What does it mean to plant seeds for Christ? Who can do it? What skills do you need? Plan to join us for the 2011 Missions Conference, “Planting Seeds,� to explore how everyone can have a part in building the Kingdom of Christ worldwide.
Calvary Church’s commitment to missions and outreach is more than a program; it reflects the heart of God to see His glory declared among all people - here in our community and around the world. The world continues to change rapidly, and the nations are now coming to our community. In this way, we now have access to people groups we never thought possible. At the same time, the vast majority of the unreached world has closed the door to traditional missionary work. However, the truth of the Gospel has not changed. This requires that we consider new and different ways to carry out his mandate “to go and make disciples.” This year’s missions’ conference, “Planting Seeds,” is about you and about me. It is an opportunity for us all to better understand how we can use our skills, abilities, and desires to engage in sharing the truth of the Gospel in different settings — both locally and globally. I encourage you to be praying for God to use this event to challenge each one of us to become more engaged in God’s mission. Check out the enclosed schedule and consider which events God might be prompting you to attend. Our prayer is for everyone at Calvary to see how God has called them to be planting seeds for His kingdom. Serving Him together with you,
Jim Samra, Senior Pastor
Mission:You serving God with the skills you already have You are skilled at something. Maybe it’s art. Or teaching. Or business. Whatever it is, you could very well think that it doesn’t have anything to do with missions. Think again. Join us for a panel discussion (Sunday, March 20) and workshops (Tuesday, March 22) with professionals from various walks of life who are using their vocations to impact the world for Christ. You have what it takes to plant seeds for Christ. Find out how to put it into action. See the schedule on pages D-E for more details.
Sunday Morning Guest Speaker: Paul Borthwick Paul Borthwick serves on the staff of Development Associates International (www.daintl.org), a training group dedicated to the character and ministry development of leaders in the under-resourced world (www.daintl.org). He also teaches missions at Gordon College and serves as an Urbana/ Missions Associate with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. His published books include Missions: The Heart of God, Stop Witnessing, Start Loving, and Within Reach: Examining the Mission
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Our 2011 Missions Conference will include two meetings set aside for focused prayer. Please join us as we lift up our brothers and sisters from around the world before God’s throne of grace. Sunday, March 20, at 5:00pm — Prayer for the Nations, focusing on urgent needs from Christians around the world. Monday, March 21, at 11:30am — Missionary Prayer Luncheon, focusing on requests from Calvary’s missionaries and partners.
movie night!
Global Prayer Opportunities
Join us for movie night, Sunday evening (March 20), after the Mission:You panel. Kick back and relax with some popcorn and bring your friends to this inspiring film. The film, Magdalena: Through Her Eyes, is the true story of Jesus seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene – a story of tenderness, freedom and purpose. Magdalena reveals what can happen when we refuse to live in defeat and choose to discover our real value. For the first time, this remarkable film gives a voice to one of the most complex and often misunderstood women of our past. Through Mary Magdalene’s eyes, we experience much more than just her own transformation by Jesus’ redemptive love.
Wednesday Evening Guest Speaker: Pastor Howard Earle Pastor Earle is the Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church here in Grand Rapids, MI. He and the New Hope Choir will lead us in an exciting time of worship and focus on planting seeds in the urban context. The evening will also include a panel discussion on effective urban strategies. See the schedule on page E for more details.
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conference schedule
march 19-23, 2011
Saturday, March 19 8:00am Men’s Breakfast Room 129 Guest speakers Bob and Dan (last names withheld) will lead a discussion on using your God-given
sunday, March 20 Morning Worship Services: What It Means to Plant Seeds Sanctuary Guest speaker Paul Borthwick will challenge us to use our skills, abilities and desires to engage in sharing the truth of the Gospel with those around us and around the world.
skills and abilities to plant seeds in the marketplace. Both Bob and Dan are involved in Central Asia and have real-world experience in using their skills in business, art and education to build connections in another culture.
Join us for a hearty breakfast as we kickoff the Missions Conference. Cost for breakfast is $5. Please RSVP by March 17 to Lou (men@calvarygr.org) at 956-9377, ext. 3618.
11:15am Global Partnerships Locations Vary
6:00pm Mission:You Panel Discussion Sanctuary
Our four global partners through this year’s Open Door Vision initiative will be with us throughout the Missions Conference. Take the opportunity this morning to get to know one of them and their ministries.
9:40 & 11:15am Adult Sunday Classes: Visiting Outreach Workers Locations Vary
Room 109 A/B: Andy Castillo ( Honduras)
Meet our visiting outreach workers and engage in face-to-face dialog in one of our many Adult Sunday Classes. Look through the class listing on page F and join a class for the day to be encouraged and inspired.
