05/13/2024
It’s incredible to see what the Lord has done through Mission Igniter since its launch in 2017. In partnering with four different FMC Annual Conferences, we’ve helped plant 42 new churches collectively. We’ve trained hundreds of pastors and church leaders in the principles of church multiplication, and we’ve helped mobilize more than $6 Million for church planting! What an incredible thing.
With any growing movement, shifts and changes must be made to accommodate future growth and opportunities. Mission Igniter is no different. We want to share with you some upcoming shifts and developments and invite you to join us in praying, working, and leaning in for greater kingdom multiplication in the months and years ahead.
Dustin’s Relocation: With the added partnerships on the West Coast, the volume of Mission Igniter work in this region has grown significantly over the past several years. As we have prayerfully discerned how best to serve and support this growing opportunity, Megan and Dustin have felt that our relocation to the Northwest for the next couple of years could strategically help get the needed team in place to serve multiplication in this region while still allowing Dustin to fulfill my role as the Executive Director of Mission Igniter.
Erick Ewaskowitz: As was announced recently, Erick has been nominated to be the North Michigan FMC Superintendent. To accommodate this exciting new role if elected, Erick will be shifting from full-time with Mission Igniter to part-time (1/4 time). He will serve as the Director of Coaching for Mission Igniter and will continue with this portion of his previous role.
Megan Weber: Megan will be shifting from her role as Church Planter with Jiran Collective to a Mission Igniter national role of Care and Prayer Mobilization. One of the greatest needs we are finding among planters and pastors is a safe place for them to be cared for. Megan brings to the team a background in pastoral care and will begin working to provide care for pastors and their families as well as mobilize and facilitate the critical role that prayer plays in God’s multiplying movement across the land.
Derik Heumann: Derik joined the Mission Igniter core services team this past year, initially to coordinate MI Services directly to SMC. As of June, Derik will now be the Director of Training for Mission Igniter, coordinating the training and consulting programs that Mission Igniter is delivering across the country. He will give leadership to the Planter’s Journey and the Multipliers Journey training tracks as well as coordinate our Auxano consulting work (Vision Framing and Vision Planning) with local churches. This will be a half-time position which he will do in addition to giving leadership to Evergreen Church.
Dwight Weber: Since 2018, Dwight has served as our primary Church Planter Assessor. During that time, he has added the outstanding TrueWiring Assessment Suite to our services, and Dwight has become a critical part of the planter experience as they discern their call and role in planting. Dwight’s extended work through assessment and debriefing with candidates has provided significant support to planters in their discernment process. Dwight’s passion to help each person find their God-given shape for ministry is evident. Beginning this June, Dwight will be the Director of Mobilization (a half-time role) through which he will give leadership to the recruiting and assessment services facilitated by Mission Igniter. Dwight will continue serving as a Missionary in the Michiana area where he and Julie have been ministering since 2019.
Pray for a Movement! We believe the Free Methodist Church across the USA is on the cusp of significant multiplication. We believe the Church could once again be a multiplying movement like the church of Acts was, like the Methodist movement was, and the Global Church IS today! The need has never been greater, the soil rich for the seeds of an awakening movement. It is our privilege to have a front-row seat to see how God is birthing this movement. We are grateful to be your co-laborers as we labor and sow for a great awakening.
