LARRY LIEBE, DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
In recent months much of my time has been spent in the area of church revitalization.  There is a great amount of interest, both from our smaller struggling churches as well as our larger churches that want to help.  In the past, if a church continued to struggle with small attendance and a lack of finances they would typically close.  My approach is that we have one church in nearly 200 locations, thus we all work together to strengthen the body.
 
When asked by a struggling church if they would lose their identity, I usually say, "yes".  You might say, "really"?  I respond, "Wouldn't you rather be identified as a flourishing church?"  I believe health is important. When what you are (or are not) doing isn't working, something needs to change.

Click on an image below for details.
RICH LEMBERG, DISTRICT SECRETARY
We are looking forward to District Summit, April 23-25 in Oshkosh.  You will find more info on our website ( http://www.wnmdsummit.org/) .  We have some great speakers coming this year and, of course, we are anticipating a dynamic credentialing service on Tuesday night.

NETWORK SUMMIT BUSINESS SESSIONS                                                     
Here is some of the business that will be conducted in the 2017 Summit
  1. Election of the Network Executive Secretary
  2. Election of two Executive Presbyters
  3. Election of an Ethnic/Language Presbyter (Separate caucus immediately following the Tuesday afternoon session.)
  4. Nominees to be submitted to the General Council in session from our District   
    a. Under 40       
    b. African-American       
    c. Two Nominees for the North Central Region Executive Presbyter
Any Resolutions submitted for consideration can be found on the wnmdsummit.org website under the MEDIA tab.

BEST PRACTICES for PASTORAL COMP/TAXES
We are currently planning on conducting several Pastoral Comp/Tax and Best Practices seminars this fall.  These dates will be coming out soon.  Our auditor, Scott Larsen, will be sharing in these seminars.

WEBINARS         
There are many online webinars out there for training and growth.  Here are a couple that may be of interest for pastors and boards.

For more than 100 years, the Assemblies of God has placed sacrificial missions giving and planting healthy churches throughout the world.  Prayer and soul winning has been our reason for being.  It is because of the emphasis on prayer and missions that the Assemblies of God numbers nearly 70 million world-wide.  To God be the glory!

As a district, our vision and focus remains the same...

WORLD MISSIONS      


T en years ago the Wisconsin-Northern Michigan Ministries Network had sent out 21 missionaries throughout the world.  Today 41 are being assigned throughout the world.  Because of issues of sensitivity, I will refrain from printing the names of our WNM World Missionaries, but please take note of the regions of the world where the local churches of Wisconsin and Northern Michigan have made kingdom investment through giving and sending.  They are:

CHURCH PLANTING
...an additional 100 healthy, missions giving, sending and loving churches are being planted within the next 10 years.  Our present number of churches within the Wisconsin-Northern Michigan district would be hard-pressed to support 100 missionaries.  We need to plant healthy, missional churches.
US MISSIONS
It has been my privilege and honor serving all of our US missionaries who minister within the Wisconsin-Northern Michigan district.  Each is an integral part of establishing God's kingdom in our district. 
 
God's heartbeat for missions starts with the local church and then to the ends of the earth. 

Because of the heart and passion that you demonstrate for missions, in 2016 $1,552,472.67 more was invested in soul winning both at home and abroad.

Tru Fire is a newly created digital curriculum developed by My Healthy Church. What I really like about this curriculum is how it does create space for the Holy Spirit to speak to the heart of boys and girls where they are at.

It is broken up into 4 elements:                       
  • Tru blessings - Nursery Students
  • Tru Wonder - Pre-School Students
  • Tru Story - Elementary Students
  • Tru Identity - Middle School Student
Some of the elements that make this curriculum exciting are it's Seven Family Ministry Essentials:

We are off to a great start in 2017.  Our Speed-the-Light tour has come
to an end and it has been so exciting to have missionaries Kevin & Noel Miller and Michael Kramer share with our students about the value of STL.  Generosity needs to be at the core of ALL believers.  Last year's giving was over $211,000.  This coming year is full of opportunity as God keeps calling missionaries out of our great network to reach the lost!  We are also in the middle of Winter Retreat season.  There are three regional retreats (North, South and Central) that groups can attend.  Terrence Talley and Brent Silkey are speaking life and encouragement into our students!  It is so great to connect and pursue God together.  These things keep us chasing the vision of StudentMin:  To lead Gospel centered, Spirit empowered students who will personally be responsible to live and love as Christ did!  I'm honored to serve with these leaders and students.

Our team is continuing to work hard and lead passionately.  I would encourage you to reach out to Dan Herod (Youth Alive)
and Joshua Ernst (Chi Alpha).  There are many exciting things happening that would be encouraging to you and your church.  Chi Alpha is experiencing some explosive
growth and we are in the process of rewriting the story of Wisconsin and Northern Michigan college ministry.  It was just a couple of years ago we were wondering about the future of Chi Alpha.  Thanks so much for your investments in these ministries. 

Impact School of Leadership continues to train students
who are joining us on the Wisconsin/Northern Michigan team after they graduate.  Please connect with us if you have potential students or needs at your church.  We love to help wherever we can.  Three out of four churches do 

Spring Forward

T he seasonal winds are blowing and the tug of war between winter and spring is on! 
 
We are looking forward to a wonderful spring and summer season as we prepare the campus for ministry. As we size up projects and prioritize our to-do lists, we know there is only one way Spencer Lake and Assembly Park will be successful long term - through continued partnership with our churches. 
 
Our primary mission and heartbeat is to serve our churches by providing campuses that are ready for use in ministry to touch lives of all ages. Every dream and project we have related to these two great locations is connected by one thread of purpose - to see lives changed forever from an encounter with Jesus Christ. 
 
It was awesome to see the District's Youth Winter Retreat on campus this month. Over 215 young people gathered to get charged up for the New Year with vision and passion for a life fulfilled in Him. 
 
We are excited to see 2017 unfold from retreats to camps and everything in between. We look forward to seeing you this year!
Special Thanks To Our District Leadership for Literally Building into Camp
We  extend a special thank you to the District leadership for reviewing, partnering, and investing into the camp this past winter with an amazing pole barn to fit both the camp's maintenance needs and needs the District has for storage.