Preparation Is Key

The U.S. National Weather Service warns of a very active hurricane season, which begins June 1. Also, recent headlines about the record number of deadly tornadoes in America's heartland confirm hurricanes are not the only threat to Alliance churches and ministries. As this picture of the lone surviving house for the fires last August on Maui demonstrates, prevention is key. The owners replaced the roof with nonflammable material and cleared brush away from the house.
While we cannot prevent a tornado, hurricane, or flood, we can limit its impact, ensure a quicker recovery, and identify opportunities for ministry to victims and first responders.

One of my responsibilities as the U.S. Disaster Relief Coordinator for Church Ministries is helping Alliance districts and churches prepare for potential natural or man-made disasters (i.e., active shooters) as well as the coordination of relief from the greater Alliance family through Church Ministries and the district office.

I encourage district leaders and pastors to review the attached proposal form districts requesting supplemental financial help and requests for volunteers to help with recovery efforts. I am always available to answer questions and share insights gained from my U.S. Army disaster response missions.

It is an honor to serve those who are bringing all of Jesus, who even the wind and waves obey, to all the world in the midst of every season. -

Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) Doug Prentice, U.S. Army, retired U.S. Disaster Relief Coordinator for Church Ministries prenticed@cmalliance.org

Rev. Douglas Prentice was born in Akron, Ohio, and in October 2022, he became the U.S. Disaster Relief Coordinator for Church Ministries after retiring with 29 years of active-duty military service as an Alliance U.S. Army chaplain. His service with The Alliance includes over 35 years of licensed ministry that began in the New England district. Rev. Prentice is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv) in South Hamilton, Massachusetts and of Nyack College (BA) in Nyack, New York. He lives in San Antonio, Texas. He is the proud father of four children and grandparent to two beautiful grandchildren.

A Heart for the Deaf – Video Stories and Essentials Videos

Recently, our Deaf Pastor Jerry asked me, “If there was a Deaf person and a blind person, who would you go to talk to first?” I struggled to answer. Then he said, “You will always go to the blind person because you can communicate with them.” My heart dropped as I knew he was right, and it again reminded me of the significant challenge that the Deaf face. On top of this, the Deaf are one of the least reached people groups (2%) around the globe and yet are our neighbors who are so often times not seen.

The above is a bit of the genesis of these videos. They seek to tell from a Deaf perspective what hearing people need to know in order to first overcome the fear of approaching the Deaf person and then to be able to build a relationship with the Deaf.

There are two sets of videos. The first set is in story form (3-4½ minutes long) designed to help you to become aware to see Deaf reality, to fully understand what it is like for people to be Deaf, and to learn how hearing people and hearing churches can make a positive impact on this community.

The second set of videos, called “Essentials”, is shorter (1-1½ minutes). These are designed to be used with hearing people (staff, teams) and in church worship gatherings, to strengthen awareness and build bridges to strong relationships with the Deaf.

Short Stories: Heart Language – Deaf & Hearing
1) Neither Deaf, Nor Hearing
2) The Workers Are Few
3) From Barriers to Bridges
4) Start with Hello
5) Pouring In
6) ASL – A Language of its Own

Essentials Videos
1) Neither Deaf, Nor Hearing: From the heart of a Deaf Pastor, it answers the question, “Why is it important for the hearing to connect with the Deaf?”
2) The Workers are Few: Love and relationships from the hearing to the Deaf matters.
3) From Barriers to Bridges: Overcome your fear. You can connect with the Deaf.
4) Start with Hello: How do you approach and communicate with a Deaf person?
5) Getting Their Attention: Making a connection with the Deaf.
6) Start a Conversation: Overcome your fear, lean in, and try. That speaks volumes!
7) A Language All Its Own: ASL is not English. It helps when you know that.

A big “Thank You” LB Whaples from Shine His Light Photos for using your talents to tell the stories! It is appreciated that this is not just a project to you but a way to serve the King and advance His Kingdom.

A Video Series of the Western Great Lake District of the C&MA.

Pictures from Collin Reid's Ordination Service

Baptism Stories from New Hope Christian Fellowship

On the Sunday of July 2, we celebrated the decisions of four people who have been saying “Yes” to Jesus and all He is and is for them more over the past year.  Their journeys led them into the water of a backyard pool where we gathered and baptized them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Their stories are unique, and yet each one testifies beautifully of their being patiently and tenderly drawn to all Jesus is and is for them.