Room 109 C/D: Sasha Kim (Central Asia)
Room 108: Leszek Wakula (Poland)
Room 131: Thomas Roy (Bangla ministry in NYC) 5:00pm Prayer for the Nations Rooms 122-126 Join our visiting outreach workers for a time of prayer focusing on urgent needs of Christians around the world.
D — Calvary Missions Conference 2011
Plant seeds for Christ using the skills you already have. Panelists from a variety of backgrounds will discuss how every Christian can use his or her gifts to advance the Gospel. Panelists include Noe Palacios (business), Bob (arts), Jim Ceton (health care), Steve Gronsman and Sheri (science & technology) and Jeremiah Hamlett (sports). Child care is provided. 7:30pm Movie Night, Magdalena: Through Her Eyes Choir Room Journey with women of our past to discover hope for your future. This is the story of Jesus through His death and resurrection seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. Popcorn and beverages will be available. View the movie trailer at magdalenamovie.com and bring your family and friends!
monday, march 21 9:00am Seminar: Simply the Story Rooms 122-126
10:30am Lessons from Global Gatherings in 2010 Rooms 122-126
Dan (from Central Asia) will give an overview of “orality,” or the use of speech (rather than writing) as a means of communication, particularly in communities where the tools of literacy are unfamiliar to the majority of the population.
Pastor Bruce will share lessons from Tokyo, Edinburgh and Cape Town. In 2010, world mission leaders gathered for three global events. What can we learn from these gatherings and how they will affect the way we live?
tuesday, march 22 11:30am Tuesday Women’s Missionary Luncheon Locations Vary
fellowship around the table over lunch.
Join us as we spend some time in informal small groups getting to know our missionaries. Learn more about their culture, work, family, and how we can better support them in prayer as we
wednesday, march 23 9:00am Seminar: Business 4 Transformation Rooms 122-126 Noe Palacios will lead a session on the strategic use of business to accomplish Christian ministry. This strategy has allowed many global workers to minister with a high level of integrity. It also becomes a basis for nationals to be self sustaining.
RSVP to Elaine (emeredith@calvarygr.org) at ext. 5186 by March 15 to be placed in a group. Regular Tuesday Bible study attendees, please register in your small groups. Cost for lunch is $5; childcare is available.
10:30am Cutting Edge Technologies Rooms 122-126 Social networking, web sites, youtube, technology. How can these tools enhance ministry at home and around the world? Join our own media staff in this session to learn more. 5:30pm Wednesday Fellowship Dinner Fellowship Hall Our weekly fellowship dinner will take on a global flair this week. If you have never partaken before, this is the week to try it!
11:30am Prayer Luncheon Fellowship Hall
Times Vary Home Fellowships Locations Vary
Join our visiting outreach workers for a time of prayer, focusing specifically on the needs and requests of Calvary’s missionaries and partners. To reserve your lunch, please RSVP to Chris DeHaan by March 14 (cdehaan@ calvarygr.org) at ext. 5022.
This is a wonderful opportunity to really get to know one of our global workers. A listing of open fellowships is provided on Page G. Please RSVP with the hosts listed if you plan to attend.
7:00pm Mission:You Workshops Locations Vary
Business: with Noe Palacios, in Room 122
This is the second part of our Mission:You series (begun on Sunday). Join us this evening for a presentation in the area of your interest, with ample time for Q&A. This is an opportunity for you to explore ways to use your skills to plant seeds for Christ.
6:30pm Planting Seeds in an Urban Context Sanctuary Guest speaker Pastor Howard Earle and the New Hope Baptist Church Choir will lead us in an exciting time of worship and focus on planting seeds in the urban context. The evening will also include a panel discussion on effective urban strategies that are being implemented right here in our own city. Panelists will include: Quentin Henry (from New Hope Baptist Church and Urban Young Life),
Arts: with Bob, in Room 126 Health Care: with Jim Ceton, in Room 127 Science & Technology: with Steve Gronsman and Sheri, in Room 123 Sports: with Jeremiah Hamlett, in Room 130-132
Noelle Gable (from Urban Family Ministries) and Joel Schaffer (from Urban Transformation Ministries). 6:30pm WOW Entrance K Our weekly Wednesday night programming for kids will have a special missions focus this week as even our youngest are challenged by our visiting outreach workers to use the gifts God has given them to plant seeds for Christ.
Calvary Missions Conference 2011 — E
Adult Sunday Class Schedule March 20 9:40am Single Focus
Rm. 131
Phil Arendt
Marriage Plus
Rm. 211
Ron & Jackie Barker
Young Families
Rm. 207
Aaron & Emily Brown
Growing in Remarriage
Rm. 123
Bob
Life Builders
Rm. 121
Dan & Arlene Cool
Go Getters
Rm. 112
Dan & Gayle Hoven
Legacy Builders
Rm. 110
Craig & Dorothy Johnson
Joint Heirs
Rm. 129
Dave & Sonja
Greenhouse
Rm. 126
Shalom & Sheri
Acts 2:42 & Col. 3:1-2
Rm. 106
Dan & Celeste
Fellowship Bible
Chapel
Roger & Karen See
Growing Strong Families
Rm. 130
Joel & Sherilyn Shaffer
F.L.O.C.K.
