Converge Point - Spring 2015 by Converge

spring 2015

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president from the

VOLUME 7 n NUMBER 3 EDITOR Bob Putman

DESIGNER, PRODUCTION MANAGER Pam Nelsen

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Fran Anderson Alllison Hurtado Point (issn/1546-3257) is published quarterly (with a special edition in December) by the Baptist General Conference, 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Printed in U.S.A. Periodical postage paid at Arlington Heights, Ill., and at additional mailing offices. © 2015 Baptist General Conference.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Point, 2002 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4193.

In the 1850s, many Swedish Pietists courageously chose to leave the comfort of everything they knew to come to the New World. They dreamt of experiencing greater freedom to worship than the Swedish state church afforded them. Gustaf Palmquist was one of those who risked everything for this freedom. Palmquist was an unlikely candidate to be a risk-taker. He lost his father at age 6. His mother was converted at the deathbed of one of her sons. Although his hard life may have contributed to his being the last in his family to discover life in Christ, his personal pain drove him to faith. He soon sensed God calling him to a new work in a new place. In 1852 he found himself in Rock Island, Illinois, starting a church. Over the next six years he traveled throughout Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota starting new congregations. His work was the foundation of the Swedish Baptist General Conference, now known as Converge. We are his legacy. Throughout the 160+ years of our movement, each generation has had leaders with the same passionate, courageous faith seen in Palmquist. The names have changed, but the mission remains the same: We proclaim hope, give help and offer life in Jesus as we start and strengthen churches worldwide. Every generation of the church stands on the shoulders of the previous generation. What they did set the foundation for our present work. It is their legacy for us. What we do today sets the foundation for the next generation. They are our legacy. As you read this issue of Point, celebrate the work of God through our ministry, such as the 10-year investment of Art and Dorothy Helwig in Nigeria. And pray for the impact of new foundations being set in our work in Toronto with the Millars and with our new Church Planting executive director, Lee Stephenson. Choose to think, live and act courageously with a view to your legacy. Your partner in this mission,

REPRINT PERMISSION: Permission is granted to photocopy articles in small quantities for personal, church or school use. Please protect our copyright by writing or typing before copying: “Reproduced from Point by permission.” This permission does not extend to articles reprinted from other publications, reports for another publication or large quantity reproductions. For such purposes, written permission must be obtained from Point or from the original source.

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Scott Ridout President

ERIC JOHNSON

A legacy of courageous action

inside features

4 Knocking back in Nigeria 12 Introducing Lee Stephenson—

hiv

BY ART AND DOROTHY HELWIG

New Church Planting executive director INTERVIEW BY ALLISON HURTADO

14 Reaching the world in Toronto

BY SCOTT MILLAR

extras

18 Weekend widow

22 Connection

n Vietnamese leaders take SCL training n Relief to Iraqi and Syrian refugees n Powerful days at Transform 2015 n Who leads Converge Northeast?

on the cover During their 10 years in Nigeria, recently retired missionaries Art and Dorothy Helwig made an incredible impact — increasing hiv/aids education among teens and adults and reducing its prevalence in their region. They also saw 50 churches started among an unreached people group. MAIN PHOTO: ART HELWIG INSET: CORNERSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY

How to reach us n T o add/remove your name from our mailing list, call 800.323.4215, M-F, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST n E mail us at point@convergeww.org @convergeww Converge Worldwide convergeworldwide.org spring 2015

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Knocking back hiv Stepping outside the box, as opposed to thinking outside the box, was necessary to tackle the hiv/aids pandemic in Nigeria â&#x20AC;&#x201D; especially for a couple with no medical training and nearing retirement. BY ART AND DOROTHY HELWIG

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in Nigeria

When we were appointed Converge missionaries

to Nigeria in 2002, the most common question people asked was, “Why would people preparing for retirement make a 10-year commitment in response to such a daunting challenge?” Our answer was simple: “God’s call was crystal clear.” We had no reservations about the size and complexity of the task. Art had visited this part of Africa several times previously and was well aware of the hiv prevalence. We selected Gembu and southeastern Nigeria because the area was severely impacted by HIV, yet efforts to reduce the disease’s devastating grip on the population were inadequate. Our priority was infection prevention until a cure or medication to prolong the lives of those already infected was available. We launched the Gembu Centre for hiv/ aids Advocacy Nigeria (gechaan) in March 2005 to help everyone — regardless of religion, tribe, education, gender or political persuasion — to understand the life-threatening dangers associated with hiv. spring 2015

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Children have been a key focus of Art and Dorothy’s work.

Establishing a valid progression Repeatedly, people asked about the origin of the disease. Many stories about how hiv developed were circulated widely as mere rumors. Some villagers thought perhaps they were cursed for something they had done. Rather than joining the search for someone or something to blame, our response focused on what needs to happen now: “When your house is on fire it is better to extinguish the fire before you investigate how it started. We came to help put out the fire rather than conduct an investigation.” In time, we gave full attention to what it would take to cope with the situation at hand and prevent an escalation of hiv prevalence.