Kristy

 The first is Kristy, a woman who battled addiction for over 20 years. She has been joining us online each week for our Sunday worship gatherings. She does not turn on her screen so we can see her face, and mutes her sound, but her name has been there each week for over a year.

A few months ago, when I asked people to share scriptures of promise and worship, a voice broke through and we heard:  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? As it is written:       “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A few months later, after sharing needs with one another, I asked people to pray. After a couple had prayed, a voice came through with steady resolve asking the Lord Jesus to heal this person’s broken life. Our eyes filled with tears as she prayed.

About that time Kristy began to join her dad and five other men who gather with me each week for a Bible study at the local Cracker Barrel. Because of the repercussions of her addiction on her body, she could only sit with us for 10 minutes at time before she had to get up and go outside. After a few minutes she returned to the table and followed with us as we studied Colossians and the supremacy of Jesus at all times and in all things.

It became obvious to everyone that the Holy Spirit was bringing new birth to Kristy. When I asked her to share her story with me, she shared one of the most powerful and precise testimonies I had ever heard. “Peter, I have received God’s forgiveness.  And because of that I have learned to forgive myself. Because of that I can trust Him, and I am learning to trust others. Because I can trust, I have peace.”    When I asked if she would like to be baptized, without a moment’s hesitation she said, “Yes!”   On Sunday Kristy shared her story, and then her dad, Sandy, baptized her in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

---

Sandy

Sandy is Kristy’s father. Raised in a home with a father who showed little love, but demanded much in return, Sandy struggled for most of his life to break free from the anger, disappointment, blame, and excuses, of trying to be anyone but his father. He married, had a daughter, and tried to build a safe and loving home. However, as the realities of everyday life increased the ways of his father began to shape his attitudes, words, and relationships. Kristy’s addiction and his wife’s stroke divided the family emotionally and they each lived in and from their own rooms.

The longing in Sandy’s heart was for love, trust, and peace. After joining our church and hearing the message of the supremacy of Jesus Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King, for 20 years, it was when we made the move to live incarnational lives on mission that the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus began to heal and make Sandy’s heart new. He began to pray for people in the store, the parking lot, on the phone. While serving food, he began to come out from behind the serving table, to touch and pray for the hungry and homeless. Softly, patiently, tenderly the Holy Spirit drew him to the heart of Jesus.

After his wife passed away, both he and Kristy, discovered the friendship of the Lord Jesus. Sandy would share with me of the ways he was learning to linger on John 15, the Vine, and the Branches, abiding with Jesus. He shared with us on Sunday, that Jesus was His King and Friend. With tears he said, “He loves me and oh, how I love Him.”

So, after baptizing his daughter, with Kristy standing next to him, I baptized Sandy in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

---

Brian has been sharing dinner at the Gathering @ Magic Hollow for 2 years. The youngest of three children, he was raised in San Diego. Brian’s siblings were 10 years older, and either ignored him, or tried to pull him into the destructive lives they were living. As he grew, he discovered a love for dance and martial arts and became an instructor.

Brian

He opened a business, set up his own apartment, and enjoyed doing something meaningful with his life. But soon waves of disappointment, pain, and deep grief would come rushing in. His best friend, a strong man, a Marine who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq, took his own life, leaving behind a wife and four children. Called to the scene Brian was devastated. Their friendship had been the source of His strength and joy, while his own family continued to minimize him and reject him.

Alone, with his heart utterly crushed, Brian cried out to God, “If you are really there, please help me.”

Soon after, his father, who had moved to New York City, became ill and had no one to help him. Brian left San Diego to care for him. He put his belongings in storage for safe keeping. While away, his siblings stole them all and sold them for drugs. Brian was left with nothing.

After his father passed, he made his way to Virginia Beach and moved into Magic Hollow. While trying sort out his life and find a way back to California he was walking through the neighborhood one day when he saw a banner outside the Roma Lodge. “Free Dinner For You.”  And then the second one, “Every Wednesday at 6pm.”  In his heart he was drawn to the idea of a free dinner, so he came back that evening and began to experience the ministry of the Holy Spirit drawing him to Jesus.

