SOWER Ministry Newsletter January 2026 | | |
Greetings!
Welcome to 2026!
Our God has always been a God of new beginnings and second chances, and what a blessing that is for each of us. As we begin this new year, we are reminded that He is always at work, calling us forward and renewing our hearts and lives. He’s not done with us yet!
As I write this, I’m watching Facebook posts from our members who are packing up and heading south to serve the Lord where it’s a bit warmer. A new year brings new roads, new service opportunities, new adventures, new friends, and lots of fun along the way. Each project is a reminder of how God weaves our individual journeys together into something much bigger than ourselves. We SOWERs are a unique family of brothers and sisters in Christ.
We also want to pause and remember our SOWERs who serve faithfully through prayer. Though you may not travel to a ministry project site, your prayers are a vital part of this ministry. We love you, we value you, and we thank God for the encouragement and strength your prayers provide.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Hebrews 13:8
Encouraged by His Faithfulness
Sharon Hoyt & Stephanie Conrad
Newsletter Team
newsletter@sowerministry.org
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The SOWER Newsletter needs YOU!
Ours is such a unique ministry, serving in so many different places. Most of us may never meet one another, yet we share so much in common—a love of travel and service, and most importantly, our place in the family of Christ. Haven’t you noticed that most SOWERs you meet feel like instant friends? And after serving with them feel like family?
This newsletter is one way we strengthen those bonds—with those we know well and with those we may never meet. Our hope is to highlight mission projects we have never been to, share testimonies of God’s work in places we have never served, and tell stories that bind us together as SOWERs.
Here’s how you can help:
Help us highlight a project: Especially you ARs—if you see a need, let us know. Send a short paragraph about what makes the project special, along with a photo that captures it.
Send us your questions: Sam and Sally need them! We also need ideas about what would be helpful information to include in our Website Tips and Tricks.
Share your beautiful photos: Team photos, project landscapes, fun moments, gatherings with other SOWERs, or Scripture photos—we’d love to see them and add them! Send the full photo file or in jpeg format.
Tell us your stories: About 300 words or less, SOWER-related. Funny, touching, or unique experiences are all welcome.
Share your testimonies: Where have you seen God provide, protect, or work miracles? Testimonies glorify Him and encourage us all. This is so important for our ministry, to publicly praise God for the work He has done for us and through us. It is also powerful to encourage SOWERs and prospective SOWERS to follow the call of God on their lives.
Offer suggestions: How can we make the newsletter better? While we compile it, this newsletter exists to serve you, the SOWER family. And we are a family!
Thank you for helping make this a place where our shared calling and God’s faithfulness shine through!
All stories and photos can be sent to: newsletter@sowerministry. org
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From Where I Sit
by Office Managers Gail Fieler & Katie Gay
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Happy New Year from the SOWER Ministry Office staff! Thank you for allowing us a couple of weeks off during the holidays for much-needed rest and rejuvenation—we truly appreciate it.
We also want to extend a big thank you to all of you who have made a concerted effort to either give or receive Group Leader (GL) training. This training has been invaluable for everyone involved. Please remember to let the office know when GL training has been completed at your project—either by noting it in the Notes section of your GL report or by sending a short email to sowers@sowerministry.org. This information makes assigning SOWERs to projects much easier. Way to go, and thanks again!
Have you learned a new skill or improved an existing one? Purchased a new or different RV? Changed your email or mailing address recently? A great way to start the new year is by updating your skills, rig size, contact information, and more on the Member site under My Account.
A reminder to our faithful SOWERs who joined in 2016: it’s time to renew your background checks. These are required every 10 years. Watch for an email reminder with instructions being sent out soon.
Did you know? You now have the option to sign up as Group Leader or to be placed on the waitlist until someone else signs up as GL. If no one has signed up by seven weeks prior to the project start date, we will contact those on the waitlist who prefer not to be GL to see if they would be willing to step in and help save the project.
One more quick note: if you’ve ever texted or emailed the office phone number and didn’t receive a response, no worries—we aren’t ignoring you! The office phone is a landline, and we don’t have the ability to respond to texts or emails sent to that number. Be sure to email us instead at sowers@sowerministry.org.
Remember, each day is a gift from God—enjoy it to the fullest!
Warmly,
Katie & Gail
| | | | Clicking on the RV will take you to the SOWER website where you can sign onto the Member Dashboard and get "Real Time" updates for our ministry projects' needs, sign up for projects, and maintain your account. | | | |
Blessed to Serve!
