Our Vision is to bring wholeness to the world through healthy, biblical communities of holy people multiplying disciples, leaders, groups and churches. Therefore, we will… †Recruit and develop catalytic leaders for the transformation of churches and communities †Launch and sustain new apostolic initiatives and church plants †Network and strengthen partnerships with affiliate FM institutions †Resource and build upon our historic commitment to worldwide mission Together…transforming our world! Superintendent: [email protected] Business Administrator: [email protected] Administrative Assistant: [email protected] E-Connect with Superintendent Bruce Rhodes Southern Michigan Conference Free Methodist Church USA Wednesday, November 5, 2014 – Vol. 2; #11 An Urgent Appeal from Pastor John Beshai to Help Christians Persecuted in Iraq After refusing to convert to Islam, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians have been forced to flee their homes in towns and villages that their descendants have lived in for over two thousand years. They have left everything behind including their homes, wealth, and businesses. Now, they are homeless, hungry, sick, and poor. I spoke over the phone to pastor W, pastor of Duhook Free Methodist church and Superintendent of the Free Methodist churches in Iraq, and he said “The churches’ courtyards and classrooms are overflowing with orphaned children, women, and elderly, while others have traveled to the mountains for shelter. Many children have died on their way to a temporary safe haven. They are desperately in need of food, clothing, blankets, heaters, and medicine. The needs are overwhelming, but God is great!” Pastor W and his team who are working to help the Iraqi refuges indicated that the urgent needs for the winter season are for gas heaters and blankets. They need 1000 heaters each costing $10.00, and 1000 blankets www.smcfmc.org each costing $8.00. The Arabic Churches in Detroit and in Windsor have www.somersetbeach.org already collected $4500 for this need. This is over and above an earlier effort in September of this year, where the Ferndale and Windsor Arabic churches had supported a Free Methodist Church in Egypt with six thousand dollars to establish a free Medical center. We need the help of our Conference churches. Your kind and charitable contribution will make a difference in the lives of these refugees. Any amount, however big or small, will be appreciated. We will wire money directly to the church in Duhook. Pastor W and his team will purchase heaters and blankets then distribute them among the families. If you or your church would like to help with these urgent needs, you can email me at [email protected] , or call my cell phone at (248)-953- 9319. Please pass on this message to your friends, organizations, and churches. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Pastor John Beshai SMC Coaching Network Launches this Weekend! The RSVP’s are in and we have 36 Conference churches that are participating in this weekend’s launch of our new Coaching Network with 100+ people registered to attend. Our two identical training options are being hosted at our Dearborn Church on the 7th and our Kalamazoo Church on the 8th. Both sessions begin at 9 am and conclude by 4 pm. Lunch will be provided by the Conference. Be in prayer for Don Ross and Michael Forney and our Conference team as we gather together in this new venture over the weekend. Immigration Ministry Opportunity for Local Churches During our recent Global Overseers Team meeting, I was thrilled to learn more about a new ministry that establishes “Immigration Clinics” in our local churches. If you would like to receive the power point presentation on this cutting edge approach for ministry to immigrant populations in your area, just shoot me an email and I will be happy to send it your way. This is a timely opportunity considering the potential Executive Order to be issued by President Obama in the next few weeks. The anticipated order creates the very real possibility that several million undocumented workers will have an opportunity for US Citizenship. Churches that are up and running with this “Immigration Alliance” ministry will be uniquely positioned to directly minister to an influx of people seeking U.S. citizenship. One local church outside of our Conference utilized this ministry and it has led to a remarkable revitalization of their church. In order to receive the power point presentation, send your request to me personally at the following email address: [email protected] Trunk or Treat Reports (See photos next page) Our Albion church reported 475 children (plus adults) present for this year’s Trunk or Treat (indoors.) In addition, they partnered with another neighborhood church strengthening the witness in their community. Coldwater reported around 1300 people in attendance at their annual event. Our Dearborn church had their largest Trunk or Treat with 1800-2500 people present. Because of their sensitivity to the Arabic culture, some event signage was in Arabic, and culturally relevant foods were also offered besides the usual Western variety. They were excited to be able to reach out to a number of Arabic families that were present for the event. Our Hillsdale church also hosted theirs indoors and served donuts, coffee and hot chocolate drinks to 500 guests. Our Portage church teamed up with another church and held their outreach at a local elementary school gymnasium. They reported…. We had 618 kids and at least that many adults attend our event! The line extended down the sidewalk to the street for over half of the event. Some people waited 45 minutes to get in. The school principal worked right along side of our volunteers meeting, greeting, and serving cider to our guests. Trunk-or-Treat is just one part of our ministry to