At first, because of his concerns about the Covid virus he would not eat at the table, but instead would sit, with a double mask on and then take food home with him. Each night I shared a story from the life of Jesus with everyone, and then asked, “What would happen if you began to believe it?”   As the weeks went on Brian continued to join us, but he would arrive in time to hear the message. A few months later, for the first time, he took a plate of food to the table with him, took his mask off and ate together with those he had befriended.

After the message one Wednesday Brian came up to me and asked if we could get together and talk. A couple of days later I took him to lunch, and while eating hamburgers together, he said, “I want to be baptized and I need a Bible.”  Of course, I had been getting to know Brian over the months, I had taken him to Starbucks for coffee, learned of his past, but he had never spoken this way before. So, I asked him simply, “Why do you want to be baptized?”

He looked at me and his eyes filled with tears, and the story of his friend’s suicide, and the cry of his heart to God to help him poured out. He told me that at the Gathering, he was hearing the truth, and he believed it. And he wanted to say “Yes” to Jesus through his life and baptism. We bought him a Bible. Since then, the Holy Spirit has been orienting Brian’s soul in all Jesus is and is for him. He is reading his Bible and shares the things God is revealing to him about all Jesus is and is for him with me. The fresh insight is full of life!

On Sunday he told everyone, “God answered the cry of my heart with the message on a sign while I was walking, “Free Dinner for you.”  At the Gathering I heard the truth, and I am saying “yes” to Jesus, and I will follow Him for the rest of my life.”

A few moments later, I baptized my friend in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

- Peter Daley
Pastor, New Hope Christian Fellowship.

EquippingU Dynamic Influence

EquippingU Dynamic Influence began in 2022 and is a two-year training track for pastors and leaders of Alliance churches with attendance of 200 people or fewer. Participants will meet online for four two-hour sessions each year. The trainings will cover timely topics, including how small churches can grow during a pandemic. Our goal is to help pastors in small churches find resources, lead well, and help their churches thrive.

The second webinar for 2023 begins May 10, 2023, at 12 p.m. EST. Please register now and don’t miss this wonderful opportunity. We are glad to have you as part of this learning experience.

In this webinar, Karl Vaters, the small church guru, will present on "Finding and Mentoring Volunteers in Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) Small Church." After his presentation, there will be a Q&A session for the participants to interact with the presenter.

Everything is up in the air right now. Much like the world before the Reformation, people are questioning their entire worldviews, including politics, sexuality, philosophy, and religion, and it’s all being driven by the most powerful technology ever.

While it’s easy to see the challenges and feel hopeless, there are many reasons for great hopefulness. In this session, Karl Vaters will walk us through some of the principles that have helped the church he serves become younger, more worshipful, and more outward-reaching. He’ll share how any church can learn to speak to today’s generation in a way that invites them to commit to Jesus and His Church

Saving Together

Retirement savings can seem like a far-off concept, especially when you're focused on day-to-day challenges. However, it's essential to start thinking about your financial future sooner rather than later. The earlier you start saving for retirement, the more time your money has to grow. Here are some tips to help you on your journey:

1. Save as early as possible. The earlier you start saving, the more time your money has to grow. Even small contributions can make a big difference over time.

2. Take advantage of employer-sponsored plans. Many employers offer retirement plans, such as the Alliance 403(b) Retirement Plan, which allows you to save pre-tax dollars and potentially receive employer contributions.

3. Consider diversifying your investments. Investing in a variety of assets can help spread your risk and increase your returns. Alliance Benefit’s plan consultants at EverOak Wealth Co. understand the options our plan offers and will assist participants in developing a program that meets these objectives. This service is provided to participants at no additional cost.

4. Monitor your progress regularly. Reviewing your retirement savings progress can help you stay on track and make any necessary adjustments.

Finally, we want to stress the importance of reviewing and adjusting your retirement savings plan as your life circumstances change. At Alliance Benefits, we understand the challenges churches and ministries face in preparing for retirement. Our team is here to help you navigate these changes and ensure your retirement savings plan remains on track. We are committed to providing the best retirement plan options and resources to help you achieve your retirement goals.

Alliance Benefits offers a range of financial wellness resources, educational blog articles, and personalized consultations. These resources can help you improve your financial literacy and make informed decisions about your retirement savings.

Retirement savings should be a top priority for everyone. By starting early and taking advantage of retirement plans, you can secure your financial future and enjoy a comfortable retirement. Contact Alliance Benefits today to learn more about how we can assist you on your journey toward retirement!