Jon and I were not planning on retiring at age 51 but when an offer came in unexpectedly to buy our homecare business, we decided to take the money and run! We immediately said, “OK, Lord, how can we serve you in the second half of our lives?” We have always enjoyed camping and traveling and we both have a heart to “help” wherever we can. So, we looked online and found that SOWERs most closely aligned with our beliefs. While we had a mindset to be a blessing to Christian ministries, we quickly realized that we were the ones being blessed! Many consider retirement as “me time” and doing whatever we want, whenever we want. Of course, we like our vacations and downtime. However, after sitting on the couch for 2 weeks, we find ourselves so antsy and ready to go again! We are most joyful when we are in service to the Lord and we are so thankful to have found SOWERs as a means to that end! On top of that, I feel so very blessed to be able to serve on the Board of Trustees and see how SOWERs is run behind the scenes. I believe there is always room for improvement in any organization, and I have thoroughly enjoyed participating with the Trustees and office staff to help make this already excellent organization even better! We are always open to ideas and suggestions so feel free to reach out if you have any!
To God be the glory!
Linda Senn #3691
| | How about a Minnesota Summer? | |
If you’re looking for a place to serve, grow, and enjoy God’s creation all at once—
Minnesota is calling!
I’m thrilled to share that Minnesota now has four beautiful SOWER project locations available! One brand-new project has been added, and another has joyfully returned to Active status—just in time for summer service.
Our newest addition, Mount Carmel Ministries, is built around the theme “Jesus Only” and focuses on awakening and renewal through God’s Word. Along with solid Bible teaching, the camp offers classic northern Minnesota lake adventures and is located near a popular tourist area. It’s a wonderful place to serve while enjoying warm, sunny days, cool evenings, and the incredible natural beauty Minnesota is known for.
They are requesting six SOWERs from May through September.
Grindstone Lake Bible Camp (MN-453)
Sandstone, Minnesota
We’re excited to welcome Grindstone Lake Bible Camp back to Active status! This ministry is ready to move forward and needs helping hands to bring its vision to life. Nestled on a peaceful lake near Duluth, the camp provides a refreshing setting to work, pray, and help build something that will bless generations of young believers.
Openings available in May and June.
These two camps join Trout Lake Camp (MN-371) and Lake Beauty Bible Camp (MN-523), bringing the total to four SOWER projects in Minnesota. All have openings throughout the summer!
There’s no better time to discover why this state truly shines in the summer—from sparkling lakes and cool breezes to the sweet fellowship you’ll find along the way.
These ministries are doing powerful Kingdom work, shaping the hearts of children and families through Christ-centered camping. What a privilege it is to support them through hands-on service.
Go where God leads—and help build places that lead others to Him. 🤍🛠️🏕️
Carolyn Strausser, #3369
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Have you checked out the Underserved Project List lately?
If you've served at one recently, we'd love to feature it in an upcoming newsletter. So send in some highlights along with a couple of pictures to newsletter@sowerministry.org to help get it OFF the list!
| | SOWER STORIES AND TESTIMONIES | | |
Near Miss, Hand of Protection
In October 2021, we were studying the book of Job through our Community Bible Study and gaining a new understanding over the influence of God’s protection versus Satan's freedom to wreak havoc in the world. We got a taste of this while traveling to our second SOWER project as we pulled into a wide, open parking area adjacent to a grocery store. The entrance off the busy street was rather narrow for our one-ton truck and 34’ rig to pass.
As we left the parking lot, I approached the exit just as a belly dump gravel truck, moving at a precarious rate of speed, turned into the narrow entrance coming head-on to us. There wasn’t room for both of us to pass each other at the exit, so I hit the brakes. What triggered my instinct to slam ‘er into reverse was cause to pause. You see, backing up our fifth wheel rig was a driving skill still in development. I kept backing up as I was judging the distance and the trajectory between us and the gravel truck. The driver of the truck was clutching his wheel, cranking it hard to the right to avoid us, and the look on his face suggested he was in trouble; so were we. I stopped backing up as the driver side corner of the gravel truck missed the driver side corner of our truck by a coat of paint or two. We were spared.
As I reflect on this blur of a moment, all I can surmise is that the brakes must have gone out on the truck. There is no explanation for the rate of speed at which he was traveling to make such a dangerous turn off the road into the parking area. The intensity of the look on the driver’s face was telling. Also requiring explanation is what prevented that belly dump trailer from tipping over and landing on top of our truck. The speed of travel and hard degree of turn might have predicted such a disaster.
I know this cover of protection experienced in that moment. It has watched over me all the days of my life. By far, this time topped them all.
Satan missed.
Skip (Steven) and Anne Stromberg #3756
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Thank you, Skip and Anne for such a powerful reminder that we never travel alone. We may never know how many times the hand of God has saved us.
"But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thes 3:3
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Do you have a SOWER testimony of God's power and protection as you served, a testimony of His miracles? Or a SOWER story to share? Please share it with us at: newsletter@sowerministry.org
| | Seen Recently on Facebook | | Thank you, Karen, for sharing the interesting (and fun!) work that you helped with at Indian Hills Camp (CA-213). It's not often you get to help build a town! There are still openings at this great camp located near San Diego, CA! | | |
Have You Stopped by Our Facebook Group Lately?
