SOWER Ministry Newsletter May 2025 | | |
Dear Stephanie,
Does it seem like May has been going by at full speed? There are graduations to attend, weddings to celebrate and new babies to hold and enjoy. The lawn, after a long cold winter, has gone from brown to needing to be mowed overnight, it seems. Starter veggies are showing up at the local home store, and maybe you’ve already planted some of those early spring radishes! Things are picking up speed in the SOWER world, too! The Website team continues to fine-tune and upgrade our Member Dashboard and the office is busy processing new members and keeping track of the rest of us! Our summer projects are also in their busy pre-camp season – making sure their facilities are beautiful and safe so nothing detracts from their goal of sharing Jesus this summer. So before your summer schedule kicks in, take a look at all of the available summer openings. There is nothing like serving at one of our camp projects when it's in full swing! Check 'em out, and sign up! I know you'll be blessed.
So as we wrap up Spring, and plunge full speed into Summer, let us remember who directs our paths, and may you rest in the knowledge of His great love for you!
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26
Giving Him all the glory,
Stephanie Conrad #2509
Editor
stephanie@rvthereyet.org
P.S. Praise the Lord - I'm 'talking' with a volunteer about helping with the newsletter. But I'd love to talk to you about it, too! Give me a call!
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From Where I Sit (Office) by Gail Fieler & Katie Gay
• Group Leader Report Tip - When submitting your GL reports, you can write them as you go and hit the save button. When you are finished with it, you must hit the submit button for it to be sent to our record system and website. Thanks!
Speaking of GL reports, it warms my heart when I read comments like this:
“For two of the couples assigned, this was not the project we had planned to request but ended up on it anyway. The whole team bonded quickly, and all agreed it was one of the best projects we had been on.”
“We couldn’t get into the project we wanted, so took another project assignment only to find that they had a piece of machinery that no one knew how to run. My husband had used that equipment with his uncle when he was a teen and had a great project as well as wonderful memories.”
“I never put on my skillsheet that I could do ….. but when we arrived at the camp they specifically asked if anyone could do ….. Wow! God really does order our steps.
All for our good and His Glory!!
Thank you all so much for serving the Lord through the SOWER Ministry!
Katie & Gail
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Already thinking about Winter 2026?
You will begin to see projects post their 2026 winter requests the last weekend in May. Online signups will begin at 9:00AM (CDT), Monday, July 28. You will not be able to sign up for 2026 projects if you have not submitted your annual registration which will be available online July 1. (You can find the 2026 work dates HERE!)
| | Your 2025 Trustee Nominees | | Watch for resumes in the June/July SOWERGRAM | | |
Greetings from the North Country,
Camp Shoshanah (NY-220) welcomes people of all ages from around the globe to learn and grow in Messianic discipleship each summer. Our campus is nestled in the scenic Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, and we welcome SOWERs in June and July. We have several projects that folks could help with.
1. We are finishing the lower level of our dining hall to expand the children's ministry.
2. We need to build a new pump house for the RV park.
3. We want to build a wooden canopy for our pavilion grill.
4. We're hoping to finish the inside of one of our lakeside cabins to have a Bible study/prayer space.
5. We need to apply deck sealer to our beachside dance floor, benches, and stairway.
We ask for two (2) SOWER couples in June, July, and August. Come join our team, and see Jesus in a whole new way!
Blessings,
Joe Azevedo
Shoshanah Campus Director
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Good morning,
I just wanted to reach out and let you know how much we have appreciated the SOWERs ministry teams and individuals who have helped here. Your ministry has allowed us to complete projects and serve guests beyond what our staff of 2 full-time employees could have done on our own.
Camp is continuing to grow, and we want to encourage you with how much SOWERs has helped us! I pray God will continually bless your ministry and the many wonderful people who serve as part of that.
Thank you,
Tony Masurka
LifeChange Camp Director
Clinton, MO
Life Change Camp asks for four (4) SOWERs April through November. Check out their listing to see where you can help!
