Kingdom Ministries Resource Session

The next KMN resource session will be May 14th from 9 am to 2 pm. . The KMN resource session will be held at New Vision Fellowship, 2020 Ritchie RD, Forestville,MD. The Presenter for May 14th will be Rev. Euline Jackson, the KMN systems administrator. The presentation will be on assimilation (moving members into Leaders). This presentation will provide practical teaching that you can use right away to assist your church to be fruitful for the Kingdom. You don't want to miss this one!

Feel free to invite other Pastors and leaders, but if you are planning to attend, please contact Kenny Martin for planning purposes. Lunch will be included.

Pam Edwards is appointed Baltimore District Leader

Pam Edwards Serves as co-pastor at Baltimore First Free Methodist Church. The Baltimore District consists of Baltimore First FMC, Dundalk FMC, Baltimore Brazilian FMC, Vida Santa FMC, Alesia FMC and Edgemere FMC. The meetings are held in the fellowship hall at Baltimore First FMC.

Forwarding from Human Resources FMC

This is an urgent, time-sensitive communication. If you are paying insurance for your pastor(s) and staff, you may be eligible for a tax credit from the Federal Government. Please be sure to read through the note below from the FMCNA and the attached .pdf document that explains this unique opportunity. Please also be sure to follow the link below to view the attached video for further very important, essential information on this opportunity:

http://blog.yourchurch.net/2011/04/a_tax_credit_for_churches_1.html

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Some of you may be wondering about the implications of applying for this tax credit. It involves completing the worksheet 8941 and then completing a section of the 990-T for 2010 and submitting it by the May 15th deadline.

- You've never completed a 990-T for the church before. Is this something I should have been doing all along? No . . . generally churches are exempt from completing Form 990-T unless they are involved in for-profit activities. Form 990-T, in this case, is required to access the potential tax credit.

- Will completing a Form 990-T this time make it a future requirement? Not necessarily. Nothing in the IRS code or the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit code would imply that. This tax credit will be available at a rate of up to 25% of qualified health care premiums for churches of up to 25 full-time equivalent employees through 2013. For 2014 and 2015, the rate will increase to 35%. Beyond that time frame, it is unclear what tax credit, if any, will be available. This form will be required only if you intend to apply the for the tax credit.

- What do we need to do? Complete the worksheet Form 8941, and then, if you are eligible (per the worksheet), complete Form 990-T, line 44F. If you are filing Form 990-T only to request the credit (most likely case), you must write across the top of the Form 990-T "Request for 45R credit only". Form 990-T must be filed by May 15, 2011. The worksheet 8941 is not required to be filed.

- How is it that we could qualify for this tax credit? We haven't actually paid any income tax. This tax credit was designed to be paid to small employers (including churches) that pay at least 50% of the employees' health care coverage. The tax credit is paid in cash whether or not the church has paid any income tax.

Eurold Principale appointed to Brooklyn First Haitian Church.

Eurold Principale has been appointed as the senior pastor to Brooklyn First Haitian Church, replacing Jean Francois Monnier. Jean Francios Monnier planted this church about 18 years ago. Eurold Principale was a pastor in the Free Methodist Church in Haiti before moving to the United States several years ago and received his training for ministry from the Bible School in Haiti.

Al Wachter Completes his Doctor of Ministry Degree.

Al Wachter, who has led the revitalization at the Horton Brook Church has completed his Dcotor of Minsitry degree at George Fox Seminary in Oregon. The title of his dissertation was "BEYOND CHANGE- OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS TO SMALL RURAL CHURCH REVITALIZATION." His advisor was Cliff Berger and his primary instructor was Len Sweet. Al has recently completed his first book based on his D.Min. studies, a book about overcoming resistance to change in churches entitled "Dance of the Bees." Al is currently continuing his work as a vetinarian and college professor.

Sergio Faria to lead a break out group at MINE

Pastor Sergio Faria of our Bridgeport, CT Brazilian church will be leading one of four breakout groups at MINE this year. Pastor Sergio will be talking about how to start small groups and how to keep them healthy. Be sure that you have registered for MINE.

Allentown Central Spanish FMC Network

The Allentown Central Spanish Free Methodist Church, led by pastor Constantino Gonzalez, is building a great network of churches in Pennsylvania. The Network has groups in Hazleton, Quakertown and Philadelphia. Pray for this Network growth!

Vida Santa FMC Network

The Vida Santa Network started a new church in Silver Spring MD. Pastor Fernando Gonzalez with his wife and lay leaders from the Baltimore Spanish Church are investing time and energy in this new church plant. They meet at the Layhill Free Methodist Church Building and pastor's Fernando goal is to plant many other churches in the Maryland, DC, Pennsylvania and Delaware Region. Pray that God will pour out his blessing on this project.

Acts 12:24 Churches on Facebook

The Acts 12:24 Churches Conference has now its Facebook page. The goal is to keep you updated with events to come and news of our conference. If you have a Facebook account "Like" us and share with your church and friends.

Click here to go to the Acts 12:24 Churches Page

Save the Date

The Connection Conference is getting close. It will be held at the Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, PA on June 12-14, 2011. So, save it on your calendar and get ready for it! God is going to do great things!

Live Town Hall Meetings- From the Board of Bishops

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We greet you in the name of Jesus, crucified, risen and reigning Lord of all!

As you know, our plans for General Conference 2011 are now in high gear. Our focus has been set: "The whole gospel for the whole world and person." A carefully conceived process has been formulated for exploring the meaning and missional implications of the whole gospel for earnest Christians today-so that when we gather as a Conference in July we may together discern what the Holy Spirit is directing the Free Methodist Church to do over the next several years. Everywhere we go we are encountering mounting anticipation that the Lord will make our gathering a powerful and catalytic event.

From the very beginning we have sought the participation of the whole church in this historic gathering. Not only official delegates, but all who have heart and passion for the mission of Jesus have been encouraged to attend and contribute to the process. Of course, this requires careful planning and deliberate preparation. To that end, we are hosting a live Town Hall Meeting, a first for our church, via simulcast on April 13, 2011. During the meeting we will share again the vision God has given us for the conference and more about the path we will walk toward fulfilling this vision. We are asking you to help us invite members and friends of every local Free Methodist Church to join us for the meeting.

Please direct your pastors and local lay leaders to http://llcomm.org/2011/03/30/lets-talk/ for information about the event and how to participate, as well as downloadable promotional resources.

MINE 2011 - April 26-28

MINE 2011 is coming up soon! This year speaker is Edward Waken. Ed is a lover of people and is passionate about helping them know Jesus. Ed has served with Church Multiplication Associates since 1994. Ed teaches, trains, mentors and consults in both evangelism and organic church principles across America and around the world bringing experience and insights that benefit many. Ed and Debbie live in Phoenix, Arizona and have three grown children and two grandchildren along with helping lead a network of organic churches.

For price, schedule and early registration discount information,go to http://minefmc.org/