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THE MIDWEST CONNECTION
May 2024
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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
When we talk about being biblically focused, we think about truth. We live in a world where churches are sliding away from historical biblical doctrine and adding new nuances to their statements. Addressing the ebb and flow of cultural shifts is critical and we have seen many issues surface. Sometimes this can be really helpful and sometimes not. The challenge in a broken world is the ever-shifting paradigm of truth, the growing doubt around the trustworthiness of God’s Word and the temptation to make ourselves the final authority of truth because the only truth that matters is our own truth. Read More
Pastor Brad Little, Regional Executive Director
Venture Church Network Midwest
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Pastors & Family Retreat
With the school year beginning to draw to an end, life gets hectic. April 28th through May 1st, the VCN Midwest pastors and their families met at beautiful Camp Lebanon to refresh, realign, and form friendships.
I watched loose affiliations turn into a close-knit family of fellow workers for Christ. Please take time to watch the video that shares more about our time, and make sure to keep your eyes open for our next retreat.
Chuck Babbitt, Youth Pastor
Bloomer Baptist Church, Bloomer, WI
VCNMidwest Youth Ministries Director
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Broken Antler Contentment
I walked through the tall grass on a halcyon rifle season-opening morning. Only
minutes into daylight and these beautiful antlers appeared to be shining like a beacon
on the hillside only 80 yards from my stand. Moments later I was indescribably thrilled
as I walked toward my second whitetail-buck in as many years. This was only my third
deer in my short hunting career, and I was certain this was my largest yet!
I knew when I steadied the cross hairs that this wasn’t a spike or forked horn like my first buck, but the tall grass obscured his antler points and body size. “Oooohh,” I thought to myself as I saw his three points clearly against the pine tree back drop, “this is a good six pointer”. Read More
Pastor Rob Buhl
First Baptist Church, Whitehall, WI
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Tuesday, May 28, 9:00am (CT)
with an alternative repeat session
Wednesday, March 29, 3:00pm (CT)
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WATCH FOR YOUR ZOOM INVITE COMING SOON!
The Purpose of ENGAGE is to address gospel and missional critical issues and challenge our thinking related to pastoral ministry, leadership and the purpose of our churches.
The Goal of ENGAGE is to continue to become gospel-centered, grace driven, biblically anchored churches passionately committed to fulfill the mission of Christ.
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Camp Lebanon in Burtrum, MN has opened up four full time positions, and one part time position. To read more about each position, please click here.
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First Baptist Church
Jackson, MN
First Baptist Church, Jackosn, MI is looking for a Family and Youth Pastor. To read more about the position, please click here
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First Baptist Church, Pekin, IL is looking for a Next Gen/Family Pastor/Director. To read more about the position, please click here
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINDOM
LOVING GOD, LOVING PEOPLE
First Baptist Church of Windom, MN is looking for a Senor Pastor. To read more about the position, please click here.
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Pastoral demographics continue to grow older while fewer are going into pastoral ministry. Financial considerations are often the greatest deciding factor in pursuing a seminary education, and few churches are interested in hiring senior pastors without seminary degrees. There are practical ways to combat this! Moody has partnered with VCN offering a 30% discount on all online resources from Moody Enrich (lay/church training) through their Doctor of Ministry.
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VCN is excited to offer a specialized retirement plan option through GuideStone to pastors and staff of churches in the Venture Church Network family. Read More
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Ministry-focused conversations, financial experience
At Christian Investors Financial we love hearing stories from churches and individuals, and sharing a few of our own. Communication is at the heart of all we do in financial services. Christian Investors Financial is providing faith-based financial solutions that serve Kingdom expansion. Learn more about CIF by visiting our website.
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Mandatory sexual harassment training for employers, including churches, is a growing trend in the United States and its territories. ChurchLaw&Tax
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Board Meeting
by Brian A. Thornstad
Two weeks ago, in a post called, Models of Board Member Ministry, I wrote about the endless variations in expectations and assumptions among incoming board (council, consistory, session, elders, deacons) members.
Working through my post – as a group exercise - can be a helpful way to move from board confusion, disunity and dysfunction to clarity, unity and effectiveness.
I appreciate your positive responses, and among them, I was asked to add my own notes, my own opinions, to the post. So here goes. If you want to interact on this further, send me an email at churchwhisperer@gmail.com or follow this link - https://helpingchurchesthrive.com/category/church-boards-and-staffs/ - to the Boards and Staffs category on the Blog and Archives page of my web site, where I have a number of articles about church board dynamics.
Admittedly, this is a longer-than-usual post. It is written for those who are quite interested in getting the “board thing” right. With that said, here’s that post again, with my notes in italics. If you’re not into this subject, please consider passing this on to a friend who could benefit from it.
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An Israel Trip will be offered March 2-13, 2025
(Flying out of ORD Chicago).
Cost: $4959.00
(Deposits due before Oct. 1, 2024 w/ final payment by Dec. 1, 2024)
Price does not include travel to ORD, in-country lunches, souvenirs, passport fees, travel insurance, or other personal expenses.
If you or anyone you know is interested, please feel free to contact Pastor Andrew Powell at apowell@gracemahomet.org for more information.
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Venture Church Network Midwest
PASTORAL COHORTS
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Central Illinois
To Be Determined
Andrew Powell, Grace Church, Mahomet, IL
217-586-4331
apowell@gracemahomet.org
Iowa
To Be Determined
Location: Creekside Bible Church
Marion, IA
Jay Jentink, Calvary Baptist Church Cedar Rapids, IA
319-396-3233
office@calvarycr.org
Michigan
Thursday, May 16, 2:00pm (ET)
Meeting by Zoom
Allen Grover, Ganson Street Baptist Church, Jackson, MI
517-740-8961 pastorallen@gansonstreet.org
Central Minnesota
Monday, May 20, 10:00am (CT)
Leader: Brad Little
Location - River of Life Church, Hastings, MN
Contact: Dan Vesta
651-468-1045
dkvesta@sbcglobal.net
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Southern Minnesota
To Be Determined
Jackson, MN
Walt Moser, First Baptist Church, Luverne, MN
605-254-3092
PastorWalt.Moser@gmail.com
Wisconsin
Thursday, May 23, 11:00am (CT)
Pizza Ranch - Eau Claire
Rob Buhl, First Baptist Church
Whitehall, WI
715-538-4246
robbuhl@gmail.com
VCNMidwest Youth Pastor Collaboration
Monday, May 13, 10:00am (CT)
Meeting by Zoom
Chuck Babbitt, Bloomer Baptist Church, Bloomer, WI
515-230-0774
youth@bloomerbaptistchurch.com
To Be Decided
Northern Minnesota/North Dakota
Ohio
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Venture Church Network Midwest
1410 44th Street, Marion, IA 52302
Dr. Brad Little
Regional Executive Director
blittle@vcnmidwest.org
763-350-4263
Administrative Office
Gina Perry, Administrative Assistant
gperry@vcnmidwest.org
319-830-6478
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All articles and submissions are the view of the individual writer and are not necessarily the official position of Venture Church Network Midwest. | | | | |