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Camp Barnabas has SOWER openings throughout the summer and into the fall. Check out their listing to see how you can help this camp as they continue to recover from this tornado and serve their campers! | |
Camp Barnabas (MO-323) recovers from Tornado Damage!
Storm Recovery Update:
We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our volunteer community. Your willingness to show up, serve, and encourage has been a powerful reminder of what makes Camp Barnabas so special.
Because of your help, Camp Barnabas will open this summer. Praise the Lord!
We’re deeply grateful. You’ve helped make that possible.
Camp Barnabas, Purdy, MO
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On May 3, 2025, Horton Haven Camp (TN-223) celebrated 50 years of “creating a camp environment where people can come to know and follow Jesus Christ”. What started from the decision of a little girl at CEF camp, the faithfulness of her family to donate the land, the stewardship of the Phelan and King families, and the generosity of many faithful supporters, both financially and with physical labor of love, has now grown to the camp that it is today. The founders, Johnny Phelan (age 97) and David King (age 82), are still involved in this tremendous ministry to bring the lost to Christ. What a great legacy for the SOWER Ministry to be involved with this camp over the past 30 years!
(Horton Haven asks for six (6) SOWERs, May through November, and there are openings all summer and into the fall!)
| | Have you checked out the Underserved Project List lately? It's a good starting point for looking for needy projects. Be sure and look at the number of couples requested and the season SOWERs are requested when determining which projects need help. 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 stephanie@rvthereyet.org to help get it OFF the list! | | Area Representative Needs | | |
One of the most important positions we have in SOWERs is the Area Representative (AR). We simply can't run effectively as an organization without faithful and dedicated AR's as our eyes and feet on the ground for all of our projects. We are praising God that most of our Area Rep positions have been filled!
We are still looking for an Area Rep in Eastern Canada. Can you help?
ON - 554 Ethnos Canada
ON - 556 Elim Lodge Ministries
ON - 559 Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre
If you would like more information about this opening or are interested in learning more about the Area Rep position, please contact Evan Asby (3945), Western and Canadian Project Coordinator.
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Michiganders, we need you!
The great state of Michigan is in need of a wonderful and dedicated SOWER couple (Active or Alumni) to volunteer as an additional Area Rep. We have enough projects coming up in Michigan that we need to divide the AR responsibilities. Therefore, we need someone to take over southern and one project in the east of Michigan (two established projects, two prospective projects). This is one of the most important positions in the SOWER ministry and we can’t operate without our Area Reps. Thank you to all who already serve as ARs, but we need one more to step up and help us out……. Could that be you? Contact Dick Webster #3808 for more information.
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A Project Sponsor is an active SOWER couple who will sign up for a few project months at this new project during the first couple of years to help the ministry get a better understanding of SOWERs and also to encourage others to sign up.
All new prospective projects must have a Sponsor before they can move forward in the application process.
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We also need Sponsors for two prospective projects in Minnesota near the Twin Cities and two other projects in the southwest corner of Michigan.
If you can help, contact Dick Webster #3808 and again, thanks to all who serve as ARs and Sponsors.
| | Seen recently on Facebook | Thank you, Sandy, for sharing about the work that was accomplished at Aldersgate (OR-320) last month. I know they were blessed by your service. Aldersgate is the location of our September SOWER Rally, so I hope we'll see you there! | |
Have you stopped by our Facebook Group lately? We have recently updated our guidelines for adding posts:
This group serves to keep our SOWER family connected, and to share the blessings that we both see and receive as we serve the LORD at our ministry partners.
- No political posts will be allowed.
- No memes will be allowed.
- Posts must be SOWER related.
Please use caution and respect when posting. This is a Private group (only members can see posts and add posts), but it is still good Facebook etiquette to get permission before you post someone's picture. The administrators reserve the right to remove any post that they deem to be contrary to the purpose of this group.
If you're a member of Facebook but haven't joined the SOWER Group click on the icon to join the family! Just enter your member number in the question, and an Administrator will approve you.
Since the SOWER Facebook group is a ‘private’ group, we try to limit our members to folks who are SOWER members or project hosts, and couples who are interested in joining our ministry.