Starting at grassroots Since the pandemic was causing so much agony in rural areas, we began working at society’s grassroots and developed strategic plans from this perspective. Following African culture, we visited as many villages as possible to explain prevention plans to the leaders. We needed to gain their approval and cooperation in presenting the hard

TIMELINE:

The Helwigs’ legacy 2 0 0 2

facts to their people. During our first initiative — The Every Village Visitation Campaign — we were encouraged by the cooperation of the traditional rulers. We shared vital information about hiv/aids prevention with thousands in more than 125 village squares. Small glimmers of hope began to show up — people smiled more than when we first arrived. A growing sense of hope began to replace the cloud of gloom hanging over them. Several events began to define our approach.

Orphans and stigmatization In one village a friend and I passed a house that seemed uncharacteristically silent. My friend seemed worried, so we entered to check if there was a problem. We found five small children huddled in a corner of the parlor. I asked where their parents were, and a little girl took my hand and said she wanted to show me. We walked out the back door. The girl pointed at two fresh graves and said, “That is where our mommy and daddy are!” My friend was so moved, he took the children home, committed to care for them. This is how The New

JUNE Converge appoints Art and Dorothy missionaries to Nigeria

JULY The Helwigs arrive in Gembu 2 0 0 3

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Helwigs raise prayer and financial support team

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Dorothy met with mothers and grandmothers to spread the message.

Tomorrows Project started, growing to include thousands of children orphaned by hiv/aids. When parents passed away because of hiv/aids, orphaned children often were stigmatized. I was stunned by this and asked village leaders how this could happen. To my dismay, they confirmed the practice but felt nothing could be done to stop it. This created a great opportunity to kindly talk to Christians and Muslims about God’s concern for children and about the parents’ responsibilities to prevent such unfortunate events. Most couples, regardless of their religion, believe children are a gift from God, but not all understand the responsibilities that accompany such a blessing. On another occasion nine funerals were conducted in one day. All victims were under the age of 25, and all had died from aids-related diseases. More youth had perished but were given private burials the previous evening. As sad and unfortunate as the events of that day were, they prompted village leaders to launch programs to inform youth of the dangers of immoral behavior. continued on next page

‘ I asked Art if he would have been able to navigate the social complexities of Nigeria and create a successful ministry in his first term as a missionary. The idea struck him as comical. He assured me that years of culture and language learning were a necessary prerequisite.’ —John Baxter, director of Converge Diaspora Ministries

FEBRUARY MARCH

AUGUST Initiates Voices of Hope radio broadcasts

DECEMBER Starts Immanuel (formula) Program

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Launches Gembu Centre for hiv/aids Advocacy Nigeria

gechaan

receives UN Women Grant for Gender Equality

APRIL Connecticut church provides CD4 Count Machine

SEPTEMBER Initiates hiv testing with pre- and post-test counseling

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Every Village Visitation campaign FEBRUARY gechaan registers as Nigerian ngo Launches New Tomorrows Project

MARCH Helwigs make presentation to UN High Commission on Refugees

JULY Launches Premarital Abstinence Clubs

Lifeline Services Centre constructed

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gechaan caregivers assessed needs in more than 125 villages.

Confronting complications In the early years of our work, we had to gently confront traditional doctors who prepared all sorts of herbal concoctions, claiming curealls for diseases, including aids. Also, on occasion we found crafty individuals posing as medically trained personnel offering expensive immunizations against hiv infection. Their use of unsterilized syringes for multiple injections exposed their false credentials. After we informed the appropriate authorities, these practices and much of the connected corruption was controlled. One morning some of our staff who were visiting a village heard a baby girl crying in an open latrine. They quickly rescued her. The police arrested an 18-year-old girl for the crime, but our staff pleaded for permission to take responsibility for her so that she and the child could be treated and cared for. Miraculously, the police agreed. After a few sessions with our medical doctor and counselors, the young woman made a number of significant decisions. The child and mother were saved, and today the little girl is in school and the family is doing well. Our purpose-driven agenda left little room for downtime when a task

had to be accomplished. The general public understood our organization meant business and often cited this as the reason people began to change their sexual behavior to avoid contracting the disease. Our team included every sector of society in a comprehensive effort to share vital information relevant to hiv/aids prevention. We offered curriculum to primary and secondary schools and presented seminars to teachers and school administrators, taxi and truck-driver unions, civil servants, local and state police departments, the Nigerian army, churches of all denominations, mosques. The National Youth Service Corps (like AmeriCorps in the U.S.) placed many excellent young adults in our area as school teachers. They willingly assisted with hiv/aids information dissemination and other projects. To reach remote villages with information on hiv/aids prevention, in 2004 we launched Voices of Hope, a weekly radio broadcast on Saturday morning. We respectfully and politely addressed cultural traditions and practices that contributed to the infection of many people: demeaning wife inheritance, polygamy, child-bride marriages, tolerance of pornography,

JANUARY JULY Cooperative agreement with usaid begins 2 0 0 7

Begins annual tee classes and launches Cyber CafĂŠ

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JANUARY usaid team awards gechaan â&#x20AC;&#x153;hugeâ&#x20AC;? grant

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Boys like these have a brighter future with hiv/aids under comtrol in their region.

a widow’s rights to inherit property, the taboo on talking with children about moral behavior, human rights of women and children in extreme poverty, community responsibility in caring for orphans.

