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UMR Annual Meeting
Sept. 25-26
2009 |
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| Triennial |
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July 15-19
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Nov 6-8
Galena, IL
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Dear Dan,
Please take a few minutes and find out some of what God is doing in the Upper Mississippi Region of the North American Baptist Conference.
If you would like to download a PDF file of the newsletter, please click below:
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How is your Vision?
I have to admit that I rarely think about the wonderful blessing of sight-unless I can't find my glasses and my world is a blur. In fact, I don't even notice that my vision is getting progressively worse and a little more out of focus each day-until I have my eyes checked and the doctor shows me once again what 20-20 vision is suppose to look like.
I'm afraid that the same malady of slow blurriness can also be causing a loss of focus in our ministries without us even noticing the subtle change. That is why it is good for each church and person in ministry to take a time of reflection and refocusing as they re-affirm the ministry vision God has given...
Read On |
Village Creek Update
Village Creek Bible Camp is one of the best known ministries across the UMR. Tom & Camie Treptau and their family have been serving at the camp for 13 years. The fruits of their service are visible at the camp and there are many changed lives as a result of their ministry. For the past two years VCBC has been constructing a new dining hall scheduled to begin serving guests this May. This has been a dream for Tom & Camie and they are excited to see it become reality thanks to the gifts and prayers of so many of you. Tom & Camie's lives have changed substantially during the past year as well. They have a new son, Toby, who is now 13 months old. For well over half of 2008 Tom battled an unidentified health issue that put great stress on him and the camp. The illness was finally diagnosed and treated and his health is now almost back to normal. During the month of February Tom & Camie are taking an extended vacation to get some needed rest before the camping season hits full gear. Pray that they will be refreshed and return fully recharged to continue their ministry at VCBC. Visit Village Creek's Website |
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Regional Leadership Team
 The RLT met January 29-30 at Village Creek Bible Camp to pray and seek God's will for our region. If you would like to see some of the goals and plans that were made, please follow the link below.
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Retreating to Grow  Victor Baptist Church has for the past several years planned a leadership retreat. It is a time for the church leadership to pray, dream and plan for the coming year. The retreat normally takes place at a local Christian camp, and is a chance for the leadership to pray and examine the church's current health and listen for God's desired plans for the coming year.
This year the retreat added a welcomed addition. Our Regional Minister, Tim Blackburn joined the retreat and walked the leadership team through part of the new leadership training material from EQUIP International. It has just recently been made available to our NAB churches and is an inexpensive leadership training material alternative. If you would like know more about the EQUIP material or would like to have Tim meet with your church's leadership, please contact Tim.
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UnChristian  The Iowa Pastor's super cluster met together Thursday, February 19. The super cluster meets once every three months and is a chance for the pastors from all over Iowa to get together and enjoy some good fellowship. This month the group also agreed to read and then discuss the book UnChristian by David Kinnamin and Gabe Lyons. The book contains research into the perceptions of sixteen-to twenty-nine-year-olds have concerning Christians. The book contains six reasons these negative perceptions exist.
The book is at times affirming, at times troubling, and often challenging. The group discussed what we as Iowa churches can maximize our effectiveness to reach the younger generation in our families, our churches, and our communities. Tim Blackburn led the discussion. |
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Coming and Going around the UMR |
 Dennis and Sheila Ingolfsland Dennis Ingolfsland as new pastor at VALLEY VIEW in SHAKOPEE. Dennis is a member of that church and a prof at Crown College. |
 Jerry and Monie Fluth
We welcome Jerry Fluth again as interim pastor, this time at MINNETRISTA in ST BONI. Pray for Jerry and Monie as they guide this church through much transition. |
 Gary Karas
Oak Street Baptist in Burlington, IA has its new pastor. Gary began his new ministry on February 1. The Karas' come to us from Lyons, KS where he has served as Sr Pastor of an ABC church for the past 10 years. They have two married children. They will be officially installed at Oak Street on March 8th. |
 Mark Jaspers
Mark has begun as the Music Minister at Faith Baptist in Mpls, MN. Mark comes from our NAB church in Beulah, ND and is a very gifted musician. He comes from an NAB pastor family and is already getting connected in his Faith family working with Sr Pastor Kerry Bender. |
 7th Street church
Pastor Paul Haugen reports that the 7th Street church in LaCrosse, WI has voted to accept an offer on their building by an Evangelical Free Church that is without a building but ministers in the same neighborhood as 7th Street. Other decisions as far as ongoing ministry are yet to be made. Pray for this congregation as they seek God's plan for their future. | |
God Bless,
Dan Andrews
Regional Leadership Team
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