God at Work - First Alliance Church, Silver Spring MD

Doors are Opening

We believe that God is always at work, but when He does things quietly behind the scenes we don’t always notice. Then again, sometimes it is hard not to see what he has been working on all along.

In January of 2020, we invited Pastor Allen Grimes to join the staff as Executive pastor. With this decision came a merger of two churches, First Alliance Church, and Harvest Time Community Church. Building bridges across racial lines was certainly on our minds, but we had no idea then just what it could lead to. God, however, knows the end from the beginning and was already at work.

Just the year before, God led our church to start a food distribution for the community. Initially, we were hard pressed to have enough volunteers, but along the way God sent more and more people to help us. At first, it included people in the neighborhood that found out about it and wanted to participate. Then it included volunteers from some of the other churches that meet in our building. Along the way, a home school group saw this as a great opportunity for their students to serve. And then, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., a group where Pastor Grimes is a member, inquired about helping. Though not explicitly a Christian group, several of the founders were Ministers of the Gospel and their motto is: Culture for Service and Service for Humanity.

Fast forward to the Spring of 2022. The leaders of the fraternity asked us if we would consider co-hosting a memorial service for the late Congressman, John Lewis. Regardless of one’s political views, Congressman Lewis is viewed as a Civil Rights Icon, along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others. He was honored by our national leaders soon after his death, but because of COVID, he was not able to be memorialized by his own local fraternity chapter, of which he was an active member. So, being asked to co-host this service was a great honor, but the question begged another question.

With all the churches in the community and with some much larger or more “prestigious” than First Alliance Church, why us? The answer showed us that God has been at work in us and through us. The fraternity leaders said, “There is something about this place.” They went on to talk about our commitment to serve and our desire to break down walls between people. It seemed to them that our church would be a fitting place to hold a memorial for one of their dearest members.

So, the service took place on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Hundreds of people attended, including dignitaries from across the nation. Pastor Grimes and I welcomed the gathering in the name of the Lord. Pastor Grimes also gave the keynote speech, and though the program was not a church service, Jesus was in the room, and he was glorified. 

What else happened at this event? People told us that they could see how First Alliance was “connecting the dots” through partnership and community. More people expressed a desire to volunteer, and more doors are in the process of being opened. God has been working and we are now getting to see some of the things that he has in mind!

God at Work - First Alliance Church, Silver Spring MD

I have heard about churches that have so many volunteers there is a waiting line to serve, but I never dreamed that I would ever see it in our church. And yet, this is where we are today.

It all started several years ago when we were given the opportunity to partner with a Christian organization that carefully and tactfully forms a bridge between government social services and the local church. The immediate result was that we were given the opportunity to distribute food to people in need and to use the occasion to reach out with the gospel.

A lot of volunteers were needed as we had to empty a 16’ truckload of fruit and vegetables, sort it and then place an assortment into grocery bags for people to receive. At first, having enough help to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time was difficult. Announcements would be made, emails sent out and a variety of other appeals given, but we always seemed to be short of our goals. The strain on some of our lay leaders was great.

Then COVID came and we adopted a drive-through approach that needed even more volunteers. The trend of work to workers was going in the wrong direction. But then God turned things around. A few people that couldn’t physically do the work offered to hold a prayer meeting at the same time. Then people from outside the church asked if they could “get in” on this community service program. Most of our volunteers are Christians, but some are not, giving us the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them in the process. Even some of the people that receive the food now come out and help us prepare it for others.

Our church is not big enough to do what we have been doing, but God provided both the vision and the volunteers. What started out as something we did five times a year, now takes place twice a month, once as a drive-thru and once as an indoor pantry. Since 2019 we have given food to over 1,000 families and had, in total, 350 volunteers to get the work done. Each event involved between 50 to 100 volunteers serving up to 200 families at a time. Why the great fluctuation in volunteers? Because sometimes, we couldn’t control the number of people that wanted to help.

Providing food for people on a regular basis is meeting a huge felt need. It was true during COVID, but it is also true during these days of inflation and high prices at the grocery store. As we see people again and again, we are getting to know them by name. A few families have come to a church service. Several others have sent their teens to our youth rallies, and dozens have expressed interest in our English classes.

The harvest is plentiful, and the Lord of the harvest is sending us workers for the harvest field! Please join us in praying for the fruit that God wants to produce.

