October 2007
General conference board tackles big agenda
The wide-ranging issues on the agenda when the General Conference Board met in late September at Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg, Pa., provide a snapshot of the complexities facing leadership in a fast-growing, energetic, bi-national network of congregations. From vision-planning to personnel searches, and from the continuing quest for affordable health insurance to ticklish questions about governance and church polity, board members had their work cut out for them. And based on the summary comments of board consultant Dr. Paul Magnus, a professor in leadership at Tyndale University College in Toronto, ON, who observed the meeting, the board handled their assignment well. Read more >>
Living the church-college covenant
Few students at Messiah know about the covenant document that defines the relationship between the college and the BIC Church. However, as the experience of David Perry, a junior music education major at Messiah who is attending the Grantham BIC Church, illustrates, the church-college connection is much more than just words on paper. Read more >>
A prayer for new vision
Over the past several months, Leadership Council have committed themsevles to specific times for prayer, fasting, and discernment as the North American BIC Church looks ahead to 2020. Ken Letner, bishop of the Susquehanna Conference, has shared a 2020 Vision Prayer from a fasting time from the morning of 7/5/07. We now share it with you. Read more >>
International BIC Association all about cooperation
The September 12 -13 meeting of the executive committee of the International Brethren in Christ Association (IBICA), set the stage for a new way of relating among and between national conferences of BIC churches. As Thuma Hamukang'andu, bishop of the Zambia BIC Church and president of the IBICA executive committee, expressed in his opening devotional, an international association of BIC churches can have a part in "turning the world upside-down" in the way that God wants. Read more >>
Seek is now In Part
In the September issue of Momentum, we reported that we had lost the name Seek due to a trademark infringement. As we prayed and brainstormed about a new title for the denomination's magazine, our search led us to I Corinthians 13:12 and the words "in part." Like Seek, the name In Part communicates a humble recognition that, in this life, our understanding of God and His plans is incomplete. We are seekers on a journey in mission for God, upheld by the promise that one day we will know fully, even as we are fully known.
Although the name of the magazine has changed, its purpose, style, and distribution remains the same. The magazine will continue to invite readers into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ within the context of the shared life and ministry of the BIC Church. The first issue of In Part will be mailed in early December to everyone who attends a BIC church and for whom we have an address.
Cowboy church helps boost third quarter CM total
As we head into the final quarter in the 2007 fiscal year, the finance team is keeping a close on eye on contributions by congregations to Cooperative Ministries. So it was a source of celebration when a first check arrived from New Trail Fellowship in Abilene, Kansas, one of our newest church plants. Read more >>
An active fall for the World Hunger Fund
Thanks to the generosity of God's people, we have been able to respond to requests for assistance from our BIC brothers and sisters in India, Nicaragua, and Zambia through the World Hunger Fund.
Read more >>
Giving honor where honor is due
October as Clergy Appreciation Month thumbs up womanoriginated with Focus on the Family in 1993 and has since grown into a bi-national, multi-denominational celebration of pastoral leadership -- including, we trust, within BIC churches. As Dr. Bill Bright, founder and president of Campus Crusade for Christ, once stated: "No segment of our society is more strategic and more in need of prayer than pastors and their families. They urgently and desperately need our love, encouragement, and earnest prayers."
If every Momentum reader prays this month (and every month) for our pastor-leaders, both here in North America and worldwide, we can anticipate great things from God. And as you pray, remember specifically the 29 individuals and couples who are registered the October 22 - 23 New Pastors and Spouses Orientation, asking God to bless them with long and fruitful ministries with the BIC Church.
Share your insights
You receive Momentum because you are a leader in the church within a congregation, a regional conference, the General Church, or all three. You may have asked to be included on the mailing list for Momentum or your name may have been picked up automatically when you entered your current position of leadership. Regardless of how you have come to Momentum, your feedback is important. Please let us hear from you.
Don McNiven and Warren Hoffman
General Church Leaders
Contact Information:
Email: bic@messiah.edu
Phone: 717.697.2634
Fax: 717.796.4781
Web: www.bic-church.org
