Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Stefan Bomberger , pastor of Manoa Community Church to talk about what the Lord is doing at Manoa as they experience a dramatic increase in people coming to faith in Christ and baptisms. Stefan also shares very practical advice he has learned around the ideas of children’s ministry, evangelism and leadership to lead a church to life found in the Gospel.
In this special announcement, Dean Weaver, Stated Clerk of the EPC, introduces Zenaida Bermudez as the new Executive Director of Operations. With extensive experience and a heart for ministry, Zenaida is uniquely equipped to lead and support the mission of the EPC. In this brief interview, Dean shares insights into her background, her passion for the Church, and the vision she brings to the role. We look forward to Zenaida’s impact in serving our churches and furthering the Great Commission.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Rosemary Lukens, the 42nd Moderator of the EPC General Assembly, Bill Rasch, National Director of Transitional Pastor Training, and Bob Stauffer, National Director of Church Health to discuss the pastor shortage crisis of our day and how the EPC has responded.
Image of the devastation in Lebanon, via an EPC World Outreach Global Worker
As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, Beirut and other cities in Lebanon have suffered attacks in recent days and weeks. These attacks have killed more than 3,000 and displaced 1.2 million people across the country and the threat of increased violence and casualties is growing. We mourn with those impacted on all sides by these events and pray for peace. Our workers in the region are safe and are in close communication with the World Outreach risk and crisis management team. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure their ongoing safety.
Amid this devastation, World Outreach continues to partner with the local church to bring aid and support in this dark time. According to one World Outreach worker, “Despite the overwhelming challenges, the [local church] took to the streets, serving, loving, caring, and distributing additional mattresses, food, and water to those in desperate need.”
Thank you for your prayers and financial support as we navigate this difficult time. Your support brings encouragement and hope to those in Lebanon. Gifts to the International Disaster Relief Fund make it possible for us to act during this time. Please continue to pray for light to shine in the darkness.
Dear EPC Family,
In anticipation of Hurricane Milton, the Office of the General Assembly will remain closed through Friday. During this time, our staff will work remotely as circumstances allow.
Given the unpredictability of the storm’s effects, please note that some staff may not be consistently available throughout the week. While we are committed to continuing our service, there may be delays in our responses.
We sincerely appreciate your prayers for the safety of everyone affected and for our team as we navigate these challenges. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
In Christ,
EPC Office of the General Assembly
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes two church planters, Sean Boone and Eric Stiller, who both planted churches in the St. Louis area. Boone shares his experience of planting The Bridge North County in Ferguson while Eric Stiller talks about his story of planting Central West End Church in another section of the city.
In the aftermath of the devastating hurricane that swept through North Carolina, the EPC’s disaster response is well underway. Our first priority is to pray as a denomination for everyone affected by the hurricane and subsequent floods. Our next priority is to provide essentials people need on the ground – water, food staples, diapers, baby formula, medicines, and basic supplies such as toilet paper. Beyond these critical needs, the focus shifts to the individuals, churches, and teams actively involved in relief efforts.
We are calling on local churches eager to help to organize volunteers and create inventories of those willing and able to serve at the disaster site. Teams are needed for the physically demanding work of clearing debris and repairing damage, which requires nothing more than an able body and a willing heart. These teams must currently be self-contained, bringing their own food, water, and sleeping supplies, as plans are in place to set up lodging for relief workers closer to the affected areas soon.
The hurricane has impacted at least 13 of our congregations in the region. Thankfully, all our buildings are still standing, but the damage to our members’ lives is severe. Losses range from minimal to catastrophic. On a recent emergency call with the EPC’s Disaster Relief Committee, co-chair Whitney Alexander observed that “the people who can afford it the least have lost the most.” Despite the devastation, two of our Teaching Elders led worship services in parking lots this past Sunday, demonstrating that even amid disaster, God is present and at work.
The EPC Office of the General Assembly is closely coordinating with local churches and presbyteries to ensure that aid is distributed where most needed. To streamline these efforts, we are directing all donations through the disaster relief fund on our website, which you can access by clicking here.
This recovery will be a long and arduous process – one that will take years, not months. While immediate financial support is crucial to sustaining our relief teams in the coming days and weeks, we urge you to also lift up prayers for those affected. Prayer remains the most powerful way we can support our brothers and sisters as they begin to rebuild their lives.
Our hearts are with those affected by the recent hurricane in North Carolina. We’re mobilizing essential relief efforts on the ground—providing water, food, and critical supplies to those in need.
The EPC is working alongside local churches and presbyteries to coordinate relief teams and ensure help reaches the most impacted areas. We invite you to pray and support however you can. Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in this time of need.
Donate to the EPC Disaster Relief Fund through this link. Every bit helps!
With an emphasis on the Gospel Priorities, the EPC Office of the General Assembly prepared a budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 (July 2023 – June 2024), that set a conservative growth target for POI and allocated significant resources toward World Outreach, Church Planting, Church Health, and Effective Biblical Leadership. POI for the year fell just short of our budget goal due to some timing issues with year-end deposits. However, those deposits in early July indicate that the POI budget would have been met, and our goals reached. But, by God’s grace, POI for fiscal year 2024-25 is consequently off to a strong start.
It was a blessed and fruitful year. The EPC Office of the General Assembly looks forward to continuing this progress in carrying out the Great Commission in the new fiscal year. To that end, through the month of August POI is up over the last three years.