The Lifeline Clinic and effective programs The Lifeline Services Centre (clinic) opened in 2007 on our gechaan compound in Gembu to offer hiv testing. Our competent medical doctors back up our free testing with no-cost counseling and prescription drugs for infected patients. Prior to Lifeline, it had been difficult to persuade people to be tested for hiv. Later adding mobile testing units, our clinic has tested more than 200,000 people to date. We added a CD4 count machine* (provided by Valley Community Baptist Church, Avon, Connecticut) and blood chemistry and liver and kidney function testing. A laboratory and a pharmacy assist in the treatment. Lifeline employs two medical doctors, three RNs, counselors, lab technicians, pharmacists and about 30 additional staff and cares for more than 4000 patients. Earlier, in 2004, another need was brought to our attention. On Christ-

mas Eve, a woman knocked on our door and told Dorothy, “I have volunteered to take care of this baby. I have no milk to feed this child.” She had six children of her own and, now, was also caring for a severely handicapped 8-day-old baby boy whose mother had died a few hours earlier. We made sure milk was provided. Later, other families brought in helpless newborns whose mothers had died. We developed a program that provides formula to these children. Each caregiver is required to take the child to the Lifeline Centre weekly for observation and formula. Many other major initiatives were developed in conjunction with gechaan staff and village leaders. Some of the most successful include: n Premarital Sexual Abstinence Clubs (High school hiv awareness contests are credited for significant reduction in hiv prevalence rate among youth). n New Tomorrows Project (providing shelter, nutrition, education, legal protection and health care for 17,500 orphans) n Bible school (tee-based training for pastors, evangelists and church planters) continued on next page

JANUARY Art begins working with Jesus film showings; 50 churches started

FEBRUARY Impact Lives delivers first of four food containers for distribution (Converge World Relief) 2 0 1 0

NOVEMBER Converge World Relief promotes Nigeria Hunger Relief project

2 0 1 1

FEBRUARY usaid awards gechaan $5 milllion grant

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Dr. Emeka heads the Lifeline Services Centre medical staff.

n Church planting. Bible school students and eager local pastors combined outreach efforts over two years, showing the film Jesus in dozens of villages. Through this ministry network, nearly 50 churches were planted throughout a vast and isolated region. n Skill Acquisition Program (income-generating start-up projects for orphaned youth) n Cyber CafĂŠ and computer training for students n Be Faithful to Your Spouse Project (Go to cvrg.us/spring2015 for the full report.)

A multi-partner task We developed and conducted the gechaan ministry in the midst of physical, social, spiritual and cultural challenges that only God could have amended. So many sick people were engulfed in fear, without hope of seeing the next day. Many people were not sure about their hiv status but could not bring themselves to be tested for fear of embarrassment and stigmatization in public settings. In Gembu, people were especially hesitant to be tested because, if medicine could be found, it was beyond

their financial capability. When laboratory equipment became available, along with test kits and free medicine, rapid changes happened. The antiretroviral drugs restored a measure of health to many patients, giving a new sense of hope to their families. As others noticed their improvement, testing procedures became common. Mobile teams tenaciously traveled to villages to counsel, test and record results and refer patients to nearby clinics or the hospital for follow-up services. This ongoing effort helped to establish a reliable statistic base. The relationship we developed with aids Relief, an arm of Catholic Relief Services, was a huge help in assembling the total program. When usaid awarded a much larger funding agreement, the work intensified and began to move forward, mainly because so much groundwork had been completed. Knowing many local government and traditional leaders was a big advantage in our gaining the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willingness to trust an aggressive, no-nonsense approach to implementing hiv prevention programs, hiv testing and quality medical services. A key factor was the generous prayer and financial support of Converge congregations and individuals. Our work was funded consistently, which

MARCH Dan and Tina Gibbs visit gechaan to explore serving there Launches Skill Acquisition Program and Be Faithful Project 2 0 1 3

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NOVEMBER Converge World Relief ships container of food to gechaan

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MAY Dorothy returns to usa

In cooperation with Jesus film showings, 50 churches were started in remote villages.

meant there were no delays in progress due to inadequate resources. When a project started, it was completed without delays. In the midst of the incredible challenges — when our faith was tested and even our physical well-being threatened — we were confident our prayer partners were on task. The Spirit of God led us through the ministry landmines. Many lives were changed and blessed. There is no doubt in our minds about the influence our supporters contributed to the success of our decade of work in Nigeria.

How we know the work was successful Outside consultants conducted two major evaluation procedures during the years we were funded by usaid to do a massive amount of work in the villages. Their assignment was to learn about gechaan’s impact on the remote villages. Persons unfamiliar with the region led town hall meetings and focus group interviews to learn if our claims and reports were accurate. These strongly affirmed our reports with expressions of sincere appreciation. Villagers repeatedly mentioned the significant reduction of hiv/aids in their community and in the re-

OCTOBER Art returns to USA

gion. And the 50 new churches among a least-reached people group far exceeded our plans or expectations. As I prepared to return home, a village leader came to express his appreciation for the work our team accomplished. One comment will remain with me as praise to God. Speaking especially of his people, he said, “We will never know the extent to which gechaan efforts impacted their general attitude, their family life and the gentle and kind way they have learned to live and work together with others who are different.” What a statement! How we praise God for his marvelous provision and watchful care over us in the midst of some incredibly complex and challenging situations. n Art and Dorothy Helwig have served as Converge missionaries in Nigeria for the past 10 years. Art will continue half-time with Converge through the remainder of 2015 and possibly thereafter. Dorothy is retired. *CD4 counts help determine the state of infection, guide drug choices and indicate the patient’s response to treatment and disease progression.

