E S TA B L I S H I N G
REPRODUCING
CHURCHES
W I N T E R 2 014
Tornado in
Washington, Illinois
Tornado prompts FEC church in
Washington, Illinois, to aid community
4
Yalunka team
to make contact
with village chiefs
Churches, aid organizations band together to help community recover.
6
2013 Fall Quizzing
KrIsTI rEImEr, FECONNECTIONS EdITor
7
Wise and faithful for
strategic donations
o
n Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, Calvary Mennonite Church in Washington, Illinois, was in the
midst of its 10:15 a.m. worship service. The congregation was singing its last hymn before
Senior Pastor Ken Sistrunk’s sermon was set to start. At that moment, the church trustees
8
gave the word: tornadoes were bearing down on the city, and it was time to take shelter.
Less
striving,
So the group of approximately 120 FEC congregants stood up and filed into the church basemore abiding
ment. Once everyone was settled, Pastor Ken attempted to resume the service in some fashion.
“My message for the day was ‘Jesus Is the Light of the World,’” Ken says. “I was trying to talk
about that in an abbreviated manner—we have people with
panic attack disorder and bad hearts, and I just wanted to
keep everyone calm—when the lights went out.”
The tornado did not hit the church, but the whole city
“IN THE BASEMENT, IN THE DARK,
of Washington lost power, so the congregation continued
to huddle in the dark. “We started to spontaneously sing,”
WE WERE SINGING HYMNS … PEOPLE
Ken says. “In the basement, in the dark, we were singing
hymns, and during the breaks people would pray out loud.
WOULD PRAY OUT LOUD. WE FELT
We felt God’s presence very strongly.”
GOD’S PRESENCE VERY STRONGLY.”
Ken sistrunk
senior Pastor, Calvary mennonite Church in Washington, Illinois
TORNADO IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS
(continued from page 1)
ProvIdEnTIal TImIng
had to go saw through the debris covering the crawl space so
As it turns out, the Sunday morning worship hour was an
they could get out, then they brought them back here.”
ideal time for the tornado to hit—if there is such a thing.
The church, which had just completed a building project
“At any other time, many of our
late that summer, became a clearingelderly in the area would have been
house for pets and possessions for the
killed,” Ken says. “But this is a highly
community. “Our new building was a
churched city of 15,000, and our
godsend,” Ken says. “No shelters around
“THEY LOST EVERYpeople were in church.”
here would take pets, so people worked
In the end, the tornado resulted in
out that this was a safe place and
THING. THEY HAD
just three deaths—remarkable for an
brought them here. Yes, the place went
EF-4 tornado—although it produced
to the dogs.”
NO INSURANCE,
$23 million worth of dollars worth of
It also became a hub for members of
damage to area homes, businesses and
the community to bring their displaced
COULDN’T SPEAK
infrastructure, according to local news
possessions after limbs came down, winreports. Only one of the city’s churches
dows shattered and roofs were blown
ENGLISH, AND
was hit, but no one there was hurt.
off. Rain and snow hit the area almost
In continued evidence of God’s
immediately after the tornado went
DIDN’T KNOW HOW
providence, Calvary had scheduled a
through, so a safe, dry building to house
missions afternoon for that day and
possessions and large open spaces to sort
TO APPLY FOR AID. IT
had a large spaghetti meal prepared.
through them became a necessity. “It
With many in the church unable to
started with people in the church,” Ken
WAS A JOY TO BRING
reach their homes due to the storm’s
says. “We have seven families that lost
wreckage and police road blocks, they
everything and 23 families connected to
AID TO THAT FAMILY.”
simply stayed and ate. And they began
church that were affected.”
to strategize about how they could help
But before long the church was welKen sistrunk
the community.
coming all members of the community
“Those that could get into the
who had similar needs. To help coortornado area went and got necessities
dinate these efforts, Calvary partnered
and pets and came back here,” Ken says. “One couple hadn’t
with community groups and national organizations, including
been able to make it to church that day. They got home just
Mennonite Disaster Service and Samaritan’s Purse (organized
in time to get into their crawl space. Two of our members
with the help of Grace Church in Morton). “It was fantastic
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Ken says Calvary is thankful for the generosity of FEC churches—
many have sent funds, gift cards and work teams. “We’re very
grateful for that and the prayers and Rocky Rocholl’s support,”
he says. “The team in Fort Wayne prays
for us and that means a lot.”
