Ken Bell was raised in a non-Christian home and was saved only after attending church with the woman he later married. Ken credits his growth in Christ to being able to attend a small group with other believers who loved the Lord and showed him how to follow Christ. He worked as a wildland fire fighter during this time in … Read More
The Black Book: Part 2 of 3
The “black book” was the term commonly used by Mixtecs for the Bible upon its introduction into their circles. This particular black book found its way to the village of Yuvinani, another of the many villages in the Metlatónoc vicinity, by means of a migrant worker named Felipe Hernante. A resident of Yuvinani, Hernante had returned from his most recent … Read More
Protect Your Church in 2019
On January 16th, we celebrated Religious Freedom Day. Unfortunately, however, many churches across the country are experiencing legal issues that are challenging our constitutional protections. Churches are experiencing legal challenges relating to facility use, employment regulations, gender identity and sexual orientation laws, and more. Most churches have governing documents like bylaws and constitutions, as well as policies that can help … Read More
Wishing You a Merry Christmas
We’re counting down the days till Christmas. In addition to the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus and enjoy time with family and friends, Christmas serves as a reminder of some important things. For example, Christmas reminds us of the great price God paid to rescue us from the penalty of our sin. It remains a source of wonderful … Read More
Church Planting Highlight – Billings
This month’s church planting highlight is Montana’s largest city – Billings. Following is a synopsis of the city and the needs for church plants. In the near future, we will highlight Gracepoint Church, the newest upcoming plant in The Heights. Billings is the largest city in Montana. In fact, it is the largest city for about a nine-hour drive in … Read More
Effective Ministry Leadership
Most agree that Ephesians 4:11-12 demonstrates God’s plan to grow and mature His Church. No matter which translation you read, the emphasis of the text is that Christ Himself personally gave the Church (among others) pastors to train His people for the work of the ministry. They are to build up the body of Christ by investing their time and … Read More
Get Real West 2018
Get Real West 2018 was incredible! Just take a look at what God did… 40 Students responded to the salvation invitation Over 30 leaders got valuable training on discipleship Nearly double the number of churches and students attended compared to 2017 All of this happened in just a short Friday night and Saturday morning. Our speaker, Wade Morris, encouraged both … Read More
The Black Book: Part 1 of 3
It is July, 2018. I stand on the open concrete roof of the third floor, red-faced. Everyone is looking. “How many tortillas did you eat?” Paulino asks me in Spanish, animated. His wife had just served an extravagant meal of spicy broth, boiled chicken and, of course, the flagship of the ensemble—massive homemade tortillas. I want to lie, but it … Read More
Annual Church Profile
The December 15 deadline for the Annual Church Profile (ACP) is quickly approaching. Although this seems like a mundane and even unnecessary detail in your mission to advance the kingdom of God, here are some reasons why it is important: Numbers can help us strategize, plan, and know where God is working. They can also show us where more work … Read More
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
Please to be in prayer for missionaries around the world this December during the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering emphasis. When you give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, 100% of the money collected goes to missionaries around the world, so every dollar you give makes a difference. Go to https://www.imb.org/lottie-moon-christmas-offering for stories, videos, and prayer requests from international missionaries. This link … Read More