Blog

August 31, 2017 — by Dana Allin

Entering into the Messiness

After the resurrection, Jesus returns to His disciples. He calms their fears and then commissions them by saying, “As the father sent me, so I am sending you”  (John 20:21). What has struck me recently about this passage is that just prior to commissioning the disciples, Jesus shows them the wounds in His hands and His side...the results of being sent into the world! Jesus was incarnated into the messiness of the world by being born in a stable, He ministered in the messiness of the world, and He died by the cruelty of the world. After all of that, Jesus says, “AS the Father sent me, so I am SENDING YOU.” We are sent into the messiness, and sometimes even the cruelty of the world, to show the tangible love and mercy of Jesus.

August 31, 2017 — by Jen Haddox

An Invitation to Freedom Sunday – Integrating Justice into our Mission Values

In seeking to be a movement, not just a denomination, one of the core values we hold to is Missional Centrality: We believe in living out the whole of the Great Commission – including evangelism, spiritual formation, compassion, and redemptive justice both in our communities and around the world.  One of the ways our ECO churches have lived out redemptive justice is sharing in the work of the International Justice Mission. With Freedom Sunday coming September 24th, we have an opportunity to mobilize awareness and resources to support the work of International Justice Mission (IJM) as they work to redeem those trapped in slavery.  

August 24, 2017 — by ECO Communications Team

TRANSITIONAL PASTOR TRAINING | Special Event

Open to ECO & EPC Pastors

October 9-11, 2017

The loss of a pastor, regardless of the reason, precipitates a disruption in the emotional, spiritual, and organizational life of any congregation. Many leaders have yet to experience this type of transition, and feeling responsible, understandably seek to return to normal as quickly as possible. However, church leaders often fail to consider they have not only lost an employee, but also relationships, a stabilizing presence, and a trusted confidant.