 2017 | San Antonio, TX

This event is less than three weeks away! We'd love for you to join us for this annual event that brings together ministry leaders from across the country. Whether you serve a church vocationally or simply have a heart for missions, we hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to be encouraged, challenged, and inspired. Learn more!

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER

January 22, 2018 | Houston, TX

We're in this together! When we engage in mission together, we grow and God's Kingdom flourishes. This pre-conference for Global Engagement at the 2018 ECO National Gathering will call us connect and commit to global & local mission partnerships that serve to catalyze Kingdom mission in every corner of the world. Learn more!

ECO CHURCH PLANTING

Thank you for being a part of this network through continued prayer and support. We appreciate and covet your prayers and ask specifically that you would pray for the ECO Church Planting Conference in Houston this October. We ask that you pray for our gathering to be fruitful and a blessing to the recently flooded community of Houston. We also need prayer for God's continued direction and provision as we seek to help equip more planters. We pray for Gospel advancement through ECO church plants especially in areas of recent devastation. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive prayer requests and updates about ECO church plants across the nation or visit our website.

PROVIDENCIA

West Palm Beach, FL

With Keith Case at it's helm, Providencia meets the world on the streets of downtown West Palm Beach, FL engaging with and building a city where people from different backgrounds are welcomed and flourish from meeting God. Through initiatives like UniverCity WPB, Providencia invests in its community by showcasing and supporting local entrepreneurs. Learn more!

RENEW

Jerome, ID

Will Ritter is the lead planter of Renew, a church in the unconventional sense that exists to be a gathering place for the community of Jerome, ID. Renew operates under the understanding that Christians have an obligation to love the community and every individual in it. Learn more!

UPCOMING ECO EVENTS


2018 Coach Training JANUARY 26-27, 2018 Flourish is offering a Coach Training Process as an outflow of our commitment to equip leaders and provide resources that nurture flourishing ministry. Having a coach can be a powerful asset in ministry and discipleship. Pastors and ministers recognize the value of a quality coach to equip them to cultivate skills, lead staff, mentor young leaders, mobilize volunteers and teams more strategically, and improve as a counselor. Learn more!	Training Seminar 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!	Embracing Stewardship October 5, 2017 Please join Texas Presbyterian Foundation for an exciting, interactive event designed to deepen your congregations' understanding of themselves as stewards of God's abundance. Full of practical tools and highly conscious of generational perspectives, featured speaker, Ms. Grace Pomroy, has created a conversation that will walk you through the tenets that define the spiritual discipline of stewardship. Learn more!