And he hopes the people of FEC will
rEaChIng ThE Poor
continue to pray for Calvary and the
For the most part, the area hit hardest
“WE’RE A SMALL
city of Washington. “We’re a small comby the tornado was a middle- to uppermunity and have never had anything
class section of the city, Ken says, where
COMMUNITY AND
like this happen,” Ken says. “There are
residents and homeowners had insura lot of people hurting, and we want
ance to cover their losses. But Calvary
HAVE NEVER HAD
to minister to them with the love of
made a point to reach out to people
Christ. We’re a small church but we’ve
who didn’t have these benefits.
ANYTHING LIKE THIS
received great coaching from people
And these less-privileged members of
who have gone through hundreds of
the community weren’t always easy to
HAPPEN. THERE ARE
these kinds of disasters.”
find, Ken says. “A lot of them are in the
One church in particular—Lincoln
apartments, in low-income housing,”
A LOT OF PEOPLE
Mennonite—came up to help at a
he says. “Some are not legal immicrucial moment. “They’re just amazing
grants, so they’re scared of being found
HURTING, AND WE
guys, hard workers, and they helped us
out. But they’re the ones who need help
out,” Ken says. “At a time when we felt
the most.”
WANT TO MINISTER
like we couldn’t do anymore, they did
Fortunately, Ken says, Calvary has a
it for us. Grace Church has been very
good reputation for helping the poor.
TO THEM WITH THE
supportive; Salem Church has been very
Through word of mouth and persistent
supportive—we’ve received encouraging
outreach, the church has been able to
LOVE OF CHRIST.”
phone calls from lots of FEC churches.”
reach some of these people. “On ChristWhile the work of rebuilding and
mas Eve, two deacons and I were able to
Ken sistrunk
ministering
in the face of loss contingo visit a Hispanic family’s home,” Ken
ues,
the
day
it all began is etched in the
says. “They lost everything. They had
memory
of
Calvary’s
pastor. “I never did
no insurance, couldn’t speak English,
have
a
chance
to
finish
that
sermon,”
he
says.
“It was such
and didn’t know how to apply for aid. The father’s name was
a
vivid
experience—I’ll
never
forget
that
day.
Hearing
all the
Jesus, and his son was Jesus Junior—two for the price of one!
wind
outside,
the
sounds
and
sirens,
and
sitting
in
the
dark,
It was a joy to bring aid to that family.”
singing hymns and praying.”
cooperation between those agencies,” Ken says. “Plus, the
churches banded together. I’m on the Washington ministerial
board, and we did a good job of communicating and handled
needs—and we’re still going strong.”
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INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES
FEC team just before departure for first village visits
Yalunka team set to make contact with village chiefs
FEC’s goal is for unreached people to hear of the Big Creator in their own language.
hal lEhman, ChurCh mulTIPlICaTIon dIrECTor – InTErnaTIonal
ovEr ThE aTlanTIC, FEbruarY 2011
od, I believe you have called us to work among the unreached Yalunka people of
Southwest Mali. You just opened some incredible doors of opportunity when several of the Yalunka village chiefs invited us to come share the message of the Big
Creator in their village. Lord, when those invitations were given, your Spirit prompted me to
promise that we’d come back with someone who could share that message of the Big Creator
in their own Yalunka language. God, you know that I’m not aware of anyone in the pipeline
or even anyone with the possibility of working among the Yalunka on their radar. God, please
raise up your servants for this kingdom-building opportunity among the Yalunka people.”
—Prayer of Steve Nelson during the return flight from an initial investigative trip to Mali
“G
KEdougou, sEnEgal, FEbruarY 2014
In three short years, God has answered Steve’s (and FEC’s) heart cry in amazing and—
apart from God himself—unexplainable ways. God has raised up a Yalunka Initiative
team of three families and two single people. This team is currently in Senegal and
ready to make initial trips into the villages where invitations to return were extended.
During February and March 2014, Steve will lead members of the FEC team on several
trips into the Yalunka villages just across the border in Mali. In the villages, Steve will
introduce the team members to the Yalunka chiefs, elders, and villagers as the individuals who have come to share the message of the Big Creator in the Yalunka language.
After these initial visits, team members will continue to make dry-season trips into
the villages, building relationships in anticipation of connecting more deeply with the
village leaders and storytellers. The strategy then consists of using oral translation to accurately tell God’s story and train village storytellers to do the same in village settings.