GECHAAN continues

2 0 1 5

SEPTEMBER The Gibbs begin ministry at gechaan

Dan and Tina Gibbs now direct gechaan. Dan bolsters the accounting and maintenance staff, and Tina visits and prays with individuals and families. She is starting an awana program for children. The Gibbs are gathering equipment and supplies and raising funds to expand the clinic into a hospital. Follow the Gibbs on their blog: standingbeside.com.

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Introducing Lee Steph NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHURCH PLANTING AN INTERVIEW BY ALLISON HURTADO

Did you ever think you would become the Converge Church Planting director? Honestly, it wasn’t even on our radar. Scott [Ridout] asked us to consider stepping into this new ministry role, and the “ask” was a surprise. It’s been the most difficult decision we’ve ever had to make. But throughout the process, we continually felt God asking us to take one more step. Those steps eventually led to this change. I’m leaving Harvest Community Church, which is like leaving your baby behind. The future is bright at Harvest, so to step away from that is a very difficult and emotionally draining experience. But the best place to be is where God wants you to be. When we went into ministry, my wife Melissa and I said we would never look for a job. We would focus on where God has us, and it would be up to him to resign us. The Lord has the right to move us and call us, and we knew he would make this obvious. We’ve never looked for a ministry position; God has always directed those steps.

Tell us about your family.

I have two kids. My son Aaron is 7. He’s in first grade, loves to play soccer and football and ride his bike. My daughter Noel is 4, going on 16. She’s a little princess. She’s the type of girl who walks into the room and takes over. We are a sports family. We love to be outside and camp and just enjoy our vacations, which are usually in the mountains or on the beach. Melissa is the epitome of a natural encourager. She was a collegiate athlete, a softball pitcher. She is the daughter of a church planter as well, so she knew what she was getting into. When I told her, “I think God is calling us to church plant,” she rolled her eyes and said, “Are you kidding me?” She can’t get away from it.

Why would you make this move at such a high point in your ministry at Harvest? A lot of it doesn’t make sense when you look at it from a human standpoint. And we’ve asked ourselves the same question over and over, “Are we crazy?” In the first five years of ministry we have seen nearly 350 people baptized. We see Harvest making an impact in our community in ways we only dreamed possible. But our decision came down to a few things. Our heart for the American church is huge. When I was called into ministry, it was to strengthen the church in America. We see this role as another step in fulfilling God’s initial call in our lives. Second, I realized church planting is the avenue in which God would use us to fulfill that call. And in that process I found I absolutely love church planting and working alongside and coaching church planters. God calls us to trust him with everything, and this change is one of those moments for us. God is stripping us of everything we find comfortable. My wife is leaving her family. Her brother is coming home from the mission field right as we move — and we still see the future as very bright at Harvest and in Arizona and are excited to see more churches planted.

What do you hope to see happen with Converge Church Planting? I want to see us plant healthier and stronger churches that don’t just make a small impact, but make a large impact over 100 years. Second, we need to be strategic when it comes to reaching the culture in a relevant way in urban, rural and suburban communities. Third, it’s vital to work across cross-cultural lines in planting more diverse churches around America. Finally, I’d like us to go from planting one church a week on average to planting a church a day — 52 a year to 365 a year.

What are the characteristics of a great Converge church planter?

RILIE DEE NORTON

You have to be gospel-centered and have a tenacious attitude. There has to be an internal drive to never give up and a deep, deep passion to make hell poorer and heaven richer. It’s a holy passion to see people come to know and follow Jesus.

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What did you learn from your church plant in 2009? More people come to Christ in a new church than an existing church. That’s really obvious in the new years of church planting. The highs are higher and the lows are lower than you can imagine. The life-changing stories are nothing but inspiring and miraculous. At times you find yourself absolutely dependent on God to show up. You find yourself on your knees praying, and you ask your friends to pray and ask God to show up. You tell God, “If you don’t show up, we won’t exist in two weeks.” You also have to do your part by working hard and being smart. But there’s this incredible moment when God shows up, and you say, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

henson

RILIE DEE NORTON

What do you want to accomplish in your first 100 days? I want to assess where we are and where the biggest needs are. I want to hear what’s going on in different parts of the country. Also, there needs to be a relational connection. I need to know what’s working and what’s not, and what our planters are dealing with in different parts of the nation. We will figure out healthy systems to take church planting to the next level.

Key facts

What will you miss most about Arizona?

HOMETOWN: Wilmore, Kentucky

The mountains. Our friends, our family and our church.

Is it true all church planters drink coffee? Well, I’m a coffee connoisseur. I like Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee. I like my coffee black, bold and strong. I have to drink coffee every morning. But, unfortunately, I have a coffee allergy. I found out the first year of church planting. I was nauseous all the time and had to see an allergist, who asked me, “How much coffee do you drink a day?” I said four-plus cups. He said, “That’s your problem.” It was devastating. I’ve learned how to work around it. It’s either self-control, or I get sick. I can’t drink more than two cups of coffee a day at this point.

