FFor most Protestant Christians in the American context, Matthew 28:18-20 is the prime directive on evangelism: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Here the risen Lord directs His Church to advance into the world under His authority to advance God’s Kingdom. It is universal and comprehensive in scope. They are not told to go and do evangelism – they are told to “go and make disciples” – to reproduce in others what has been embedded in them by Christ himself – a pattern that will continue for generations to come (2 Tim. 2:2). This word of Jesus focuses on the core practices of making disciples – proclaiming the Kingdom of God, baptizing people into the fullness of God, teaching them to become observant of Jesus’ ways and words – all with the promise of Jesus’ powerful presence without end.

While evangelism is implied in the process of disciple-making, the most comprehensive part is discipleship, and not the other way around. Discipleship is the only context in which any and all evangelism can be faithful or fruitful. So much thinking and planning about evangelism has been event oriented or confrontation based; but discipleship must be relationally oriented and developmentally based. It’s not just something we do as a program; it’s what we do as a way of life! The theological vision and mission of discipleship embraces the fullness of the Trinity and the fullness of creation. To do less is to suffer a fatal reductionism, and to capitulate to the formation of religious consumers.

As a conference of churches and mission agencies, and as part of the larger movement of the ECC, we aspire to be a robust disciple-making community, winning people to Jesus by exhibiting the transforming ways and words of Jesus. The way we have shaped our lives as congregations needs to always be held up against the ways of our Master – He is the rock on which we stand – or the rock against which we will be dashed. The way of the cross and resurrection of Jesus are central to the very identity of God – and the identity of Jesus’ followers. If the Master says that going forth and making disciples is core to our mission, then only those found doing this work can claim to be His true disciples. The rest are just playing church! We are to begin with the end in mind and end with the beginning in mind: Disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

What’s your congregation's strategy for the making of disciples who make disciples? How is that strategy working? How can it be shared and sharpened by interacting with others? We’d like to stimulate discussion about this – join our Facebook page and connect into the conversation: www.facebook.com/eastcoastconf.

Our fall Pastor’s Ashram will welcome Alan and Debra Hirsch, who come to resource us on the theological, practical, and pastoral dimensions of disciple-making in our American context. Their co-authored volume, Untamed, and Alan’s new volume, Disciplism, are stimulating resources I recommend for your reading.

A TRIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE EAST COAST CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH

HOWARD K. BURGOYNE SUPERINTENDENT, EAST COAST CONFERENCE

SUMMER 2014

www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter www.eastcoastconf.org

EAST COAST CONFERENCE 52 Missionary Road Cromwell, CT 06416 860.635.2891 www.eastcoastconf.orgwww.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter

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On the move,

EAST COAST COVENANTERthe

have a question for howard?Email him at howard@eastcoastconf.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

Vision Casting of DiscipleSHIP 1

2014 Annual Meeting Recap 2

Discipleship Project 4

Vitality Report from the Field 5

News from the Conference 6 Youth Pastors' Network Pilgrim Pines Aug/Sept Schedule

Seafarers Summer Update 7

Stockmeyer-Carlson Partnership 8

Pastoral Transitions 8

“I believe that the key to the health, the maintenance, the extension and the renewal of the Church is NOT more evangelism, but more discipleship.” – Alan Hirsch, Disciplism

VISION CASTINg ofD I S C I P L E S H I P

The theme “All Aboard the DISCIPLEship” was the theme of the 124th conference Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference in Manchester, Connecticut May 3rd, 2014. Hosted by Trinity Covenant Church, both the Ministerium & delegates convened in Manchester over a three day period.

Theme & FocusThe theme “All Aboard the DISCIPLEship” was the theme of the 124th conference Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference in Manchester, Connecticut May 3rd, 2014. Hosted by Trinity Covenant Church, both the Ministerium & delegates convened in Manchester over a three day period.

Embracing this focus together can bear witness in the world and equip your people to be salt and light and love in their communities, delegates & guests heard from Don Scheiwer and Eli Hernandez on Friday evening’s celebration service. The two newer church plants in the conference, both pastors shared how discipleship has impacted their ministries, and individually in their call to pastoral ministry in the past.