Dr. Stephen Notley at The Museum of the Bible

Dr. Notley’s recent discovery in Israel of the Basilica ruins, built over the home of Peter, Andrew and Philip, has been published around the world. The unearthing of this archeological jewel realigns our understanding and perceptions of the gospel narratives. The event is January 26th, 6 – 8 p.m. For more information and registration, go to:

https://www.museumofthebible.org/events/byzantine-bethsaida-and-the-house-of-st-peter

Ross Halbersma is coordinating a private reception/meeting time with Stephen Notley. Please notify Ross at rosshalbersma@gmail.com if you will be attending so that you can be included! Please share the above link with your congregants who express interest in Israel! Dr. R. Steven Notley is a distinguished professor of New Testament and Christian origins at the New York City campus of Alliance University and director of the graduate programs in ancient Judaism and Christian origins. He received his PhD from the Hebrew University, where he studied with David Flusser. Dr. Notley lived for 16 years in Jerusalem with his wife and four children, during which time he was the founding chair of the New Testament Studies program at the Jerusalem University College.

Also presenting will be His colleague, Professor Dr. Mordechai Aviam. Dr. Aviam is professor of archaeology in the Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee in the Land of Israel Studies Department, as well as the founder and director of the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology. He specialized in classical archaeology and has focused his research on Galilee since 1977. From 1990 to 2001, he was the district archaeologist of Western Galilee for the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Please join us for this exciting event!

Dream Incentive Grant

Dear Pastor,

Greetings from the National Office! THANKS so much for your faithful ministry! In Church Ministries, we highly value what takes place in the local church and seek to provide support and assistance to the local church in every possible way. One of those ways is the annual Dream Incentive Grant. This grant is provided through a generous donation that comes outside of our Great Commission Fund budget. In the last six years, 103 churches have received grants totaling $1,274,340. The spiritual impact has been immeasurable.

We are inviting your church to apply for one of these 2022 grants. We want you, your leadership team, and your congregation to dream. What is your dream for your church’s impact for Jesus Christ on your community? Is there something you’d love to do that you believe might well result in people coming to know Jesus, but you simply don’t have the resources? Perhaps this is a one-time outreach project or perhaps it is an ongoing ministry. It could be something you’ve already started that needs a boost or something you’d like to start.

Grants are available to churches of 300 average weekend worship attendance and under. You can apply for a grant of up to $30,000 or any amount less than that. This year, we again will be using an online application. Here’s the link to the application:

https://cmalliance.wufoo.com/forms/2022-dream-incentive-grant-application/

Applications that are filled out and submitted online will then go to your district superintendent for review and approval. Once your DS fills out his part online, it is automatically sent to our office for review. All applications and DS approvals are due by September 15, 2022. A team at the National Office will consider each grant prayerfully. Grants will be awarded by December 15, 2022. We can’t wait to hear the dreams that the Lord is stirring in your hearts.

Keep the faith!

Terry D. Smith

Vice President|Church Ministries

 TDS/kev

2022 Culture & Legal Update

Gary Friesen, Vice President/General Counsel

The U.S. culture is increasingly opposed to longstanding Christian values and practices. Over the last 2–3 years, the contrast between our Alliance churches and institutions, and the expectations of those to whom we engage, has become significant.

How do we faithfully and wisely live out the gospel in a post-Christian progressive revisionist culture?

What does the law actually require?

What additional changes can we anticipate in the next few years?

Along with President John Stumbo and General Counsel Gary Friesen, you will hear from C&MA Outside Legal Counsel Stuart Lark and renowned Christian psychologist Mark Yarhouse. Dr. Yarhouse’s books include Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today's Youth and Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Transgender Issues in a Changing Culture. This event will present up-to-date legal, political, and cultural data in a way that is immediately applicable for you, your leaders, and your legal counsel. We have gathered the very best thinkers and communicators who will speak to these vital issues from an Alliance perspective.

WHERE: Sonesta Columbus Downtown, 33 E. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, OH

WHEN: September 22–23 Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m.–noon

COST: Registration is only $129 before July 31, 2022—after that, it’s $149. Lodging at Sonesta Columbus Downtown is $179 per night and includes a hot breakfast buffet. Lunch will be provided on Thursday. Variable parking rates are available depending on location. Please register no later than August 19. For more information, contact Gary Friesen at friesenng@cmalliance.org or Sue Close at closes@cmalliance.org.

