Great Plains Region Briefing

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

The cardboard sets used by Hollywood may, at first glance, appear authentic. If careful attention has been paid to detail, they provide a convincing illusion of reality. We can easily imagine real stores behind the painted storefronts, behind them real back alleys, and beyond them rows of real, tree-shaded streets lined with real houses. But a strong gust of wind quickly proves their fragility. They have neither foundation nor depth to support them in a storm of any severity.

How can we be certain that our faith is not equally illusory? How may we acquire certitude that our religion is not merely a matter of words, of easily mouthed professions, of mumbled confessions of faith?

That is the purpose of trials. We may greet them with undiluted joy because they test the authenticity of what we say we believe. Adversity alone—at least in the life of faith—reveals what is real and what is mere make-believe. That’s something we need to know.

We should not expect, however, to weather life’s trials entirely unscathed. If the truth be told, some of the workmanship that has gone into our spiritual lives is a bit shoddy. We’ve sometimes built—like the foolish little pigs of yore—houses of sticks and straw. When the winds of adversity blow, such houses cannot stand. That’s as it should be. It’s only when what has been carelessly constructed is swept away that we can build something of lasting value in its place.

Let us not become disheartened by hardship. Instead, let’s endure it with steadfast faith. Life’s storms may tear away shutters and shingles, shatter windows, and splinter doors. This won’t be pleasant. Sometimes, all we’ll be able to do is merely survive. But that, in itself, is a spiritual triumph. Perseverance, after all, means hanging on—sometimes only by the fingernails.

But when all is said and done, those who have been tempest-tested, know the quality of their faith. And those who have been fully tested become fully mature “not lacking anything,” confident in their faith, and able to please God in every way.

-- Pastor Andy

Family Camp registration is open now through July 20.

We are excited to have Dr. Hubert Harriman coming in to share each evening. His teaching will focus on discovering God in today's world. Andy Petro will teach each morning. We're also happy to have Jeremy and Mindie Tice coming in to share with the use and as our missionary focus. Various worship teams from around the Region will be leading worship throughout the week.

It looks to be an excellent time of teaching mixed with great fellowship and fun activities. We hope you'll consider joining us!

Would your church be interested in hosting a remote site for Prayer Awakening?

The 7th Annual Prayer Awakening Conference is happening September 16-17. Along with the main location in Fort Wayne, remote sites are set up across the denomination where regional leaders can gather to hear the messages and pray together. If your location would be interested in hosting a remote site please email greatplainsregion.mc@gmail.com

2024 SPEAKER: Dr. Bob Bakke

A graduate of Taylor University and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Bob spent 14 years serving Connecticut and New Jersey churches, 12 years as an Executive Director of the Evangelical Free Church of America (promoting prayer and spiritual awakening), before assuming leadership of Hillside Church. He is an historian, a published author, and a producer of national simulcasts. Over the course of nearly 25 years, Bob produced The Nationally Broadcast Concert of Prayer; on the evening of the National Day of Prayer, as well as the Global Day of Prayer, a movement he helped found.

1. Last month the General Oversight Council voted unanimously to amend our policy for how churches calculate the 2% that each contributes to the national ministry of the Missionary Church through an Investment in Shared Ministry (ISM). Effective immediately, churches are no longer expected to give 2% of all income (including building funds, missions offerings, bequests, etc.). Rather, churches will simply contribute 2% of their regular tithes and offerings to ISM for the support of national ministry. This decision was made to ensure donor intentions were being honored when designated gifts are given to your church, while also building a culture that ISM is not a tax but rather all of our churches sharing equal portions in generosity to support the work and expansion of our national movement. Additionally, churches may continue to choose whether their 2% is calculated based on last year’s tithes and offerings to budget equal monthly ISM contributions for this year or, as most churches have chosen, simply calculate 2% of last month’s tithes and offerings and contribute that amount to ISM this month. Churches may give their ISM online or via check.

2. We are strategically targeting every state of our nation with prayer and intentionality by redrawing regional boundaries in a way that will more naturally provide leadership in those states that have very few or no Missionary Church congregations. Last week the Northwest Region voted unanimously at their annual conference to become a mission district of Vinia (Western Region) as part of a seven-year plan to see their six churches multiply and re-establish a healthy, thriving region. Six other regions will be adjusted, only affecting states where no churches currently exist, as each region works together to implement a church multiplication strategy. I’m excited to announce these changes to you soon once each region has had a chance to do so to their churches first!