Superintendent Annual ReportIn his 8th annual report, Superintendent Howard Burgoyne celebrated the growth of the conference. Churches Giving budget of $617,000 for 2015 is double what it was in 2005 - 20% planted into new congregations. Updates from last year’s revisioning of our ‘2020 vision’ are reportedly half way there, an example being that between 2006 and 2020, there will be 50 new congregations added to the conference (to see our current ‘2020 Vision’ goals - see side panel).

Church Planting UpdateJason Condon, Director of Church Planting, reported the addition of 3 new church plants in 2013 (Church of the Resurrection (New York City [Harlem/Manhattan], NY), Charm City Covenant Church (Baltimore, MD), and Dust Covenant Church (Blacksburg, VA) - while more additional church plants will be added thus far in 2013. He encouraged churches in the parenting of other churches, Hope Church NYC planting Roosevelt Island and Manhattan campus in 2014.

Vitality UpdateKreig Gammelgard, Director of Congregational Vitality, shared work in the Conference forming ‘Vitality Cohorts’ amongst conference churches ranging from Boston, the Chesapeake Bay Area, and the Central Connecticut region at the business meeting Saturday. Encouraged, he reported a large momentum shift - that churches are now calling him at the conference office to engage in the Vitality process. Kreig also encouraged pastors and congregations to move from congregational drifts and to say yes to the spirit of God wherever it may lead.

ElectionsElections to Conference leadership held a significant place on the agenda, as Howard Burgoyne was recommended for renomination by the Conference Board - being successfully reelected by a vote of 84 yes!

Financial ReportIn the 2013 Financial Report, it was reported that the Conference income and trends has remained strong year over year. Church giving in 2013 exceeded budget by 2.6% ($14,071). Superintendent Burgoyne noted in his report that this was impacted by an experimental initiative underway with new churches that structure their 15% combined giving to the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Conference from a historic 10/5% support to a restructured 8/4/3% model. The Conference receives 7% and holds 3% of the funds towards the church’s own church planting efforts, normally within the first six years. The 3% funds are 2:1 from the ECC and the Conference will represent a “3rd stream” of support in future church planting. In doing this, the Conference is remodeling our operational support under a 4% level of church support on a permanent basis. To compare evenly from 2009-2013 at the unrestricted support level our 2013 support from churches would have posted at $520,183.

New Church MembershipsDelegates also welcomed the membership of Metro Hope Church (Harlem, New York - pastor Jose Humphreys), and remembered the ministry The Evangelical Covenant Church of Montclair, NJ - which concluded their ministry in June 2013 and voted to become a legacy church. We are grateful for the faith & faithfulness of both Metro and ECC as we acknowledge these milestones in the story of the Conference.

MOVE AwardsFour MOVE Awards were presented during the meeting, given to individuals, churches, and organizations displaying ‘Courageous Leadership & Compassionate Service.’

- Building Healthy Families, Inc., (Manchester, CT) is a Manchester, CT 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to the purpose of promoted healthy development of infants and toddlers. An all volunteer Christian organization, they seek to follow the teaching of Jesus to love our neighbors as ourselves by equipping parents and other caregivers to provide the nurture children need for healthy development. Envisioned on July 30, 2009 - the first meeting eventually became the BrightStart Workshop. After partnership with the town’s Office of Neighborhoods & Families, they received a matching Church Planting Ministries Seed Grant of $10,000 through the East Coast Conference in 2010. Today, BHF has worked with 70 families and 220 children in their workshops. Looking to the future they continue to see growing opportunities in their community to support parents & advocate for their children’s health & development. By building a bridge to serve young families, BHF exemplifies compassionate service and courage leadership that is the heritage and hallmark of Covenanters seeking God’s glory and neighbors good.