Our private SOWER Facebook group is a place to stay connected, share blessings, and encourage one another as we serve the Lord alongside our ministry partners.
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Ministry Facebook Pages
Many of our partner ministries have their own Facebook pages--check them out to stay updated on the places you love to serve.
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Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who has "liked" or "followed" our SOWER Facebook Page -- we now have over 1900 followers! If you haven't yet, head over and give it a thumbs-up to help spread the word about our ministry.
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We’re looking for several SOWER couples to help staff a SOWER booth at the upcoming Escapees Escapade in Fryeburg, Maine, June 14–19. If you are attending the event—or live nearby and are an Escapees member—this is a wonderful opportunity to support and promote the SOWER Ministry. Our goal is to introduce more Christian couples to SOWERs through this outreach. The SOWER Ministry office will provide the display and all marketing materials—we just need the couples! Sign-ups are open now!
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We also plan to host SOWER booths at several Christian Camps & Conference Center Association (CCCA) sectional conferences to promote the ministry and spread the word. The SOWER Ministry office will provide the display and all marketing materials—we simply need SOWER couples who live in, or are traveling through, these areas to help staff the display.
Upcoming CCCA events we hope to support:
• Mid-Atlantic Sectional Conference – Canadensis, Pennsylvania – January 28, 2026
• Minn-E-Dakotas Sectional Conference – Alexandria, Minnesota – February 3, 2026
• Florida Sectional Conference – Polk City, Florida – February 4, 2026
• Michigan Sectional Conference – Hickory Corners, Michigan – March 3, 2026
Please prayerfully consider participating in any of these opportunities to share about SOWERs. Contact Jim Haney (SOWER #3902) for more information and to sign up.
| | Area Representative Update | | |
We are currently in need of an Area Representative(s) for the following California projects -
Contact Jim Haney for more information!
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Let us not forsake gathering together!
SOWER Gatherings - A Time of Refreshing
| | If you are aware of any plans for a SOWER Rally/Reunion/Luncheon, please email janelle.jorgenson@gmail.com with the dates to be included on the 2026 Work Calendar. | | |
French Camp Academy (MS-541) Group Picture - Nov 2025
Bruce & Sherri Hebert (4157), Jerry & Mimi Dykstra (3903), and Tom & Judy Pavlik (4009).
French Camp Academy, located right along the historic Natchez Trace, has openings all year long and has lots of interesting work to do! Check it out!
| | | | This month there are 138 SOWER couples/singles serving at 42 different ministries all around the country. Praise God for all the work that's being accomplished! Check the Member site for information on where YOU can serve! | | |
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Guided by Faith ~ Grounded in Service.
Congratulations to these SOWERs who reached their 100th project milestone in 2025!
John & Bobbie Bonno #3360
Wayne & Gail Fieler #3187
And this couple worked their 150th!
Charlie & Deanna Schoeneberger #2029
"Well done, good and faithful servant[s]!"
You are an inspiration to us all!
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SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERs are doing around the country!
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Dear Sam and Sally,
We’re getting ready to serve at our first SOWER project, and I see that we all share responsibility for leading morning group devotions. I’m a little apprehensive, since I don’t have much experience leading worship or Bible studies. What exactly is involved in these morning devotions?
Signed,
Nervous
Dear Nervous,
You’re not alone — we felt nervous too because we weren’t sure what was expected! Before long, though, we discovered that morning devotions became some of the most meaningful moments of the day.
Each morning begins simply: gathering with fellow believers to lift our voices in praise, open God’s Word, share what He has placed on our hearts, and join together in prayer. It’s a beautiful way to start the day.
When it’s your turn to lead, you can choose what you’re comfortable sharing. That might include:
- A hymn or praise song (our SOWER songbook is a great resource!)
- A short reading from a favorite devotional
- A brief video
- Your personal testimony or a blessing God has given you
There’s no pressure to be an expert or a teacher — just come willing to share and be yourself. These times help us grow closer to one another while beginning each day with corporate worship. You may even find, as we did, that these devotions become something you truly look forward to.
Making a Joyful Noise with you -
Sam & Sally
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Do you have a SOWER etiquette question? Or maybe you'd like some clarification about a policy or rule. Sam and Sally would love to hear from you! Contact them at - samandsally@sowerministry.org
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Newsletter Team
Stephanie Conrad #2509
Sharon Hoyt #3815
Lou Blount #3952
Janelle Jorgenson #3871 (Email maintenance)
There's still room on our team! Contact newsletter@sowerministry.org
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To send in a prayer request or praise item-
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