On-Call Support to District Family

By David Martin

District family,

All of us can say that these last few years have been stressful in many, many ways. Over time that takes its toll on us as caregivers. Self-care for many is considered to be selfish with but nothing could be farther from the truth. I have spent the last decade of my 40+ years of ministry as a hospital chaplain. I retired right before Covid hit but because I had training in “critical incident stress management”,  I was asked to come back and help the staff manage some of the stress that they were dealing with. Many felt isolated, disconnected and many others were feeling hopeless. When we fail to address these things over time we can become forgetful, have trouble sleeping, become more susceptible to illness that feeling of things being out of control and even experience a crisis of faith.

Within our district family there a number of us who are licensed clinical chaplains and we want to be available to our district family of workers to help you in anyway processing some of the stress and difficulties that have weighed on you over these past few years. Chaplains are uniquely trained to listen, to support and hear the things that you are dealing with without judgment. We are also aware that some of your spouses may have also carried this along with you and they too they need a place to process.

Therefore, we want to make ourselves available to our district family To provide you with a listening ear and a helping hand. If you would like to access our chaplains, please email me and we will get you set up with someone as soon as possible. Our DS initiated  this in reaching out to us and is very supportive of this effort to come alongside our brethren. Your conversations with your Chaplains are confidential.

My email is: davidevansmartin@gmail.com, you may reach me by text or phone at 757-676-4989.

LIFE International School Spain Recruitment

Please see information below.

ACLD - Alliance Center for Leadership & Development News

Next School of Ministry Accelerated Cohort (SOMAC)

The School of Ministry consists of 15 courses. Each course covers a specific topic directly related to ministry leadership for the local church.

SpSOMAC_15_SU22 (Spanish) - June 20, 2022 SOMAC_16_SU22 - June 20, 2022

Practical Ministry Certificates

The following courses are specifically designed programs of study that provide targeted training for local church leadership:

• Leading the Church—Elder and Governing Board Training Course This course is designed to assist new and current leaders in an Alliance church setting to become grounded in local church leadership. Students will learn about biblical and pastoral leadership, Alliance church governance, and the theological foundations of the local church. They will also be introduced to the key beliefs and positions of The Christian and Missionary Alliance and learn how the local church relates to the broader denominational family.

• Protect the Church—Serving Safe with Minors Training Course This course trains those who plan to work with children ages 18 and under to engage with minors safely. This training includes certification through Plan to Protect (0–18 and Vulnerable Populations Orientation), which may help satisfy local insurance requirements for your local church.

These programs are self-directed and may be started at any point: PMC Registration Link.

Have questions about our programs? Give us a call at 1-877-584-3562 or email questions@allianceleaders.org.

Your GC Day Offering can be doubled on May 24th!

Some generous Alliance family members have offered to match all gifts made to the 2022 Great Commission Day Offering on May 24—National GC Day! So far they have pledged $200,000 in matching funds—and that number is expected to increase in the weeks ahead! This means your church can double its impact in sending and sustaining gospel presence to least-reached people throughout the world by giving to the Great Commission Day Offering on National GC Day. Just go here on May 24 to make your gift! For more information, please contact us at give@cmalliance.org or by phone at 800-485-8979.

AWF Women Ministries Has Launched!

All women are invited to participate in a new global Alliance ministry for women! The Alliance World Fellowship is pleased to announce this new network. We desire to see Alliance women actively involved and empowered as servant leaders in their local churches and communities around the world through the ministries of leadership, prayer and missions, and career professionals. In addition, we desire to connect Alliance pastors’ wives from around the world for mutual encouragement. Join the AWF Women Ministries Facebook Group to learn about upcoming Zoom events and to connect with Alliance women from around the world. All Zoom events begin at 9 a.m. ET and are 90 minutes in length. A leadership event was held in April. A career professionals event is scheduled for June.

EquppingU Dynamic Influence

EquippingU Dynamic Influence is a two-year training track for pastors and leaders of Alliance churches with attendance of 200 people or fewer. Participants will meet online for four two-hour sessions each year. The trainings will cover timely topics including how small churches can grow during a pandemic. Our goal is to help pastors in small churches find resources, lead, well, and help their churches thrive.

The second webinar of this program starts on May 18, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Please register now so that you don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!