2 Read the Annual Report online: www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter/docs/ecc_2014_annual_report_pdf

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- Ädelbrook (formerly The Children’s Home of Cromwell) began in 1900 forming from several congregations of the Eastern Missionary Association (now the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church) who began to organize a ministry to care for orphaned Swedish children among their immigrant people. That initiative created the Swedish Christian Orphanage in Cromwell, CT, later renamed The Children’s Home of Cromwell. CHOH adapted and changed over decades from an orphanage into a residential adolescent treatment center and school. In 2008, a new direction was discerned as changes in philosophy, funding, and government policies made the existing program difficult to sustain. By 2012, the new direction was agreed upon and a renaming was made official. “Ädel” means noble or precious, while “brook” represents the peaceful, but ever-changing momentum of life. By fall 2013 they added a new school, Ädelbrook - The Learning Center - Manchester, which is developing as a speical education school for children with autism ages 3-11, whild Ädelbrook - The Learning Center - Cromwell, provides special education for 10-18 year old students from the residential program as well as day students. We recognice and celebrate the deep compassion & courage of Ädelbrook - her dedicated staff, management and board of directors. We honor them for reimaginging their core values for a new day, courageously embracing change, and fiathfully transitioning to embrace new services that help people find hope and healing in a community deeply inspired to act by thte teachings and spirit of Jesus Christ.

- Dr. Eric Gunnoe & Ms. Mary Stockmeyer, members of Christchurch in Portland, Maine were awarded the third MOVE award. The East Coast Conference Board is greatly encouraged by the selfless and generous determination of Dr. Gunnoe and Mary Stockmeyer for their contributions and support of the Medical Ambassadors Initiative of the Paul Carlson Partnership of The Evangelical Covenant Church. Their witness of faith, service in love, and their compassion for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo is exemplary and worthy of recognition. You can learn more on page 8 about the Paul Carlson Partnership and the NeoNatalie unit sent to Congo.

- Dr. Klyne Snodgrass is our final recipient of a 2014 MOVE Award, being recognized for a lifetime of service as a Professor and Confessor of the Christian faith. This being upon the 40th anniversary year of his commitment to this work within the context of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Raised in Tennessee among Southern Baptists, Klyne received the BA in Biblical Education from Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina. He went on to receive his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois and his PhD in New Testiment from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Klyne began his teaching career as an Instructor in New Testament at Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky and then came to North Park Theological Seminary in 1974 where he has taught, led and served for the last forty years, becoming a full Professor of Biblical Literature in 1984 and later assuming the Paul W. Brandel endowed Chair as Professor of New Testament Studies in 1989, which he continues to occupy. We honor Klyn not only as a Professor, but as a scholar, author and editor - most recently publishing two volumes on the parables of Jesus, The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (1983, 2011) and Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus (2008). Klyne is currently working on a book project focused on Christian identity, along with various articles on preaching, parables, and Mark 4:1-20. Klyne has been married to Phyllis (Parks) since 1966. They have two grown children, Nathan and Valerie. [ cont'd on page 4 ]

Other Highlights from the Meeting

3Agenda materials & additional resources available online at: www.eastcoastconf.org/annualmeetingRead the Annual Report online: www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter/docs/ecc_2014_annual_report_pdf

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Congregational Vitality is truly a reality for the fifty or so Sunday congregants who fill the pews of Mission Covenant - a traditional New England white church on Pleasant Street, 75 miles from Boston in the Western Massachusetts town of Orange. For Pastor Jeff Black, the past few months have filled with gratefulness, humility, and excitement.

Mission Covenant started the Vitality pathway earlier in the year, having now completed the first two workshops. Black noted that people really enjoyed Kreig Gamelgaard and resonated with and the manner and message that he shared with them. Hearts were opened up, and people started to come. And, it turns out, in God's perfect timing, not a moment too soon.

The town of Orange is, in the words of Pastor Black, "a place of low employment and great economic struggle." This has impacted all aspects of the town, especially the churches. "Our neighbors - the Lutheran, Methodist, and Unitarian churches - are all contemplating closing,as they all have dwindled to twelve attendees or less," he noted. "It's a sad moment for Orange, as all of these churches have been places of compassion and support."

