ACFA News - Chairman's Newsletter

ACFA Chairman’s Newsletter January 2010

‘Twas a cold and frosty winter's morn… Yes, I’m fed up with it too! A Happy New Year to all ACFA Members!

ACFA Conference 2009 'Matching Money with God's plans'

• From the feedback received from the vast majority of attendees, we had a successful conference with interesting and challenging speakers: Mike Royal (National Director of the charity The Lighthouse Group), Matt Bird (Director of Make It Happen; Director at ABA brand and marketing agency; co-founder of Cross Pollinate), Duncan Parker (Director of Make it Happen Philanthropy) and Mike Ansell (Sales Director for the Louis Group). Plus, of course, the fellowship of meeting other Christians in finance in what has been a challenging year for many, Jesus being the rock on which we stand and depend in all circumstances.
• The 'questions' to ask and 'financial planning solutions' from the Conference case study session have been posted on the Members’ Forum on the ACFA website. These are excellent, and I encourage you to read and use them, comment etc. Another case study will be posted on the Forum very soon for all to contribute to. Might I suggest that you create a shortcut to the Members' Forum on your desktop and make a point of visiting it two or three times a week?

Media and Communication

• A Public Forum, rather like the Members' one, has been set up on the Website. It is hoped that this will drive more traffic to the Site and give the public the chance to ask questions and have them answered. I would ask you to think of any testimonials from your clients that might be posted on the Public Forum (identities kept confidential) to show how Biblical financial planning can positively impact people’s finances and lives. Do let Angela Hardy know if you have any that we could post.
• I gave an interview for Christian Today on the pre-budget and managed to get reference to six of the Biblical Principles of Financial Planning (BPFP) in the piece. The article is can be viewed in the Media section of the ACFA website.
• The second ACFA BPFP article 'Generosity' is now on the Website, also in the media section.
• Angela is investigating Facebook, Twitter and Linked-in to increase ACFA's reach and drive more people to the Website, amongst all the other good things she does.

Membership
Your personal ACFA membership certificate and copies of the BPFP leaflets will be posted to you shortly. We are awaiting a reprint of the leaflet. These leaflets are intended for your use to 'spread the word' amongst your clients and other business contacts.

Please remember the three things I asked of you at the conference:

1. apply (some) biblical principles – to clients and ourselves;
2. tell others (professionals and advisers) about the BPFP and ACFA;
3. meet other ACFA members regionally – it does not matter how many.

Other news

• Graham will be speaking on Premier Radio in the near future as part of the Inspirational Breakfast slot with Chris Sheldon of Kingdom Bank.
• Aidan is planning the next year's conference and continuing his prayer gifting over us as a committee.
• Derek is continuing to run the finances for us and the final accounts for last year will be available on the website in early February.

Please continue to pray for us as a committee that we do His will for ACFA.

Lastly, thanks to David Flowers for spotting the spelling error on my PowerPoint presentation at conference;
"His yoke is light" not 'yolk', although I’m sure that is too! Well spotted David, in fact, eggcellent!

Blessings to all,

Mark Crofts
ACFA Chair