Spring 2008
Grace Church men’s ministry
sends its A Team for disaster relief
Quarterly trip to the Gulf Coast helps Katrina victims get
back in homes and men grow through doing the Lord’s work
By Kristi Reimer, FEConnections editor
Y
ou might think that 12 white guys
They drew a 1,000-mile circle around
wearing orange shirts and driving a 14Morton—a maximum drive of 15 hours,
foot trailer around the mostly black neighdoable in one day—and designated that
borhoods of Biloxi, Mississippi, would stand
as the A Team’s service area. The church
out like a sore thumb. And you’d be right.
stood behind the effort, with the congregaIn fact, some of those men might actually
tion donating enough money within two
have sore thumbs from their work rebuildmonths to purchase a 14-foot trailer and
ing houses wiped out by Hurricane Katrina
outfit it with tools. “This was confirmation
two years ago. Those men are the A (short
that the church was behind us and God
for Assistance) Team, a ministry of Grace
was working,” Lane says.
Church in Morton,
Illinois, that proThe road
vides aid to people
to service
suffering from
Every three
natural disasters.
months, a team
The concept
of 10 men pack
of the A Team was
up and drive the
born two years ago
trailer (each man
when Grace memtakes a two-hour
ber Lane Hafele,
driving shift) to
recently retired,
their service deswas sitting in Pastination. Usually
tor Steve Knowles’
the team heads
office. Steve asked
to the MissisLane what he was
sippi Gulf Coast,
Members of the A Team of Grace Church in Morton,
going to do next,
where they work
Illinois. The homeowner is pictured in the front row,
and Lane told him
under the leadersecond from right, and Lane Hafele, one of the
he was thinking
ship of one of
A Team organizers, is in the second row, far right.
of volunteering
three Christian
with the Red Cross on the Gulf Coast. That’s
relief organizations: Samaritan’s Purse, the
when Steve tossed another idea his way.
Hope Crisis Response Network, or Habi“Steve said we had a need here in our
tat for Humanity. This April marked the A
church—that the men of Grace needed
Team’s ninth trip to Mississippi for Katrina
a way to reach out to people in need,”
assistance, though they’ve also traveled to
Lane says. “So we talked and prayed and
Miracle Camp in Michigan and LifeChange
sensed the Lord leading us to form an
Camp in Missouri for work projects. “These
organized ministry.”
trips get men to come together to do the
Connecting and equipping the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
Inside
______________
The A Team
2 Morton men head to
Gulf Coast to rebuild
homes; Can you help?
FEC Convention 2008
3 Building on a
firm foundation
4 Focus on building
works that will last
5 Convention schedule
6 Registration form
Missions Update
7 Pine Hills group
travels to Guinea;
Presenting the
gospel to those
who’ve never heard
President’s Corner
8 Examining our
next steps
Could your church
reach out?
Lane Hafele, one of the directors
of the A Team, says the general
volunteer stream is drying up
two years after Katrina, but
residents in that area need as
much help now as ever. If you’re
interested in being involved in
the A Team or a similar project,
Lane and the Grace Church
leadership have offered themselves as resources.
Men are invited to contact
them for information or to join
one of the A Team trips to learn
how it works before organizing a similar effort in their own
churches. “Many individuals
know they need to be involved
with something like this, but
it’s hard to plan on your own,”
Lane says.
Contact information: Grace
Church Pastor Jonathan Farrell
at (309) 266-9281 or jonathan.
farrell@gracemorton.org; Lane
Hafele at lhafele@mtco.com or
(309) 387-2154.
The A Team’s mission: To provide an opportunity for Grace
Church men to fulfill God’s
calling to reach out and provide
help and comfort in practical and
visible ways to those in need.
Theme verse: Let us not
become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give
up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, especially to those who
belong to the family of believers
(Galatians 6:9-10).
2
A Team
(continued from page 1)
Lord’s work,” Lane says. “Almost to
Stopping to talk—and pray
the man, guys come back and say,
The A Team has worked on 20 homes
‘That’s the best thing I ever did. I’ve
total, but the construction is not
got to go back.’”
their main objective. The volunteers’
At this point, the teams are made
primary goal is to meet and talk and
up of about half repeats and half firstpray with the homeowners. “If the
timers. And the ministry is starting to
homeowner comes on site, we put our
attract men from other churches, as
tools down and stop and talk,” Lane
well as non-Christians. “It’s a powersays. “Folks are so thankful. They say,
ful outreach for a nonbeliever to work
‘What are a group of men from the
alongside Christians as part of an efnorth doing in Biloxi?’ We say we’re
fort like this,” Lane says.
