 Our Vision Statement is: “Strengthening our churches with timely resources that strengthen their leaders.” One of the resources we offer to member churches is an annual retreat for your pastor and his wife. We are in the middle of retreat season, as the Nebraska retreat is held in January, the Saskatchewan retreat in February, and the Manitoba retreat in March. These retreats are just a couple of days together, but we believe they are an extremely valuable ministry to pastors and pastoral couples. Along with meals together, there are sessions where we explore areas of ministry or potential challenges to ministry together. There are opportunities to discuss challenges and victories with a group of peers. There is free time to rest and do whatever helps one recharge. The task of shepherding a congregation can be lonely, isolating, and draining, even when it seems that the pastor is doing fine. These retreats offer a chance to share the burdens of ministry with others who can truly relate, and who genuinely care. They are also a great opportunity to rejoice together in the victories, and to share ideas about how each ministry can be improved. Friendships have formed during these retreats. Acquaintances and colleagues have become confidants and prayer partners.
Each FEBC church should encourage pastors to attend. We realize the cost of these retreats can seem difficult, particularly for the churches who are farther away, but the FEBC has set aside funds to help pay the costs for these trips. We encourage every pastor to participate.
To learn more about our retreats, contact our Ministries Coordinator, Rev. Gary Krehbiel. [email protected] Check out a more complete list of resources here: FEBC Church Resources but remember that we are willing to talk about any situation at all. Don’t hesitate to contact Gary, Kevin, or the FEBC Office. Tags:
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 One recent Sunday, I was speaking at a church that was having a pancake feed before church. I got a plate of pancakes and sausage and sat at a table with four men and the pastor. The pastor was already engaged in conversation with one of the men, so I introduced myself to the three men sitting opposite me. I learned that one of the men was a regular attender at this church, but this was the first Sunday that the other two (brothers) had been to the church. They had come for the pancake breakfast that morning. The pastor had been inspired to reach the community in creative ways by Mark Clifton, the speaker at CONNECT25, the FEBC’s annual meetings and conference. That morning started with infectious joy throughout the church as everyone was greeting one another and serving together. I even managed to preach with a mouthful of great Canadian maple syrup.
Working for the FEBC, I have been able to see those highlights in ministry at many churches, as well as how pastors and churches encourage one another. As Ministries Coordinator, I am blessed to see it and hopefully be a part of it as well. God is at work. So are our churches. The work of ministry has been a focus of my efforts this past year. Toward that end, the FEBC enabled me to get Working Genius certified. Working Genius is an assessment developed by Patrick Lencioni and the Table Group. It is a way of understanding work (ministry, in our context): how it gets done and how to engage people. The assessment is simple, practical, and fast. This year, I met with leaders from 6 churches and look forward to meeting with more in the future. Among the many benefits of this simple tool is the freedom that comes with knowing yourself and your team, and the grace that is afforded to oneself and others as you appreciate your uniqueness. It also helps ensure that all of the steps are taken that will ensure understanding, good decision-making, and successful completion. Often, as we meet, someone says “this helps explain so much!” It is inexpensive, encouraging, and promotes confidence in leadership teams. Working Genius sessions have led me to all parts of the FEBC footprint, and I’ve been able to fill the pulpit in a number of churches. I am always encouraged by the sincerity of people in our fellowship. The last few months have allowed me to visit churches and pastors in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon and British Columbia. We’ve seen pastors installed in a few locations and look forward to more shortly as some jobs have been filled. There have also been opportunities for me to have an evening of fun with some congregations at an event that we call FEBC Fusion. We bring some quick, simple games that people play around a table that bring laughter and some information about the FEBC to a local congregation. I guarantee that people of all ages will enjoy the event. One of the challenging tasks is to walk alongside churches as they go through difficult times, and there have been some this year. God loves the church. We love the church. People in the church love the church. While the Spirit brings unity, we still live in a broken world and churches face conflict within and sometimes without. In those moments, we are often able to be an encouragement and support for those local churches. Please pray for our churches and pastors as they faithfully follow the Spirit’s leading in their communities. None of this work would be possible without your faithful partnership. Your support enables me to serve churches in practical, relational, and spiritual ways. Please continue to pray for wisdom, endurance, and discernment as I walk with congregations in both seasons of growth and seasons of struggle. Thank you again for standing with me in this ministry. God is using your support to strengthen churches and encourage leaders across our region. In His service, Gary Krehbiel Tags:
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Resources12/10/2025  Our Vision Statement is: “Strengthening our churches with timely resources that strengthen their leaders.”