In Black's estimation, the city would likely be reduced to just three churches in the not too distant future. What this means for Mission Covenant is that "our ministry will have to be stepped up a great deal."Enter the Vitality process. Amidst the excitement and energy with the beginning of the Vitality pathway, and as the reality of church closings necessitated discussions on displaced townspeople and families seeking new church homes, Mission Covenant began discussions about a tiny budgeted goal of fixing up the dreary downstairs space - used for Sunday school and for congregational dinners. Dreams for addressing all the building's myriad problems were just that - dreams. But something remarkable happened when a fund drive began, coinciding with Vitality. "People started getting excited," recalls Black. And as they learned how the denomination was going to help with a loan and the

general willingness to back the church in this revitalization process, the plans became something much greater - wholesale renovations of the kitchen and bathrooms, the program space, bringing the building up to all codes, repairing the roof, and redoing all the building entrances to make the church handicapped accessible on both floors.

Meeting with the church board was a pivotal moment. There, the chair noted to all in attendance that "Now we're going to have to grow - no longer can we be a small family church - rather, we're going to be [one of the] last church[es] standing in our town. Now, we have to be the church for the city." Moreover, according to Black,"People were asking what they could do to help. Town officials asked the church to hold prayer meetings in the park for the whole city to help rebirth a sense of community and of hope in the city. The church is taking this chance to launch a whole new chapter in its life and to take a stand for the Gospel in this city. This was very thrilling. And they wouldn't have done it had it not been for Vitality."

"Now," laughs Black, "the main complaint I hear is: 'we need to learn more about this Vitality process. What's next to learn?'"

MISSION COVENANT CHURCH ( ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS )

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-Finalization Candidates Ten finalization candidates were presented for permanent credentials: Paul Guiliano (Thomasville, PA); Nathan Albert (East Greenwich, RI); Ron Ferguson (Keene, NH); Darron Catron (W. Peabody, MA); Jose Humphreys (New York City, NY); Derrick Jackson (Morganville, NJ); Jeff Olson (East Greenwich, RI); Ric Wild (Riverside, RI) were Ordained to Word & Sacrament; Corenna Hoyt (Manville, RI) was Ordained to Word & Service, and Jim Condap (Swanzey, NH) was Comissioned.

- NESMNew England Seafarers Mission expressed thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Seafarers who appreiate their hospitality, encouragement, advocacy, reconnection and teaching. Assets from a sister organization, the Seafarer’s Women’s Auxiliary (which voted to dissolve corporately and enfold their ongoing ministry under NESM in 2013) will be reported on at the 2015 Annual Meeting, and the ministry reported other gifts and ministry opportunities NESM support in their Financial Report. Stephen Cushing is Executive Director.

- Pilgrim PinesPilgrim Pines Conference Center expressed thanks to those who expressed sympathy after the Boston Marathon bombing where they were were successful in raising funds for Camp Squanto kids. David also reported due to the changing demographics of Pilgrim Pines guests, a consultant has been hired to explore the partnership relationship between camps and churches. In his financial report, it was reported strives that have been made to manage finances in 2013. David Cairns is Executive Director.

- SpeakerKlyne Snodgrass, Paul W. Brandel endowed Chair as Professor of New Testament Studies was the speaker during a Continuing Education day hosted by the Ministerial Association prior to the Ministerium Business Meeting on Thursday & Friday, May 1st & 2nd.

- 2015 Annual MeetingThe 125th Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference is set for April 11th, 2015 in Worcester, MA. Details forthcoming on the Conference website - www.eastcoastconf.org/annualmeeting

Jeff Black has been pastoring for 39 years, the last nine with the ECC. He has led inner city, suburban, urban, and now rural churches, and has planted a church. Before moving to New England in 2010, he and his wife, Barbara, ministered in Chicago, Wichita, Kansas City, and Austin. The Blacks have two grown children and three grandchildren.