If you invite other interested folks to join our Facebook group, they will still need to answer the membership question. Thanks!
| | Thank you to everyone who has given our SOWER Facebook Page a "Like" or follow. Currently, we have over 1900 followers! If you haven't already given it your thumbs-up, head over there now! It's a great way to spread the word about our ministry. |
While the SOWER Facebook Group is for sharing SOWER stories (and is something that you join), the SOWER Facebook Page is where the ministry shares information and works to generate interest in our ministry (and is something that you 'like').
| Don't forget to check out your favorite ministries on Facebook. Many of our partner ministry locations have a Facebook page, and it's a great way to stay up-to-date on the places you love to serve! | |
Clicking on the tulips above will take you to the SOWER website where you can sign onto the Member Dashboard and get "Real Time" updates for our partner ministries' needs.
The April/May SOWERGRAM is now available on the website!
Questions?
The office is happy to help!
903-882-8070
sowers@sowerministry.org
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His Passion, Our Mission
SOWERs in Action!
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Hello Fellow SOWERs,
We have exciting news about a new ministry partnership we've formed to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beginning in April 2025, we have become partners with the Christian Camp & Conference Association (CCCA) – also affectionately known as the Triple C-A. The CCCA is the largest Christian camp and conference center (501 (c)(3)) organization in North America. Their mission is to serve the 850+ Christian camps and conference centers within their association by maximizing their members’ ministries. They do this by becoming an indispensable partner to their members through the programs, products, and services they provide them, with the goal of helping their members foster God’s work in their guests’ lives. The SOWER Ministry has now officially joined the CCCA’s business partner program to offer our volunteer services to CCCA Christian camps and conference center members. Many of the 180+ Christian ministries where we serve through the SOWER Ministry are currently CCCA members. It is our hope and prayer that we will continue to grow the SOWER Ministry with both new SOWER members and ministry hosts through the visibility that we can gain as a valued partner with the CCCA. Through this partnership, the SOWER organization will gain access to not only the 850+ camps and people that the CCCA currently serves, but we will also gain the visibility we need to grow our ministry through their Insite magazine, their national and regional conferences, as well as our SOWER page on their website. Check out the link below to view our page on their website: Christian Camp and Conference Association - Servants on Wheels Every Ready (SOWERS)
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Something NEW on our Member website!
Check out one of the latest additions to our website, Promotional Items (under Forms and Docs). There are multiple tools to share our SOWER MINISTRY and recruit more members. Have you ever been asked to give an impromptu speech in a Sunday School class or in church? The Elevator Speech* is perfect! While designed to be used in conjunction with the video, it can also stand alone. Be sure to download the Elevator Speech to your phone so you can be prepared to present SOWER MINISTRY at a moment's notice. If you have any questions or would like additional support to "get the word out", please feel free to contact me!
Jim Haney Promotional Committee
*Wondering what an Elevator Speech is? (Me, too!). According to Google:
An elevator speech is a concise, compelling summary of who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for, designed to be delivered in a short amount of time (typically 30-60 seconds), It's a valuable tool for networking, job interviews, and other situations where you need to quickly introduce yourself or your ideas. (Sounds like a great idea for our testimonies, too!)
| | Let us not forsake gathering together! | | Whether you're an Alumni, a Seasoned SOWER or New to the Family, there's nothing like a SOWER gathering to connect with friends old and new and get recharged about the ministry. If you live in close proximity to a SOWER project, let them know you're nearby! There are often impromptu gatherings of SOWERS happening all around the country all year long! Whether you're camping together or just meeting for a meal at a local restaurant, a SOWER Gathering is always a blessing! | | |
Friends for a Lifetime!
We recently had dinner with Jim and Marilyn Linger #488, the SOWER couple who introduced us to SOWERs in 2018 before we even bought our RV. They were Alumni then, but had been in SOWERs for 24 years and completed 119 projects. We're Alumni now too, having completed 30 projects during our time as SOWERs. It was so much fun listening to their stories and finding out about the projects that we both completed. This just shows that SOWER friendships last for a lifetime.
