I want to say to all our pastors, churches and church leaders Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As we walk through this special season together we celebrate Jesus, the Gospel and God's presence and loving care. May God Bless your ministry, families and communities. Let us continue to give God Glory and praise. 

- Garvon Golden
On Track for a Record Year
As we approach the end of 2017 we want to praise God for how he has blessed our churches in a financial way. We are on track to set another yearly giving record for the Cooperative Program. As of November we have received over $360,000. This is $25,000 above our anticipated Cooperative program budget income for the 2017. It is roughly equal to what our churches gave in 2016 for a period of 12 months. We rejoice in the generosity of our churches and we thank our pastors, churches and church leaders for their faithfulness. 
Church Based Church Planter Catalyst Update
We would like to bring you up to date about some changes that have taken place concerning leadership of our church planting team here in the Dakotas.
 
Beginning in 2016, we moved from a Church Planting Catalyst for the entire convention to two part-time Church Planting Church Based Catalysts serving the Convention and working with Buck Hill and our church planters.  Doug Hixson, one of those Church Based Church Planter Catalysts, left the Dakotas in September to serve as Mission Director for the Southern Baptists of Texas.  That left us with one Church Based Church Planter Catalyst, Stephen Carson, who serves Connection Belle Fourche.
 
In consultation with Steve Bass, Vice President of the Midwest for NAMB, and Matt Marrs, our Mission Mobilizer, it was jointly decided that the Church Based Church Planter Catalyst position would not be filled in the immediate future.  We will continue with Stephen Carson serving as a Church Based Church Planter Catalyst for the West and Buck Hill will cover the East.  Buck will continue to serve as Director of Missions for the Convention.  However, more of his time will be spent in church catalyst activity on the Eastern side of North and South Dakota.
 
We will monitor how this works and reassess where we are in September of 2018.  God continues to work in the Dakotas.  Since September, we have had an influx of inquiries from individuals who have an interest in coming to the Dakotas to work in church planting.
 
We are grateful for our partnership with the North American Mission Board and our church planting commitment for the Dakotas.
Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop
Fargo, ND
 
April 11-13, 2018
 
Meeting place TBA
You can do it!  Sturgis Bike Giveaway
In September at our Baptist Gathering, I set out a vision of what I plan to lead the Dakota Baptist Convention in the next 2-5 years.  As I introduced this vision, I told a story about hearing David Platt explaining how he wanted to change the perception that "We [IMB] can do it, you [local church] can help" to "You [local church] can do it, we [IMB] can help."  I believe this is what we need to say.  We do not want to do it and drive everything we do and invite the churches to join us.  We want churches to determine what God wants them to be engaged in and we, the convention, want to help.
 
In considering this, I have been doing an audit of what are some things that we as a convention are driving in events and activities and asking churches to help us.  In an effort to turn this around, I want to talk to you about the Sturgis Rally Bike Giveaway.
 
This ministry has, for the last 13 years, been effective and has had a nationwide impact.  This ministry was started and continued to be driven by the Convention staff.  We have said to the churches of the Dakotas, "We can do it, you can help."  This ministry has and the Sturgis model has been used by biker ministries, churches and conventions and has resulted in hundreds of salvations.  In Sturgis alone, we have seen over 7,500 people who have prayed to receive Christ.
 
With this in mind, I am asking leaders of the Dakota Baptist Convention to help us reverse how the Sturgis Bike Giveaway ministry is being implemented.  I would like to move away from this ministry being driven by the Convention and transition it to leaders in our churches that sense a passion, commitment and desire to lead and drive it from the field.  I would like to come to the point where we are truly saying, "You can do it, we can help."
 
So here is what I am asking you to do:
 
  1. Pray that God will raise up individuals in the Dakotas that will share a passion and commitment to lead, plan and implement this ministry.
  2. If God is speaking to you about leading in this ministry, contact me and let me know by email (garvon@dakotabaptist.com) or phone (605-877-1163 or 605-716-0130).
  3. If you let us know your interest by May 1, we can include you in the final preparation and implementation of this ministry for this year and continue the transition into 2019.
  4. We are looking for 2-3 individuals that feels led to lead this ministry.
- Garvon Golden
Midwest Advance
Midwest Advance is a unique training and equipping opportunity that comes around every three years and it is just around the corner once again. On January 23-25 in Springfield, IL, people from across the Midwest will come together for a time of fellowship, worship, and learning. The Dakota Baptist Convention has partnered with the other conventions in the Midwest to put together this event for you. This is a chance to meet with and learn from people who minister in settings much like ours. This isn't just for pastors, it is designed to help equip and encourage all the leaders in our churches. Go to MWAdvance.org to see all the available breakout sessions and speakers who will be at this year's event as well as video from some of the breakouts at the event in 2015.

We are providing ground transportation and hotel rooms for this event for those who would like to participate. We are planning to leave from around the Dakotas on Monday the 22nd and return to the Sioux Falls area by the evening of the 25th, with most folks getting back home on the 26th. Specific travel details to and from Springfield will be confirmed soon. While the official deadline to register for Midwest Advance passed last week, I have been in contact with our partners in Illinois who are coordinating registration for the event and they have told me that there is still some space available for late registration. I believe God has something in store for each person who makes the time to attend this January. If you would like to take part, there is still time to do so. Please contact Jeff Musgrave today at 701-818-8801 or email at jeff@dakotabaptist.com if you would like to register. Time is running out to take advantage of this opportunity.