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August 21, 2017 by Chris Backert

From the National Director: Timelines

This summer Rachel and I have been gearing up for something we both thought we would never do – homeschooling!  For a variety of reasons we have discerned this is the best path for our family in the near-term.  As we have tried to dig ourselves into the world of curriculum for elementary school age children, we have found out just how much education has changed since we were little!  One of our favorite resources that we stumbled upon as we’ve tried to put together a stellar plan is the “timeline” song used by some who take the classical approach to education.  If you have never heard it before, you should look it up on Youtube.  It is sung to a relatively catchy tune for elementary age children and will refresh your memory on everything you were once taught in history classes that you have long forgotten.  The song lasts almost 13 minutes and ends with a reminder to the children that they are now part of the time-line of history and indeed can make some history of their own!

Ecclesia is coming up on 10 years since we “officially” started this Fall.  Our time-line began with a collection of 4 churches scattered across the country who envisioned a family on mission with one another.  The task of cultivating faithful expressions of the gospel in community seems more daunting now than when we first began a short decade ago.  The cultural landscape in the US has changed a great deal during that time, presenting great challenges to the people of Jesus who wish to provide a faithful and compelling witness.  Yet, with those great challenges are also great opportunities.

As I’ve thought about Ecclesia’s timeline and the timeline of many of the churches within our network, I know that many of you have experienced a season of challenge in the last year.  Some of you hoped that the challenges of 2016 would not carry into a new year.  For some that has turned about to the case, for others you find yourself still amidst of hardship.  In many ways, what the churches of Ecclesia experience in their life is what “we” as a network experience.  If it’s a tough year financially for you, it becomes a tough year financially for us.  If you are navigating thorny issues and conflict, we are navigating thorny issues and conflict, because we are committed to walk together.  Simultaneously, when new people enter the kingdom of God, or a family or neighborhood begins to be transformed, we all celebrate that with one another.

As I look over our collective timelines and with the jingle of the “timeline” song in my head, it’s a relief to remember that history is full of ups and downs, of seasons of fruitfulness and seasons of pruning.  The fruitfulness comes in cycles, as does the pruning.  Some years back Mike Breen spoke at our Ecclesia National Gathering and he reminded us that in seasons of pruning, our primary task is to abide (John 15).  We draw close to Jesus during those moments, we place ourselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically at rest and under his care.  We connect ourselves more to the source of life and in so doing, we will be renewed when the season of fruitfulness comes again.  Just as we are intended to abide and Christ during those moments, I hope that we can also abide/remain/be connected to one another.  For those who are in a different season, we celebrate with you and share in the joyful progress of the ministry Christ has given to your hands and heart.  It’s a tangible reminder that these seasons come and go.    In truth, it’s rare that fruitfulness and pruning are that distinct from one another.  The reality is that often they are both happening simultaneously, but our experience is identified by one more than the other.

Recently I was visiting a network church and talking with one of our pastors who was sharing with me how they occasionally lament that they don’t have a building as it often feels like a barrier to growth in their community.  He then went on to tell me how his wife recently corrected him about his lamentations as they have 80-100 people within their congregation who really “get it” and are genuinely pursuing Jesus and His mission.  As he sat with those words he told me that he came to see what a beautiful thing he has caring for in those 80-100 people.  I couldn’t agree more.

Whether you have 500-1000 in your congregation (as some churches in Ecclesia do) or 30-40 (as others do), helping the people of Jesus loves to grow up into the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ is an awesome and history making task within itself, particularly as you help them come to understand their role in the great time-line of God’s kingdom action here on earth.  Each week you preach or pray or create or counsel is a critical task.  And, in spite of the odds, we can take great joy in knowing that those who have gone before and those who will come after have felt this same way.  So, let’s take joy in hardship and celebration and let’s do it together!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

February 11, 2017 by Bob Hyatt

Event w/ Darrell Guder POSTPONED

Pastors and Kingdom Leaders, 

We were scheduled to meet Tuesday in Plymouth Meeting, PA for an event featuring Dr. Darrell Guder. Unfortunately, Dr. Guder recently informed us that a medical emergency has occurred in his family and he will be unable to join us for the event. 

Therefore, we are postponing Tuesday’s event. We will find another date that suits Dr. Guder’s schedule in the near future and let you all know when the reschedule date is for this event. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

August 4, 2016 by Bob Hyatt

Some Updates from the Network

Ecclesia News

Keas Keasler Accepts New Role with Friends University & Apprentice InstituteSarah and Keas Keasler are moving to Wichita! After five and a half years of serving at Ecclesia’s Rhythm Church in Miami, Keas has accepted a professor position at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.

Starting in August he’ll be the Assistant Professor of Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University, a Christian liberal arts college, teaching undergraduate students as well as working with James Bryan Smith to build a Master’s program for higher-level thinking in the field of Christian discipleship and formation. Sarah will be pursuing her master’s degree in business administration (MBA), something she has been wanting to do for some time now.

Keas says: “This move is bittersweet for both me and Sarah. We couldn’t be more excited about stepping into what God has for us in this next season of life and joining the team at Friends University. But we feel a great deal of sadness that we’ll no longer be a part of Rhythm and our community in Miami. I don’t have words to express what a joy and privilege it has been to lead a community like Rhythm and do ministry with my best friends. “Love God Love Miami” will be something we hold onto forever!”
Mark Moore to Serve as Next Lead Pastor of River Valley Church!
After a lengthy search process, River Valley Church in Mishawaka IN has selected Mark Moore as their next Lead Pastor. He is set to begin July 31st. Previously, Mark serves as Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission. Prior to that he served a short season on the staff of Ecclesia as Director of Coaching and Missional Formation.

