Add Another Leaf to the Table
Phil Noordmans, West Regional Pastor
One of our seven guiding values is “A Community that Lives Out Shared Life & Shared Mission.” We enjoy fellowship with Jesus and with one another around our Lord’s Table, and our mission includes inviting to join us at table.
By God’s sovereign design, two roads are converging giving the CCCC an opportunity to add another leaf to the table.
Road #1: ITI (International Training Institute)
While serving in Greeley, CO, God called Steve Oeffling in 2005 to launch Network Beyond, a ministry that specializes in resourcing and equipping global church leaders. This ministry is currently working in 35 countries.
At the heart of Network Beyond’s strategy is ITI – the International Training Institute, which offers a series of eight training modules led by a teaching team and a prayer intercessor.
Road #2: Micronesians in the USA
For several years Micronesians have migrated to the USA. Growing communities now exist in Kansas, Texas, Portland, OR, and more. These communities remain connected.
Historically, Morning Star Institute – Max Vague, Barry Jones, Gary Gardell, and others – have trained pastors in Micronesia. Now, Micronesians in the USA are still looking to Morning Star for training.
And that is where these two roads intersect.
- A) The Morning Star Institute invited ITI to conduct an experiment: to offer the first of their 8 training modules to Micronesians in the USA. In August 2024, Steve Oeffling and a few others traveled to Kansas to lead this event which was very well received.
- B) In October 2024, a Micronesian congregation in Portland, OR, voted to affiliate with the CCCC.
And so, we will joyfully add another leaf to the table and anticipate welcoming them to participate in our shared life and shared mission.