Conference News

Publications

New Communication Methods

Many of you are aware that the Midwest Conference has recently "retired" its longstanding print newsletter. This has been a strategic decision guided by our desire to create new, up-to-date, and more effective communication initiatives than print media. The two things that we are testing are a video magazine we are calling “MidWEst Video-Connect,” and a new email format newsletter entitled “MidWEst E-Connect.” We are hoping to make three or four DVD’s each year, which will each contain two video news stories from across the conference. Two of these have already been mailed to your churches. These DVD's include great, inspiring stories, not only for prayer but for each church’s ‘'idea bank" as it considers its own outreach, and the videos are excellent quality, both in their technical presentation and storytelling. Videos can be used in board meetings, membership classes to introduce shared conference ministry, even mission moments at worship times. The e-newsletter is e-mailed to our churches--download the issues below. We will be counting on you to forward this e-newsletter to your church people. It will not embarrass you! It will be a good connecting point for Covenanters as we seek to impact our six states together! That’s what the WE is all about!

You may download the current prayer calendar or past issues of the conference newsletter by clicking on any of the links below.

Also available is the latest issue of the "Hub 'Cap." This newsletter, a regular contact with Covenant pastors, ministry staff, and church leaders in the Colorado and Western Kansas region of the Midwest Conference, is written by Associate Superintendent and Western Hub Coordinator Rick Mylander.

2009-Oct-midWEst-e-connect.pdf

2010-Feb-midWEst-e-connect.pdf

PRAYER-CALENDAR-Jul---Oct-2010-printable-3-page-version.pdf

2010-Jun-midWEst-e-connect.pdf

PRAYER-CALENDAR-Jul---Oct-2010.pdf

2009-Dec-midWEst-e-connect.pdf

Hub-Cap-Volumn-6-No.-2-June-2010.pdf

2010-Apr-midWEst-e-connect.pdf

Let's Get Acquainted!

New to our website! We will feature on a regular basis, various churches around our conference. If your church has a website not listed in the "CHURCHES" section of this site, please contact your conference office at midcovcon@qwestoffice.net Let's learn a bit more about our brothers and sisters at Salem Evangelical Covenant Church in Oakland, Nebraska; Journey Covenant Church in Liberty, Missouri; and Arvada Covenant Church in Arvada, Colorado!

Everyone needs a spiritual home, a place where they gather with others, and can sense the presence of God and feel free to worship Him. For just over 130 years (since 1877) the Salem Evangelical Covenant Church of Oakland, Nebraska, has provided such a place. A place for people who desire spiritual growth and direction in their lives, who encourage and support one another in their walk of faith. We are a gathering of people committed to scriptural values. Imitators of God, not content with the "appearances" of church conformity, but responsibly drawn to confront the real issues of life in order to help bring healing to people injured by a broken world. We believe there is blessing in an open and caring environment where people come to know the love, acceptance and forgiveness that Jesus has to offer everyone. Sounds like family doesn't it? We welcome you to come and be a part of our church family. Visit our website and learn more about Salem Covenant! Pastor Steve Hoden.

At Journey Covenant in Liberty, Missouri, our mission is to journey together toward Christ-likeness by making Christ-like disciples who worship, connect and serve. In April of 2001, Journey Covenant Church, then known as Liberty Springs Covenant Church, began with nothing more than a vision from God and a handful of people. From our beginning, we were reaching out to people with the love of Christ - lives were being changed and people were finding hope. In the spring of 2006, we sensed a stirring of the Holy Spirit to clarify our mission and approach. Ultimately this led us to change our name to Journey and further align and focus our ministries along a straightforward and simple path of journeying together toward Christ-likeness by making Christ-like disciples who worship, connect and serve. We seek the bold, radical and transformed life of living the life of a Christ follower in every aspect of our lives. Please join us! Visit our website at: journeycovenantkc.org Pastor Glen Smith

Arvada Covenant Church in Arvada, Colorado, offers two Sunday morning services and one evening service, each utilizing a distinct style of worship. The message is the same at the morning services with a unique message at the evening service,

but the vehicles of worship will vary from hour to hour. At 9 a.m., we offer a blended worship format, with sensitivity to some traditional elements. It will include our Worship Choir and vocal Worship team, leading us in time-honored hymns of the faith, classic praise songs, as well as fresh and new worship music of today. It will be accompanied by a variety of instruments. At 10:45 a.m. we offer a contemporary service that is more casual, and will be characterized by music that is energetic, bright, fun and upbeat. Our mission statement shares who we are, "We gather all who seek the risen Christ, and teach, equip and send believers into the world to bring others to Him." Come visit us! Senior Pastor, Dr. John Martz. Website: www.arvadacovenant.org

Churches-recently-highlighted.pdf

Midwest Conference Welcomes Three Churches as Members

LINDSBORG, KS -- Renewed growth in the Midwest Conference was celebrated during its Annual Ministry Celebration here April 23-24. The meeting centered on the theme "Looking...(click to read more)

MWC Spiritual Directors Gather for Organizing Retreat

The ministry of spiritual direction is fairly new to the larger Covenant family, and several pastors and laypersons in the conference have made themselves available to extensive training. Those pictured in photo recently held their first ever retreat at St. Malo Retreat Center near Estes Park, utilizing the assistance of Helen Cepero of North Park Seminary to pray through and envision how the ministry may be made more readily available to Midwest Covenanters. Go to the Resource section of this website and learn more about the ministry of spiritual direction and who our MWC directors are.