Christians and we believe God has
Most of the team’s resources are
called us to do this. And they say,
focused on rebuilding residences
‘Well, God bless you!’”
destroyed by the hurricane. Shelter,
The cost participants pay to go
Lane says, is the biggest need for people on an A Team trip is minimal. Grace
displaced by
Church
Katrina—
provides the
they need to
van and the
get back into
fuel, and
their homes.
the group
Most disdoesn’t stay
placed indiovernight
viduals have
anywhere
been living
en route,
in 24-foot
so there are
FEMA trailers
no hotel
for two years,
charges.
and they’ve
Samaritan’s
lost not only
Purse
The A Team framed this house on a recent trip
to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
their homes
doesn’t
but their
charge
jobs. Their friends are scattered, their
volunteers anything for food and
family is scattered, and their hope is all
housing, and the other organizations
but gone. If they can get back into their
charge only enough to cover their
houses, that’s a first step back toward a
costs. “We want it to be as cost-effecsense of normality—and hope. “It’s cru- tive as possible so everyone who has a
cial for their peace of mind,” Lane says.
desire to go can go,” Lane says. “And
Most of the sites are covered with
if someone can’t afford to pay anytrash, so the A Team’s first step is to
thing, we say, ‘No problem. We’ve got
clean up the debris. Eventually, they
you covered.’”
help transform the pile of rubble into
Lane recounts how, on one A
a clean house and tidy yard. WatchTeam trip, a man named Richard
ing this process is incredibly encourstood in his front yard every day and
aging to the homeowners. “What’s
stared at his house as it was being
overwhelming for one or two people
built. When the Grace men finally
is easy for 10 or 12,” Lane says. “And
asked him, “Richard, what are you
once a house is started, things keep
looking at?” he said, with tears in his
moving. Even if we can’t finish it, aneyes, “I’m watching my house come
other group will come along after us.
out of the ground. I never thought I’d
When we get started, you can see the
see it. If you weren’t here, this would
smiles come back onto the faces.”
never have happened.”
Join us at Convention
July 31– August 2, 2008 ~ Northwoods Community Church ~ Peoria, Illinois
Featuring: Worship Service • Friday, August 1
Come together with other FEC members to worship, learn the truths of Scripture,
encourage each other, and fellowship together. Through God’s grace, may we become
expert builders who build on the foundation already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is JESUS CHRIST. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
Guest speaker:
Matt Williams
Matt and Willa Williams with their sons
Joshua, 9, and Jordan, 7. The Williams
family lives in Brea, California. Matt has
been teaching New Testament at Biola
University for the past six years, and he
and Willa enjoy being involved with their
sons’ sports activities, including soccer,
basketball, and baseball.
REGISTER NOW |
www.fecministries.org
Music ~ Delegate sessions ~ Workshops ~ Fun for kids ~ Quizzing ~ Speakers ~ Prayer
2008 Conve
Building on a firm foundation
2008 Convention will equip FEC churches
with tools for constructing works of eternal value.
By Ron Habegger, FEC President
P
aul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 that the
builders of Christ’s church should be careful how
they build. Our world today challenges absolute truth
and our culture builds on the shifting sands of relativism. In the midst of this changing world, God’s truth
is absolute. He is the rock we build on. As we gather
for Convention 2008, we do so to praise the Lord’s
faithfulness and challenge ourselves to build upon
the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ.
As we pursue the targets established in Vision
2020, I am amazed at the opportunities we have here
and abroad. Come to Convention 2008 to learn more
about these opportunities and discover how your
church can help expand the visible body of Christ.
Plan now to join us at Northwoods Community
Church in August for a time of worship, ministry
updates, and preparation for the next steps in our
Vision 2020 journey.
Friday Praise Service:
Building on a firm foundation
Dr. Matthew Williams, associate Bible professor at
Biola University, former FEC missionary to Spain and
FEC-credentialed missionary-at-large, will discuss the
role of the church in today’s culture. Both Matt and
his wife, Willa, grew up in FEC churches, were active
at Miracle Camp, and served on the mission field.
Matt was named Biola’s Professor of the Year in 2004
and has spoken at conferences throughout the United
States and in Spain. He has written several books
and articles in both Spanish and English, including
a series of DVD Bible studies on the Prayers, Parables,
and Miracles of Jesus. We invite you to worship with
us. The service will close with communion, and a
time of fellowship will follow.