We are grateful for the Lord’s generous provision throughout EPC congregations as we together serve to carry out the Great Commission. Because of your generosity, churches are being planted, congregations are being revitalized, pastors and their families are being cared for and the Gospel is going to some of the hardest places on the planet.
And yet, there is more work to do. The fields are gleaming white…so next month, more information and data on POI and our common mission as a missional family of churches.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes South Regional Church Planting Director, Richard Rieves, to talk about trends in the culture and how church planting remains a unique solution to reaching the world with the Gospel.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes pastor Dr. Mike Moses to talk about reaching the unchurched and the importance of church planting in that process. Mike also gives practical self-assessment questions for possible future church planters to ask as they engage with the idea of whether the Lord might be calling them to church planting. Mike is the founding and lead pastor of the Lake Forest Family of Churches.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Elizabeth Gibson of the Northampton Church Planting Network, as they talk all things church planting from assessments to information that will help those wrestling with a possible call to church planting.
You can connect with Elizabeth at elizabethgibson@nhcpn.org.
EPC World Outreach is excited to bring together mission leaders from across EPC churches for a time of mutual encouragement, collaboration, and inspiration. Whether you lead missions in a small church, serve on staff at a large church, or simply feel a passion for God’s mission, this conference is for you.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Justin Garrett, church planter and pastor at Athens KC. In this episode, Justin shares his heart and story the story behind planting a church in Kansas City, Missouri, while giving encouragement and practical advice to ministry leaders.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes the EPC’s National Director of Church Planting, Dr. Tom Ricks, for an authentic discussion on church planting. Many church plants don’t make it and Tom and Dean discuss the lessons we can learn from these past attempts.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Zach Hopkins a second time to finish their conversation from last week. Zach is pastor of Edgington Evangelical Presbyterian Church and joins Dean to talk about practical ways to implement the ordinary means of grace and catechisms into the discipleship ministries of the local church.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes Zach Hopkins, pastor of Edgington Evangelical Presbyterian Church, who joins the podcast today to help younger pastors think through how to lead church leaders well.
Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk, welcomes pastor Betsy Rumer, who has served in a number of roles within EPC churches, in her Presbytery and at the General Assembly level. Betsy joins the podcast today to help pastors ask important questions about their spiritual, physical and emotional health.
Show Notes: On today’s podcast Betsy references another podcast, Becoming New with John Ortberg, work by Brene Brown, Emotionally Healthy and Spirituality and Day by Day by Pete Scazzero.
Ritchey Cable, Digital Content Lead of the Office of the General Assembly, welcomes again pastor and Gulf South Presbytery Facilitator, Bob Vincent, for a second episode. Bob shares the story of a personal crisis that unexpectedly changed his course of ministry. Bob’s redeeming story can both warn pastors of dangerous situations, but also encourage others who might be struggling in ministry. You can connect with Bob at bob@rbvincent.com and read some of his articles and letters at www.rbvincent.com.
Ritchey Cable, Digital Content Lead of the Office of the General Assembly, welcomes pastor and Gulf South Presbytery Facilitator, Bob Vincent. Bob opens up for other pastors and church leaders about a personal crisis in his own life that occurred during his 40 years pastoring at a local church. Bob’s situation is not unlike the experience of other pastors as they seek to carry out meaningful ministry. Bob’s redeeming story can both warn pastors of dangerous situations, but also encourage others who might be struggling in ministry.
We are excited to announce that all videos from the plenary speakers, worship services, and business sessions of the 44th General Assembly are now available to view on the EPC website under the “44th General Assembly Digital Resources” section. This is a fantastic opportunity for those who couldn’t attend in person or want to revisit the inspiring moments and insightful discussions from this significant event.
The plenary sessions at the GA featured renowned speakers who delivered powerful messages on faith, leadership, and community. Their talks are now accessible online, allowing you to draw inspiration and gain valuable insights at your convenience.
The worship services at the GA were a source of spiritual renewal and communal worship. Relive these moments of collective faith and song, or experience them for the first time if you missed them live.
The business sessions provided critical updates, strategic discussions, and decision-making processes that shape the future of our community. These sessions are essential for understanding the direction and priorities of our assembly.
Navigating to these resources is simple:
We encourage you to share these resources with your congregation, friends, and family. Whether you are looking to deepen your faith, stay informed about our assembly’s decisions, or simply find inspiration, these videos are an invaluable resource.
The availability of these videos ensures that the spirit and message of the 44th General Assembly continue to resonate within our community. Don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this meaningful experience. Visit the EPC website today and explore the 44th General Assembly Digital Resources.
Michael Davis, EPC Assistant Stated Clerk, welcomes Roy Yanke of PIR Ministries, in this equipping episode of Season 3 of In All Things. Roy sounds the warning bell for pastors everywhere as he shares how the dynamics of pastoral ministry can often lead to personal failures. Roy shares his own story and offers helpful insight to move forward in healthy ways.
Michael Davis, EPC Assistant Stated Clerk, welcomes pastor, Jim Farrell, to kick off season 3 of In All Things. Jim gives insight into what he has learned through decades of pastoral ministry experience. If you have questions about transitional pastoring or are seeking to become an “effective biblical leader” you can connect with Jim HERE.
Ritchey Cable, Digital Content Lead of the General Assembly, gives a brief glimpse into the new upcoming season of In All Things that begins next week!
Assistant Stated Clerk and Chief Collaborative Officer of the EPC, Michael Davis, gives a final, brief recap of the 44th General Assembly at Hope Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
