Stories of Impact
Inspirational stories and news of God's work throughout the Converge movement
Happy New Year!
There was a lump in my throat, and my words were intentional as my family saw me off at the airport. This dynamic is a tension that generations of Christ-followers have managed when entering or serving in regions such as Ukraine, an area upended by chaos and war.
From the Heartland to Papua New Guinea
GracePoint Church in Ogallala, NE, has faithfully supported foreign missions for many years. Soon they will have the great joy and privilege of sending one of their own to serve the Lord in foreign missions.
Overcoming Evil With Good: A Report from the Ukrainian Front
“You simply do what can be done; you put your house and final will in order to the best of your ability, and trust God for the next step.”
Unmuzzling the Oxen: Inflation & Pastoral Compensation
Are you feeling the crunch of inflation? So is your pastor and church staff.
Let's take biblical instruction to heart on this matter. "For the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18 ESV)
The 2022 Heartland Church Planting Road Tour
Converge is a movement that is relationally devoted to one another. These valuable relationships compel us to visit our church plants throughout the Heartland District. I am blessed to meet with the North Dakota planters throughout the year, and I also make an annual trek to see our other planters “Down South.” It is a joy for me to connect with them and hear about God’s kingdom work.
Creative Church Support of Missionaries
Since Covid, churches have been more careful about traveling. Missionaries who usually welcomed short-term teams have felt the effects of churches’ travel limitations.
A Week of Camp, a Lifelong Impact
It's difficult to put into just a few brief words everything that happens at our Converge Heartland high school week each year at Camp Judson. While the students and counselors enjoy a week of fun activities, engaging chapel talks, and powerful times of worship in the beautiful setting of the Black Hills, it's what God does in the hearts of young men and women each year that is truly special.
Strategies in Church Planting
Church planting has been a part of the American fabric from the beginning of our nation. One of the first things settlers would do in a new land was to establish a place to worship and give thanks to the Lord.
Ukraine Trip, the Ministry of Presence
There was a lump in my throat, and my words were intentional as my family saw me off at the airport. This dynamic is a tension that generations of Christ-followers have managed when entering or serving in regions such as Ukraine, an area upended by chaos and war.
Incarcerated Ministries Welcomes John Morrison
Converge Heartland Incarcerated Ministries continues to grow with the addition of John Morrison to our pastoral staff. John joins Harlan Moss and Greg Friesner in delivering the hope of the gospel to those who are incarcerated in our region.
Ukraine: News and Gratitude From the Front Lines
With a matching grant of $10,000 from district-wide Ukraine Relief contributions to Converge Heartland, Converge Church in Omaha recently sent $22,800 to support the regional ministries and ministers of their sister church in Ananev, Ukraine!
Retreat and Advance
What type of church are you? A church with a new pastor? A developing church plant? An established church? A growing church? A church in transition? A declining church? A stuck church? A revitalizing church? An urban church? A rural church? A small church? A multi-cultural church? A medium or large church?
Converge Leadership Responds to Supreme Court Decision
In a landmark case on Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision to uphold a Mississippi law that banned most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court also ruled 5-4 that this decision overturns federal abortion rights based on Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Harvest Plains Church Installs Elders
Harvest Plains Church in Casselton, ND, reached a significant milestone by installing its first elders. Having local, biblically qualified elders is crucial to the sustainability and long-term health of a church.
The Power of Ukrainian Church-to-Church Partnerships
"We can see the missiles flying over us." These are the words of Sascha Yakimenko, Pastor of the Baptist Union Church in Ananyev, the rural county seat of the northernmost county of Ukraine's Odesa Province, during a live international call at Converge Church's May 15 worship service.
Bethel Baptist Church Reduces Debt to Further the Kingdom
Capital Campaigns are commonplace in churches for building projects and reducing debt. What you don’t see all that often is a church participating in a debt reduction campaign to invest their resources for Kingdom advancement outside of the four walls of their church. However, that is what Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings, SD, is doing.
Clarifying the Problem
Though the 2021 data has not been released, there were 21,570 murders in the USA in 2020. The rising trend of violent crimes and homicides is alarming, as the recent mass murders in Buffalo, Houston, and Uvalde so grievously reveal. On biblical grounds, Converge Heartland condemns this deadly violence and we extend our sympathies to those suffering from wounds and the loss of loved ones
Ministry Wives, We Need Each Other
It has been my honor to meet regularly with ministry wives, creating space to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing songs and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16.
May 2022 Intro Letter
The Supreme Court of the United States will soon rule on the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. For those who are not aware, this case is increasingly expected to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, thus ending the current Constitutional right to abortion and sending the decision regarding the legality of abortion back to individual states.
Supporting Missionaries During War Time
Much evangelistic and ministry activity occurs around the world; however, missionaries are those specifically taking the gospel to people in cultures and languages different from their own.