Great Plains Region Briefing

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

(Rom. 8:11).

Mary Shelly wrote the novel that made her famous at the age of 19. She was vacationing in Switzerland with her husband—the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley—and their mutual friend, the poet John Keats. She undertook the project as a wager, of sorts. The three agreed that they would each attempt to write a ghost story, judging among themselves which was best. No one recalls the stories written by her eminent companions; but Mary Shelley’s story became one of the most widely read novels ever written—Frankenstein.

Several of the Hollywood versions of the story—including the most famous one starring Boris Karloff—have unfortunately succeeded in reducing the novel to a mere horror story, a fate it does not deserve. The novel recounts the efforts of Dr. Victor Frankenstein to create a living man out of inanimate flesh and the terrible consequences of his success. The novel teaches a powerful moral, reminding readers of the penalties incurred when mortals trespass on divine territory.

Why do I even bring this up, you ask? Recently I was reflecting on how often I seem to need to have God animate me anew with spiritual life. I don’t know what it says about me exactly, but I seem to regularly find myself in need of renewal and a fresh infusion of spiritual vitality. It strikes me that—in one important respect—Frankenstein’s monster and I are not all that unalike.

It’s not a flattering picture, but I nevertheless detect in myself a certain resemblance to that misbegotten creature, with both of us assembled from mismatched parts and, likewise, needing a

spark to bring the whole ramshackle assembly to life. Like Frankenstein’s lifeless creature, I find myself dependent upon the genius of my Creator. I have no more power to impart life to myself than Frankenstein’s monster did, as he lay inanimate on the operating table.

But however much I may resemble the Doctor’s monster, my Life-giver has virtually nothing in common with his. Dr. Frankenstein was a man playing God. The One who gives me life is God himself. The difference is infinite! My Creator has the power to bestow eternal life, while Dr. Frankenstein could only give his creature a brief and miserable existence. My Creator births in me love and affection for him. Frankenstein’s monster was filled with rage towards his creator and was bent on vengeance.

Dr. Frankenstein fashioned a monster at war with himself and with the world. The scars that disfigured his body mirrored the scars that marred his inmost self. But my Creator offers me wholeness. I may not experience it every moment, but I sense that I am on the mend. I begin to be at peace with myself and with others. I learn to love and forgive. Wounds heal. Scars fade. By God’s grace I am daily less the monster I was, and more the man God intends me to be.

- 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 youth 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!

Jeremy and Mindie were at Children's Camp and will be returning for Famliy Camp.

As newly appointed World Partners Missionaries in Residence at Bethel University, Jeremy and Mindie Tice are witnessing something special: students who are hungry to serve the Lord.

Before they even settled into life at Bethel in the fall of 2023 after two decades of missionary service abroad, the Tices began to sense the Lord at work among several students. Clearly, students were experiencing the conviction associated with a missional call and desired help clarifying that call.

And so, Jeremy and Mindie got right to work.

First, they engaged relationally. Jeremy and Mindie began filling up their schedules and their dinner table with students who expressed a sense of call. They did so because they personally understand that a missionary call is discerned, not simply decided. Like a Sherpa to Everest climbers, Jeremy and Mindie are expert guides who know the path of becoming a missionary. They lovingly help students wisely navigate their journey to clarity.

Shalyn is one of those students. Her burden to use sign language to share the gospel with the global deaf community is deep. As Mindie mentors her, Shalyn is actively testing this calling by attending a missional sign language conference this year through a Tice contact. Shelby is spending this summer with World Partners missionaries in Rwanda and Bulgaria, and Corryn is traveling to eastern Europe — all opportunities the Tices have brokered for students to explore and clarify their call.

But the Tices don’t stop at current Bethel students.

In fact, they sense that the Lord is calling MCUSA tweens and teens across the country. The Tices believe, in faith, they have a key role to play in helping to amplify and clarify the call of those students as well.

That’s why this summer they are speaking at children and family camps in the Great Plains Region. It’s also why they are partnering with the North Central Region’s Discover Conference for teens. And the same is true for their collaboration with the Central Region NextGen initiative, “Explore the Call” weekend.

“We see Bethel University becoming ground zero again in raising up the next generation of World Partners missionaries,” according to Joe Johns, a World Partners Director. “We can imagine the Tices, along with a team of energized Bethel students, visiting MCUSA youth groups and camps around the country and coming alongside NextGen workers to amplify Jesus’ call.

As usual June has been a very busy time here at Timber Lakes.

We were blessed to host the Regional youth camp, the Regional children’s camp, Church of Christ, and the Royal Family Foster Care group.

Many projects to upgrade and improve our camp are ongoing:

• Work continues to be done on the retaining wall
• The parts have been ordered to repair the gymnasium roof Work is scheduled to begin in July

• The ladders in the dorms are being reinforced
• A LOT of mowing and tending to the beautiful flowers
• Painting of the shop building by the entrance of the camp
• One of our groups coming the end of June is going to power wash the Weeping Waters cabins
• There are plans to paint the new railing on the motel
• Our upper pond has been restocked with blue gill and bass

We have had such positive feedback from our campers so far this summer! Everyone on staff here is blessed to be able to serve here at Timber Lakes. We look forward to a busy and blessed summer.

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening here at Timber Lakes. (Timber Lakes Kansas) We are up to 407 followers now. Several have mentioned how much they enjoy being able to keep up with what’s happening here at Timber Lakes. 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

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.

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.

JULY PRAYER FOCUS —LIVING AS DISCIPLES IN A SECULAR WORLD

PERSONAL REFLECTION — “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Ezekiel 33:7-9).

• We are surrounded by people who are living without Christ. How would the Lord have you intercede on their behalf?

• Pray for opportunities to speak into the lives of those who are walking in darkness.

• Continue to ask the Lord to show you how to walk as a disciple so that those around you might put their trust in Jesus.

• Pray that the people of the Missionary Church will be filled with compassion and hope so that they can share that hope with those who are without Christ.

*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