Women’s Luncheon
On Saturday, several of our own FEC women who
serve (or will soon serve) in International Ministries
will share firsthand accounts of how they’ve witnessed God’s work. Lynnette Hyde, Allison Roseboom,
Angie Morton, and Anna Mortenson will share how
Christ has touched their lives. The luncheon will
begin at 12:30 p.m. Childcare will be available for
infants through age 5, and day camp for kindergartners through sixth-graders. The cost of the luncheon
is $10 per person. A ticket must be purchased prior to
the event on the registration form.
Concurrent Sessions
On Friday morning, concurrent sessions will be offered to increase your awareness of various FEC ministries. These informal sessions will provide an excellent
opportunity for you to interact with our church planters and missionaries and learn more about their work.
Please help us prepare for these sessions by indicating
which ones you plan to attend. They are scheduled so
that you may attend both if desired.
Men’s Breakfast
Join the men of Northwoods for a breakfast on Saturday morning beginning at 7:40 a.m. Be challenged
to become a 1 Chronicles 7:40 man and enjoy a great
breakfast. The cost for this event is $7, and you can
purchase tickets now using the registration form.
Quizzing
Beginning Thursday evening and running throughout the convention, our youth will be quizzing their
hearts out. Both junior high and senior high teams
will be competing for their championships, and
brackets listing quiz times and locations can be found
at Quiz Central. Be sure to attend the competition
and support your church teams.
Day Camp
A day camp will be provided for children from
kindergarten through sixth grade on Saturday from
9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per child with
lunch provided.
Saturday Evening
Please join Northwoods Community Church for
its weekend services.
Sunday
You are encouraged to attend an FEC church in the
area—FEC churches in central Illinois welcome your
attendance. This is a great opportunity for you to
learn more about a sister church in FEC. A list of local
churches and the times of service will be included in
your Welcome Book at convention.
ntion
FEC 2008 Convention Schedule
THURSDAY, July 31
3-8 p.m.
Registration
5 p.m.
Quizmasters Meeting
6-8 p.m.
FEC Ministers’ Association Dinner with Matt Williams
6:30 p.m.
Meeting for Quiz Coaches and Teams
7 p.m.
Quizzing
8:30 p.m.
Tour of Northwoods Community Church
FRIDAY, August 1
8 a.m.-noon
8 a.m.-7 p.m.
8:30 a.m.-noon
9 a.m.
9:30-11:45 a.m.
Noon
12:45-5:30 p.m.
1-5 p.m.
1:00-5:30 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
6:45-8:30 p.m.
7-8:30 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, August
7:40-9 a.m.
8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
9 a.m.
9-11:45 a.m.
9:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
9:15-11:45 a.m.
9:30-11:45 a.m.
Noon
12:15-2:30 p.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
6-7:10 p.m.
6-7:10 p.m.
FEC Board of Elders Meeting
Registration
Quizzing
Prayer Room Open
Concurrent Sessions
Lunch (included with registration)
Children’s Ministry: Infant through Grade 6
Quizzing
Delegate Sessions I and II
Dinner Buffet (included with registration)
Children’s Ministry: Infant through Grade 6
Worship and Communion with Matt Williams
Social (included with registration)
2
Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Purchased ticket required)
Registration
Prayer Room Open
Quizzing
Day Camp for Kindergartners through Grade 6
(Purchased ticket required)
Children’s Ministry: Infant through age 5
Delegate Session III
Optional Lunch (for those not attending Women’s
Luncheon) (Purchased ticket required)
Children’s Ministry: Infant through age 5
Women’s Luncheon—“Women in Missions”
(Purchased ticket required)
Quiz Finals (awards program to follow immediately)
Children’s Ministry: Infant through Grade 6
Northwoods Worship Service
SUNDAY, August 3
Please join one of our area FEC churches. A listing of area churches and
times of service will be included in your convention packet.
For no one
can lay any
foundation
other than
the one
already laid,
which is
Jesus
Christ.
1 Corinthians
3:10-11
2008 FEC Convention Registration
Step 1
Last name: __________________________
First name: _____________________________
Spouse’s name (if attending): ___________________________________________________
Name, age, and grade completed for child(ren) attending: _________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
City, State, ZIP: ________________________________________________________________
Home phone: __________________________ Cell phone: ___________________________
Work phone: ___________________________ E-mail: _______________________________
Church or organization: _________________________________________________________
In case of emergency, contact: ___________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________________________
Do you have any disabilities that require special accommodation?