our adopted elementary school which also includes weekly Snack Packs provided by our church to needy kids, our Good News after school Bible Club, and our Sports Camp and VBS held on school property each summer. We are so blessed to have a great working relationship with our public school! Here is a video clip of the event: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=920026791360285&comment_id=920262251336739&offset=0&total _comments=3 Trunk or Treat Photos Albion – Giving out Gideon Bibles Albion – A liturgical look for the Hensons! Hillsdale – The church gym provides a warm welcome on a cold Trunk or Treat night. Hey everyone…let’s support (and benefit from) our Camp! Wood Cutter's Work Day November 8, 2014 Volunteers are needed for SBC’s WOODCUTTER WORK DAY on Nov 8, 2014! It will begin at 8:30 AM in the Cedar Center with coffee and donuts and will end at 1 PM with lunch. Anyone who can carry firewood is capable of helping on this day! It is very important to RSVP so we will know the number of hydraulic splitters to have on hand as well as how many to prepare lunch for. Contact the SBC office at 517-688-3783 or email Chuck Smith at [email protected] to RSVP. Live Nativity December 5 & 6, 2014, 6 - 9 PM Rides will leave every 15 minutes between 6:00 and 8:45 PM At Somerset Beach, we make the story of Christmas come alive for you and your family through a living reenactment of the story of the birth of Christ. Everyone enjoys the horse drawn wagon ride, the colorful costumes and the Christmas music and narration. Before and after the ride you can enjoy cookies and warm beverages in the Cedar Center. Come and bring the whole family to this free event. Go back in time to that sleepy little village in Nazareth and experience the wonderful story of Christmas. Breakfast with Santa December 13, 2014 Come eat breakfast with Santa! Each ticket includes a pancake breakfast, a visit with Santa Claus (bring your camera!), a gift from Santa and a craft to make or take. Children will also enjoy our beautifully decorated Cedar Center, the warm fire and model trains. Seating at 8:30, 9:30 & 10:30 LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Call 517/688-3783 to make a reservation Tickets $9 per adult (over 12) $6 per child (3 - 12) Free (0 - 2) WMI Craft & Chat Luncheon January 17, 2015 12 Noon – 4:00 p.m. – In the Cedar Center Cost: $15.00/person (includes lunch & crafts & fellowship with other ladies from around the Conf.) Limited to 50 participants – Must register before Jan. 9th - Call Barb at 419-485-0058 Pastor Neil Bendixen Officially “Installed” at Pulaski FMC Last Sunday, the church gathered around the Bendixens with the “laying on of hands” for the installation of their new appointed Pastor. Neil and his wife Lynnea have been in the saddle there for just over a month now and are doing a great job getting acquainted with the people in their charge. Every Sunday, they have lunch at the church with different people in the congregation in order to get acquainted. Last Sunday was no exception. It was an encouragement to see young children and young families in attendance. Let’s continue to remember our newly appointed pastors in these formative first months of taking on new responsibilities. They include:  Eric and Meghan Rose (New Hope Church in Canton)  Dustin and Megan Weber (Dearborn)  Kevin and Melanie Eccles (Monroe)  Neil and Lynnea Bendixen (Pulaski) Rise Above - New Ministry Launched in the SMC During this past Annual Conference, Neil Fernandes was received as a new Conference Ministerial Candidate. Neil is a recent graduate of Spring Arbor University and he and his wife Veronica are an active part of our Spring Arbor Church. Since that time, the Fernandes’s have launched a new ministry in our Conference called Rise Above. The mission of RA is to equip “at risk” students in the Jackson school systems through reading, phonics and academic credit recovery programs. The focus will be on educational, vocational and character training. This new ministry plans to launch after the first year with their first semester crop of “at risk” students. They have already formed key alliances with a variety of community partners: Jackson County Youth Center, Western School Board, Northwest School Board, Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church and the county government of Jackson. If you would like to learn more about this incredible ministry feel free to email the Fernandes’s at [email protected]. They would love to have an opportunity to share their ministry story with individuals, churches, foundations, businesses or civic organizations. Check it out…Evangelism Training Event Sponsored by Evangelism Explosion International The training seminar is scheduled for Nov. 13 – 14 in Detroit. It’s for our new XEE video assisted, discussion based curriculum (great for small groups). Go to http://www.xee.info/  To READ MORE ABOUT IT  To REGISTER ONLINE  To view PROMOTIONAL VIDEO Conference Calendar November 7-8 – Southern Michigan Conference Coaching Network (SMCCN) Launches. November 7-8 – SMC Women’s Retreat November 27-28 – Conference Office Closed for the Holiday December 1 – Superintendent’s Cabinet - 6 pm at the Rhodes’ residence. December 8 – Conference Leadership Board- 6 pm at the Rhodes’ residence December 24-25 – Merry Christmas! January 9 & 10 – SMC Coaching Network - Dearborn & Kalamazoo February 2-4 – SMC Pastor and Spouse Retreat - Frankenmuth, MI February 28 – National MEG Board Training - Spring Arbor, MI March 6 & 7 – SMC Coaching Network – Dearborn & Kalamazoo May 1 & 2 – SMC Coaching Network – Dearborn & Kalamazoo June 19-20 – SMC Annual Conference June 19-26 – Family Camp 2015 at SBC July 10-11 – Freedom Summit 2015, Orlando Florida July 13-16 – General Conference 2015, Orlando Florida October 9-10, 2015 – Ignite Conference