Have you started to group LinkedIn with the other social networking sites out there like Facebook and Twitter? Are you beginning to get confused as to why everyone says you “must” have a profile on these sites? Its OK if you do, most people feel the same way; but the thing to remember is that LinkedIn is actually much different then both of those other community sites and it can be used much differently for your organization.

Unlike Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn was built for professionals who wanted to use their existing and future social networks to build a career. It was also built for organizations looking to find qualified employees for their business and for job-hunters to find the right people.

I’m sure you are thinking “Gee that sounds great and all”, but “What is LinkedIn and why should my organization be on it?” “Why should I pay one of my employees to post updates, build our profile and network?” We plan to answer those questions for you! For starters, as defined by the LinkedIn website:

“LinkedIn is a networking tool that helps you discover inside connections to recommended job candidates, industry experts and business partners. It strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts.”

I think the most important part of that definition is the term “tool.” LinkedIn is a tool that assists in growing your organizational relationships and creating an online awareness of your business. Again, is it NOT Facebook or Twitter because it’s not a place where people play games. It’s a professional space to communicate and learn on the internet.

Top Ten Reasons to use LinkedIn:

1. LinkedIn is way to stay in touch with professional people and organizations that you have done business with in the past.
2. You can use LinkedIn Events to find conferences, workshops and event promote your own event.
3. LinkedIn is great SEO for your Blog or Website. LinkedIn profiles tend to rank well in Google.
4. Use LinkedIn to search for References of Potential Employees.
5. Use LinkedIn to discover and learn the facts about a potential employee before interviewing or hiring them.
6. Use LinkedIn to learn about potential clients before doing business with them.
7. Use LinkedIn to find someone needing your services.
8. Use LinkedIn to keep an eye on what like people in organizations like yours are doing.
9. Use LinkedIn to get publicity in articles, blog posts and reviews.
10. Establish yourself as an expert by answering questions within LinkedIn Answers.

The bottom line is that it’s very important to maintain a LinkedIn profile for your organization.  Without LinkedIn you would be missing out on many opportunities and brand recognition by not having a profile. Sometimes all it takes is a few extra minutes a day updating your LinkedIn profile and responding to people. Those few extra minutes will help you and your organization greatly.

To learn more about LinkedIn simply watch this video:

{Sarah}: Working in Berlin can be very slow and patience-testing, but God’s timing is always perfect.  Then moments like these come along:  “Can I come to church with you in the morning? I’ve never experienced or heard about God’s love like this before!”…It’s been encouraging as we come together, showing the women what it is to be delicate and treasured, to see how God has been working through these new relationships.  He reminds me: be yourself, be bold, have fun, allow me to work in and through your gifts and talents – trust me for fruit!

To read more about how God is using Ben and Sarah to build his Kingdom in Germany please click here!

• Please pray that God would give each member of our family at least one good friendship here, and that we’d be “salt and light” among the other internationals we’ve met here.
• Pray for continued grace from God in the ongoing trial (postponed AGAIN in February) from the building collapse in late 2007. We want God to be glorified by a fair trial and justice for Pastor Sasho and the Kumanovo church.
• Pray for God’s Spirit to move here!

We continue to progress in learning the language, and are able to get a lot of basic things done using only Macedonian. However, being able to “get around” Macedonia has not just meant that we’ve needed to learn how to talk here, but we’ve also needed to learn how to drive! Unlike in the U.S., the vast majority of cars here, including the vehicles the C&MA has purchased for use here in Macedonia and Kosovo, have manual transmissions. We came not knowing how to drive a “stick,” therefore I (Rob) went back to school—Auto School!…..Read more!

The situation has evolved quickly over the past three days.  Saturday there was very little communication except by battery operated radio, for the majority of Chile’s population.  By Sunday we were becoming more aware of the damage in our own areas, some 200 miles north of the epicenter, and only on Monday was information beginning to flow regarding the extent of the damage in the Concepción area.

Church Damage:

We are aware of several churches with minor damage and two with significant damage in Chillán and Talca.  There is a Facebook report that the church and parsonage in Curicó have fallen.  The tsunami reached the door of the church in Constitucion and there is nothing left but piles of destruction from the church to the ocean.  There are still a dozen or so churches in the Concepción and Arauco areas from which there has been no word.  National church leaders are traveling today to see their needs.  In a day or two we should know more.  There are no reports of injuries to pastors or their families at this time.

First Responses:

The Chilean Alliance church has called for a national relief offering and the C&MA of the US is also receiving relief funds.  The Cordillera Church in Santiago has sent a truck load of supplies to Constitucion and continues to receive help for that area.  In the southern city of Puerto Montt, the First Alliance Church is collecting goods to send the quake zone.

Good News:

There are thousands of people in the most affected areas who have not been able to make contact with the outside still.  One of our seminary professors, Santiago Garros was teaching at a camp near the beach in Constitucion when the quake and tsunami struck.  Until Monday there was no information about his condition.  We have since learned that he is well.