Cathy and Lee Ashton #3526
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Wisconsin Third Annual Summer Lunch!
SAVE THE DATE:
Tuesday June 3rd 2025
Home of Teri (H) and Geri (W) Larkee #3747
teri.larkee@gmail.com
geri.larkee@gmail.com
771 Fieldcrest Drive
Neenah, WI 54956
You are invited to our Third Annual Summer Lunch for all Wisconsin SOWERs, Alumni, and all SOWERs in the area!
We will provide some sort of meat, plates, and utensils.
If you wish to bring a dish to pass, that is appreciated. Just let us know so that we can plan. Please bring your favorite beverage and your chairs.
Teri and I are SO LOOKING FORWARD to this upcoming get together but even if it’s raining or sweltering.. we can crowd in and get to know each other even better than if we were all spread out!
Teri & Geri
(920)277-5139
PS - There is NO room for your RV but there ARE campgrounds nearby if you are more than a day's drive away!
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Western Wound Up
SOWERs Intentionally Following Jesus Christ
September 21-25, 2025
Aldersgate Camp & Retreats
(OR-320), Turner, OR
Costs include 5 days/4 nights will be as follows (includes 3 lunches and 2 dinners):
Full hook ups - $100 or $25/night
Dry Camping - $50
Lodging - $30 per night
2 additional dinners available at $5 per person per dinner
Monies (cash only) will be taken at Rally
Registration: contact Ann Ekberg #3702 at 559-260-6368 or acekberg@gmail.com
Breaking News - there will be three (3) “West Host” speakers from Washington, California and British Columbia! Get your registration in early to reserve your spot!
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This month 60 SOWER couples/singles are serving at 39 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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SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERs are doing around the country!
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Group Picture - Sunshine Acres Children's Home (AZ-496), April 2025. First project for Eric and Sara Johnson #3873 (first project) Michael & Sherri Barnes #965. "Great ministry. This project has just been reinstated after a ten year hiatus. Please consider it for your next winter project." Michael Barnes
Header Photo -Lake Swan Camp (FL-539) waterfront. Christine Atkinson #3832 (Did you know that Lake Swan was instrumental in Billy Graham 's life? Check it out! )
Verse Photo - Betsy McClintick #3213
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Dear Sam & Sally,
We recently received an email with the subject line – “Join the Sowers Community”. It didn’t appear to come from the SOWER office – do you have any insights about this?
Signed,
A Bit Confused
Dear Confused,
So glad you asked this question, especially since we got one of those emails too! You are correct in assuming that it wasn’t referencing our SOWER ministry. Apparently it was generated from YouVersion (a popular Bible App) on behalf of a similarly named ministry – Sowers International, a missionary organization serving indigenous people groups. Even their website address is similar to ours – sower.org (them) vs sowerministry.org (us). I checked with Nelda Thompson, head of the Document Committee, to find out the best way to avoid the confusion. Here is her advice –
“Any written communications referencing our organization should always be SOWER Ministry (all caps for SOWER) or SOWERs (with the lower case "s" for the plural) since it is an acronmyn for Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. When posting on Facebook, YouTube, a blog, or any social media, using the correct form (SOWER Ministry or SOWERs) and the full web address – sowerministry.org – will help avoid confusion with other similarly named groups! You – our SOWER family - are our best advertisers and we so appreciate your sharing our ministry with your faith family. So let’s make sure when they go to find us online they are looking at the correct ministry!”
Nelda also shared that the Board has looked into a trademark for “SOWER”, “Servants on Wheels Ever Ready”, and “RV with a Purpose” but the cost was prohibitive. The Document Review Committee and office staff are working diligently to update all documents and correspondence to the correct forms.
Thanks again for asking for clarification and hopefully we can all be working to use the correct form in the future. It seems like a small thing, but I know it really helps in directing interested couples to our ministry!
Serving with you, in the SOWER Ministry,
Sam & Sally
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.
| | To send in a prayer request or praise item- | | | | |