5 For a list of ALL Conference churches, visit: http://eastcoastconf.org/churches

In his 2014 Annual Report, Director of Church Planting, Jason Condon, shared that “Driven by a shared conviction that making disciples is the highest call of any Christian, pastor, or church, East Coast Conference church planters and friends spent the 2013/14 regional church planting co-hort season focused on Discipleship.

Discussion, debates, attendance at two discipleship-themed conferences, and peer-led presentation of best-practices all added to the richness of this pursuit.” Efrain Alicea, pastor at Elements Covenant Church (Bronx, NY) and Steven Sharkey, pastor of Highrock Quincy (Quincy, MA) shared with The Covenanter two ways their church has become more intentional about discipleship within their congregations.

discipleship PRoject

Some recent small group gatherings from Elements Covenant Church, Bronx, NY. Highrock Quincy Pastor Ryan Yi, Dale Vasconcellos, and Ronan Storer meet up to challenge each other in their walk.

Highrock Quincy (Quincy, MA)

“Over the past nine months Highrock Quincy has adopted a system of small accountability groups called Life Transformation Groups (LTG's). LTG's are groups of 3 men or 3 women who hold each other accountable and challenge each other in their life following Jesus.

The groups focus on 3 main elements: 1) Large amounts of scripture reading (20-30 chapters/week). 2) Accountability Questions (about thought life, gossip, finances, etc). 3) Prayer for friends and family who don't know Jesus.

The results are powerful. People are engaging the text and reading more scripture then any other point in their lives; hard questions are being asked of their lives; and as they pray for friends and family the LTG members feel more challenged and emboldened talk to them about Jesus. Eventually a forth person may be added to the group, at which point they prepare to find two more people and multiply the LTG into two groups. Since September 15 LTG groups have started at Highrock Quincy.”

Elements Covenant Church (Bronx, NY)

“After moving into a Sunday only space, we realized we needed a way to both connect and retain our Sunday attenders. We found a style of discipleship that works in our urban, transient context. We meet in small groups throughout the Bronx and Westchester. Groups range in size from 5 – 7 people, with at least one facilitator. We meet in homes, coffee shops and restaurants.

The groups meet for one hour a week. In that hour, we read for 20 minutes, journal for 20 minutes and share for 20 minutes (20/20/20). Semesters run from 8 – 12 weeks and at the end of each semester, each group is responsible for creating and running a service project. So far we’ve done a sock drive and several groups have volunteered in AIDS programs. This year we will all be in-volved in Rap Fest. Since we started our I/O Groups, we’ve had a larger retention rate and our members have become much more connected.”

IIn May, a small group of specially called men and women gathered for about 36 hours for the third annual Youth Ministry Network Retreat at Pilgrim Pines. On the agenda: spiritual "check-ins," prayer, relationship building, and of course, the East Side vs. West Side Whiffleball game.

Youth ministry - especially centering around middle school and high school students - counts among the more challenging positions at a church. But for Kevin Kokx, the new Youth Network Facilitator for the East Coast Conference (and the Pastor of Youth & Children at Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, NH), there is vital importance to minister to youths at this juncture. "These years are some of the most difficult years in someone's life, in all aspects of it - spiritual, mental, physical, relational...so how important is it for a church to come alongside young people, show them that they are known, cared for, and belong to the greater church at large?"

However, Kevin is aware of the inherent trials of the job - "It's a different calling - we have abnormal jobs," he notes, "and there's only a few of us that do it." To that end, and having worked with teen ministry for almost 16 years, he knows the importance of encouragement, training, and relationships for leaders and volunteers in the field. It's why he took on the position as Youth Network Facilitator for the Conference, and why he lights up when talking about the benefits of both the annual Pilgrim Pines retreat, as well as the monthly regional gatherings for youth leaders held at various churches.

