FOWM #243

DEAR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF WORLD MISSION,One approach rarely fits all, and local Covenant church leaders in Latin America face different obstacles—but the need for spiritual and theological renewal is a common cry from these leaders who tirelessly serve their churches and communities. FOWM Project #243 seeks to support leadership renewal efforts in a variety of ways.

In Colombia, the need is to train leaders from local Covenant churches so that they can, in turn, train people in their congregations. In collaboration with Seminario Bíblico de Colombia, 100 lay leaders from five regions will gather every two months to study three certificate programs over three years. The project will also offer scholarships to four pastors or lay leaders who want to study at the Biblical Seminary of Colombia in Medellín. These leaders will be chosen with the support of their local pastors who will be their mentors in the process.

In Ecuador, leadership renewal will take the form of holistic care through an annual retreat for 105 pastors from Iglesia del Pacto Evangélico de Ecuador (IPEE) and their families. Along with time for emotional and spiritual renewal, retreats will include access to preventative care and medical check-ups. Most pastors and lay leaders in Ecuador work bi-vocationally, many of them, for example, working the fields as sustenance farmers, as well as working the “spiritual fields” as evangelists, social workers, and pastors. Local faith communities have long been searching for ways to better care for their clergy and their families, longing to provide them with rest and renewal in a sustainable way, so they can, in turn, serve the church and the world with effectiveness and joy.

Your prayers and gifts toward FOWM #243 will enable our partner churches in Colombia and Ecuador, to provide opportunities for spiritual and ministry renewal for their leaders. Thank you for considering!

For the sake of the gospel across cultures and around the world,

AL TIZON, Executive Minister of Serve Globally

Leadership Renewal in Latin America

2/19

WAYS TO GIVE…

• Give online at CovChurch.org/donate

• Charitable gift planning at CovenantTrust.com

• Monthly donations at CovChurch.org/resources/eft-forms

Your regular gift to FOWM projects makes a difference. You can also endow your annual support through your estate plan. Contact our partners at Covenant Trust Company, (800) 483-2177, to learn more.

To make your gift today, please fill out and return the enclosed donation card in the return envelope, or mail to:

The Evangelical Covenant Church, Attn: Friends of World Mission 8303 W. Higgins Rd. Chicago, IL 60631

For more information, visit CovChurch.org/fowm

Solar Power for Seminary in India In 2016, one of their biggest challenges for Union Biblical Seminary (UBS) in Pune was providing consistent electricity to their students. With rising power costs, much of their annual budget was allocated to electricity. Thanks to contributions, 344 solar panels were installed at UBS. Those 110 kilowatts now help seminary cater to the need of 446 students, faculty, and staff. Over the course of 2018, UBS saved more than $11,000 in electricity bills. Thank you!

UPDATE

PROJECT #230

Dual Projects inColombia & Ecuador

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION IN COLOMBIA

“The past two months have been spent informing regional min-istry leaders and local church pastors about the process for this new leadership development program. Excitement is growing and students are signing up in their regions. Forty students signed up in Medellín and began their first Old Testament module on February 8. Bogotá has confirmed that they have 20 students ready to go, and both Montería and Barranquilla continue to sign up students.” —Katie Isaza, global personnel in Colombia

CLERGY FAMILY CARE AND RENEWAL RETREATS IN ECUADOR

This past autumn, pastors and their families joined with one another in a pilot weekend retreat. This FOWM project will enable IPEE to provide this experience to its pastors annually.

“Each district was able to hold a weekend retreat with a relaxed atmosphere, activities, swimming, worship, and meals together. The theme at this year’s retreat was somos una gran familia (we are one big family). Of the 86 churches, nearly 90% of clergy attended their local district retreat with their families.” — Rev. Franklin Riera, IPEE President