Cultivating Relationships

Aleksander Dimov, Regional Presbyter of Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast, will be present at this year’s Cultivate Conference.

As Kari and I move through a transitionary season of life, we are keenly aware of many meaningful relationships—some are beginning, and some are changing.  Perhaps you’ve met my three new Southern friends? Their names are Brisket, Ribs, and Pulled Pork! Seriously though, it’s important to celebrate and foster our life-giving relationships. The Heartland District has regularly done this through the annual meeting and Cultivate Conference.  

Though many other Converge districts have migrated to less frequent district meetings, the Converge Heartland district has intentionally maintained this annual gathering to celebrate and foster our cooperative district relationships. This year will be a special gathering you won’t want to miss!  Let me tell you two compelling reasons why: the ratification of our new Regional President and a personal visit from two of our Ukrainian sister-church leaders.

First, during the 2024 Annual Meeting, we will vote to ratify Pastor Steve Krier as our new Regional President. You can get to know Steve Krier better by signing up to participate in one of our upcoming online Town Hall Meetings, which will be held at 6:30pm CST via Zoom Meeting on August 18th and 19th and September 8th and 16th.

Steve has served well as our Director of Church Planting, but he is also leading Ignite Church, the church he planted and pastored in Moorehead, MN (adjacent to Fargo, ND), to affiliate with the Converge Heartland District. It is exciting to witness Steve’s and Ignite Church’s commitment to seeing a gospel-centered church transforming every Heartland community! 

Second, among our line-up of special speakers, we are flying in Regional Presbyter Aleksander Dimov and Pastor Volodimir Pomazkov, who comprise the Odesa Oblast Regional Leadership for the Ukrainian Baptist Union. They have received special visas to leave the war zone in Ukraine to join us at the Cultivate Conference on September 26-27. You don’t want to miss this! Not knowing the length of the war, in 2022, our district has committed to support 20 frontline Ukrainian pastoral families in need through December 2024. As this date approaches and the war challenges intensify, we anticipate the need to extend this generosity for a longer season. 

Please begin praying with your church family about how you might financially respond to this felt need, as we will be taking up a “JERUSALEM OFFERING” for our Ukrainian sister churches during and following the Cultivate Conference.

My beloved friends, I can’t wait to see you at Cultivate!