-Rodney Arnold

President

Missionary Church

We have had a super busy month in May! Lots of improvements and work done this month:

• Work had begun on our new retaining wall for the pool
• We have a new handrail around the motel
• Porch repair on the main house
• Gym roof repair is scheduled to begin soon
• The family suite is now available with new bunk beds and a new queen size bed
• We have beautiful flowers planted throughout the camp
• The motel rooms have new floors
• We have added a shower to the restroom in the lodge

We have hosted several camps this month:

• For the first time, we hosted two camps at the same time (Mighty Men of Valor of the Midwest District of the Assemblies of God, and Kansas CFO) and it was a super success! For extra fun our electricity was out for about three hours during one of the days. Our team worked together and the campers were super patient and all went well.
• We hosted a middle school group from Mt. Pleasant Community Church.
• We also had one of the biggest family reunions we have seen so far (almost 300 total family members).

We are up to almost 400 followers on our Facebook page (Timber Lakes Kansas) Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening here at Timber Lakes.

June is full and we are looking forward to hosting the Region's youth, the Church of Christ group, Regional children’s camp, and the Royal Family Foster group. Be sure to visit and support the Gift/Snack Shop while you are here.

Please continue to pray for our staff here at Timber Lakes.

Jeremy and Mindie Tice, who are teaching at Children's Camp and leading the youth at Family Camp, were part of this recent article from the National Office. Take a minute to get to know them!

Team Tice: From Bethel to the World (and Back Again)

By the time Jeremy and Mindie Tice graduated from Bethel College (now Bethel University) in 2000, they had become deeply convicted about their missionary call.

In fact, some of Jeremy’s professors had previously prevented him from quitting school to start engaging the unreached indigenous tribe in Venezuela he longed to serve. But in the end, he and Mindie both completed their degrees, got married, and joined the World Partners team of missionaries.

Instead of Venezuela, however, the Lord led them on an amazing journey as career missionaries to live and bear witness with their growing family in unexpected places, namely, Guinea, Senegal, France, and Germany. But perhaps the most unexpected place the Lord would call them to serve came in 2023 — Mishawaka, Indiana.

With the pending retirement of Bill and Debbie Jones, World Partners Missionaries in Residence at Bethel University, World Partners leaders were earnestly praying about the next era at Bethel. They sensed the Tices might be part of the Lord’s answer.

In late 2022, the World Partners leaders asked the Tices to pray about returning. At first the veteran missionaries, who always saw themselves serving abroad, were not inclined. But after several months of prayer, the Lord clarified the call. Once again, Jeremy and Mindie surrendered their own notions of how, where, and to whom their calling would unfold.

In July 2023, they sold their belongings (again) and returned from Germany to the place where their missionary call first crystalized. Now, just one year later, over 25 Bethel students with varying degrees of mission interest are actively exploring their own missionary call under the wise and loving covering of Jeremy and Mindie Tice.

“At first, we expected to really have to push global mission engagement with students,” says Jeremy, “but we soon discovered the Lord was already at work — it’s crazy how many students are sensing a call.”

As a result, the Tices are personally shepherding these students and helping their missionary calls to crystallize at Bethel, also. In so doing, they are partnering with Bethel professors and administration to raise up the next generation of missionaries the Lord is calling into a new era of global mission.

Hope Missionary Church-Clatonia, NE

Clatonia is currently looking for a co-vocational pastor to lead a restart/revitalization of a recently adopted UMC congregation. To visit their website go here.

Applications can be send to Andy Petro.

Northwind Church, Keewatin, MN

Northwind Church is looking for a Lead Pastor/Bi-vocational of a three year old church plant in Northern MN. To visit their website go here.

Please send resume to Tim Maki.

1. Members of the new finance team would be clear.

2. Pastoral Cohorts would form and deeper connections would be made.

3. Complete the adoption of incoming churches.

4. The development and implementation of an internship program to develop young leaders.

5. Pray for disciples to be made and disciple-making communities & churches to be formed in North Dakota.

JUNE PRAYER FOCUS — WALK AS JESUS WALKED

PERSONAL REFLECTION — MAKE YOU COMPLETE: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

• The Lord’s desire is to make you complete in every good work to do His will.
• He wants to work in you what is well pleasing in His sight.
• Where does He need to work in you to make you complete to do His will?
• Take some time to ask Him to reveal those areas that need His attention and surrender those to Him.

*We want to join you in prayers of rejoicing and need. Please send any requests to greatplainsregion.mc@gmail.com or text +1-844-463-7808 to have items included here.

Email: greatplainsregion.mc@gmail.com
Website: greatplainsregion.org
Phone: (402) 840-5056
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Midwest-District-of-the-Missionary-Church-152079684836953