What was the hardest thing you endured while church planting? It’s been a very personal struggle over the past five years. I was a college athlete and more recently a semi-professional mountain biker, but a few years ago my knee completely gave out. The root cause of my issues stems from a torn acl years ago that caused my knee to go into hyper-degeneration. I have the knee of an 85-year-old. A few years ago I actually became a national case study, with the hope of seeing the top docs in the world figure out what to do with my knee. We have had numerous surgeries, one confining me to bed for 12 weeks. I preached for two months from a wheelchair. Over the past five years I have had five surgeries. Today I have four screws holding my knee together. This has hit us in every area of our life: physically, emotionally and financially. It has been devastating as a dad to never run with my kids or be able to teach them to ride a bike. However, God has demonstrated his relentless grace and goodness even in my pain and weaknesses. Every step of the way he has provided in ways that have been beyond measure. It has been a hard journey, a journey that’s not over, but worthwhile. God taught us he really is strong in the midst of our greatest weakness, and he never leaves us or forsakes. n

AGE: 36 EDUCATION: Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana; Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Ministry, collegiate track and soccer PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: n Youth pastor, Trinity Evangelical Free Church, South Bend, Indiana n Young Adult and College pastor/teaching pastor, Red Mountain Community Church, Mesa, Arizona n Chaplain for Desert Ridge High School football team, Mesa, Arizona nV ision Arizona LEAD Team/ coach nF ounder/owner of Harvest Coaching and Consulting, LLC n Lead/founding pastor, Harvest Community Church, Mesa, Arizona

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Reaching the world in

The reverse Great Commission BY SCOTT MILLAR

Benjamin Carrera was a pharmaceutical company executive in Caracas, Venezuela. Well-educated, happy and prosperous, he had a good life with his wife Ninoska, three teenage children, a beach resort apartment and a home in the city. But gradually the country was overcome by political corruption, poverty and violence. When thieves kidnapped Carrera at gunpoint on the Caracas streets in October 2012, to extort money from his family, he thought he was going to die. Unsuccessful, the kidnappers released him the next morning after beating him. The incident confirmed Cararra’s decision to immigrate to Canada. Greater Toronto is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world, home to more than 300,000 Latin Americans. Today its population is exploding. Many immigrants are lonely, open to change and wanting to break out of old culture patterns. Some are coming from their home countries, and others — after a few years in Canada — return to them or relocate to other countries. Church planting in Toronto will reach people from around the world and send people into the world. But let’s get back to Carrera.

From Caracas, Venezuela, to Toronto Carrera began the long process of applying for a visa to Canada. When their visa applications were approved in 2012, Ninoska and the three Carrera children moved to Brampton, a suburb of Toronto. Benjamin remained in Venezuela, working in his executive position far from family. He arrived a year later, after selling their home and quitting his high-paying job. Since then, the Carreras have lived on savings, renting a basement apartment from his sister. Carrera cannot work at the same level in Canada as he did in Venezuela. Recently he found a job in a pharmaceutical company, with a much lower position and less pay. His children have integrated into the schools’ social life. Two work at McDonald’s, the third as a soccer coach. They are learning English and are involved in sports.

Finding faith in Toronto Ninoska’s friend Andrea, from Argentina, invited her to a Spanish-speaking church led by pastor Francisco Aular. Ninoska enjoyed the services and was glad to meet people from her native Venezuela. She heard about salvation from sin by faith in Jesus and accepted him as her Lord

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Toronto

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ABOVE: At La Favorita, the local bakery on this street, Hispanics shop for food and send money back to Mexico. BELOW: Large mosques and Hindu and Sikh temples are being built or replacing churches that have closed. RIGHT: Pastor Francisco Aular of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toronto, baptizes Benjamin and Ninoska.

Interested in partnering with the Millars? The Greater Toronto area is Converge’s newest mission field. Email scottm@convergeww.org to learn more.

and Savior. She sensed a peace and joy in her heart she had looked for but never found in various religious groups. Carrera came to faith when Ninoska said the best gift he could give her for Mother’s Day was to attend church with her. Ninoska, Carrera and their daughter Veronica were baptized in November 2014.

The spiritual landscape With the influx of thousands of immigrants, the spiritual landscape of Toronto has changed. Many extravagant Hindu and Sikh temples and mosques dot the suburbs. The lifestyles and values of the immigrants’ home countries are reinforced, along with social connections. Often tension exists between old customs, beliefs and language and the younger generation’s desire for assimilation, freedom and to speak English. Some Christian churches are reaching this multicultural mix. Others have been torn down and replaced by high-rises. Some church buildings have been transformed into mosques or Hindu temples. Many churches have died. The net result is that only 2 percent of Toronto’s population is Christian, making this an important mission field. Like Canada, other traditional mission-sending countries increasingly are becoming mission fields. In Argentina, a mission field where Ruth and I ministered for 25 years, the church is growing and sending missionaries around the world. Meanwhile, the Western world is seeing a tremendous influx of foreigners, creating new mission fields — reversing the Great Commission. Refugee relocation to escape violence, war and political uncertainty and the opportunity for economic investment motivate immigrants to search for a better life for their children. God uses immigration and displacement of peoples to advance his kingdom. In Toronto, loving the foreigner is a God-given and effective church planting strategy.

