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THE MIDWEST CONNECTION
March 2024
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Moving The Finish Line
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:16-20
The cornerstone text of Christ’s redemptive mission was to train and send out His disciples to the whole world. He trained them to share the greatest news the world could ever hear. The “good news” was that in spite of our sin and separation, through Christ, broken humanity can be reconciled to their Creator. This was about rediscovering life indeed.
Every believer should have heard this text if not know it by heart. This has been tagged as the “Great Commission” or, as some would state it, “The Great Re-Commission.” While stated to His own disciples, we have no reason think this was ever modified or rescinded by Christ. Read More
Pastor Brad Little, Regional Executive Director
Venture Church Network Midwest
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As I am in mission trip planning, I am thinking about what is best for my group and those we are going to serve. I want to make sure the mission trip is a point of growth for my students, but also impactful and helpful for those we are serving. As I was going through this process, I came across the account of Paul and Barnabas after their first missionary journey. Acts 14:27 tells us that upon arriving in Antioch, they “gathered the church together.” The account of what has happened on our mission trips is always an afterthought for me. This made me pause and evaluate the impact the testimonies of a mission trip can have on our congregations. Read More
Chuck Babbitt, Youth Pastor
Bloomer Baptist Church, Bloomer, WI
VCNMidwest Youth Ministries Director
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Why You Should (Or Shouldn't) Hire New Staff
In Luke chapter 10 Jesus sends out 36 pairs of ministers to further His mission. Along
with giving them ministry Jesus instructs them to pray for more laborers to reap a
spiritual harvest. Interestingly, on this occasion Jesus gives them instructions for their
financial support and those instructions are “pack light”. So light that they don’t aren’t
even to take a money bag. This is short term work.
Later in Luke, granted, under different circumstances – they are encouraged to take
more provisions with them while they seek to accomplish the mission. Read More
Pastor Rob Buhl
First Baptist Church, Whitehall, WI
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Tuesday, March 26, 9:00am (CT)
with an alternative repeat session
Wednesday, March 27, 3:00pm (CT)
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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.
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2024 Henry C. Spicer Scholarship
This region has been blessed to be able to give away scholarships to graduating high school seniors for over 25 years! On top of that there has been a total of $60,000 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 2024 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, 2024.
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Camp Lebanon in Burtrum, MN has opened up two full time positions. To read more about each position, please click here.
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINDOM
LOVING GOD, LOVING PEOPLE
First Baptist Church of Windom is looking for a Senor Pastor. To read more about the position, please click here.
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Below are a few recent resources from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Delve into the podcast "Roaming Through Romans," to hear how N.T. Wright, one of the world's leading New Testament scholars, explores the significance of Paul's arguments in this foundational book. Also, uncover the powerful correlation between character and Christian influence in the thought-provoking article "Salt and Light" penned by Dr. Mark Bailey, DTS Chancellor and Senior Professor of Bible Exposition. Finally, find strength and inspiration from Pastor H.B. Charles's message "Hope to Face Any Situation," encouraging you to navigate life's trials with unwavering hope.
These resources have been thoughtfully curated to uplift you and nurture your understanding of God's Word.
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VCN is excited to offer a specialized retirement plan option through GuideStone to pastors and staff of churches in the Venture Church Network family.
Read More
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5 Critical Things Every Church Board
Member Should Know
Five critical things every church board member should know involves fiduciary responsibilities and duty of care, among others. ChurchLaw&Tax
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Internships: An Old Practice Getting A New Look
I’m excited to see a growing interest in the practice of churches employing interns: recent college or seminary graduates – or even their own budding “home grown” church members – to short-term opportunities to serve and grow.
In my childhood in a Lutheran church, we typically had an intern on staff: a young man, right out of seminary, working hand in hand with our veteran pastor, stumbling (or even soaring) through sermons, gaining the praise or lack thereof from my discerning parents.
But in the fifty-two years that I’ve been following Jesus, I’ve seen very few interns in the evangelical world.
Happily, this is beginning to change.
In this post I’m giving you three good reasons to give this old practice a fresh look. Check it out! Internships: An Old Practice Getting A New Look by Brian A. Thorstad
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An Israel Trip will be offered Oct. 2-13, 2025
(Flying out of ORD Chicago).
Cost: $4959.00
(Deposits due before Oct. 24, 2024 w/ final payment by Dec. 1, 2024)
Price does not include travel to ORD, in-country lunches, souvenirs, passport fees, travel insurance, or other personal expenses.
If you or anyone you know is interested, please feel free to contact Pastor Andrew Powell at apowell@gracemahomet.org for more information.
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Venture Church Network Midwest
PASTORAL COHORTS
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Central Illinois
To Be Determined
Andrew Powell, Grace Church, Mahomet, IL
217-586-4331
apowell@gracemahomet.org
Iowa
Tuesday, April 2, 12:00 (CT)
Location: Creekside Bible Church
Marion, IA
Jay Jentink, Calvary Baptist Church Cedar Rapids, IA
319-396-3233
office@calvarycr.org
Michigan
Thursday, March 20, 2:00 (ET)
Meeting by Zoom
Allen Grover, Ganson Street Baptist Church, Jackson, MI
517-740-8961 pastorallen@gansonstreet.org
Central Minnesota
Monday, March 18, 10:00am (CT)
Leader: Brad Little
Location - River of Life Church, Hastings, MN
Contact: Dan Vesta
651-468-1045
dkvesta@sbcglobal.net
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Southern Minnesota
To Be Determined
Jackson, MN
Walt Moser, First Baptist Church, Luverne, MN
605-254-3092
PastorWalt.Moser@gmail.com
Wisconsin
Thursday, March 21, 11:00 am (CT)
Location: Seasons Cafe, Barron
Rob Buhl, First Baptist Church
Whitehall, WI
715-538-4246
robbuhl@gmail.com
VCNMidwest Youth Pastor Collaboration
No Meeting This Month
Meeting by Zoom
Chuck Babbitt, Bloomer Baptist Church, Bloomer, WI
515-230-0774
youth@bloomerbaptistchurch.com
To Be Decided
Northern Minnesota/North Dakota
Ohio
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Venture Church Network Midwest
1410 44th Street, Marion, IA 52302
Dr. Brad Little
Regional Executive Director
blittle@vcnmidwest.org
763-350-4263
Administrative Office
Gina Perry, Administrative Assistant
gperry@vcnmidwest.org
319-830-6478
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All articles and submissions are the view of the individual writer and are not necessarily the official position of Venture Church Network Midwest. | | | | |
