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Medical Mission Saves Mother
and Baby
|
Dr. Mark Eilers and wife
Joan with little Emily Joan and her relieved
mother. |
QUITO, Ecuador. A one week
medical mission led by the Fairhaven Church was
providentially at work this past January when an
Ecuadorian woman experienced complications while
giving birth in her home. A messenger ran to the
John 3:16 Church where the medical team had set up
their clinic. Emergency room physician Dr. Mark
Eilers ran to the home and found the newborn girl
unresponsive and the mother bleeding heavily and in
pain. As Mark attended to his patients, his wife
Joan arrived and began praying. Emily Hiatt – a
nurse on the team – arrived soon after to assist. By
God’s grace and Mark’s quick action, both baby and
mother were saved. The mother was so grateful she
named the baby Emily Joan after the two ladies that
helped. In addition to the mother and baby, the
medical team treated more than 1,300 patients during
their visit. Evangelistic teams from the República
and El Batán churches in Quito shared the gospel
with the visitors to the clinic. Some 270 people
made decisions for Christ. As a result, many more
lives were rescued from an eternity apart from God.
CMI Joins Hope Center
Project
|
Artist's rendering of the
Hope Center now under construction in
Dallas, TX. |
DALLAS, Texas. This fall
Church Ministries International will join more than
two dozen other Christian ministries in relocating
its offices to a visionary new ministry facility
called the Hope Center.
The 9-acre Hope Center campus is
located in Plano, Texas just one block north of one
of Dallas-Fort Worth’s newest highways. Construction
of the 185,000 sq. foot facility is underway and is
scheduled for completion in September. In addition
to providing offices for a diverse group of
Christian ministries, the Hope Center will include a
worship/conference center, conference rooms, a
full-scale catering kitchen, café, bookstore,
counseling center and prayer garden.
The Hope Center is the culmination
of a dream by author, singer and Christian counselor
June Hunt to co-locate like-minded Christian
ministries as they work together to fulfill the
message of Christ. The goal is to create a setting
that promotes synergy, financial stewardship and
worldwide expansion among Christian nonprofit
organizations.
For further information about the
Hope Center Project and to see photos and video of
the Hope Center construction, check out the Hope
Center website at:
www.thehopecenterfoundation.org.
Ohio Legislator Leads
Dialogue on Faith and Politics
QUITO, Ecuador. In November
2008, the Fairhaven Church of Dayton, Ohio partnered
with CMI to sponsor a series of seminars in the
Encounter churches in Quito led by John White, a
member of Fairhaven and state legislator in Ohio.
Over the course of several days, Representative
White shared his thoughts and experiences serving
the Lord in the political arena.
The visit began with a breakfast
meeting of pastors from the Encounter churches. This
opened the door for a dialogue in which insights
from the local pastors helped John gain a better
understanding of the political climate and the
social needs in Ecuador. He also met with local
politicians who shared common concerns.
As John shared presentations at
various churches, he would open his time by saying,
“I am a Christian politician.” Almost always his
audience jokingly informed him that the statement
was an oxymoron. However, through his clear
testimony and obvious concern for the social needs
of the people in his home district, John outlined
how he has helped make a difference by being a
politician that holds firm to his Christian
principles.
The many thoughtful questions from
the audience at the end of each presentation
revealed their great interest. During these extended
question and answer periods, John challenged church
members that their government would not change
unless some Christians were involved on the “inside”
to show politicians what real change looks like.
Afterward, several church members expressed their
desire to be involved in some way in the civic arena
in their country.
Through his sincerity, his desire to
learn about other cultures, and his wealth of
experience in local issues, he made a strong and
positive impact on the leaders and members of the
Encounter with God churches in Quito.
Quito Church Staff Train
with Coalition Churches
|
Ecuadorian children's
directors Ines Muthre, Charito Oleas, and
Maria Eugenia Camach with Fairhaven Senior
Pastor David Smith and CMI's Ricardo Diaz. |
OHIO, USA. In February,
children’s directors from two Encounter churches in
Quito, Ecuador traveled to Hudson and Dayton, Ohio
for two weeks of observation, training and
networking with the children’s staffs from CMI
partner churches Hudson Chapel and Fairhaven Church.
The event sprang from prior conversations with the
senior pastors of the Quito churches. When asked how
the CMI partners could best help their churches,
there was an immediate request for help in
strengthening their children’s ministries. “It was a
beautiful experience for us,” says Cumbayá
Children’s Director Maria Eugenia Camacho. “The
people were so kind and caring and received us with
such love.” “There are many things that we learned
that will be useful to us,” adds República
Children’s Director Ines Muthre. “They have such a
clear vision and the children know God, are growing
in God and are serving God.”
CMI’s Ricardo Diaz Earns
Doctorate
|
Ricardo Diaz with wife
Gloria Stella and children Tatiana and
Samuel. |
CHICAGO, Illinois. On May 16,
CMI Latin America Regional Director Ricardo Diaz
received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School. Diaz’s doctoral project
entitled, Pastoral Ministry Experience with Pastors
in the Encounter with God Movement, focused on the
personal and family pressures facing Encounter
pastors and the practical approaches that can help
pastors face these challenges. The commencement
ceremony in Chicago culminated a special week for
the Diaz family as Ricardo’s son, Samuel, received
his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College the
weekend prior.
Coalition Youth Teams
Heading to Ecuador
QUITO, Ecuador. This summer
two youth mission teams from Fairhaven Church and
Hudson Chapel will travel to Quito to minister side
by side with youth from the República and Cumbayá
churches. The teams will help in the construction of
three different churches in lower income areas, as
well as lead Vacation Bible Schools for children. A
combined 65 youth and adult leaders are signed up to
participate in the two trips.
CMI Names New Associate
Executive Director
|
Craig Murray |
DALLAS, Texas. CMI is pleased
to announce that Craig Murray has been appointed as
CMI’s Associate Executive Director. Craig has served
for more than 12 years as CMI’s Director of
Communications and more recently served as the point
person for CMI’s participation in the formation of
the Church Coalition with the Fairhaven and Hudson
Chapel churches of Ohio. As Associate Executive
Director, Craig will be serving in a broader
management role and helping frame CMI’s long-term
strategic plans. He will continue to direct CMI’s
communications while CMI conducts a search to fill
that position.
EQ Spring 2009
Issue Main Page
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