A Testimony of Miraculous Protection:

Our church in Reñaca was concerned for one of our families who had recently moved to Concepción.  They had only been their two weeks when the catastrophe struck.  Despite all efforts to learn of their condition, we knew nothing until yesterday.  Alex and Rosa Maria were living in a new 15 story high rise near the coast in Concepción, on the sixth floor.  They were asleep when the building began to shake violently.  They ran to their children and we hugging five year old Doménica and one year old Alex when the building fell sideways, crashing to the ground.  They were on the sixth floor of the building that has been seen in news reports around the world.  In total darkness, Alex felt his way through a maze of broken walls and furniture, climbing and descending until he felt fresh air and discovered a rupture in the wall for their escape.  He returned to find his family and a neighbor family to lead them to escape.  His help was also essential for rescue workers to locate other survivors.  ”I thank God I am alive.  It is a miracle of God for my family” were the words we heard from him on national television. We have still not been able to contact them and would know nothing of their miraculous salvation if not for the news report.  In the background of this capture from the TV interview, you can see the openings made by rescuers to search for more survivors.  The numbers by the holes mark the number of the floor.

(prepared by Bob Hepokoski as I don’t have electric internet or phone.)

Each year, 3 million under-five children die because they are undernourished.  Far more children live with undernutrition than die from it. For infants and young children, the effects of chronic malnutrition in the early years of life are largely irreversible.

In the United States, over 49 million people—including 16.7 million children—live in households that struggle to put food on the table. That means one in seven households in the U.S. are living with hunger or are at risk of hunger.

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, they provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities in which we live.

Bread For The World

God’s grace in Jesus Christ moves us to help our neighbors, whether they live in the next house, the next state or the next continent.

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Their partners represent a broad spectrum of church organizations and faith communities—Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox.

Working with Bread for the World—and using the educational resources they provide—will encourage members of your church to address the root causes of hunger. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty. 

To learn more about how Bread for the World might be able to partner with your ministry click here.

Church Mutual Insurance

They are a great resource to check out and see if your insurance is up to par.  However, even if you do not use them for insurance, they offer a tremendous list of free resources for you and your organization.  Some of their offerings include:

• Activity Safety
• Background Screening
• Building and Grounds
• Crime Prevention
• Electrical Safety
• Fire Prevention
• Mission Trips
• Transportation

And so much more.  Now more then ever is a great time to make sure that your organization has the coverage it needs and the resources in place to know you are always protected.  Take a look at all the Church Mutual has to offer and if anything take advantage of their free resources for your organization.

Great Door of Opportunity:  Non-Formal Educators Conference

     In light of the 12,000 new believers that have been ushered into the Kingdom through the Billy Graham “My Hope” project, there is a movement within the Church Body, that we need to train up these young believers, but also the next generation of Leaders within the Church.  A handful of the leaders already in place have all expressed a desire to come together and share what they are doing, and to explore new networks of partnership.  They want to learn from one another, to build upon each others work, and to reduce areas where there might be duplication, and if possible, identify areas of training that have been overlooked.  We are presently seeking out these Leaders with the hope of having a meeting either late April or early June.  God seems to be telling us that “This is the time to set aside our difference and look for areas where we can build up each other.”  

Critical time for Thailand

     On the 26th of Feb. the upper court of the land will be making their decision known regarding $2.5 billion ($US) of assets of a previous Prime Minister that have been frozen.  He still has a very strong following (many of which have been blessed by these assets in the past) that have been preparing for the six months to make noise in the event that the courts ruling is unfavorable.  The present government is doing all they can to assure peace in the country and are trying to limit the amount of damage or disruption.  Many tour companies have been advised to make alternative plans for their tourist, instead of bringing them to Bangkok.
    As one of the Elders in our Church spoke up (a veteran of 45 years of serving in country) – This ‘test’ will be one of the most significant that the country has ever faced.  If the present Government can get through this week, it will stand a good chance of reuniting the country.  If they can not there will be ever greater chances of further rifts within the population.
    I do want to add that there is no concern for our well-being.  Thai people are gracious in nature and would not take revenge out on their westerners or tourist.  Please be praying with us that God will be using this to ‘open their hearts’ to seek “HOPE” in Him and Him alone.  May the Thai Church be prepared to stand up and proclaim Peace and Hope, and Reconciliation.

Have a blessed day, and please be praying for the people of Thailand throughout this week!
  
Bruce & Lori

[Paraphrased]

Churchsafety.com

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Safety information is presented in three easy parts:

• Simple. Free articles that give you a quick overview and provide a basic understanding of the topic.
• Smart. Free resources, including in-depth articles and online assessments, help you determine how well your church addresses the topic.
• Step-by-Step. Premium content—safety downloads with 25-40 pages of how-to articles, assessments, discussion starters, and more. Downloads can be purchased individually ($14.95) or you can purchase an annual membership ($99.95) for unlimited access.

You choose how ChurchSafety.com works best for your church.

 We have some exciting news to share with you… and a very special Prayer Request….  read on!

Before I start, let me be the first one to ask God to Bless you with a prayer from Paul…

A Prayer for the Ephesians  (Chapter 4:14-19)

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family^a in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Blessed Valentines Day – May we be people that over-flow with the Father’s Love….To read more please click here!