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Peter Sung resigns as Associate Superintendent to accept appointment as Director of Church Planting for the ECC

(July 8, 2009 – Cromwell, CT)

Peter Sung, Associate Superintendent of the East Coast Conference, has announced his resignation effective July 31, 2009 in order to accept an appointment to serve as the Director of Church Planting in the Department of Church Growth & Evangelism for the Evangelical Covenant Church, beginning August 1.

In his letter of resignation to the Superintendent and the Conference Board, Sung writes “For about a month now I’ve been living with this decision and it continues to feel right, and others continue to affirm this new call. My mixed emotions remain. I have been in the east coast my whole life; the Conference has been wonderful to my family and me; I believe in what God is doing in the Conference; I believe Howard is the man for the season. I am certain that the Conference and I will always have a special relationship, and I am willing to fill in the gap from August 1 until the Conference hires a replacement, if you so desire. I will be watching and participating in all that God is going to do in and through the Conference and her churches. I am privileged to have seen what I have seen over the past year.”

“Peter has established a strong foundation and established incredible momentum within the past 15 months in church planting,” reports Superintendent Howard Burgoyne. “While I am mourning our loss here, I am delighted to see Peter extend his influence, vision, and abilities to the larger work of the Covenant in North America. He will continue to work closely with us in our church planting initiatives, not only coaching our pastors but also assisting the next Associate Superintendent in continuing our implementation of Vision 2020. As we navigate and adapt to what God is doing, we know we will continue to thrive in the mission of Christ here in the East Coast Conference.”

Rev. Sung has served in the East Coast Conference as Associate Superintendent since May 1, 2008. Prior service included being a church planter and founding pastor of Highrock Covenant Church, Somerville (now Arlington) Massachusetts, and Queenswest Covenant Church, Long Island City, New York. In agreement with David T. Olson, Executive Minister of Church Growth & Evangelism for the Covenant, Peter will devote about 30% of his time to the Conference over the next few months during the transition going forward to secure a new Associate Superintendent for the Conference.

The Sung’s will make plans to relocate over the next year to Chicago, Illinois, but first on the agenda is the anticipated birth of their fourth daughter in late August, joining mother Susie and sisters Madelyn, Emelyn, and Sophia.

2009 07 08 Howard Burgoyne Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

“Under Full Sail: Navigate. Adapt. Thrive!”

The East Coast Conference is sailing toward a bold 2020 vision

 

YORK, PA (May 6, 2009) – At the 119th Annual Meeting the East Coast Conference (ww.eastcoastconf.org) celebrated growing momentum towards a bold 2020 Vision that was cast at last years’ annual meeting.  A year ago the Conference endorsed an eight point vision to expand the Conference through church planting, churches cooperatively planting ministries, church revitalization, and leadership development that integrates both character formation and competency development.

The meetings were co-hosted by St. Paul’s Wolf’s Evangelical Covenant Church and Paradise-Holtzschwamm Covenant Church which are five miles from each other in York, PA. They have the distinction of being the two oldest churches in the ECC – Wolf’s Church, established in 1763, and Paradise-Holtzschwamm in 1765. They are two of five eastern Pennsylvania churches that have affiliated with the Conference and the Covenant in the last few years. Two more churches currently exploring affiliation were guests at the meetings.

 “Momentum is the key word for us this year. We’ve pulled out of the harbor and set our course for adventure. We’ve established our bearings and set our course. God is moving boldly across the Conference! As the wind of the Spirit is blowing we are building momentum in mission. Our challenge now is to navigate, adapt, and thrive as a movement of mission friends,” stated Superintendent Howard Burgoyne in his opening remarks to the delegates.  

The bold response of churches across the conference since then has been signified by increased church giving to the conference that rose 44% since 2007. An upwardly revised budget for 2009 was approved ($1,008,050), raising the budget 16% above the previously approved budget for 2009 (up 11% from ‘08 actual) and approving another 5% increase for 2010 ($1,103,429). It was noted that giving from churches new to the Conference in the last 10 years represented giving of over $130,000 to the Conference in 2008 – representing 22% of church giving.

Both budgets support the planting of 3-4 new churches each year, including the aggressive use of legacy funds funds held by the Conference from churches that have closed. Peter Sung, Associate Superintendent and Director of Church Planting stated, “By God’s grace we’ll plant more churches in the next three years than we’ve planted in the last 30 years.” One part of the Conference vision is to plant over 40 new churches by 2020. Sung announced that he has 24 potential church planters that he is cultivating and evaluating for potential future projects – and the list continues to grow.

Church revitalization continues to grow as one of the top four missional priorities for the Conference. 45 of the 75 churches in the Conference have begun engaging in dialogue about their own renewal of mission and outreach within the last 18 months. To date 7 churches have engaged the services of one of several “Veritas Facilitators” in a growing network of Conference recommended consultants and coaches available to churches. Several pastors have enrolled in the “Ministry Advantage” pastors coaching network as well and have reported that this is proving to be both stretching and helpful to them.