"Coming together with people who know what each other is going through is key," he says. "It can be lonely - and most don't have many youth pastors around them. So we set up events so that we can do life together, so that we're in community together." The Conference Youth Ministry Network and retreats were the brainchild of Kokx's immediate predecessor, Phil Beatty, who began the annual retreat in 2012. At Pilgrim Pines in those 36

hours, Youth Ministry pastors not only continue to build relationships with one another, but also hear visioning from staff, share resources, and discover what is working in their ministry context. This past retreat featured Tim Ciconni - the new Youth Ministry Director - who shared his heartbeat and passion.

Stories of encouragement abound. Chris Wall, a brand new youth pastor in Attleboro, MA, shared one of such tale from the May retreat:

"I went to the retreat only a few days after moving to New England from Chicago. I was a newbie is just about every sense: I was just starting my first call, my first job in a church, and my first position in youth ministry. I had never lived anywhere by the Chicago area before moving to Massachusetts. I was wide-eyed, and needed a space to relax and be cared for. That’s exactly what I got at the retreat. I listened to the other pastors speak of their joys and struggles in ministry, and found that I was in good company. They had been where I was, and as I spoke of my hopes and fears for this new position, they were encouraging and affirming in very specific, tangible ways. The other pastors freely gave their cell phone numbers and emails and, most importantly for me, ideas on how to proceed in this job. But more than anything, I felt affirmed in my call. The pastors gathered spoke, even after only knowing me for a few hours, and helped me feel more settled in my pastoral identity, even in the midst of all the changes going on in my life."

Indeed, while Chris's journey in youth ministry is just beginning, Kevin spoke of the blessing within the Conference that most of the youth ministers that attended had many, many years of experience (counter to the prevailing trends and stories of high turnover rates in the field). "In this field, you're not just colleagues with one another in the Covenant at large - you become friends."

For over 50 years, Pilgrim Pines has offered one of the most unique programs you will find at any camp. With outstanding activities, high-quality staff, outrageous skits and campfires, and the amazing beauty of New Hampshire, you are set to have the time of your life. Discover real family closeness as you look forward to a whole week of fun and growing closer together. At Mayflower family camp you’ll be encouraged with reminders of God’s love and affection and invigorated with a fresh love for your family. You’ll enjoy quality time together in an inspiring, family-oriented environment. Pilgrim Pines invites you to join them for worship during the summer. A community worship service is held in the Strand Chapel on Sunday mornings at 10:30am.

August 22-24: Father Child Retreat: a great opportunity for Dads, Guardians, Uncles, or Grandfathers to spend some time with a child in grades 2 through 8 at Camp Squanto. The weekend promises a great time of fun and games, worship, food and best of all, some one-on-one time. Some sessions will be held for both dads and kids and others will be for dads or kids separately. There is plenty to do and see during the “off” times as well. Register online at www.pilgrimpines.org/fatherchild.

September 19-21: Women Ministries Retreat: Pilgrim Pines serves as the host for the East Coast Conference Women Ministries Retreat. Registration and information can be found at www.eccwomen.org. Invite everyone you know - your neighbors, daughters, aunts, nieces, sisters, girlfriends! Its bound to be both enlightening & a blast!

September 26-27: Youth Worker Training Retreat: Join fulltime and volunteer youth workers from the East Coast Conference for two days of training. The retreat is structured of large group teaching and individual church reflection. Author, speaker and veteran youth worker, Ginny Olson will be talking about moving from Chaperone to Shepherd - learning to go from being the driver, the fund-raiser and the cook, to pastoring the adolescents God has put in your path. Gather the team of youth workers from you church and register online at www.pilgrimpines.org.

6 REGISTER: 2nd Annual Youth Worker Training Event September 26-28, 2014 @ Pilgrim Pines www.pilgrimpines.org

Kevin Kokx, the Pastor of Youth & Children at Monadnock Covenant Church in Keene, NH and has had the privilege of working with teens for close to 16 years. He joined the team of MCC in September 2011 and has loved working with the Covenant. Kevin enjoys investing into the lives of young people and volunteer youth workers. He recently assumed the role of Youth Network Facilitator for the East Coast Conference and is excited about working with such a great group of youth workers in this conference.