Iowa Covenanters Donate Grain Auger to Asia Farmers

POMEROY, IA (June 18, 2010) -- An agricultural operation run by a Christian businessman in Southeast Asia will get a large contribution thanks to members of the Pomeroy Covenant Church who...(click to read story)

"10 in 10"

Heidi Wiebe and her congregation at Brookwood Covenant Church in Topeka, Kansas, have made "10 in 10" their commitment. This body of believers has taken seriously the call to the work of evangelism. Download the attached newsletter from the Dept. of Church Growth and Evangelism and read the article, "10 in 10" by Lisa Orris, director of evangelism.

CGE-newsletter.pdf

Reflections On My Trip to Haiti, by Dick Nystrom

Dick Nystrom is currently serving as interim pastor at Decorah Covenant Church, Decorah IA

I arrived in Haiti on April 10 just three months after the earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 people. I stepped off the plane into sweltering heat and was soon climbing into the battered pickup that would take our group to Leogane, a community at the epicenter of the quake. (click on the file below to read about Pastor Nystrom's experience and work in Haiti)

Haiti-Article-5-10.pdf

Choosing Your Way (Psalm 43:5)

Think of all the things you can't control: the economy, your health, your income, the choices that your kids make, the decisions that your boss makes...you may have some influence over these things, but not complete control. But there is one thing you can control.....(download file to read this story by Pastor Ross Erickson of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Wakefield, NE)

Choosing-Your-Way-by-Ross-Erickson-3-10.pdf

Covenant Conferences Partner With Alaskan Churches

Living conditions for pastors and church members in rural Alaska could significantly improve thanks to new partnerships with Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) conferences. The conferences in the lower 48 states are each partnering with at least one church and will offer financial support, prayer and encouragement.

Rodney Sawyer, field director for the ECC of Alaska says that villages often are geographically isolated and suffer unemployment rates that can reach 80 percent. Many villagers must live off the land, hunting and farming for their food. One village still doesn't have running water. Living conditions for pastors can be harsh; some live in poor, unhealthy conditions.

The process of connecting conferences with churches began when superintendents met at Alaska Christian College in Soldotna for their annual fall meeting. As they heard Alaskan natives discuss their living conditions, they committed to help.

The Midwest Conference will be partnering with Mountain Village Covenant Church, located on the north bank of the Yukon River, approximately 470 miles northwest of Anchorage. The church is served by Pastor Carl and Marcia Elwood who have lived in Alaska since 2002.

This July 2009, two teams of six people from Midwest Conference churches, spent a week in Mountain Village constructing a 20x20 garage-type building for the church. This structure will be used for working on snow machines, ATV's and numerous other purposes. Following is a daily update with photos sent in by the two teams.

There is still a major need for financial support of this summer's mission as the conference executive board committed the necessary funds to order all building supplies in advance. Can we count on your support? Contributions can be sent to the conference office, designated for the Alaska Partnership. Mailing address is: Midwest Conference, 13304 W Center Rd #222, Omaha NE 68144.

DAILY UPDATES FROM MISSION TEAM (click on DAYS 1-10 below to see photos and daily updates along with photo of completed project, teams, and word of thanks!)

Click below to download the letters sent to Midwest Conference churches regarding our partnership opportunities with Mountain Village Covenant Church.

DAYS-5-10.pdf

Team-photoscompleted-project-and-Thanks-be-to-God.pdf

Alaska-Ministry-Letter-to-churches-3-26-09.pdf

Letter-to-churches-5-6-09-on-letterhead-3.pdf

DAYS-1-4.pdf

Alaska-Ministry-Letter-to-churches-2-27-09.pdf

Midwest Conference Ministry Celebration 2010

The annual meetings of the Midwest Conference were held at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Lindsborg, Kansas, April 23-24, 2010. Events began Thursday evening for those involved with Women Ministries. The Ministerial Association met Friday at the church followed by an afternoon workshop sponsored by the Midwest Conference.

Delegates and friends gathered at the Smoky Valley Auditorium in Lindsborg Friday evening and enjoyed time together, not only with great hymn singing and songs by both the adult and children’s choir from the Evangelical Covenant Church in Lindsborg, but a wonderful evening with Bob Stromberg was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone! Bob entertained us with his unique style of storytelling, causing us to laugh together, reflecting on the things that matter in life! We encourage you to download the "Highlights" newsletter below which shares many of the activities that occurred at the various ministry celebrations.

The 125^th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Conference will be held in Omaha, Nebraska, hosted by First Covenant Church, on April 29-30, 2011. Mark your calendars now! As a delegate or guest to these meetings, you will find that a “business meeting” as you’ve known it in the past, is no longer just a meeting! The time spent together is one of ministry celebration, hearing personal witness of how ministries in your conference are truly sharing the gospel of Christ. You’ll hear the stories of how God is working in personal lives and in your churches--both in your conference and denomination! This 125^th conference will offer many highlights that you and your churches will want to be a part of. See you in 2011!