|
|
How
Well Are You Connected?
Just
a few weeks ago one of my wife's cousins was in town from California.
We met Bob and his wife downtown for supper on the Nicollet Mall. Bob
is a successful businessman and suggested a book to me that I have found
very helpful. The book is Harvey Mackay's Dig Your Well Before You're
Thirsty. The theme of the book is networking. Mackay asks this question,
"How many people can I realistically count on to bust a gut to help me
at 2 A.M.? " How would you answer Mackay's question?
Leaders cannot work alone. The Bible implores us, "Come let us reason
together." (Isa. 1:19) Much of the language in the Bible deals with community.
Networks are an essential part of the life of a leader. No matter what
level of education or experience we have we cannot work alone. We do not
have unlimited knowledge, and our understanding of many issues is incomplete.
It is so helpful to have a network of people that we can call on to pray
for us, to listen to us and to react to the ideas and proposals that are
percolating in our heads.
Most leaders are committed to change. Leaders need a network to test these
new ideas. Are they reasonable? Are they really significant? Will our
people buy into them? Is this God's will for our ministry?
Mackay offers a variety of reasons why a network is so crucial:
- A network replaces the weakness of the individual with the strength
of the group.
- Your network can help you identify what's unclear or confusing or
simply wrong.
- A network can enrich your life anywhere in the world.
- A network can help you help others.*
I hope that you will work on building your network in the coming year.
A network of Christian people who will listen to you, pray for you and
respond to you is something that every one of us needs. Effective leaders
have strong networks!
Thanks for your willingness to be a leader in our shared ministry!
--Jim Fretheim
*Mackay, Harvey, Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty, pgs. 14-22.
Leadership
Forum
Please
come to this important free seminar:
"Dealing with Conflict in the Church"
Susan Beaumont of the Alban Institute, speaker
Friday, January 20, 2006 9 am - 2 pm (lunch included)
Location: Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton
Salem Covenant is located a few blocks south of Interstate 694 off
Silver Lake Road. The church phone is 651-633-9615.
Please RSVP to the Northwest Conference at 612-721-4893, 1-800-756-6692
in the conference area, no later than Friday, January 13, 2006,
so we can have an adequate count for lunches. You can also e-mail your
response to Nicole by clicking here.
Youth
Pastor's Connection
Attention
Youth Pastor/Worker
This is a reminder to join us for our next Youth Pastor's Connection
on January 19, 2006 from 11am-2pm at the Northwest Conference
offices. We are continuing our focus on the core competencies of youth
ministry. This month, Tiger McLuen of Youth Leadership will be providing
a training on "Ministering to Parents of Teenagers." BRING YOUR LUNCH
and plan to participate with us as we consider this important area of
ministry.
Here are the YPC meeting dates through April:
February 16, 2006
March 16, 2006
April 27, 2006
Questions: Contact Jon Kramka at
the Northwest Conference Office or call Jon at 612-721-4893 or 1-800-756-6692.
A time to connect, support, and learn with each other!
Children
and Family Ministry
Gathering opportunities for Children and Family Ministry
workers:
The Children's Ministry Network
(sponsored by D.C. Cook and Byron Ragains)
Thursday, January 19, 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Thursday, March 30, 9:30 – 11:30 AM
This event always provides excellent input, breakfast, and fellowship.
Look for other children and family workers to sit at a table for more
conversation.
January topic: "Understanding Attitudes in Children and Changing the
Underlying Beliefs that Feed Them" presented by
Scott Turansky & Joanne Miller
March topic: "Culture's Effect on Children–Trends!" by Dr. Mary Manz
Simon
Cost: $5
Location: St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 9201 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington,
612.831.5276.
RSVP a couple days before the meeting:
1.800.426.6596 x 3807 or ragainsb@cookministries.org
Also plan to meet for breakfast/coffee/lunch during the Northwest Conference
Annual Meeting which falls April 20 – 22. More details will come regarding
this possible gathering.
If you are at the Midwinter Conference in Chicago, plan to attend the
breakfast, lunch and evening snack times offered by the Department of
Christian Formation as well as the evening social time sponsored by
the Northwest Conference. These will all be good times for us to connect.
Any questions about or ideas for this group to meet can be directed
to Judy Peterson (an unofficial convener) at 952.474.2537 x105 or e-mail
Judy by clicking here.
A
Reminder--Attendance Data Forms Due
Just
a reminder to please fill out your attendance data forms and get them
back to our office as soon as possible as the initial deadline has passed.
These forms were sent to all churches from the Covenant headquarters
in Chicago and help us assess church needs. These can be faxed to us
at 612-721-4895.
Also, we will be closing the conference books on January 13, 2006. Any
monies coming in after that will be applied to the 2006 giving. Thank
you!
Church
Pews Available
The
Evangelical Covenant Church of North Mankato, MN would like to donate
approximately 34 church pews to a Covenant church. These oak pews were
professionally removed from their sanctuary and are currently being
stored. There would be a cost for freight. For more information, e-mail
Jerry Schafer by clicking here.
|
January,
2006
Volume
III, Number One
Contents
How
Well Are You Connected?
Leadership
Forum
Youth
Pastor's Connection
Children
and Family Ministry
A
Reminder--Attendance Data Forms Due
Church
Pews Available
,
we encourage you to forward this email to anyone that you think would
find it useful. Click
here to send this to a friend
If you are not a subscriber and would like to be, Click
here to subscribe.
|