AUG-SEPT SCHEDULE

A NETWORK & RETREAT FOR THOSE WITH

A DIFFERENT CALLINGTHE CONFERENCE'S YOUTH PASTOR NETWORK

TThis past winter and spring has brought a number of significant changes to New England Seafarers Mission in Boston. First, We have done some major changes to our Seafarers Center mail and package room, allowing us to offer better for the crew looking to send or receive packages and correspondence. Second is the LONG awaited arrival of high-speed internet capability for our whole operations. This may not sound like much, but until now we have had to depend on limited internet, both in speed and amount of data used. With our new business class service from Comcast, our administrative needs are more than met. However, more importantly it allows us to open up fully our Seafarers Café. Here the crew can come and sign into our network and take full advantage of communicating back home.

To welcome this service, we now offer a full hospitality suite on Deck 3, including coffee, tea and light snacks. There also happens to be a little known “soccer tournament” going on this summer. Yes, we broadcast the World Cup Games 2014 for the international crew to come and cheer on their national teams. This previously underused room is now busting at the seams with crew where our chaplains can interact with seafarers, talking about their families, their jobs and their challenges. Our NESM Chapel is also on this deck and the crew are able to find a moments peace in prayer or counsel with our chaplains.

Our summer schedule is completely booked up with service teams from around the country – in the past three weeks we have had volunteer missions’ teams from Nevada, West Virginia and Michigan, all courtesy of the Center for Student Missions.

However, when the busy fall cruise season arrives, we have PLENTY of open dates for churches and individuals to volunteer. During the autumn the cruise ship calendar goes from 2 ships per week to 6-8 ships per week. This pushes our resources to their limits. Are you available to come and help, either as an individual, a couple or small group?

HOW CAN I HELP? Simply go to our website – www.neseafarers.org/volunteer - and look for an open Cruise Ministry date on our calendar. Fill out the online form or call our office – 617-443-0282. We’ll be glad to reserve a day for you.

WHAT WILL I DO? We will train you to work at one of our stations – in our store, our money transfer or mail room or in our hospitality suite. Just come with a servants’ heart.

HOW LONG DOES A CRUISE MINISTRY MISSION DAY LAST? We ask volunteers to arrive before 9 and we’ll get you out the door during the mid-afternoon. We have free parking and we are also accessible by Public Transportation. www.neseafarers.org/directions

HOW ELSE CAN I HELP? Can’t make it into Boston. Worry not. We need help with work projects, knitting and sewing for Christmas Gift Ditty Bags, Industrial Ship Visitors and financial contributions please visit our web site for more info about all these opportunities - www.neseafarers.org or visit us on Facebook (New England Seafarers Mission)

If you are interested in learning more about NESM, its Ditty Bag program, or volunteering for a Mission Ministry Day during the Cruise Ship season, please visit www.neseafarers.org.

See what the New England Seafarers Mission is all about: www.neseafarers.org 7

THE WORLD IS COMING TO NESM

by steve cushingdirector of new england seafarers mission

8SUPERINTENDENT:Howard K. Burgoyne

DIR. OF CHURCH PLANTING:Jason Condon

EAST COAST CONFERENCE52 Missionary Road, Cromwell, CT 06416 (860) 635-2691 FAX: (860) 398-5071 www.eastcoastconf.org

OFFICE MANAGER:Alicia Sturdy

FINANCE MANAGER:Robin Jones

DIR. OF CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY:Kreig Gammelgard

Transitions

COMINGS & GOINGS WITHIN THE CONFERENCE eastcoastcovenanter@gmail.com

www.issuu.com/eastcoastcovenanter

Paul W. Kahn EDITOR / GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT / WRITER

Alicia Sturdy EDITOR

Howard Burgoyne PUBLISHER

the EAST COAST COVENANTER

I have found that the Lord calls me to service in simple and quiet ways, like with a phone call. I had recently decided to retire early from teaching and had been praying about how the Lord could use me in this new stage of my life. Then my friend and pediatrician, Eric Gunnoe, called me.