The purpose of oral translation and telling the story is to establish reproducing
communities of Christ-followers among the Yalunka people. Please join all of FEC in
prayer for these foundational visits into the Yalunka villages in Southwest Mali.
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The FEC Yalunka
ministry Team
in senegal
————
Steve and Pat Nelson
Initiative Director
Troy and Gerri Masters,
Chloe and Cora
Michael and Jenn Sprunger,
Eden
Ashley Freytag
Tiffany Hughes
Steve Nelson presenting a “proclaimer” to the Chief Keita and his son.
A proclaimer looks like a radio, but has an oral Bible on it in the national language.
Michael, Jenn, and Eden June Sprunger (1 week old).
Eden was born in Dakar, Senegal, on January 20, 2014.
Ashley Freytag with the chief’s family.
Follow what god is doing in Yalunkaland
Visit the West Africa Initiative link at www.fecministries.org
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FEC Convention 2014 | july 31 – aug. 2
northwoods Community Church | Peoria, Illinois more details in the next issue of FEConnections
Fall 2013 quizzing results
ToP 3 TEams, junIor hIgh dIvIsIon
1. Pine Hills 2: Natalie Neuenschwander,
Nate Neuenschwander, Lily Too,
Micah Wheeler
2. Highland Bethel 1: Caleb Gerber, Jackie
Mellinger, Jadon Knapp, Luke Mellinger
3. Archbold 1: Luke McQuaid, Brad Diller,
Brittany Sauder, Macey Rupp,
Madelyn Krueger
ToP 10 junIor hIgh quIzzErs
1. Garrett Holder, Upland
2. Jenna King, Upland
3. Aden Litwiller, Dewey
4. Caleb Gerber, Highland Bethel
5. Brad Diller, Archbold
6. Tiffany Coon, Grace
6. Macy Meiss, Grace
8. Bella Galbraith, Cornerstone
8. Olivia Laughlin, Grace
8. Lily Too, Pine Hills
ToP junIor hIgh quIzzEr
Archbold: Brad Diller
Boynton: Marissa Horning
Brookside: Katelyn Mervar
Cornerstone: Bella Galbraith
Dewey: Aden Litwiller
Grace: Tiffany Coon, Macy Meiss (tie)
Highland Bethel: Caleb Gerber
Oak Bend: Ruth Brouwer
Pine Hills: Lily Too
Upland: Garrett Holder
ToP 3 TEams, sEnIor hIgh dIvIsIon
1. Oak Bend: Caleb Andrews, Bekah
Burton, Nevin Haas, Brittan Tolford
2. Lawton 1: Isaac Dean, Rebecca
Allen, Dana Bullock, Emily Perkins
3. Upland 4: Kitty Trudeau, Adam
Siegelin, Emily Knight
ToP 10 sEnIor hIgh quIzzErs
1. Emily Armstrong, Eureka
1. Brett Holder, Upland
3. Carissa Diller, Archbold
3. John MaGee, Upland
5. Nathaniel Mervar, Brookside
5. Caleb Andrews, Oak Bend
7. Bekah Coon, Eureka
7. Kitty Trudeau, Upland
9. Sam Walters, Grace
9. Isaiah Norris, Highland Bethel
ToP sEnIor hIgh quIzzEr
Archbold: Carissa Diller
Berne: Angela Schwartz
Brookside: Nathaniel Mervar
Cornerstone: Aubrey Hauter
Crossroads: Madeline Diniz, Torrey Diniz,
Payne Nowlin (tie)
Dewey: Daniel Hauser
Eureka: Emily Armstrong
Grace: Sam Walters
Highland Bethel: Isaiah Norris
Lawton: Isaac Dean
Oak Bend: Caleb Andrews
Pine Hills: Gabe Secheverell
Upland: Brett Holder
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be a wise and faithful servant in your charitable giving
Strategic donations can maximize the amount you have available to give.
davId j. TEaT, CsF PrEsIdEnT
E
immediately buy the stock with the $10,000 cash
you were planning to give, you raise your basis, or
cost, from $5,000 to $10,000. If you later sell the
stock, you will pay less capital gains tax because
your basis, or cost,
is $10,000 instead of
$5,000. The capital
gains taxes you save
by donating the stock
instead of cash can
also be given to your
church now or in
the future, thereby
increasing your donation amount.
ach of us has given tithes and offerings of
our money in order to worship God for the
blessings He has provided us. Jesus tells us
that we are to give to “Caesar” what is due him
and to God what is
due Him. But what
if we are giving too
much to “Caesar” and
are therefore unable
to give all we may
want to God? In His
parable about lending three servants a
certain number of
talents to manage, Jesus rewarded the wise
and faithful servants
(Matthew 25:14-30). I
think we could agree
that maximizing our
giving to God and
legally minimizing our
payment to “Caesar” is wise stewardship.
