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ECC Missions Board
"You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Our Missions Board's primary responsibility is to oversee the church's commitment to and involvement in world missions, which has been very strong since the church's founding in 1889.
For 119 years, ECC has sent many of its own members into the mission field. We have also supported Covenant missionaries sent out from the Evangelical Covenant Church of North America, Chicago, Illinois.
Currently, we have six missionary couples and families in the mission field. They serve in countries as near as Mexico and as far away as Indonesia. We invite you to  click here to get to know them and their ministries. You are invited to write to them and to keep them in your prayers.
In addition to supporting our missionaries in our church budget, we also provide other forms of support through our Kingdom Fund. Anyone may financially support our missionaries through this fund, as well as help meet specific needs, such as travel expenses and unforeseen emergencies.
Each year, ECC provides opportunities for members and attendees to participate in short-term mission trips. Both youth and adults are welcome.
The members of the Mission Board welcome you to our Missions Page. You are encouraged to provide your thoughts and ideas on how ECC can do a better job of reaching our world for Christ. Your Missions Board members look forward to hearing from you.
Prayer Request from Dale Lusk November 12, 2008
Hello Everyone,
I would like to ask for everyone to pray for mission teams to sign up for 2009. It looks like next year will be a great window of opportunity for mission teams. There are three reasons:
1. The US dollar is gaining on almost all currencies world-wide making travel and ministry within those countries much less expensive. Here are examples of the increase in the value of the US dollar since last summer:
Chile +30%, Mexico +25%, Spain +22%, Uruguay +21%, Jamaica +10%, Argentina +8%, Costa Rica +8%,
Dominican Republic +3%, Guatemala +3%, Nicaragua +3%, Honduras +2%,
2. The price of petroleum has plummeted. Airline flights and ground transportation costs in most countries will likely decrease for at least part of next year.
3. The world-wide economic downturn will disproportionately affect developing countries, meaning poverty and needs around the world will increase.
Please pray for teams to sign up for the following areas where we currently have partnerships and history, but no teams have signed up to go in 2009:
MEXICO Monterrey, Saltillo, Derramadero, Sabinas, Juarez, San Luis Rio Colorado, Tampico, Uruapan
GUATEMALA no teams in 2009 so far
HONDURAS La Villa/Comayagua, San Pedro Sula
JAMAICA - no teams in 2009 so far
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Puerta Plata
ARGENTINA no teams in 2009 so far
URUGUAY no teams in 2009 so far
CHILE Tome/Penco
SPAIN - no teams in 2009 so far
Dale Lusk
Executive Director - Covenant Merge Ministries
956-458-9568
www.covmerge.org
Johnson Update November 10, 2008
Greetings from Warsaw!
Last Wednesday evening the Executive Ministries Outreach Dinner Party was held in the elegant Bristol Hotel. The room that could accommodate a maximum of 120 people was very nearly full with 115 in attendance. The Polish Crusade staff, who had organized this event for the first time, were thrilled and a bit nervous! Would everyone come? What would their guests think of this American business couple, Chet and Beth Smith from Greenville? Would they be responsive to the gospel message? Would we be able to connect with them afterwards? So many questions!
Those questions were answered by the comment cards filled out by the roughly 100 guests. The team was grateful to God that 49 indicated a decision to ask Christ into their lives and 45 left their contact information!
Now we are in the midst of making appointments and following-up with those people who attended the event. Here are brief descriptions of some of the individual's responses we have found so encouraging:
One man said he'd been an atheist for most his life, but because of the "true believers" in his life (including the ones who invited him to the outreach) he had recently become an agnostic (believing that a God could exist). Although he is clearly not interested in pursuing a relationship with Christ now, he is considering the claims of Christ like never before.
Another young man has enjoyed great success in his career but when his first marriage failed several years ago, he began a search that led to his placing his faith in Christ. He hasn't really been discipled so he expressed eagerness to attend the Bible discussion group that will form soon. He came to the dinner to bring an associate whose marriage is on the rocks. We shared the Four Spiritual Laws with him to confirm his understanding of the gospel and he now plans to share this message with his own wife and with his business associate.
Two women, whose husbands had significant economic success, poured out their hearts about how money had strained the marriages to the point of separation for one and emotional turmoil for the other. But each had chosen to surrender their lives to Christ and saw how He had made a huge impact on their outlook. Our meeting encouraged them to continue to grow in their faith and to trust God for a miracle in their marriages that would be a testimony to their husbands, children and the business world.
In the days to follow, Tuesday-Thursday, we hope to have several more appointments. Thanks, in advance, for praying. We know it makes all the difference in the world!
Sue and Paul
Levanos Prayer Update October 21, 2008
Dear Praying Friends,
It was great to be back home!
October 14, I (Tom) was back home in New England, experiencing the blessings of family, friends, supporters, prayer partners, co-workers, brilliant autumn leaves, and more. The main purpose of the trip was to discover new financial partners for our ministry with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Thank you so much for praying as I was gone; and now, as I am back. Your partnership with us through prayer is an encouragement to us and makes a real difference.
Praise the Lord for.
The wonderful time in New England connecting with old friends and new. I had the opportunity to share our ministry and financial needs with over 20 different families and individuals and to speak in four different churches. It was very encouraging to meet with so many of God's people!
A safe journey for me (to New England) and Sarah and our children (to Wisconsin). It was hard to be separated as a family during those 10 days, and it is great to be back together now!
The increased financial support that has come as a result of the trip to New England.
Please pray for.
State Leadership Conference is this week, with state directors from all across the United States here at the CEF International Headquarters. Please pray that the state leaders will be encouraged and equipped as a result of the conference.
I am leading a general session this afternoon (Tuesday) and a workshop tomorrow (Wednesday) at the conference. Please pray that God will speak through me and that the sessions will be beneficial for the state leaders.
The Ministry Briefing that CEF is hosting October 30th November 2nd in Williamsburg, VA. I am part of the support staff for the event. Please pray for God's choice of people to attend. Pray that they will understand the importance of reaching children around the world with the Gospel. Pray that God will provide for the financial needs of CEF through this event. Pray for me and Sarah and our children as it will be difficult to be separated again as a family.
The remainder of this month is a very busy time for our family. Pray that our focus will be on the Lord and that we will have wisdom in prioritizing our time.
The many families and individuals in New England that I presented our ministry and financial needs to on my trip. Please pray that God will guide them as they decide how they will partner with us. Please also pray that God will guide us in two additional support-raising presentations scheduled for this week.
Thank you so much for your partnership with us!
Tom and Sarah Levanos
Hudson, Louisa and Amelia
Missionaries with Child Evangelism Fellowship
Preparing Missionaries to Reach Children Worldwide
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