SEC News - The Southeast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church

Southeast Conference Update

Pastor and Spouse Retreat

By editor - 10/27/2009 Dear Brothers and Sisters, I wanted to share with you a few of the highlights of the 2009 Pastors and Spouses retreat. We spent three days in the gorgeous hills near Asheboro NC. While the trees were beautiful in their color, the weather wasn’t always so beautiful – two days of rain. Nonetheless we were able to get out and hike around the lake and take in some of the beauty. Dan Prietrzyk led us in times of reflection around the theme of navigating the rapids of ministry. Our interactions better equipped us to understand the cycles which many pastors pass through in their years of ministry. We shared in communion, very creative worship, lots of conversation around meals and some of the most gut-busting hilarious skits you can imagine. I pray that if you were not able to join us that you might find some equally refreshing times of rest this fall. On a different topic, we have been asked to remind our churches that November is sweeps month. Please enter your attendance records into the database online. You should have received notification in the mail regarding the online procedures. Blessings to each of you, Tim Rodgers Ministerium Vice Secretary

Ron Baskin

By editor - 8/24/2009 I’m sendingthis message to inform you of the passing of Ron Baskin on August 15, 2009. Hewas living in Olanta, South Carolina when he passed surrounded by hiswife, family and friends. Ron was a member of PalmettoCovenant Church(the church has been renamed and is now known as Kingdom Covenant Ministries) inMiami, Florida.Ron, a lay minister of the Southeast Conference, had also served on theSoutheast Conference Executive Board. Ron was a retired schoolteacher where heserved for 38 years with the Miami-Dade County School System. Please join me in keeping his family in prayerduring this time. You can send your personal condolences to the family at 1004 Central Road; Olanta, SC 29114. Ron will trulybe missed. Dr. Robert Owens Superintendent,Southeast Conference

Memorial Service for Ed Johnson

By editor - 7/23/2009 We’re writing to inform you thatPastor Ed Johnson died peacefully Mondayafternoon, July 20, after a week in the hospital. Thememorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 25, at Covenant VillageOf Florida's in Plantation, Florida. PastorJohnson served in ministry over 50 years in churches in California,Florida and Illinois. He also has served as Chairman ofthe SEC Executive Board for six years where he did an exquisite job ofproviding direction and missional focus. Pleaseremember his wife, Irene, in prayer during this difficult time of transition.We thank God for sharing a portion of the life of Pastor Ed Johnson with us inthe Southeast Conference and for all of his faithful service to his Lord, ourSavior, Jesus Christ. Click here for more information.

SEC Family Addition

By editor - 7/1/2009 Tarpon Community Church, Tarpon Springs, Florida. Pastor Peyton Johnson—approximate attendance 400. The Presbytery of Tampa Bay planted the church in 1994. In, 2000, the first permanent building was completed on a 36 acres campus. In 2005, the congregation moved into a new Worship Center. In the past several years, Tarpon Community Church has been through a difficult journey of discerning God’s direction regarding denominational affiliation. After much prayer they decided to leave the PCUSA. The church decided to join the ECC after researching the denomination and meeting with its leaders. The Southeast Conference Family Welcomes Tarpon Community Church!

Triennial XIII Registration

By editor - 6/11/2009

SEC Haiti Update

By editor - 1/17/2010 Jovins Reported Safe in Port-au-Prince CHICAGO, IL (January 15, 2010) - Martinez Jovin, who helped develop Evangelical Covenant Church Haitian ministries in Florida and hosted numerous mission groups to Haiti, survived the earthquake in Haiti along with his wife, Emma, Covenant News Service has confirmed. Kurt Miericke, former superintendent of the Southeast Conference, says he received information Thursday night from the couple’s son who is in Canada. The son had heard from his father. The Jovins live in Port-au-Prince - their house was one of the few buildings left standing, says Miericke. The home was able to withstand the earthquake because the couple had the home built stronger than most of the houses in the area, using reinforcement in the walls. Jovin has started schools that have educated thousands of children in Haiti and has led the development of churches, as well as medical clinics. “He’s a man of great integrity with a real passion for God,” says Miericke. He was described in a 2001 Covenant News Service article as “a man who lives ministry - he doesn't talk ministry, he lives it. And he does a lot with a little.” Jovin became acquainted with the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1986 when he visited Bethany Covenant Church in North Miami. Pastor Walter Anderson and the Anglo congregation welcomed Jovin, allowing him to use church facilities for a Haitian church plant. Jovin has helped facilitate many Covenant mission trips to the area. Then-teenager Courtney Cornelious wrote in 2005 that a trip hosted by the Jovins changed her life. Copyright © 2010 The Evangelical Covenant Church.

Prayer Request

By editor - 1/14/2010 We just learned that Minister June Wojcik, credential SEC minister and member of Audubon Covenant church has been diagnosis with uterine cancer, she is undergoing treatment and possible will have surgery next Thursday. I am asking that you keep June in your prayers as she battles this cancerous condition. Additionally, pray for Steve, her husband as he goes through this challenging time with her. Thank You Dr. Owens, Southeast Conference Superintendent

Mens Retreat

By editor - 12/15/2009 December 15,2009 Dear Pastors, This year theSoutheast Conference Men’s Retreat will be the weekend of March 5th – March 7th 2010. The topic for this year’sMen’s Retreat is as follows: We will explore our partnership with BethelCovenant Churchin Bethel Alaska.The Alaska Regional Director, Rodney Sawyer, will be our main speaker. The brochure forthe retreat is attached with this letter. The brochure will also be availableon the conference website at by clicking here. Please make copies of the brochure todistribute to your congregation. The deadline to receive the registration formis February 12th . Please notethat the cost of the retreat will go up to $180 for all registrations receivedafter the February 12th. For planningpurposes I will be calling each church to obtain an estimate of the number ofmen who will attend the retreat. You can expect this call the week of February1st. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me (SteveHill). I will be the point of contact for the retreat. Please PaySpecial Attention to the Following Dates: 1. Week ofFebruary 1st - have estimate ready for number of men attending from your church 2. February 12th - deadline for early bird registration cost - $165 per person 3. February 13th - March 5th- Cost of retreat goes up to $180 per person 4. March 5th -7th - Men's Retreat Grace and Peace, Steve Hill, SECMen’s Retreat Coordinator 2010 Email: tallguyinatl@bellsouth.net Cell:971-241-1327

Midwinter Conference Scholarships

By editor - 12/9/2009 Limited scholarships are available for credentialed Covenant pastors in active service and for retired Covenant pastors who are not currently serving in a paid ministry position. To apply, please click here to download the appropriate form below and follow the instructions on the form. Please direct your questions to the Department of Ordered Ministry, 773-583-3211.

SEC Fall Pastors Retreat

By editor - 8/25/2009 Click here for the SEC 2009 Fall Pastors and Spouse Retreat registration package.

CHIC

By editor - 7/1/2009

Prayer Request

By editor - 6/19/2009 Many of you know Elroy Cherry who is Chairman of the board and Deacon at Kingdom Covenant Ministries in Miami. Elroy has had a stroke. Please be in prayer for a full recovery as well as his family and doctors as they discern how to proceed from here. Elroy has attended quite a few Men's Retreats and is an active member in Ed Carey's church. Thank you

Easter Sunday in Deland

By editor - 4/18/2009 Covenant Community, Deland - Easter 2009

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