Welcome to the first edition of FIEC news & prayer for 2012. We continue to bring you monthly updates on the activities of the FIEC and also bring to your attention prayer requests that we receive from our churches and other organisations.

For a colour, printable version of this newssheet, please click here.

Your feedback…
 
Please email sarah@fiec.org.uk with prayer requests for March by February 20th - we would encourage you to share these with us so we can pray more specifically for one another.

Sarah Simpkin
FIEC Communications Officer

News…
Caring for God’s church: 12 regional day conferences designed with pastors, church workers and other church leaders in mind, have been planned for this year. In 2009 FIEC re-started a series of regional conferences, hosted by the Pastors’ Association, which took on the theme of the commands found in the pastoral epistles. Last year the focus was on training the next generation of gospel workers; this year, we move on to taking care of God’s church. Each conference will be addressed by one of the FIEC directors and, alongside teaching, there will be time to network with other gospel workers in your area. There will be 12 venues geographically spread across the country.

The first two conferences take place in Swindon (7th March) and London (21st March). Pastors in the these areas will be contacted shortly by Elisabeth Smyth. To register your interest please email pa@fiec.org.uk or call 01793 619603. Alternatively click here http://www.bit.ly/2012regionalconf  

Prepared for Service (PfS) begins again in February. Applications for candidates wishing to start in September 2012 need to be received by 15th May and interviews will take place on Saturday 7th July.

The FIEC Leaders’ Conference 2012 will take place Monday 8th to Wednesday 10th October at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick.

Prayer…
January 20th: FIEC pastors from the Solent area are meeting with Trevor Archer to discuss their perspectives and observations on local needs and how FIEC might support them.
Please pray for FIEC and FIEC Limited finance team who meet today. Important decisions need to be made relating to the forward planning and future financial policies of FIEC Limited.

January 21st: Trevor Archer is spending the morning with the elders and leaders team at Cheam Baptist church in Surrey, discussing with how best to implement discipleship in a busy church in the commuter belt of London.

January 22nd: Trevor Archer is preaching at Knighton Evangelical Free Church, Leicester today and will be meeting with elders to discuss the challenges and needs they face.

January 25th: 180 Youth Workers from around the UK are meeting at High Leigh conference centre and Trevor Archer is running a seminar on ‘Dealing with Doubt’.
Please pray for wisdom for the FIEC Limited Funds Distribution Committee as they seek to administer funds from closed churches.

January 27th: Pray for the planning and preparations ahead of the ‘A Passion for Life’ initiative taking place in 2014. John Stevens is attending this meeting as Co-chair.

January 28th: Kensington Baptist Church in Bristol is holding an induction service for their new pastor, Simon Price. Peter Baker is preaching.

January 30th-31st: FIEC Trust Board are meeting. Please pray for the Trust board who meet three times a year to discuss strategy and direction of the FIEC. 
Andy Paterson is working with Findley Memorial Church, Glasgow concerning a proposed church revitalisation project in their area. Pray for Andy and his family as he settles into full time work for the FIEC.

February 1st: Trevor Archer is meeting with church leaders from Bridgend and Swansea about the Assistant Pastors Scheme.

February 4th-5th: Junction Road Evangelical Church in Birmingham is holding its church anniversary on Saturday and Richard Underwood will be speaking at this 7pm service. Do pray for this evangelistic opportunity and that many will attend. Richard will also be speaking at their Sunday services at 10.30am and 6.30pm.

February 5th: John Stevens is preaching at Carley Evangelical Baptist Church this evening. Pray that it will be a time of encouragement and blessing for the church.

February 6th-8th: Prepared for Service begins again. Pray for Andy and Kath Paterson, Sheila Stephen, Paul Pease, Simon Medcroft and Chris Sinkinson who are all leading sessions over the three days.
Four new course members begin this month and seven completed the course in December.

February 8th: Trevor Archer is speaking at the Irish Baptist College, Belfast and meeting with leaders to discuss training co-operation.

February 8th-10th: The Living Leadership ‘Pastoral Refreshment’ Conference is being held at Hothorpe Hall in Theddingworth and Richard Underwood is taking part.

February 11th-12th: Andy Paterson is speaking at Feltham Evangelical Church addressing ‘What is our Mission?’

February 13th: Please pray for FIEC Limited Directors and the decisions that they make at their board meeting, that they would be God-honouring and that the spread of the gospel would be advanced.

February 19th: Please pray for John Stevens and the churches at which he is preaching today; Worthing Tabernacle in the morning and Lancing Tabernacle in the evening.

February 22nd: A Young Ministers’ Group of eight men in their early years of ministry come together to share, pray and discuss theological and practical ministry issues twice a year with Trevor Archer.

February 22nd-27th: A collaboration between FIEC churches and Mississippi Baptist Churches, named Teamwork 2012, begins this weekend when 32 evangelistic team leaders from Mississippi travel to the UK to meet with their host church leaders for the first time and spend time in their church locations for the weekend. This is in preparation for a summer of evangelism using the opportunity afforded by the London Olympics 2012. Do pray specifically for safe journey for all involved and for a strong sense of fellowship/partnership when the team leaders and host church leaders meet. Pray for them as they plan for their summer missions.

February 26th: John Stevens is preaching at Reynard Way Evangelical Church in Northampton today.

February 27th: ‘The Hub’ training committee is meeting today to consider plans for the launch of a weekend conference in January 2013 for men and women in FIEC churches considering, or actually in, formal gospel training.