Mindful


The Distance Factor by Paul Boeker, Editor How do you maintain long-distance relationships? Just a week aſter our wedding, I was assigned to Panama. For five long weeks, we maintained our relationship by letters — long, daily letters between Panama and Nebraska. Our 43 churches are scattered throughout four provinces,


eight states and one department of Paraguay. Four of our North American churches are over 350 miles (565 km) from their near- est sister church, and most are at least 50 miles (80 km) from their nearest sister church. How can such scattered congregations have fellowship? Fortu-


nately, clusters of churches exist in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nebraska. Nebraska pastors gather each month for a lunch and fellowship. Manitoba and Saskatchewan pastors meet occasional- ly for retreats and other events. Saskatchewan youth gather for a Freezin’ winter retreat. But many churches remain isolated. Work-teams such as the one to Paraguay (see pages 8–9), bring


people from various churches together. Even this magazine is an effort to unify our churches and encourage a sense of family. But the main unifying event for our churches has always been


the annual convention. In the past, each church gave this a high priority. It was a time to meet old friends and make new friends; to find out how our churches were faring; to discuss theological issues facing our churches; to get updates about church plants and missions efforts; to resolve to believe or practice certain concepts. Convention was the great communication venue for our Fellowship. Delegates and guests returned to their churches and reported on what they had heard and experienced. As our Fellowship meets in Omaha, come if you can. If you can’t


come, get a report from your delegates. And watch for more infor- mation from the convention in the next issue of the Fellowship Focus. We have relationships — albeit long-distance — to maintain!


Departments:


2 President’s Challenge Make Disciples, Not Decisions


4 Fellowship Views 5 6


Focus on the Word


Youth on the Grow The Caring Factor in Disciple-making


7 Women’s Ministries 10 Intentional Churches Nurturing Bible Readers


11 Church News 14 The Record 15 Flourishing Families Marriage: A Team of Two


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS (ISSN: 1537-4203, USPS# 223-620) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, 11605 W Dodge RD STE 3, Omaha NE 68154-2566 Periodicals Postage paid at Omaha, Nebraska and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA Te FELLOWSHIP FOCUS is published bi-monthly by the Fel- lowship of Evangelical Bible Churches, 11605 W Dodge RD STE 3, Omaha NE 68154-2566 Phone: 402-965-3860 Email: fellowshipfocus@febcministries.org Web: fellowshipforward.org FAX: 402-965-3871 Editorial Staff: Paul Boeker, Editor; Adrianna Donaldson, Art Director


16 Catch the Vision Features:


6 Dorothy Peters Honored 8 Omaha Team Assists Paraguayan Missionaries Children and youth in state custody find hope through the ministry of FEBC missionaries René and Anja Gaona.


Fellowship Focus, July/August 2016 3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16