“Hi Mary, I have just contacted the Paul Carlson Partnership and offered to volunteer with them and their work in Congo. They are in need of volunteers and I think there is a place for you too. Pray about it and let me know if you are in.“

“I’m in," I said.

This very short and direct conversation four years ago began my association with the Paul Carlson Partnership (PCP), a 401(c)3 non-profit organization, part of World Missions of the Evangelical Covenant Church. My involvement with the PCP has allowed me to be actively involved in the missional work of our denomination, which has been in the mission field in Congo for 75 years.

Dr. Paul Carlson was a missionary doctor who was killed in 1964 during one of the many conflicts in Congo. Many people died in that revolt, but Dr. Carlson became the international face for those deaths. To honor him, the Paul Carlson Partnership was formed to carry on medical work, specifically in the Ubangi District, the northwest province of the country where Dr. Carlson and the ECC missionaries were based. The Paul Carlson Partnership has continued to partner with Congolese doctors and nurses in the medical system of the Communaute Evangelique d’Ubangi Mongala (CEUM) until and then after the recent Congo Civil Wars, 1996 – 2003.

This past March I found myself coordinating meetings, helping set goals, finding supplies, mailing materials to medical people in California, Minnesota, and Kansas; and helping facilitate travel for a team of six people going to Congo to teach skills. According to the UN, Congo is the poorest country in the world. It is also considered the most difficult place on earth to be a woman or a child. One in five children die before their fifth birthday. The recent trainings of the PCP have been directed toward these issues of child and maternal health, through programs called Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive. These are basic, low tech, hands-on skill trainings. I was able to put my many years of planning and facilitation to use for this trip.

The most compelling aspect of the Paul Carlson Partnership is this opportunity for individuals to serve and use their specific skills and expertise in the mission field, while continuing with their careers. It is an opportunity for doctors and nurses, but also for those of us who feel a calling but have different skillsets. Our approach and structure can be viewed at www.paulcarlson.org/get-involved, along with a downloadable Ambassador's Packet which can be found at www.paulcarlson.org/files/2013/12/AmbassadorsPacket.pdf.

We are set to accommodate a large volunteer force of dedicated people. While most volunteers will not go to Congo, there is much that needs to be done here to facilitate this work. We need doctors and nurses, pharmacists, administrators, French interpreters, engineers, IT people, those with clerical skills, those who can make phone calls, and those who do research. We need many to help and serve.

The Paul Carlson Partnership is also offering the opportunity for whole churches as well as individuals to become actively involved in this work through the Congo Clinic Initiative (www.paulcarlson.org/congo-clinic-initiative). In this initiative, the 108 clinics of the CEUM medical system will be paired with 108 American organizations or churches in order to help the clinics become more sustainable by providing electricity, clean water, pharmaceuticals and other needed infrastructure upgrades.

My small church, Christchurch Evangelical Covenant Church in Portland, ME, did a similar thing when we adopted the Helping Mothers Survive project in the fall of 2012. That project was and still is an opportunity for the full church to become involved in helping make arrangements, gather supplies, and pack - as well as financially support the project. This approach, a hands-on involvement of individuals and churches, has made a big difference for us at Christchurch in our prayers and in our sense of ownership in the ongoing work in Congo.

The unique approach of the Paul Carlson Partnership to include both individuals and churches in the practical work of the organization is both fulfilling and inspiring. I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve our Lord and our brothers and sisters in this way, using skills I have mastered over the years of my career. Will you consider joining us in this work as well? Will you consider asking your church to join us in this work?

Learn more at: www.paulcarlson.org

CHRISTOPHER WALL to Attleboro, MA (Staff)

PAT o'DONEL from Cambridge, MA (Staff) to North Park Seminary studies

PHIL HAKANSON from Manchester, CT (Pastor) to York, PA (Interim Pastor)

Roberto reed from Keene, NH (Pastor)

Stefan fritz from Camp Squanto (Director)

THE PAUL CARLSON PARTNERSHIP YOUTH

TESTIMONY BY MARY STOCKMEYER