Initiative 1 Connect
You’ve heard it said, “There are so many good causes out there.”
We have many opportunities to serve Christ in the M-3 sphere. Our people want to be connected with something bigger than themselves. CONNECTING is our district wide initiative designed at connecting local churches with C&MA causes in the non-North American world. “Global Connecting” for pastors takes qualified pastors of our churches to a chosen country of the world where they will learn up front and close how to connect their congregation with Alliance work. The Primary purpose of the visit is to establish friendship connections with pastors and/or international workers in the country. Second, we provide a “step back” experience where Metro pastors can reflect on their ministries through the mirror of this cross-cultural experience. As a result, the participants discover a comfort zone of personal ministry in which they establish a long term mutually growing relationship with people of another land. They establish partnering relationship with the C&MA team and find ways to promote the financial support for the workers in the foreign country.
Listen to what some pastors have said after Global Connecting trips:
“ … an intense learning experience. Understanding both the culture and history of the country has influenced the way I present missions in the church that I serve. (Ed Shook, formerly at Bedminster, NJ)
“The books I read on missions … couldn’t adequately deliver what time spent with the field directors and missionaries could… My intention is to get my church to care about the “people” serving in these fields. …” (Rev. Mark Nalepa, Washington Alliance, NJ)
“My heart was changed . . .” (John Crosby, Jamaica-Queens)
“Now I understand the heart of the C&MA . . .” (Don Yee, Flushing NY)
If you have not participated in a Global Connecting Trip, please contact Paul Keidel (pkeidel@metrocma.org)
With one picture of the globe put the goal reached: state “Our goal is 90 pastors trained by 2018 …
PROGRESS 2010
26 TRAINED