Expanding our borders — planting 20 churches in the GTA Carrera and Ninoska are part of our core team to start a bilingual Spanish-English church in Brampton this April. A few miles from downtown Toronto, Brampton was a small farming town only a few years ago, known for raising and exporting roses. When Canada began to encourage immigration in the 1980s, most immigrants came to the Toronto area, especially to Brampton. The town is close to factories and less expensive than Toronto. The majority of the population is East Indian, but Brampton attracts people from everywhere. Now with a population of 600,000, it is Canada’s second-fastest growing city, with 200 ethnic groups and 78 languages. Many of its immigrants are among the world’s wealthiest people — the average price of a house is $500,000. Beginning this year, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Toronto, is launching five church plants. The goal is to plant 20 churches by 2020. The strategy of the church plant we are working with is to focus first on Latinos and then to offer services in English to the broader immigrant population. Would you be willing to help plant churches in the Greater Toronto Area? n Scott and Ruth Millar are Converge missionaries church planting in Toronto, Canada.

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step up to kingdom impact while earning on your investment

When you invest in the Cornerstone Fund, you partner with us to serve Converge churches so that they can make a greater impact in their communities. Converge Cornerstone Fund assists Converge churches by providing financial resources and services that enable them to expand their ministries, while providing our Converge constituency a competitive rate on investments.

Investment Options Term Investments MINIMUM TERM RATE INVESTMENT

BONUS RATE!

6-month 0.875% $100 1.000% $100,000 1.125% $250,000 1-year 1.125% $100 1.250% $100,000 1.375% $250,000 2-year 1.250% $100 1.375% $100,000 1.500% $250,000 3-year 1.500% $100 3-year 2.500% $100 1.625% $100,000 2.500% $100,000 1.750% $250,000 2.500% $250,000 4-year 1.875% $100 2.000% $100,000 2.125% $250,000 5-year 2.125% $100 2.250% $30,000 2.375% $100,000 2.500% $250,000

Demand Investments MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

0.875% $100

Church Savings Investments MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

1.000% $5,000

IRAs MINIMUM RATE INVESTMENT

2.625% $10 2.750% $100,000+

Rates subject to change without notice.

To learn more about Cornerstone Fund

visit: cornerstonetoday.org email: csfund@convergeww.org call: 877.228.8810

This shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such an offer, solicitation or sale is not authorized. The offering is made solely by the OFFERING CIRCULAR. The offering involves certain risks, which are more fully disclosed in the Offering Circular under the heading “Risk Factors.” These investments are not FDIC or SIPC insured. n In the event the Fund exercises its right to redeem a Certificate prior to maturity and upon 60 days notice to the holder thereof, payment of the outstanding principal and interest will be made to the holder to the date of redemption, rather than to the Certificate’s maturity date.

spring 2015

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18 n point | spring 2015

Weekend widow

“Mrs. Pastor”

Hidden demands on your pastor’s wife. BY KAY FULLER

There stands a majestic island by Sunny Shores, our family’s northern Minnesota getaway. Summer after summer, generations of our family have escaped to Pokegama Lake. Grandparents and great-grandparents have passed on, cabins have been painted and docks have been added. But one thing remains. Drumbeater Island. Sometimes standing alone, oft times hosting multiple boats off her sandbar, Drumbeater is the ever-present landmark, the familiar sight on a stormy day and the annual launching pad for the fireworks display. The island has witnessed it all — the victories of popping up on water skis, the defeats of falling, the echoes of laughter in the summer, the hum of snowmobiles in the winter and the highs and lows of the water levels. Frequently sharing her territory and sometimes carrying on in loneliness, the island is much like your pastor’s wife. Sometimes she steadfastly weathers the storm alone. She provides stability. She is the point of reference, silently but mightily signaling back to shore and to her family’s calling. Some of what she withstands and contributes is vibrantly noticeable. Much is not. In our church-world we’ve heard all about the hand-me-down pressures on the wife: expectations to be at church every time the doors are open and raising children while the watching world waits for them to mess up. Although these do contribute to attrition, it’s important for a congregation to be aware of an undercurrent of other pressures.

A delicate dance for pastors’ wives n Weekend withholds Every job matters. Church really matters. No one is more aware of this than your pastor’s wife. She knows the stakes of her husband’s job are eternal, so she will do everything she can to carry the emotional and physical load at home — especially on weekends. Not wanting to rob the church, she will strive to alleviate pressure and to protect her pastor-husband from threats on the horizon that could distract him. Often by the time a window presents itself between preparing a message, presenting a message and the drain that follows, the wind has changed direction, and she and God have completely handled the impending storm. Similarly, in her attempt to avoid rocking the boat at church, your pastor’s wife may silently suppress ideas and concerns regarding the church at large. Under the well-intentioned umbrella of remaining tactful and poised, or in the guise of peacekeeping, withholds can take a toll. Like the island with a view in every direction of the lake, your pastor’s continued on next page