Rm. 137
Bob & Jan VanDyke
Connect
Rm. 122
Paidia Intl. Devp. Erich & Candice Strehl
Elementary
Sybil Baloyi & son
11:15am Family Tree
Rm. 106
Phil Arendt
Barnabas
Rm. 212
Ron & Jackie Barker
Foundations
Rm. 125
Aaron & Emily Brown & Bob & Jan VanDyke
Merge
Rm. 137
Bob
Growing in Grace
Rm. 122
Dan & Arlene Cool
Gil’ Christ
Rm. 211
Dan & Gayle Hoven
Baby Boomers
Rm. 129
Craig & Dorothy Johnson
Elementary
Sybil Baloyi & son
24/7
Rm. 121
Dave & Sonja
Logos
Rm. 126
Shalom & Sheri
Philadelphian
Rm. 130
Roger & Karen See
New City Church
Chapel
Joel & Sherilyn Shaffer
Radical
Rm. 207
Paidia Intl. Devp. Erich & Candice Strehl
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Visiting Outreach Workers GLOBAL workers Cool Bethany Mission; Santiago, Chile Dan & Arlene serve the national churches in this region by equipping leaders to serve as crosscultural missionaries. They have established a missionary training school in Santiago. Hanna TEAM; San Jose, Costa Rica Bob & Sandy oversee equipping national believers for TEAM throughout the Hispanic world. They currently have over 100 Bible studies online with over 2,000 registered users. Johnson SEND; Reassigned Craig & Dorothy are in transition after many years of ministering in the Philippines. They will be sharing about the exciting new adventure God has given to them. Dave & Sonja Closed Door Ministries; South Asia Dave oversees international operations for CDM in 3rd world partnerships that impact church growth. Sonja’s primary ministry is with trafficked women. Shalom & Sheri Engineering Ministries International, South Asia/North America Shalom serves as the graphic designer and web specialist for EMI. Sheri is a cultural anthropologist to assist workers and short termers who are engineers, architects, etc.
Dan & Celeste People International – Central Asia Dan & Celeste were removed from their country of ministry when their team was expelled. They are currently on home assignment where Dan is recruiting and training workers in oral inductive Bible study methods with Simply The Story for the Muslim world. local workers Arendt Partners International; WA Phil & Peggy are non-resident workers, traveling overseas to provide training for national leadership and development. They have been part of grassroots church planting training and leadership development in over 20 countries in the least reached parts of the world. Ron & Jackie Barker Grand Valley State University, Navigators After spending years in lay ministry leading evangelism classes and initiatives, God opened the door last year to vocational ministry with the Navigators on the campus of Grand Valley State University. Brown Camp Beechpoint Aaron and Emily serve as program directors for Camp Beechpoint and are responsible for running the day-today activities for camp programs throughout the year.
Hoven Child Evangelism Fellowship; West MI Dan & Gayle are the West Michigan Directors for CEF. Their purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel, discipling them and channeling them into a local church. They oversee staff training and mentor future workers. See Crossworld; MI Roger & Karen are moblizers for Crossworld after serving for 20 years in Haiti. They mentor students and coordinate short-term internships for premission experiences. They also travel to Christian colleges to mentor and recruit. Shaffer Urban Transformation Ministries; MI Joel & Sherilyn minister to inner city youth in the Belknap area through evangelism and discipleship. They are also a key partner in the development of New City Church. VanDyke Camp Beechpoint; MI Bob oversees development of the camp grounds and Jan oversees the discipleship programs for the camp attendees. Highlights of their year were the continued joy of seeing young people come to faith and discipled, and the completion and dedication of the new dining hall.
Global Partners We’re excited to welcome the four national pastors we are partnering with through Open Door Vision this year. All four are in various stages of church planting. We look forward to engaging with them and mutually edifying one another. You have the opportunity to meet them on Sunday, March 20, at 11:15 am (during the third service). Join us to learn more about their ministries and hear how we can better engage the cultures in which they work. Room 109 A/B: Andy Castillo ( Honduras) Room 108: Leszek Wakula (Poland) Room 109 C/D: Sasha Kim (Central Asia) Room 131: Thomas Roy (Bangla ministry in NYC)
Andy Castillo Serves as a pastor in Siguatepeque, Honduras.
Sasha Kim Serves as a pastor in Central Asia.