We were recently contacted by a church leader who said “We need a job description for our new pastor. We never had one for our last pastor.” While a church is not a business, there are certain things we should have in place to ensure we are properly stewarding the resources God has given us, and to manage the operations of our organizations well. Having a good job description for each employee is an important aspect of proper church management. Simply stated: The members and leaders of a church have expectations of what a staff member should be doing. If those expectations are never clearly communicated, problems are likely to occur. Clear communication is critical to any healthy relationship. If your church needs a new job description for your pastor or another employee, or help with hiring documents, a letter of engagement, etc., we would be happy to assist you. We can provide samples, advice, or even help you write a customized document for your church. If you are interested in learning more or need help, contact Kevin. [email protected] Check out a more complete list of resources here: FEBC Church Resources but remember that we are willing to talk about any situation at all. Don’t hesitate to contact Gary, Kevin, or the FEBC Office. Tags:
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Resources: Working Genius8/22/2025  Our Vision Statement is: “Strengthening our churches with timely resources that strengthen their leaders.”
One of the ways in which we strive to strengthen our churches is through improving the ability of our staff and leaders to serve you well. Recently, our Ministries Coordinator, Rev. Gary Krehbiel, became certified in Working Genius. There are many stages required to develop and implement a project or the vision of your church. The people who have big ideas may not be great at doing the work to make it happen. The people who are great at discerning potential concerns may be terrible at galvanizing others to help overcome them. The task that gives one person energy totally drains another. The Working Genius assessment is a tool you can use to better understand how your team fits together. In the process, you will learn to understand yourself and your teammates better, and to manage your overall ministry in a more effective way. Unlike other assessments you might have tried, the Working Genius is 20% personality and 80% productivity, which provides unique insights into how your team works best. Whether you have a staff or a team of volunteers, this assessment can be extremely beneficial. As an individual leader, this assessment will help you understand yourself and how you work, which can lead to greater success and help you avoid stress and burnout. If you are interested in learning more, contact Gary to schedule an assessment at your church. [email protected] Check out a more complete list of resources here: FEBC Church Resources, but remember that we are willing to talk about any situation at all. Don’t hesitate to contact Gary, Kevin, or the FEBC Office. Tags:
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Resources: Here to Help4/11/2025 One way in which we strengthen our churches is by supporting the elders of each church. This is done in many ways, but here are a few examples: Formal resources, including:
Informal engagements to review ministry philosophy, vision and mission, administrative issues, developing governing documents, and much more. Direct support for issues that come up in the church, including theological questions, conflicts, growth consultation, etc. In short, your elders have a team of seasoned ministry leaders that can help when they need assistance. This is part of the mutual support and encouragement our Fellowship provides. Check out a more complete list of resources here: FEBC Church Resources, but remember that we are willing to talk about any situation at all. Don’t hesitate to contact Gary, Kevin, or the FEBC Office.  Tags:
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One of the ways our Fellowship stands ready to help your church is by providing advice and counsel on theological issues. The following are some ways we do this.
Google always has answers, but if you want an answer that is rooted in our historical interpretation of God’s Word and backed by trusted theologians from within our Fellowship, we are happy to help. Tags:
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Resources: FEBC Fusion10/31/2024  Our Vision Statement is: "Strengthening our churches with timely resources that strengthen their leaders." We relish the times we get to meet people and present about the FEBC during one of our local church services, but we have been wondering if there are other ways to connect with people outside of Sunday morning.
I attended the very first FEBC Fusion, and noticed a table of boys around 10-12 right next to a table of folks I suspect were all over 60. Both groups participated, laughed together, and connected. FEBC Fusion is a chance for us to meet your folks and share with them, but it is also a chance for your church to enjoy lighthearted fellowship together. Building healthy connections is critical to the strength of the local church. If your church is willing to provide the place and invite the people, the FEBC will do the rest.  Tags:
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2/4/2026
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