She can make or break his ministry. She can propel his ministry forward, render it stuck in neutral or even capsize it. For most pastors’ wives, that’s a frightening thought and a massive weight to carry. Add that reality to her filling a job without a job description, and it’s a wonder any pastor’s wife survives. The lethal combination of pressure (eternal pressure — I mean, this is the church!) and unidentifiable expectations (except for the comparison to the previous pastor’s wife), is not for the faint of heart. It’s a position she can thrive in — with a healthy support system. How can the congregation support the “first lady” or “ladies” in their churches? n Pray for her. First and foremost, commit to praying for your ministry wife. If there is more than one in your church, choose a day to pray for each one. Or get creative and share the task with other church members, ensuring each of the ministry wives is covered in prayer. I have been blessed to have two kinds of pray-ers in our church: a) Those who devotedly pray for me and my family as God leads — I don’t even have to ask them; b) A handful of others who have committed to a deep prayer life for their pastor’s family, so much so that it is their main ministry in the church. I regularly send them prayer requests for our family with full confidence the only one they share it with is God. n Grant her freedom to have an Elizabeth. The Elizabeth (see Luke 1:39-45) might be you, or it might not be. But pray she will have her Elizabeth, the spiritually mature friend who will celebrate her joys and walk her through the difficult seasons with mercy overflowing. Gone are the days when a pastor’s wife was discouraged from having friends in the church so as to not exclude. Although she should care about everyone, she needs a close friend or two — whether her Elizabeth is in or outside the church. n Assume the best. The pastor’s wife often lives under a microscope, especially in a smaller church or community. Regardless of her personality type, be assured she is heaping her own dose of guilt upon herself — when she can’t be three places at once, when she’s torn between church and family or when she can’t play the piano like the former pastor’s wife. Be her defender, pray for her and get to know her. If there is a cultural or character matter she could benefit from being aware of, be the loving voice to walk alongside her. continued on next page

spring 2015

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n Relish her unique giftedness in Christ. Offering encouragement to pastors’ wives to serve in their area of strength, my friend and Converge pastor’s wife Loree Scheske, of Heartland Church in Indianapolis, says, “Find something you love and do it. If women’s ministry is not your thing, or children’s ministry, don’t do it — you will burn out so fast doing something you are not supposed to do….” The church body can support their pastor’s wife in this, trusting God has appointed her for this particular time in your church with her particular gifting. Likewise, rejoice when she is getting outside the walls of the church, being missional and serving beyond her family and demographic borders. n Bless her. Encourage her with words or cards, letting her know how much you appreciate her sacrifice. Look for ways to intentionally bless her along with her husband. One of our longtime members and past elders always jokingly called me “Mrs. Pastor.” He and his wife would greet both my husband and me with the same enthusiasm, and at Christmastime they would give each of us a gift card to let us know they appreciated both of us. n Resist the urge. If you happen upon your pastor’s family together in what seems to be some set-aside family time, resist the urge to seize the moment for yourself. Your pastor’s family genuinely cares and wants to know how you’re doing, and most times it is definitely appropriate for you to share; they would in fact be hurt if you didn’t. Take special note, though, if it appears to be a sacred family time. Smile and greet them and then silently slip into prayer for them. Take it another step and pay for their dinner. Some of the times I felt most loved by our congregation were when church members saw me across the way with my kids or my husband, and when we got up to pay, the bill was already covered. This act sent me the message that they noticed and honored our precious family time. The implications of a pastor’s wife extend far beyond your wildest dream. When she is allowed to use her skills in the church, when she is covered in prayer and when she genuinely feels loved, she is more confidently freed to share the load with her husband. And she is more vibrantly filled with love for her role and the sacrifices it entails. Her mindset affects his mindset. His mindset affects the state of the church. The church affects the entire city and state and the kingdom of God. By all means, figure out your unique way to support your pastor’s wife.

Pastors wives (l. to r.) Trina Jenkins, Keri Johnson and Kay Fuller.

wife often has a wide-view lens focused on the life of the church and is, in quiet and strength, praying over all of it. n Anonymity alludes There’s no hiding for Drumbeater. As much as the island may long to submerge and hide, it remains visible to all long after the summer vacationers have fled. So it is for your pastor’s wife. Some days she simply needs to run in, and out, of the store. Her child needs to be picked up at soccer practice, her husband wants her input on a matter and the assisted-living home is awaiting her callback regarding one of their parents. A need for speed collides violently with a parishioner who needs to talk, especially when your minister’s wife cares deeply about the parishioners. How can she relay love and care in the moment while being caught between the wake? If she doesn’t adequately relay her care and interest, will the parishioner be hurt, become angry or, worse yet, gossip about or even leave the church? Any and every encounter can weigh on the pastor’s wife; she is an extension of her husband and the church. If she doesn’t say “Hi” or make eye contact, the effect can cause a riptide. n Competing with a crisis: Many savvy couples can view interruptions in the “it’s not life or death” category, so they forgo the disruption. In the minister’s family, though, it often truly is “life and death,” both earthly and eternal, threatening to interrupt. A parent has died, a child is in a horrific accident, a marriage is on the brink, a family needs intervention or someone is ready to step over the faith line. “Important” and “urgent” become synonymous, and the pastor’s wife would feel selfish or coldhearted to hold her husband back. She gives up the vacation, she assumes full responsibility for the kids for the evening or she relinquishes her own ministry for a season in a catch-and-release pattern. This is a delicate dance for the wife. Ministry is a partnership. She needs to embrace the partnership and be all in, yet continually release her minister-husband to others, sometimes forfeiting her own contribution to allow him the freedom to swim. When the home front competes with a crisis, it’s often a catch-22 for the wife. Sometimes it’s a greater act for her not to serve outside the family so that he is freed to go. Holding back on using her gifts is, at times, her biggest act of sacrifice. Church is about people, and people are what the shepherd’s family is about. They are the family’s heartbeat, and responding to their needs is intuitive. Today’s ease of accessibility to the pastor’s family, however, is at an unprecedented level. Email, texting and direct messaging can become invasive. Once a pattern of 24/7-response is established, it’s hard to reverse. “We enable the monster,” says Keri Johnson, Converge pastor’s wife of Westwood Community Church in Excelsior, Minnesota. It is a wise church that can design distinguishing alerts for true emergencies and encourage their ministers’ devices to be set aside for periods at a time. Pastors’ wives come in all ages, stages and personality types. But in many churches no one cares more about the church, sets aside more for the church or prays more for the church than the pastor’s wife. A simple recognition of the demands on her may be the protective barrier against erosion in her life, the ministry family and the life of the church. n Kay Fuller is the wife of John Fuller, senior pastor of Prairie Lakes Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and women’s ministries director/ group life coordinator.