Connection to Calvary: Interned for two years while attending Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
Connection to Calvary: Involvement in the Central Asia Youth Initiative, along with Pastor Bruce, and is instrumental in Calvary’s involvement in Central Asia.
Current Ministry: Serves those from all walks of life, but especially assists developing church leaders with few, if any, resources.
Current Ministry: Also serves the Central Asia Consultation and oversees the Central Asia Youth Leaders Network.
Leszek Wakula Serves as Pastor of Central Baptist Church, Lodz, Poland.
Thomas Roy Serves as pastor of the Bangladesh Church in New York City.
Connection to Calvary: Hosts the English camps our students serve in each summer.
Connection to Calvary: Has been the prime mover in seeing Bangladeshi children and youth from New York at the camp Calvary has been part of in Eastern PA.
Current Ministry: Mentors younger men and also hopes to plant a new church in Lodz. (Less than 2% of Polish people are involved in the evangelical church.)
Current Ministry: Serves the large Bangladesh immigrant community in New York. (Bangladeshi are the world’s largest unreached people group.)
Special Guests bOB Central Asia Bob’s passion and desire is to train Central Asians to develop businesses that enable transformations among their own people. He also hopes to inspire artists to go into the nations and use their talents as an expression of their giftedness. Bob currently serves as field director for his organization in Central Asia.
sYBIL bALOYI Chokwe, Mozambique Sybil Baloyi, born and educated in South Africa as a nurse, has opened her home and heart to the orphans and children of Mozambique. Last year, she started the first Christian pre-school in the area.
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Sybil’s love for children is demonstrated in her own home where she is a loving foster mom to four, ranging in age from 3 to 19.
Monday Night Home Fellowships March 21 Choose a fellowship below to better get to know one of our global workers or partners and their ministry. Phil Arendt Host: Steve & Nancy Rowan Town: Kentwood Area RSVP to: 464-5987 Aaron & Emily Brown Host: John & Norma Buchweitz Town: Spring Lake RSVP to: 498-0488 Dan & Arlene Cool Host: JP Gaylord Town: Grand Rapids RSVP to: jgaylord@calvarygr.org Dave & Sonja Host: Nathaniel Kaleefy Town: East Grand Rapids RSVP to: 498-0939 Shalom & Sheri Host: Don & Bonnie Vogel Town: NE Grand Rapids RSVP to: 363-1257 Dan & Celeste, and Bob Host: Steve & Cindy Gronsman Town: Ada RSVP to: 682-4930 Sybil Baloyi Host: Claire Walker Town: Northeast Grand Rapids RSVP to: ldegraaf@calvarygr.org Bob & Sandy Hanna Host: Les & Sharon Lamborn Town: SE Grand Rapids RSVP to: 942-8539
Calvary Missions Conference 2011 — G
d the e d n e t t a I rence e f n o C s Mission ant to and I w tep. s t x e n e take th AT? NOW WH There are many other ways to be involved in missions at Calvary Church. Here are just a few:
Pray
I want to explore how I can become engaged in ministry within my career
I would like to use my gifts on a short-termmission trip
I’m thinking about a longer-term commitment.
Contact the Missions Office for an appointment with the Director of Missions and Outreach.
Contact the Missions Office for details or attend an informational meeting about a specific trip
Contact the Missions Office for an appointment with the Pastor of Global Missions
Meet with the Director of Missions and Outreach to determine how to live missionally through your career.
Request and fill-out a shortterm mission trip application. Once it is submitted, you will be interviewed for a trip.
Meet with the Pastor of Global Missions and establish a prefield training program and mentoring team.
Become part of an accountability/prayer group to live out missions through your career.
There will be a minimum of five Team Meetings that will begin six months before the trip.
Request an application for personal support and submit it to the Care Team.
Engage with a mentor who has walked this path before you.
Every team member raises funds needed for the trip. Guidance and help will be available.
Meet with the Care Team for an interview.
Explore using your career skills in another context locally or globally.
Every team has time set aside for debriefing to reflect on the experience and prepare for life back at home.
Upon agreement, the Care Team will recommend initiation of support to the Missions & Outreach Advisory Team.
Pray for missionaries regularly. Missionary Prayer Guides are available each week at the Information Center. Join us the third Monday of each month for a Prayer Lunch at 11:30am to pray for our Global Workers. A group has begun meeting weekly on Thursdays, 6 – 7:30pm, in Room 109, to pray for the nations. For details, contact Roxann at rshier6080@ gmail.com.
Support Communicate with a missionary regularly to offer encouragement. Contact the Missions Office for missionary addresses and emails. Give to our annual Open Door Vision project.
Engage Volunteer with one of our local outreach partners. Contact the Missions Office for details. Become part of the Missions/ Outreach group within a Sunday Congregation. Take one of the steps listed at right.
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