Why the Gift?

Email sent to Network members November, 2024:

Dear EFCA Leader,

As a credentialed leader in our movement, you are a voting member in the EFCA Network and we would like your input. The Network Board recommends that we send gifts of $20,000 each to TEDS, ReachGlobal and the National office from the $82,000 remaining in our Network account. Those funds accrued through decades of contributions from dues-paying members of the Ministerial Association (which became the EFCA Network in 2019). The intent of those dues was to contribute to the health and effectiveness of EFCA pastors and leaders, so we feel investing in our seminary, our missionaries and our pastors (through the National office) helps us accomplish that purpose.

Contact a member of our team with questions or comments. Please plan to come to our annual EFCA Network meeting at the Theology Conference Feb. 5-7 in Arlington Heights, IL. We will discuss and vote on these expenditures at that meeting. 

TEDS is our EFCA seminary. The seminary’s mission is to train pastor-theologians, missionaries, and laypeople for ministry in the local church and through the church to the world. As TEDS commits to a renewed alignment with the EFCA, we are calling the EFCA to a renewed support of our seminary. Our gift communicates to our pastors and churches that we are “all in,” and it communicates to TEDS that “we are with you.”

ReachGlobal is our missions arm. Over 500 servant-leaders work in 40 countries supporting movements of disciple-making to multiply transformational churches among all peoples. Let’s prayerfully invest in these gospel workers so the fruit of their ministries will abound to the glory of the Lord!

The EFCA National Office is here to serve the local church in partnership with our districts. Resources, services and events are in place to equip and care for pastors and leaders at every stage of life and in all phases of ministry. The National Office is committed to one EFCA where local, regional, national and international ministries work together toward common ministry objectives with shared values and trusting relationships. Let’s encourage these faithful brothers and sisters as they help us serve fruitfully and finish well. 

The Network Board feels that these gifts communicate our heart to spread encouragement through the whole EFCA family. Our hope is that approving these contributions from past donations will spur on new giving to the various initiatives of our movement. Please give to TEDS, ReachGlobal, your District and the National Office as you are able and encourage your church to invest generously as well. 

As we seek to mobilize financial blessing we also want to promote a social media campaign for these three branches of our EFCA tree. 

We challenge all EFCA leaders to prepare a 1-2 minute video that celebrates a specific ministry that impacted you. Post it to whatever social media you use with #OurOneEFCA and the appropriate tag below, or send your video to Darin@oakwoodfl.org to be posted on the Network’s media channels. 

• If you are a TEDS grad, help spread the word about our world class seminary by posting a video with #TEDSPreparedMe. 
• If you have been inspired by a ReachGlobal missionary, team or initiative, talk about it with #EFCAReachGlobal. (Please be discreet with names and locations if the missionary in view is working in a restricted or at risk area.)
• If you have been blessed by a District or National leader, program or event share your experience with #EFCANational.

Contact a member of our team with any questions or comments you may have. 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3-6, ESV

Gratefully yours in Christ,

The EFCA Network Board