Venture Church Network Midwest February Newsletter

THE CENTRAL CONNECTION

February 2023

"We are an organization of churches that is committed

to the mission of Christ to multiply disciple-making churches

through evangelism, leadership training, and connection with

other like-minded churches."

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Connecting: The Lifeblood of Ministry

I was in Dubuque, IA this last week (Feb. 5-8) representing Venture Church Network Midwest at Emmaus Bible College. We had a total of five of us from VCN churches – four men and one of our ladies (although this gal was representing Youth for Christ, rather than VCN). Three of our group work with youth ministries and two are Lead Pastors in our respective churches. We were present for a Christian Ministry Conference where students are exposed to a host of church and para-church ministries to explore future ministry opportunities. There were a huge number of camping and counseling ministries, but very few pastoral ministry candidates, so we were slightly the oddball in the group. Read More

Pastor Brad Little, Regional Executive Director

Venture Church Network Midwest

An important aspect of growing as a leader is to have a mentor to walk alongside you. My mentor, Dale Pierce, looks at mentorship as a point of influence. We are to imitate Christ, and we need people in our life that influence us to be more Christlike. Psalm 23 reminds us that we lack NOTHING with God. Read More

Chuck Babbitt, Youth Pastor

Bloomer Baptist Church

VCNMidwest Youth Ministries Director

***Click below to watch the video.***

The design of church networks or denominations is that we connect as leaders. Leaders, serving other leaders strengthens our network, but, of course, importantly it makes us healthier individual leaders thereby strengthening our churches (VCN, Vision Frame).

In the opening verses of James four we’re instructed that we quarrel and fight because of coveting and unchecked passions within us (James 4:1-3). I suppose that we could adopt this thinking for how pastors relate and support one another. Often, we don’t relate because, of warring passions within our own souls.

Pastor Rob Buhl

First Baptist Church, Whitehall, WI

2023 Henry C. Spicer Scholarship

This region has been blessed to be able to give away scholarships to graduating high school seniors for 25 years! On top of that there has been a total of $57,000 awarded to scholarship winners. Again this year Venture Church Network Midwest will be awarding the Henry C. Spicer Scholarship to a graduating high school senior planning to further their education this fall. Previous scholarships have ranged from $300 to $2,000.

The scholarship from the Henry C. Spicer Scholarship Fund is available to all qualifying high school seniors. To qualify, an applicant must be a 2023 high school graduate planning to attend college this fall. The applicant must be a committed Christian and a regular attender of a VCNMidwest affiliated church.

Applications are due by April 1, 2023.

Get Your Application HERE!

Pastors Retreat

Camp Lebanon

1205 Acorn Rd, Burtrum, MN

April 23-26, 2023

Last year we enjoyed a great time of fellowship and a time away at Camp Lebanon. We want you to have an opportunity to do it again!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND

PLAN TO ATTEND!

More Information Coming

Tuesday, February 28, 9:00am (CT)

with an alternative repeat session

Wednesday, March 1, 3:00pm (CT)

WATCH FOR YOUR ZOOM INVITE COMING SOON!

The Purpose of ENGAGE is to address gospel and missional critical issues and challenge our thinking related to pastoral ministry, leadership and the purpose of our churches.

The Goal of ENGAGE is to continue to become gospel-centered, grace driven, biblically anchored churches passionately committed to fulfill the mission of Christ.

Venture Church Network Midwest

CLUSTER GROUPS

Iowa

No meeting this month

Jay Jentink, Calvary Baptist Church Cedar Rapids, IA

319-396-3233

office@calvarycr.org

Michigan/Ohio

Thursday, February 16, 2:00 (ET)

Meeting by Zoom

Allen Grover, Ganson Street Baptist Church, Jackson, MI

517-740-8961 pastorallen@gansonstreet.org

Central Minnesota

Monday, February 20, 10:00 (CT)

Leader: Brad Little

Location - River of Life Church, Hastings, MN

Contact: Dan Vesta

651-468-1045

dkvesta@sbcglobal.net

Southern Minnesota

No meeting this month

Location - Pizza Ranch, Jackson

Walt Moser, First Baptist Church, Luverne, MN

605-254-3092

PastorWalt.Moser@gmail.com

Wisconsin

Thursday, February 16, 11:00 (CT)

Location - Season's Cafe, Barron

Wade Duroe, Crossroads Church, Chippewa Falls, WI

715-723-1054

wljc12@hotmail.com

VCNMidwest Youth Pastor Collaboration

TBD

Meeting by Zoom

Chuck Babbitt, Bloomer Baptist Church, Bloomer, WI

515-230-0774

youth@bloomerbaptistchurch.com

To Be Decided

Illinois

Northern Minnesota/North Dakota

Venture Church Network Midwest

1410 44th Street, Marion, IA 52302

Dr. Brad Little

Regional Executive Director

blittle@vcnmidwest.org

763-350-4263

Administrative Office

Regular Hours: Tues. thru Fri. 8am - 2pm

Gina Perry, Administrative Assistant

gperry@vcnmidwest.org

319-830-6478

All articles and submissions are the view of the individual writer and are not necessarily the official position of Venture Church Network Midwest.

CLUSTER G﻿ROUPS

CLUSTER GROUPS