The Ministerial Association met for two days at the Paradise-Holtzschwamm Covenant Church for continuing education, worship, and their annual business meeting. Dr. Boaz Johnson, Chair of the Biblical and Theological Studies Department at North Park University taught on “Justice in the Hebrew Scriptures”. Gary Cook, Director of Church Relations for Bread for the World (www.bread.org) , taught on the Biblical basis of Advocacy for the Poor. Seven candidates for ordination were approved, and presented at the Annual Meeting.  Special guests included Noel and Kyle Bechetti, working with Truth Seekers, a mission and ministry to the lower castes of India.

The Conference meetings began with workshops for about 100 delegates from 42 churches. A picnic dinner was served at Wolf’s Picnic Grove, followed by a worship service led by a cross conference worship team, and included a baptismal renewal and service of Holy Communion. A combined choir from the two host churches sang selections from their just completed spring cantata. Peter Ahn, pastor at Metro Community Church, Fort Lee, NJ shared a testimony of developing a community development ministry in South Africa (www.ZimeleCommunity.org). Dr. John Wenrich, Director of Congregational Vitality for the ECC preached from Mark 4, using the story of the disciples caught on the lake in a storm to address the conference theme, challenging the Conference to grow in both the character and competencies needed to advance the renewal of the Church in the 21st century. An offering of over $1,200 was received for the Conference’s mission partnership with Covenanters in Koyuk, Alaska.

In the business meeting on Saturday, the delegates also approved a motion celebrating the 130 year ministry of Bethesda Covenant Church in New York City. The church closed in April after a five year process of exploring revitalization.
“Moved, that the 119th Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference remember with gratitude to God the pioneer ministry of Bethesda Covenant Church of New York, New York, the first of the “Missions Friends” churches in the Eastern Missionary Association, acknowledging now the fulfillment of her calling and the conclusion of her work, and commending to God the eternal fruit and to the world the precious seed of her spiritual labors for Christ over the years 1879-2009.”

Garth McGrath, pastor of Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, NH shared a witness of God’s movement in his heart and those of his congregation that led to a generous gift of support for another church in the Conference that is just stepping into their first mortgage. An appeal for $500 led to a free will offering of over $2,000. Moved by his peoples’ generosity, McGrath decided to challenge other churches in the Conference to also consider what they could do to help – resulting in numerous churches reaching out to encourage this growing work.

The delegates brought forward as an offering their churches prayer cards for Bringing My World to Christ. New board members were elected for the Conference Boards, Pilgrim Pines Board, and New England Seafarers Board. Ruth Hill, Executive Minister of Women Ministries represented the ECC, bringing greetings and a report to the delegates.  

Superintendent Burgoyne asked the delegates to return to their churches and discuss the potential to raise the Conference budget even further over the next few years.  He presented a “3-2-5 Challenge” – over the next three years grow to 5% giving from every church to fully underwrite the 2002 Vision initiative. Current church giving to the Conference reflects a 2.5% level of support to the Conference.  Burgoyne challenged the delegates, saying: “To understand my burden, you need to grasp that God has already placed in my heart and mind a vision that calls for your full support. God already knows the amount of money that is under our stewardship –even in this difficult economy. The miracle we need is not that the money would magically appear – it’s already in our pockets and in your churches – the miracle is that we would actually step up together by faith to fully fund the needs of the Covenant and the Conference. Collectively you are asking your people to entrust $18,000,000 to your ministries in 2009. I am asking you to advance in your giving over the next 3 years to invest a full 5% in the mission of the East Coast Conference – knowing that as you do we will plow that precious seed back into you and in ministries on your behalf that will change the world – all across the East Coast Conference.”

Carolyn Larson, Chair of the Conference Board, welcomed motions of gratitude for the warm hospitality of our host churches who were presented with hand blown glass sailboats, reflecting the Conference logo, and signifying that together we are “…on the move” with God. Gratitude was also expressed for board members concluding service to the Conference – Stephen Reedy, Treasurer; Tom McCullough, Church Life/Missions Commission; Sarah Daigle, Hartford District Trustee; James Kim, At-Large Trustee; Bruce Johnson, Board of Human Resources; Dick Anderson, Board of Human Resources. New officers were installed with Scripture and prayer to the various Conference and Agency boards.

The 120th Annual Meeting of the East Coast Conference will be held on the first weekend of May, 2010 co-hosted by Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, New Hampshire and Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Swanzey, New Hampshire.

2009 05 06 Howard Burgoyne Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink

Partnering with a Covenant Church in “Bush” Alaska

For over 100 years the Evangelical Covenant Church has served various ethnic groups throughout Alaska, with special emphasis on the remote communities of rural Alaska.  Of the 19 Covenant Churches in Alaska, 13 are in Western “Bush” Alaska, where there are no roads in or out.  Of these thirteen, ten are small and unable to support a pastor without some help.  Alaska exerts many challenges and hardships on those who are called to minister to the peoples of the Last Frontier.  In addition to serving in a remote location with long dark winters, pastors and youth workers ministering here are confronted constantly with issues of teen suicide, extreme substance abuse, domestic violence and sexual abuse.  Also, many serve communities that lack the basics of modern sanitation and housing. 