Register Here

Alliance Kids!

Alliance Kids: Discovery Land Curriculum

On March 1 Alliance Kid’s debuted Alliance Kids Discovery Land Curriculum for children (infants–sixth grade)! Alliance Kids is partnering with Discovery Land to add weekly Alliance Missions content to the rich biblical component of Discovery Land curriculum, so that Alliance kids across the country can learn the DNA of the C&MA, hear about Alliance projects and international workers around the world, and experience how they, too, fit in Great Commission living! We really do believe in All of Jesus for All the World, and that includes children!

For more information visit https://cmalliancekids.com/curriculum-information/ or contact us at alliancekids@cmalliance.org

Children’s Ministry Leadership Certificate (CMLC)

The Children’s Ministry Leadership Certificate (CMLC) is a six (6)-credit program designed to equip men and women to confidently lead a children’s ministry program in a local church. This program uniquely focuses on how ministry directed toward children in the local church can be theologically formed, safe, and practically carried out. This is a great course for children’s pastors, children’s ministry directors, or those who have a passion to work with kids at the local church level.

If you are interested in being participating in the next cohort, please apply through the CMLC Program Application form. For more information about the application process or the content of this certificate, contact the ACLD office at (877) 584-3562 or email questions@allianceleaders.org.

Alliance Missions: New Staff Members

Article By: Tim Crouch, Vice President for Alliance Missions

We have a number of new hires and changes in our Alliance Missions (AM) leadership:

Assistant VP for Alliance Missions – Mrs. Bao Her

Bao will be replacing Jim Malone as he retires. Bao and her husband, Jing Su, have served in the Hmong District, and served 18 years among several Hmong (Miao) tribes in southeast Asia. Bao has operated a manufacturing and export business that has employed over 200 women in need in villages in their area. This couple has carried out evangelism and discipleship, planted, churches, translated Scripture, and ministered to spiritual, health, and economic development needs. Her strong background in business and finance, coupled with her years of serving with aXcess through a Business as Mission strategy, positions her to serve in AM administration well.

Co-directors for CAMA – Ron and Lisa Ramsey

Ron and Lisa have served with CAMA since 2007. They have been team leaders in Kosovo and they have more recently served as regional developers for CAMA in the Europe and Middle East and North and Central Asia regions. Their work has not only been in coaching and overseeing CAMA staff but has involved various relief response efforts—most recently with AM colleagues on the Poland-Ukraine border to map out facilitation of CAMA’s response to refugees and displaced peoples during the current war.

aXcess Regional Leadership Couple for Middle East and Central Asia Region – Matt and Rachel

Matt and Rachel have served in the Middle East as clergy track IWs since 2007, most recently in their city as team leaders, and then in the EME region as teams developers. They bring a strong understanding of how teams in cross-cultural contexts can thrive and succeed.

Envision – Jen Schepens will transition from her role as director for Envision during 2022.

During these past two years of transitioning the National Office to Ohio, Jen has assembled a very strong Envision leadership team and office staff. We are thankful that Jen has been guiding Envision toward consistent delivery of people development in all its programs and site locations. Pray for the timing of transitions and the search for our next Envision director.

The Alliance National Office Now Receiving Mail & Visitors in Ohio!

With the recent relocation of the Alliance National Office from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, please note the following addresses and their specific applications. The National Office is currently located in a temporary office building that overlooks the site where the permanent building will be constructed. Once built, the permanent building will house not only the National Office staff but also a multi-use facility and retail space for the city of Reynoldsburg and the greater Columbus community.

To send regular mail (including donations) or packages, use:

The Alliance

One Alliance Place

Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

Phone: (380) 208-6200

*This will also be the address of the permanent National Office multi-use site, once constructed.

For in-person visits to the current temporary National Office, use:

The Alliance

6421 East Main Street

Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

Phone: (380) 208-6200

For direct correspondence with Orchard Alliance, please use:

Orchard Alliance

8595 Explorer Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Phone: (833) 672-4255

The Christian and Missionary Alliance remains a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity registered in the state of Colorado, EIN# 13-1623940.

While we are requesting that all mail be forwarded to the One Alliance Place address in Reynoldsburg, mail sent to the 8595 Explorer Drive address in Colorado Springs will continue to be received and processed through September 2022. This information can also be found at www.cmalliance.org/address.