Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
Two Very Special Giving Opportunities in the Coming Months The Cabinet of USA Superintendents and the General Board of Ministerial Education are excited to announce that a special offering will be received at each of our five District Gatherings this year to benefit our exciting and growing Haggard School of Ministry. Dr. Brian Donley is the Academic Dean of the Haggard School, and recent changes and enhancements have positioned the school to provide an even higher level of ministerial training to individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge of Scripture, especially for those who are pursuing EMC credentials. Securing an on-campus seminary education is certainly an amazing way to prepare for ministry, but many individuals are finding themselves unable to make that leap due to their age, financial situation, or work requirements. The Haggard School of Ministry is a high-quality alternative to Seminary training, and is incredibly affordable and flexible compared to traditional brick-and-mortar schooling. But there is a need to subsidize the school’s annual budget in order to maintain a wellprepared and deeply qualified faculty while keeping the cost low to students. The EMC’s board of Finance has done an amazing job of carving out additional dollars in the General Fund Budget this year, but there is still a need for some additional help to ensure that the Haggard School can and will operate “in the black.” We are asking that you come to Journey this year with a prepared offering from your church or individuals. If we all pray about it, and do something, those relatively small contributions will make all the difference to ensure that the Haggard School of Ministry will turn out pastors and leaders, ready to serve capably in our board rooms, ministry areas, and pulpits. THANK YOU FOR PREPARING YOUR HSOM OFFERING NOW!
Secondly - Missions Giving in 2021 The EMC’s General Board of World Missions is putting the finishing touches on a plan that you will hear much more about in March and April. Some time ago, the tradition was established of encouraging our folks to give sacrificially during the fall through our Thanksgiving Missions Offering.
The goal of this new effort will be to establish a pattern of both Spring and Fall giving in our churches. Look for coming information about a Resurrection Missions Offering to be welcomed during the Lenten and Easter Seasons.
The Kerusso – February | 2021
The Kerusso - February | 2021
Page 2
Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
End-of-Year Reporting for All Credential Holders DUE DATE FOR ANNUAL REPORTING WAS JANUARY 31. If you still need to submit your report, simply Click here to go to the reporting page on the EMC’s website, and select the link for either the ministry report or the church report. Remember that we changed our reporting requirements last year, and now there is only one form to be completed by all credential holders - the Individual Ministry Report Form. And for Senior Pastors of EMC Churches there is just one other, our Local Church Report which does not ask for as much statistical detail as our old reporting forms. Please note - these are online reports and you cannot save a partially completed report; each report must be finished once you start it. If you must exit your web browser before finishing, you will need to start over. Once submitted, your report will automatically be emailed to the General Conference Secretary AND to your Conference Superintendent. The single, redesigned ministry report works for ALL credential holders, no matter what your current role or credential status is. While it is the case that Superannuated and Supernumerary Elders are not explicitly required to report, we certainly welcome them to complete a ministry report should they desire to do so. And for those few of you who are indeed Superannuated but have stepped back into a Senior Pastor’s role, we strongly encourage you to submit an annual report. The idea of being released from a reporting requirement stems from the assumption that a Superannuated Elder has retired from active service in pulpit ministry. The one Local Church Report is to be filled out by every Senior Pastor of an EMC church, regardless of their credential status. This is a report of the previous year’s data and financial information. One change that we made to the report this year is the addition of one data field for those pastors who wish to report a number that reflects their estimated Online Participation. This field is NOT a required field. How each pastor goes about estimating that number may be different so we are leaving that to your best judgment, asking that you be consistent with whatever method you choose to use.
Beginning-of-Year CCB Housekeeping If you receive emails from EMC Headquarters, then you have a profile page in our CCB software system and we need your help. We are continually in the process of maintaining and updating the information we need to stay connected with the EMC Family. You can help us by logging in to your CCB profile page and making any necessary changes to your contact information. If you have never logged in to the EMCHQ CCB or you have lost/forgotten your username and/or password, or if you need help editing your information, contact Karen Parsons at kparsons@emchurch.org and she will be glad to help you.
Click the following link to get started on your profile maintenance: EMC HQ CCB
Thank you for your help!
Page 3
We Are Excited to Announce Two New EMC Congregations! Beulah Evangelical Methodist Church - submitted by Kevin Brouillette, USA Conference Superintendent On Sunday, January 31, 2021 we had the privilege of officially affiliating Beulah United Methodist Church into the Evangelical Methodist Church. The service was very well attended. After the Affiliation we received most everyone there as charter members of “Beulah Evangelical Methodist Church.” One of the dear elders of the church said “We have been on this journey for the past 14 years. This has not been a hasty decision. We decided as a church family we wanted to be part of a denomination whose roots went deep into historical Methodism without the compromise of Scripture. We are very excited to join up with like minded brothers and sisters in Christ.” This church’s history dates back to the 1800’s. They are a beautiful congregation of people who desire to hear and obey the truth of God's word. They have a very active women's group, a men’s group, and a youth group. At present we are filling the pulpit for them with one of our Ordained Elders, Rev. Dr. Lynn Malone. He is our House Church planter in the West Monroe, Louisiana area. Pastor Malone and his wonderful wife, Vanessa are a true blessing to our EMC family. This is another beautiful, shining example of a people holding forth the truth of God’s word and willing to step out by faith and trust God for their future.
Engage Church in Goshen Indiana | The Newest Campus of Refuge Ministries under Senior Pastor Russ Cochran In January, the board of Refuge Ministries in Copperas Cove, Texas, voted unanimously to receive Engage Church in Goshen, Indiana, as their newest campus. Refuge ministries is excited to welcome them. They certainly win the prize for being the farthest campus from central Texas! Please join Refuge in welcoming Pastor Travis Welch and his family to the EMC as a part of Refuge Ministries. From their statement of purpose: “Engage is a church that makes room for people to belong so that they can become all that God created them to be.” Pastor Travis and Miranda married in 2006 and have served in ministry in Michigan, North Carolina, Washington, and now Indiana. They are the proud parents of two amazing daughters. Engage is passionate about seeing the people of Goshen find a place where they can be authentic and truly loved. They believe people are hungry to find a place where they belong and can thrive in that environment. Engage strives to live up to its name! Each Sunday will look a little different when you visit Engage. It desires to be a church that breaks down the many barriers that keep people from coming into a relationship with Jesus.
Their Sundays offer a different way for people to engage in their faith. The hope is that when someone comes on a Sunday evening, they will participate in a way that makes them feel comfortable. Engage is passionate in their belief that participation is the best way to empower and equip people in exploring faith and growing in it.
The Kerusso - February | 2021
Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
The Kerusso – February | 2021
Page 4
Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
Saints and Champions Promoted to Glory Since January of 2020, several incredible EMC leaders have been ushered into the great cloud of witnesses that has set the pace before us, walking in step with our Master and King.
Rev. Darrell Johnson
Jonathan Soriano
Deacon Bob Hager Deaconess Peggy Trim
“Well done, good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Rev. Ernie Smith
~ Matthew 25:23
Rev. Adron Spencer Rev. Ron Walker Rev. Bob Gober
Dottie Nealis
Rev. Ken Harper
“… after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors …“ ~ Acts 13:36
For those of us that remain, we find inspiration and courage in the memory of these amazing leaders. They provided all of us with incredible examples of Godliness and sacrificial servanthood. They took their cues from the Holy Spirit, and made it clear that this world was not their home. They will be missed in ways that words cannot convey, but we have not “lost” them. We know just where they are! God has now welcomed them into the home He has been preparing for them.
The Apostle Paul writes, “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. … we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Philippians 3:17-21