|  | |
Previous | Next US Mennonite Brethren Conference
Our American cousins gathered for district conference conventions
Southern District Conference
A different kind of convention
Branson, MO.
Billed as “a vacation with a purpose”, the Southern District Conference convention was a different kind of convention. Instead of holding the convention in October, as in previous years, district leaders decided instead to hold the convention during the vacation season, hoping to attract a younger crowd.
Held in early August in Palace Inn in Branson, Missouri, a popular vacation spot, the biennial gathering of Mennonite Brethren from Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, north Texas and Arkansas was a noticeably younger crowd than in past conventions.
Storytelling was the avenue by which the Conference ministries, such as MB Foundation, Tabor College, MB Biblical Seminary, MBMS International, Integrated Ministries and Mission USA, reported to delegates. Other stories were heard from the various inter-Mennonite agencies, including Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Disaster Service, and Mennonite Mutual Aid.
District ministries’ stories focused on church planting efforts, church renewal, and two growing Ethiopian congregations which joined the SDC: Ethiopian Christian Fellowship in Lenexa, Kan., and Ethiopian Evangelical Church in Aurora, Colo. Ethiopian Christian Fellowship has 200 adherents and is partnered with Buhler (Kan.) MB Church. Ethiopian Evangelical Church, a congregation of 300, is partnered with Fairview (Okla.) MB Church. Mike Miller, church planter of Community Church of the Heart in Broken Arrow, Okla., gave an update; that church was officially launched September 9.
The proposed 2002 budget of $281,900 is a 2.1% increase over last year’s budget of $276,100, and the proposed 2003 budget is $291,000. It was reported that during the half-way point of the 2001 fiscal year, churches had given only $54,553 to the SDC, less than a quarter of what is needed. A recommendation that 3% of churches’ receipts go to support SDC ministries passed. Both proposed budgets for 2002 and 2003 passed with some opposition.
Central District Conference
Pressing on in ministry
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Delegates who gathered for the 92nd session of the Central District Conference weren’t as concerned about the advance of winter as they were with pressing forward in ministry. The CDC includes 25 congregations from Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The convention, hosted by Lincoln Hills Bible Church in Sioux Falls, S.D., October 26–28, centred on the theme “Building up to advance God’s kingdom”.
Rod Anderson, pastor of Rolling Hills Church in Papillion, Neb., shared how at least three people have been impacted for the Lord since the congregation moved to its new facility on July 1. Another vision of the church was realized when it commissioned associate pastor couple Paul and Melissa Rowenhurst as church planters of New Life Fellowship in northwest Omaha, the “fastest growing area in Nebraska”.
Financially, the CDC ended the year in the black due to the fact that a $45,000 US loan subsidy to Rolling Hills Church was not used and that there was no district minister for part of the year. Giving to the CDC was almost 25% short of the 2001 budget. The proposed 2002 budget of $230,000 is $20,000 more than last year’s budget and calls for an additional $17,000 in church giving. The budget passed.
The CDC installed a new district minister during the convention. Roger Engbrecht, who began serving in this capacity in March 2001, said he was impressed with the spiritual vitality of the churches and the high quality of pastors. He acknowledged that many of the churches have limited growth potential due to declining demographics but nonetheless, they continue to provide a strong base of support for outreach and church planting efforts.
Pacific District Conference
Sharing God’s faithfulness
Reedley, Calif.
Over 200 delegates – and 500 guests Friday evening – from Washington, Oregon, California, Utah and Arizona attended the Pacific District Conference convention in Reedley (Calif.) MB Church November 9–10. The two-day event was filled with testimonies of changed lives – from a woman who found Christ six months ago to church planters, pastors and a district minister who is retiring after 51 years of ministry.
The convention’s theme, “Celebrating God’s faithfulness”, permeated the stories told by speakers, most of whom shared personal experiences with candour.
Nine new churches joined the PDC, including South Mountain Community Church, a church plant in Salt Lake City, Utah. Church planters Paul and Jini Robie spoke of God’s faithfulness to people who don’t know Him and victories at the new church located in a city dominated by Mormonism.
Horacio Aleman Jr., pastor of El Faro Community Church in Reedley, spoke about the challenges of being a pastor with no formal training serving in a bilingual (English and Spanish), multicultural congregation that is located in an area of the city dominated by poverty.
Henry Dick was honoured for 51 years of ministry, including 12-and-a-half years as district minister. He retired Dec. 31, 2001. (See story on page 21.)
Trustees proposed establishing an endowment with current church planting and church liquidation funds to provide loans to emerging churches for down payment for property acquisition. These loans would be interest free for five years and then could be paid back over a 15-year period at 5% interest.
After delegates voted 44–39 in favour of the proposal, the vote was rescinded and a motion to have a reworked recommendation brought to next year’s convention was made. The 2001–02 budget of $397,000 was passed. – adapted from reports in the Christian Leader
Previous | Next
Last modified June 14, 2002.
© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.
|
