GMAE eNews February 25
MN Evangelicals eNews
We are excited to announce the next Evangelical Leaders Forum on April 9 with Erwin McManus, and an update GMAE website.
This eNews includes several other announcements, including Patrick Johnstone of Operation World meeting with mission leaders on March 18, a look at making the case for Truth and the uniqueness of Jesus and other issues to be addressed at Cape Town 2010, and finally a post I wrote questioning whether its possible to pray with followers of other religions by focusing on Jesus.
My greatest hope is in Jesus, and here at GMAE we want to connect followers of His together to share ideas, vision and energy to help expand the Kingdom of God on earth and in heaven.
Thank you for being part of this movement!
Carl Nelson
President, GMAE – the Minnesota Association of Evangelicals
Evangelical Leaders Forum with Erwin McManus on April 9: GMAE and Bethel University are joining together to host Erwin McManus at the Evangelical Leaders Forum. He will share vision and leadership insights about forming disciples of Jesus who are passionate about God’s redemptive mission to humanity, who create and shape culture and help people know God and live life as He intended.
Join Us. Friday, April 9, 12:00 – 2:30 at the Ramada Plaza Minneapolis. Registration Required (Free for staff of Member Churches).
Erwin McManus is the lead pastor of Mosaic – a Los Angeles church known for its diversity and creative witness of Jesus Christ – and his is gifted as an author, speaker, activist, filmmaker and innovator. On Thursday, April 8 Erwin is also leading a preaching seminar at Bethel University.
Can one focus on Jesus and pray with followers of other religions? by Carl Nelson.
I was pleasantly surprised – and then a bit troubled – by the focus on Jesus by followers of different religions as leaders gathered to pray at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. I was privileged to attend with several others from the Twin Cities, and the experience led to some long conversations about the risks – and opportunities – of focusing too exclusively on Jesus. You say, What? The risk of focusing too much on Jesus? Yes, read more to see what I mean.
How do we make the case for Truth and uniqueness of Jesus? In October 4,000 Christian leaders from around the world will gather to deal with with six critical issues that threaten the health and vitality of the Church and impair our witness to the gospel of Jesus. One of these important issues is Truth, and as Os Guiness reports, it’s a bigger issue for American evangelicals than for others around the world. Read more about Cape Town 2010.
Patrick Johnstone, who developed “Operation World” will meet mission leaders March 18: Johnstone developed the book “Operation World” to inform Christians about every country in the world in order to encourage the church to pray for the world and to engage the world in Christian mission. He will share his perspective on global Christianity and missions & evangelism movements at TCAMP’s monthly leadership meeting March 18, 12:30 – 2:00. The public is invited. Click here to learn details and location.
ECFA changes make financial resources more accessible to churches: The ECFA is the nation’s leading resource for financial and governance practices for churches and faith-based organizations. With recent changes to membership requirements it is now easier for many smaller churches and ministries to become members, get access to ECFA’s huge reservoir of technical support for financial management, and receive their “seal of approval.”
GMAE encourages churches to join ECFA for another reason. The ECFA is constantly in consultation with the IRS, Senate Finance Committee and other government regulators advocating for the concerns of religious organizations, and the ECFA is highly respected by these government officials. As proof, when two national ministries that were being investigated by the Senate Finance Committee joined the ECFA by meeting their standards for governance and financial disclosures, the Senate Finance Committee dropped their investigation.
After 18 months in prison Allen starts new life at Damascus Way: If you looked at Allen Rasmussen* he would probably remind you of yourself. His childhood appeared to be normal; he grew up going to Sunday School, church and Awana, yet how did this young man end up dealing and hooked on drugs and spending 18 months in prison?
Fortunately he has a second chance at life, and at Damascus Way he breaking those childhood patterns that led to his drug use and criminal activity. (Read more) Damascus Way Reentry Center is an Affiliate Ministry supported and led by GMAE.