Yes
No
Please describe specific needs: _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Concurrent Sessions: Indicate the number of people planning to attend each session.
Friday, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
International Ministries
________________________
Friday, 10:45–11:45 a.m.
Church Planting
________________________
Step 2
Basic Registration
Includes Friday’s concurrent sessions, lunch, dinner, and evening social, plus Friday and
Saturday delegate sessions. Choose either Family Package or Individual Registration.
Family value package:
$110
________
• Adults (18 and older)
$60
________
• Teens (non-quizzers)
$30
________
• Children (age 6–12)
$5
________
Registration total
$
________
Individual registration:
Step 3 Additional Costs
Registration fee (from Step 2)
$ ___________________
Additional tickets (from Step 3)
Tickets for activities (required prior to event)
Men’s Breakfast
Step 4
$ ___________________
$7
________
Day Camp (K–Grade 6, lunch) $10
________
Total due to FEC
Saturday Women’s Luncheon
$10
________
$ ___________________
$7
________
$
________
Saturday Lunch
Additional ticket total
6
Make checks payable to FEC.
FEC Convention
will be held at
Northwoods
Community Church
10700 N. Allen Road
Peoria, IL 61615
Register by July 18, 2008 via:
Mail: 1420 Kerrway Court,
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Fax: (260) 420-1905
E-Mail: B.Swihart@FECMinistries.org
Web: www.fecministries.org
Cancellation Policy
Should you need to cancel,
please contact us by telephone
at (260) 423-3649 or
fax at (260) 420-1905,
visit our website at
www.fecministries.org, or e-mail
B.Swihart@FECMinistries.org no
later than July 25, 2008. You will
receive a refund, less $25 per person.
Suggested Hotels
The following hotels have a block
of rooms reserved at a special rate,
but you must register at the hotel
of your choice by June 31 to get this
rate. Please contact the hotel directly
to make your reservations.
AmericInn of Peoria
9106 N. Lindbergh Dr.
Peoria, IL 61615
(309) 692-9200
Jameson Inn & Suites
4112 N. Brandywine Drive
Peoria, IL 61614
(309) 685-2556
SpringHill Suites (Marriott)
2701 West Lake Ave.
Peoria, IL 61615
(309) 681-2700
Country Inn & Suites
5309 W. Landens Way
Peoria, IL 61615
(309) 589-0044
Radisson Hotel Peoria
(Quizzers)
117 N. Western Ave.
Peoria, IL 61604
(309) 673-8040
Feel free to make copies of this form.
Missions Update
Pine Hills group visits ‘adopted’ family
Prayer team connects with Yalunka people in Guinea.
P
ine Hills Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, sent its
second prayer team to Guinea, West Africa, in
February. Pine Hills has adopted the Yalunka people,
one of the poorest and least evangelized ethnic groups
in the world, by committing to send teams regularly
and pray for ministry efforts there. The church’s desire
is for the congregation to get excited about this ministry and for God to call Pine Hills individuals to go and
serve the Yalunka people.
The missionaries now serving in Guinea received a
clear message not too long ago regarding the urgency
of the need for more workers. Recently, these missionaries traveled two hours from the village where they
minister to attend the funeral of a friend. Bruce, one
of the missionaries, reports that during this visit, an
old man pushed his way through the crowd, put both
his hands on Bruce’s shoulders, and said, “You try. You
try real hard, and you come teach us. You hear? You
A prayer team from Pine Hills Church visited Guinea, West
Africa, in February. The team included (from left) Pastor
Todd Moser, Pastor Nirup Alphonse, Pat Nelson, Angie
Wheeler, and Abby and Jonathan Hyde.
understand? You
try real hard and
come and teach
us.” The old man
would not release
his grip until
Bruce answered,
“Yes, uncle, I hear
you. I will try.”
“I could
The Yalunka people are mostly Muslim but
hardly contain
also practice traditional African beliefs.
my amazement,
but I was also
dismayed,” Bruce says. “I doubted my availability
to come and teach them regularly. How could we
possibly add another major time and energy commitment to an already overloaded ministry? The question
became, ‘Lord, what are we supposed to do?’”