20 n point | spring 2015

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two

Number of babies saved from abortion by Cascade Community Church’s college-age group in Monroe, Washington. Pastor Todd Arrambide and his team won $5,000 last year in a video competition in connection with Converge’s Ignite church planters conference. With the funds, they partnered with Pregnancy Resource Center for education and resources to counsel two expectant mothers. A generous donor agreed to cover all the cost of the two mothers for their entire first year. Read about the journey: cvrg.us.cascade.

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Converge World Relief made disbursements of $17,408 to Call of Love ministries to aid Iraqi refugees in northern cities. An additional $10,000 was sent to Valley Community Baptist Church, Avon, Connecticut, for medicines and other relief supplies for Syrian refugees in Jordan.

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twenty-two Vietnamese leaders participated in the first Converge School of Church Leadership Certification course at Transform 2015. Converge Northwest executive minister Steve Welling led the course: How to Study the Bible. Six additional classes are scheduled.

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Read online summaries of Just the Basics: A Simple Introduction to the Christian Faith, by Dallas Johnson; and The Full Sufficiency of Christ, by Christopher Hearn at cvrg.us/spring2015.

22 n point | spring 2015

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Transform 2015 Efrem Smith, of World Impact, opened Transform 2015 in Garden Grove, California, January 19, addressing the 368 people in attendance. He began with a powerful tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., speaking of the work King accomplished and the work left for Christians. With racial tension at an all-time high in our country, Smith reviewed the genealogy of Jesus, beginning with Abraham, who emigrated from modern-day Iraq. “Pumping through the veins of Jesus is the blood of Iraqis and moon worshipers,” Smith said. “That means on his family tree are Libyans, Sudanese, Ethiopians, the cursed, the oppressed, the privileged. We see Jesus, and we reimagine him as a white guy with blue eyes. But Jesus was a multicultural.” Smith challenged attendees to think about how they represent Jesus. Neighborhoods are changing. The church as a result will be changing. “Jesus is now living in you. You’re not a suburban guy — you’re a multiethnic guy, which means you can plant churches anywhere, you can go anywhere. Be white if you want, be black or be a radical Christian building bridges and tearing down walls, and justice will roll down,” he said. Breakouts and workshops Tuesday morning began three days of over 22 breakout sessions. Three workshops were also held, focused on marketing and branding churches more efficiently, how to reach changing neighborhoods and what our society thinks about theology. Claiborne: ‘You can see Calcutta everywhere’ Keynote speaker Shane Claiborne gave a powerful message Wednesday night on what it’s like to follow Jesus and serve. He spoke of his time in Calcutta, India, serving in orphanages alongside Mother Teresa. “Part of what I learned is that you don’t need to go to Calcutta to find Calcutta. Mother Teresa used to say, ‘Pray God will give you the eyes to see the ones who are lonely and outcast. You can see Calcutta everywhere if God gives you the eyes to see.’” Ridout speaks on racial reconciliation President Scott Ridout closed the week of networking with a message reminding leaders Jesus Christ is the cornerstone not only of our churches but of our lives. Ridout also addressed the issue of racial reconciliation in the United States, noting the growing silence from the Anglo evangelical church. “To my brothers and sisters of color — black, brown or yellow —, I’m sorry,” Ridout said. “We will figure this out. I have no idea what that means, but it will be a long and hard road. We need each other. We can’t have any walls between us. Lean on me, I’ll lean on you and we will all lean on Jesus Christ.”

Brent and Lori Allen are the newest executive leaders to serve Converge. The Northeast district includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, eastern New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Lori serves as administrative assistant and Brent ministers to churches. The Allens, who live in Connecticut, formerly served in the pastorate of Old North Church, Canfield, Ohio. Brent and Lori met in the back of an English class at Moody Bible Institute. Lori commented, “We were both bored and started passing notes.” Brent refers to it as prehistoric texting. They now have three adult children, all married, with jobs, dogs and mortgages. Brent loves playing with and restoring antique cars, including early one-cylinder Cadillacs and a 1920 Allen from Columbus, Ohio. Lori loves to read, play in the dirt (aka gardening), cook, sew, hike and make discoveries in history. The Allens each began their personal relationship with Jesus during their early childhood. Brent came to Christ as a 7-year-old in Vacation Bible School. When Lori was 3, her mom introduced her to Jesus. Christian homes and a life of learning to walk with and serve Jesus has been their story. Brent’s passion: “That people who do not know Jesus would come to know him.” Lori’s heartbeat: “That people would love to know the Word of God.” These deep passions for spiritual life and transformation guide them through their daily work of serving New Englanders and East Coast leaders in a spiritually cold region. By Donna Fagerstrom, staff writer

spring 2015

| point n 23

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