Debbie Fortnum
SINGER - SONGWRITER - SPEAKER - WORSHIP LEADER - PIANIST
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Deb's Encouraging Words / BLOG New Songs by Deb
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Missions Guestbook Photo Greeting Cards
Contact Far Away FUNDRAISING
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www.meisoc.com/chilliwack -- Although MEI stands for Mennonite Educational Institute, the name simply represents the quality of Christian education that the Mennonite community has offered to their children for generations. Scott Fortnum was recently appointed as Chairman of the Steering Committee, a group of parents who are helping to give Godly guidance and leadership to this small, but dynamic school, grades K-9.
www.solideoballet.com -- One of Debbie's favourite dancers (from Ontario) who just started her own company! Carolyn often accompanies Debbie while she ministers in the Greater Toronto area. Check out the videos on her site where she is dancing to Debbie's Easter Morning Sunrise... or this YouTube clip of Debbie and Carolyn's TV Appearance on 100 Huntley Street:
YouTube - Easter Morning Sunrise
www.LisaAdrianne.com -- Far Away Music Canada's first artist! Debbie has co-written two of her songs on her debut CD "Carry On" which is beginning to make waves in the Christian Music Industry in Canada. "Carry On" was nominated for a total of SIX Canadian Maja Awards! (Pretty good for your first crack at things, eh?!)
www.donnasmallenberg.com -- One of Debbie's favourite painters from BC!
www.sealionrob.com -- Deb's Chilliwack, BC artist friend who is called to 'go into all the earth' ministering to people with his music -- and he is doing just that!
www.chrisjanz.com -- Debbie's gifted Producer, friend and Abbotsford, BC artist...
www.drawnearmusic.com -- Tia Ciferno is a USA friend, a beautiful Singer / Songwriter / Speaker and mother of four!
http://www.debbiezepick.com/ -- Debbie Zepick is a Canadian friend, mother of two, piano/voice teacher, home school teacher, recording artist and songwriter!
www.photistry.com -- Curtis Cunningham created the artwork for Debbie's "To Love and to Be Loved" CD...
http://www.helmasawatzky.com/index.html Helma Sawatzky created the artwork for Debbie's Christmas Piano CD!
www.regent-college.edu -- Where Scott is getting his Master's Degree
http://www.ciraa.ca -- Debbie is a member of CIRAA (Canadian Independant Recording Artists' Association) If you are an "Indie", sign up today!
www.aymission.org -- Alliance Youth Missions Website
www.CDmanufacturing.ca /
www.ExoMediaInc.com /
www.wowCD.ca ExoMedia Inc. is Debbie's CD Manufacturing Company in Langley, BC Canada.
Toll Free: 1-877-625-3462
www.gffyac.org -- The little / big country church where Scott and Debbie were called to minister together from 1996 to 2006 -- TEN special years!
www.edigermedia.com -- Purchase some other great Northwest Christian Speakers
MESSAGES on Cassette and CD's! Ediger Media recorded Debbie's first LIVE CD
Series entitled, "BECOMING ALIVE IN THE STORM" at "The Firs Conference Center" in Bellingham,
Washington, USA this past October, 2005. Those CD's are available right here on the Buy Debbie's Music Page, but check out their site to see if there are other CD's you'd like to order from them!
www.mentoringofmothers.com -- Debbie's friend & former Women's Ministry Assistant at Yarrow Alliance Church (Kelly Rader) is now the Founder / Director of the Mentoring of Mothers Society, a purely Canadian ministry to MOMS! If your church is interested in implementing this program into their women's ministry, check this site out and give them a call today!
Home | Buy Debbie's Music | News and Reviews | Listen to Music | Biography | Photos |
Calendar | Booking Debbie's Ministry Deb's Encouraging Words / BLOG New Songs by Deb
Industry Professionals Page Letters of Reference Dr. Andrew Murray ('Grandpa Andy') Links
Far Away Missions Far Away Friends Guestbook Page Debbie's Photo Greeting Cards Contact Us
Far Away Music Canada | Box 7 Station Main, Chilliwack, BC | V2P 6H7 CANADA
FarAway Phone: 604 793 4580
FarAway Fax: 604 793 4510
E-mail: Info@FarAwayWorship.com
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Did you know that nearly 1 in 2 people live with a chronic illness? Though you may feel like your women's ministry is doing an adequate job of meeting the needs of those with illness, it's unlikely because you may not even know who is sick. About 96% of all illness is invisible and many people are reluctant to share their struggles.
Sept 10-16, 2007 is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and it's sponsored by Rest Ministries, the largest Christian organization that serves the chronically ill. Here are six simple ways to encourage those who suffer silently, and get your women's ministry involved, despite those back-to-school to-do lists.
To encourage those who you know are ill:
1. Ask everyone to come up with one thing they can commit to providing in the next year for anyone with an illness. Could a woman take someone with her when she gets her hair done? Or stock up on pretty paper plates and napkins for a chronically ill friend who is having meals delivered, but can hardly do the dishes? You can find many creative ideas in Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend.
2. Make "JOY" coupons to give to chronically ill friends who find it hard to ask for help. JOY stands for "Just Offering You _____" and fill out what you can do.
3. Fill "Care Baskets" at each table during your events for different people who are hurting (the ill, newly diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, the divorced, etc.). Remember to add fun items too like your favorite Veggie Tales DVD. Have each woman write a note to attach to her item to make it more personal, even if it's anonymous. For example, add a pretty hankie with a note that says, "It is okay to cry, but you should do it in style."
To encourage those who have illnesses you don't know about:
1. Provide resources so that those with illness know their church is there when they need it. Freshen up the church library and staff resource directories with magazines like HopeKeepers or Arthritis Today and Guideposts in Large Print. Stock it with illness devotional books, Bible studies and tracts. Request your church bookstore manager to do a display of encouraging books for those with illness. (See www.restpublishers.com for resources.) Have Invisible Illness Week cards in the foyer.
2. Ask people with illness to share their testimonies to encourage others. Have articles in the church newsletter. Partner people together who have any illness to encourage each other, and possibly start a small group like HopeKeepers.
3. Encourage the chronically ill to stay involved in the church and allow them to serve in leadership whenever they can. They have many gifts such as writing understanding encouragement notes, taking event photos, or helping with the church web site. Often they withdraw because they no longer can serve in the ways they once did and this leads to loneliness and depression. Invisible illness impacts nearly every family. The divorce rate among the chronically ill is 75% and 60% of suicides have uncontrollable physical pain as a influencing factor. Many people sitting beside us look healthy, but they go home to heating pads, medication and deep depression. Remember, it's not the size of the ministry you build to reach out to them, or even the presents, but your consistent presence in their lives that will make all the difference.
Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and can lead you to dozens of resources through her ministry to encourage the chronically ill and make your church an even better refuge to those who are hurting. Find more ways to encourage a chronically ill friend by reading an excerpt of Beyond Casseroles.