Bruce asked the old man if someone else besides
him could come and teach them God’s Word. Before
he even finished the question, every head around him
was nodding yes. Bruce looked at his fellow missionary Jeremy to see if he was hearing the same thing.
He was. So Bruce prayed, “OK, God, this seems to be
an open door for the gospel. But how can we do this?
Please send more workers—and soon!”
Pray that God would raise up individuals to meet
the need for a business administrator, church planter,
or educator to go and support ministries that are currently in place.
The gospel for those who’ve never heard
I
magine a group of people who have lived in
Europe since before the Roman Empire existed.
Imagine a group of people who have resisted the
gospel for centuries and more recently resisted
religion in any form, becoming practicing atheists. Imagine between 2.5 and 4 million people who
speak a unique language and have a unique culture
even though they’ve lived within another European
country for more than two millennia. Imagine a
group of people who are industrious and economically well off, who care deeply about their children
succeeding in business and in the international
marketplace, and yet who are suspicious of anyone
outside their group. How would you share the lifechanging gospel message with these lost people?
What method would God use to let the light
illuminate the darkness?
The good news is that God is crafting a door of
entrée to reach these people, and FEC is stepping
through it. During the month of July, two FEC churches—Archbold and Brookside—will each host between
eight and twelve high school students from this group
in an English-language immersion ministry. Each
student will live with a host family for a month and
have the opportunity to attend senior high week at
Miracle Camp. The program promises four “F’s” to
each student: fluency, family, fun, and faith. The students will have opportunities to participate in regular
church and youth activities, camp, relationships with
Christian families, and the local church.
7
1420 Kerrway Court
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
President’s Corner
Examining our next steps
In his heart a man plans his
course, but the Lord determines
his steps (Proverbs 16:9).
F
EC adopted Vision 2020 as
a plan for direction as we
move toward the year 2020.
While much of the journey
remains uncharted, the goal of
opening new mission fields and
planting churches beyond the
Midwest is clear. Our target is
to have at least 50 missionaries overseas and 80 churches
in the U.S. by the year 2020. Our course is determined,
the goals are set, and the journey has begun.
When we gather this summer for Convention 2008,
FEC will have 26 missionaries either overseas or on home
assignment. During a recent trip to China, I became
aware of significant opportunities for businessmen and
English teachers to use their skills as missionaries. We
could deploy 50 missionaries to China alone if we had
the resources and people willing to go. A team from Pine
Hills recently traveled to Guinea, West Africa, to pray and
explore mission opportunities there. Pray for Earl Cecil
and Hal Lehman as they continue to look at new fields
and recruit additional workers.
Including new congregations started and on the
drawing board, we will also have 48 U.S. churches this
summer. This number includes five church plants:
Portage, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio; Gardner, Maine;
Napoleon, Ohio; and Cannon Falls, Minnesota. In
addition, we’ll be receiving three new churches into FEC:
Extreme Victory Fellowship in Archbold, Ohio; Crossroads
Church of Monticello, Illinois; and Lakeview Bible Church
in Nampa, Idaho. We are blessed to have these churches
join us, and we are encouraged by the number of new
plants starting. Pray for Scott Waggoner and the FEC’s
church planters as they work to expand the body of Christ.
What’s next? Two things I am certain of: The journey
will continue and new doors will open, for the Lord is
determining our steps. In February, I met with Clayton
Nutter in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss the possibility of
planting an FEC church in Payson, about an hour northeast of Phoenix. Clayton is from central Illinois, attended
Eureka Bible Church for many years, and now lives near
Payson. We will meet with a potential local church planter soon. Also, Earl and Hal recently traveled to Chicago to
meet with FEC students attending Moody Bible Institute,
and they met with Brent Preston to discuss ways in which
FEC and the TEAM missions organization can work more
closely together. Pray for these new opportunities and
those that the Lord will show us in the coming year.
If you want to know more, mark your calendars
for July 31 through August 2 and make plans to attend
Convention 2008. It will be a time of praising God and
preparing for the journey ahead.
The FEC Newsletter is provided by the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches Resource Center for people who are part of member congregations
or who are involved in FEC ministries. The editors welcome submissions, suggestions, and questions. To reach us, write: FEC Resource Center,
1420 Kerrway Court, Fort Wayne, IN 46805; send an e-mail to L.Augsburger@fecministries.org; call (260) 423-3649; or send a fax to
(260) 420-1905. Find us on the Web at www.fecministries.org. Copyright © 2007 by the Fellowship of Evangelical Churches.