We, as a conference, have committed to partner with on of our sister churches in Alaska.  Our sister church is located in Koyuk, 90 air miles northeast of Nome.  Koyuk has a population just under 300 at last census.  The pastor and his wife, Wassilie (Wass) and Jean Mute, will appreciate any assistance we can give them.  But just what can you do?  I’m glad you asked.  Here are some ideas:

 

v  Encouragement:  Write a letter (Pastor Wass and Jean Mute, P.O. Box 53098, Koyuk, AK 99753) or email (jg_mute(at)yahoo.com) or place an occasional telephone call (907-963-2016) to let them know you are praying for them. 

v  Care packages:  Since everything must be flown in, simple things are very expensive.  You can send anything that is non-perishable (nuts, dried fruit, brownies, bread mixes, paper products, toiletries, etc.)  Be creative.  The post office has fixed rate boxes which you can fill up and ship for $9.95 or $12.95 depending upon the size you choose. 

v  Mission teams:  If you would consider being part of a construction work team, contact East Coast Conference Koyuk Work Teams c/o thomasbmccullough(at)yahoo.com for more information.  It will be a trip you will never forget.

v  Financial:  Most of the bush pastors must find other means of supporting their family because the church is unable to provide a sustaining salary.  This is the case for Wass.  If your church has a mission committee, perhaps they would put the Koyuk church in their mission budget.  Or maybe, as an individual or family, God will lay it on your heart to send a donation. 

v  Donate Air Miles:  Many people accumulate free air miles.  Please consider donating some to ECCAK to help a bush pastor and their family get away for R & R.  (I don’t know details for this yet, but contact me if you are interested.)

 

Thank you for opening your hearts to Wass and Jean and if you have any questions please email Alynne MacLean at alynne(at)sciencewithamission.org. 

  

Wass and Jean are Yupik Eskimos from the Kuskokwim River Delta Area. 

They were married on May 30th, 1975.  Birthdays: Wass 9-12, Jean 8-31. 

 They have 5 children:

Aaron-33 and Janet live in Bethel

      (children: Jessica-11, Ashley-10, Jaron-5 and Aaron-3)

Tom-31 and Jessica live in Nome

Chester-29 lives in Bethel

Anna-27 and Ted Tinker live in Bethel

      (child: Elya-5 months)

Ryan-25 – receptionist for Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, his salary is based on in-kind support. He raises 50% of his salary.  If you would like to learn more, contact Ryan at in_love_wid_christ(at)hotmail.com.

 

Wass enjoys playing the guitar, reading ‘heavy’ theological material, hunting, fishing, and singing.  Jean spends time sewing, knitting, reading, ice fishing (hooking), playing the piano, listening to music and singing.  They have been with the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska since 1982.  They have served in the following villages:  Koyuk, Mekoryuk, and Scammon Bay. 

 

Their life in Alaska can be divided into two “seasons”.  The majority of the time, they are on their “winter schedule”.  This runs from late August until May of the following year. 

Wass:   Sunday    AM – Mercy, and Kingdom of God

                           PM – Character Building

            Tuesday Cottage Prayer Meeting in Homes

                           Living Above the Level of Mediocrity

            Wednesday Bible Study

                           1 and 11 Thessalonians – 2nd Coming of the Lord

            Thursday Northern Light Singing Group practice

Jean:    Secretary at the school

            Monday nights- Participant in Women’s Bible study

Thursday afternoon:  Covenant women Bible study and sewing

 

From June to early August, Wass and Jean go home to Bethel

1.      Put away fish, dry and smoke fish for winter use

2.      Spend time with children and grandchildren – a favorite activity!

3.      Jean is a nurse (RN) and works at the hospital in Bethel for two months- to maintain her license and stay active with her career

4.      Spend time with other relatives and family members – Wass is oldest of 11 siblings, Jean is oldest of 10 siblings.  Only one parent is now living – Jean’s 80 year old Dad recently remarried in November 2008

Prayer requests:

  • Youth Work – the youth very busy and it is hard to find a time for them to meet regularly.  Most activities are school related. 
  • The Mutes have been praying for a revival in Koyuk since November 2008, 8:30 in morning and 10:30 PM.  They covet your prayers to continue to present Truth from Gods’ Word

The Conference Board has agreed to pursue a three-point plan for connecting:

1. Exploratory team of 3 to 4 this summer (09)- focus would be on establishing some relationships,

2. Having Pastor Wass and Jean be our guest at a time to be determined in ‘09 or ‘10;

3. A team or two of up to 7 next summer to work under Barnabas – build a 20′x20′ shed as an outreach project to the men in Koyuk and surrounding bush country–a place they could gather to work on snowmobiles and other important equipment.  The best estimate of per person costs to get there and back, including food and lodging, is about $2,100-2,200.  And yet to be decided is how much that each person would be asked to carry, with the rest subsidized by donations from churches throughout the conference.

2009 04 27 Howard Burgoyne Uncategorized Comments (0) Permalink