Two examples will help me explain this concept:
2. donaTIng
assETs
Let’s say you have
an appreciated asset,
such as real estate,
commodities (farm
crops) or a business. If you sell the appreciated
asset, you pay capital gains tax on the appreciated value. If you donate the asset to your church
(or another charity) before selling it, however,
you avoid paying the capital gains tax, thereby
increasing the amount your church receives.
If the appreciated asset is too large for you to
donate all of it, one option is to create a personal
income stream from the donated asset, either for
yourself or for your beneficiaries, in the form of
an annuity. The asset balance would go to your
charity of choice upon death of the beneficiaries.
Again, this approach eliminates the capital gains
tax and makes those funds available to the
charity instead.
1. donaTIng sToCK
Let’s say you want to give $10,000 to your church
or another charity. You could, of course, write out
a check for $10,000 to your church. However, let’s
say you also have one or more stocks or mutual
funds that you purchased for $5,000 and that are
now worth $10,000. You could donate the stock to
your church instead of cash. Why might you want
to do this? The answer is, to raise your “basis,” or
the cost of the stock.
Why is this wise? Because if you donate your
stock valued at $10,000 to your church and
CsF Can hElP You uTIlIzE ThEsE and oThEr “WIsE and FaIThFul sErvanT” mEThods.
WE Would bE haPPY To dIsCuss ThEm WITh You. havE a blEssEd 2014!
Call Linda Burton, CSF accountant, or David Teat, CSF president, at 260-423-3649 or e-mail [email protected].
7
PRESIDE NT’S CORNER
roCKY roCholl
lEss sTrIvIng, morE abIdIng
as WE looK ahEad In 2014
a
s leaders, we can spend much of our time serving and looking to
please those around us. Yet at the root of all our work, there must
be a desire to be shaped and molded by God. As I look ahead to a
new year and this new chapter in the life of FEC, I find myself reminded of
the need for God’s direction and input into every decision, every day. If we
desire spiritual wholeness and balance, first in our own lives and then in
the ministries of FEC, it will have to be on God’s terms. Before we can lead
our small portion of His church in fulfilling the Great Commission while also
obeying the Great Commandment, we must acknowledge that it is by His
grace and because we are clearly hearing His voice.
I am thankful for godly brothers who care enough to confront me when
they see signs I am “striving” instead of “abiding.” Psalm 46:10 (NASB)
says, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” John 15:5 adds, “He who abides in
Me and I in him, he bears much fruit.” What great reminders that for God to
be exalted and for us to bear fruit, the formula for success is to stop trying
to succeed on our own, remember that He is God, and spend consistent,
extended time with Him.
FECONNECTIONS
is provided by the
Fellowship of Evangelical
Churches Office
for people who are part
of member congregations
or who are involved in
FEC ministries.
This issue of FEConnections shares exciting stories
of how God has, and is, using the FEC family to
meet physical needs, send out new workers, and
establish new churches. That is what we need to be
doing! But it is my prayer that in the busyness of our
tasks we never forget that our energy, direction, and
results are tied to our relationship with our Creator.
Results matter because people matter. But the
source and strength for those results is anchored
in our relationship with Him.
The editors welcome
submissions, suggestions,
and questions.
FEC Office
“CEASE STRIVING
AND KNOW THAT
I AM GOD; I WILL
BE EXALTED
AMONG THE
May 2014 be a year that God is exalted throughout
the earth and that we bear much fruit. But more
importantly, may we cease striving, know God more
intimately, and truly abide in Him.
BE EXALTED IN
Serving together,
THE EARTH.
NATIONS, I WILL
1420 Kerrway Court
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
[email protected]
HE WHO ABIDES
phone
IN ME AND I IN
260-423-3649
HIM, HE BEARS
w w w. f e c m i n i s t r i e s . o r g
www.facebook.com/FECMinistries
FECMinistries
Copyright 2014
Fellowship of
Evangelical Churches
Rocky Rocholl, FEC President
MUCH FRUIT.”
Psalm 46:10 and john 15:5