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Banking Resources Empower Externally Focused Churches October 17, 2007 VISTA, CA—North Coast Church in Vista, California, has been pushing the ministry envelope for years. They pioneered the video venue concept in 1998, creating different worship venues that all presented the same teaching, via video, from Pastors Larry Osborne and Chris Brown, helping to launch the emergence of the national multi-site movement. Now, their multi-site ministry model is being informed and transformed by the externally focused church movement, which is prompting them to push the envelope even further. “As a church family, we are learning the responsibilities and the exciting privileges that come with being a part of God's family,” Pastor Osborne informs visitors to the church’s website. The privilege and responsibility to serve those outside the church are driving forces behind North Coast’s efforts to become more externally focused and lead other churches to do the same. Even as they begin construction on a new 40-acre campus, they are partnering with churches from across the country to champion the externally focused approach that looks beyond the walls of a church’s building for opportunities to have a transformational impact in their communities. Pastor Osborne is one of four speakers at the “Externally Focused Church Conference” being planned for November 5–6 at North Coast Church and November 12–13 at Mountain Christian Church near Baltimore, Maryland. Supporting these efforts behind the scenes is Evangelical Christian Credit Union (ECCU). “God does His transforming work in people for a purpose,” ECCU President/CEO Mark G. Holbrook says. “It’s so that we will in turn do things that have a transforming impact on the world around us.” Holbrook has challenged ECCU’s staff to focus more resources on meeting the needs of the poor and marginalized. As an organization, ECCU is pursuing Holbrook’s challenge by intentionally partnering with externally focused ministries. They provided financing for North Coast Church’s new facilities and are one of the sponsors for the “Externally Focused Church Conference.” Even their positioning statement—Your ministry banking resource.SM—reflects this partnership mindset. For more information about the Externally Focused Church Conference, go to www.externallyfocusedconference.com.
Contact: Jac La
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