“It was just a few days after I learned that River Valley’s former Lead Pastor, Rick Callahan would be concluding his time at River Valley that I called Mark to mention that a position might be opening”, relates Chris Backert, Eccelsia’s National Director. “From walking along with several of River Valley’s leaders the last several years, I had a sense of the kind of person the church may need during this next season. Of course, I’m delighted that as they worked through their own process and time-line that out of dozens and dozens of candidates, they also believe Mark would be the kind of leader to shepherd River Valley in this next era.”

We’re pleased to welcome two new members to our Ecclesia Board…

Ecclesia is excited to announce the addition of two seasoned leaders to our governing board. Mia Chang, Lead Pastor of Next Gen Church outside Princeton, NJ and Jon Seltenheim, Senior Vice-President of Business & Government Strategy for United Concordia will each bring a critical set of skills and perspectives to the leadership of Ecclesia.

Next Gen churched was formed from a gathering of friends longing to see a new expression of the gospel that was explicitly multi-cultural formed several years ago. Under Mia’s leadership, Next Gen has proven to be a mission-shaped and spirit-empowered congregation that is reaching across a wide range of ethnic and economic situations in central New Jersey.

Jon comes to Ecclesia as a result of his friendship and support of both Ecclesia leaders and Ecclesia congregations. He has more than 30 years experience in leadership in the insurance industry. He has been recognized as an outstanding leader in his field and as a dedicated contributor to the non-profit sector.

On these new additions, National Director Chris Backert shares, “With Mia and Jon joining our leadership team, we are adding two people of both high competence and high character. Many in our network have learned from Mia in the areas of multi-cultural ministry and life in the Spirit. We are excited to have her shaping our collective efforts in these and many other ways. Jon is also the right addition at the right time for Ecclesia as we seek to solidify the organizational aspects of our ministry. He has a unique blend of organizational and administrative expertise, while being invested in the local church and new congregations in particular.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

June 24, 2015 by Bob Hyatt

Recognizing Newly Ordained & Commissioned Leaders Within the Network

At our annual gathering a few weeks ago we were delighted to celebrate a number of ordinations and commissionings that have taken place throughout the network this past year. Within Ecclesia we like to say that these significant events are best “locally coordinated and conducted – regionally involved and affirmed – and nationally celebrated and recognized”. Here are those we are celebrating this year:

– Amy Hyatt was recognized as a Pastor & Elder at Evergreen Community in Portland, OR.

– Juliet Liu was recognized as a Pastor at Life on the Vine in Arlington Heights, IL.

– Shanna Cummings was commissioned as Pastor of Community Life at Ascension Church in Yardley, PA.

– Robin Kurashewich was commissioned as Director of Youth Ministry at Kairos in Lancaster, CA.

– Jana Perea was commissioned as Director of Children’s Ministry at Kairos in Lancaster, CA.

– Daniel Hale was commissioned as Community Liturgist at Austin Mustard Seed in Austin, TX.

– Chris Morton was commissioned as Community Developer at Austin Mustard Seed in Austin, TX.

– Adam Banks was commissioned as an Associate Pastor at Next Gen Church in Princeton, NJ.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

June 24, 2015 by Bob Hyatt

Recognizing Newly Ordained & Commissioned Leaders Within the Network

At our annual gathering a few weeks ago we were delighted to celebrate a number of ordinations and commissionings that have taken place throughout the network this past year. Within Ecclesia we like to say that these significant events are best “locally coordinated and conducted – regionally involved and affirmed – and nationally celebrated and recognized”. Here are those we are celebrating this year:

– Amy Hyatt was recognized as a Pastor & Elder at Evergreen Community in Portland, OR.

– Juliet Liu was recognized as a Pastor at Life on the Vine in Arlington Heights, IL.

– Shanna Cummings was commissioned as Pastor of Community Life at Ascension Church in Yardley, PA.

– Robin Kurashewich was commissioned as Director of Youth Ministry at Kairos in Lancaster, CA.

– Jana Perea was commissioned as Director of Children’s Ministry at Kairos in Lancaster, CA.

– Daniel Hale was commissioned as Community Liturgist at Austin Mustard Seed in Austin, TX.

– Chris Morton was commissioned as Community Developer at Austin Mustard Seed in Austin, TX.

– Adam Banks was commissioned as an Associate Pastor at Next Gen Church in Princeton, NJ.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

June 23, 2015 by Bob Hyatt

Recipients of the Inaugural Perseverance Award Announced!

On Friday night during our Ecclesia National Gathering  2015 celebration dinner, a new award was announced to honor the faithfulness of those who have persevered in the hard work of church planting. Often we see two realities in the world of missional planting. The first is that a new congregation is planted and given a variety of factors, it is met with steady (if not quick) success. Of course, we rejoice in those circumstances and try to learn from them the best we can. The second is that a new plant is not met with the success that the planter and/or team would have hoped. Within a certain amount of time they usually “feel a call” to move elsewhere.

What is not often celebrated are those who stay the course through the early challenges that can sometimes last several years. For many, these seasons are filled with questions, discouragement, a feeling of two steps forward – two steps back, and financial pressures. Yet, they press through, and often, the Lord meets their faithfulness on the other side of the challenge. This year we inaugurated this award by recognizing 4 of our pastors/planter couples:

1. John & Sherri Chandler of Austin Mustard Seed in Austin, TX.

2. Gary & Susan Alloway of Redemption Church in Bristol, PA.

3. Bryan & Molly Long of Agora Community in Rochester, NY.

4. Ryan & Kim Braught of Veritas Community in Lancaster, PA.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”

– Rev. 2:17

Let’s continue to congratulate and uphold these friends, their communities, and their cities in prayer!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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