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Body Builder
May 15, 2023
Mid-American Baptist Churches of Iowa and Minnesota
strive to work together to build up the Body of Christ.
Sunday, May 28, 2023- Wear RED to Church.
Monday, May 29, 2023 - The Region office will be closed.
MABC Region News:
our MABC Witness and Action Committee
Greetings Mid-American Baptist Churches!
We would like to introduce you to the Mid-American Baptist Churches Witness and Action Committee! What is the Witness and Action Committee?
This team is called to provide information and educational opportunities for the region regarding issues of social concern as well as to study social issues and make recommendations for action.
Why do we need a Witness and Action Committee? In answer to this question, we believe that we must go back to the driving force behind our witness, worship, and work: the word of God. Ephesians 4:11-12 reminds us that “these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” The Witness and Action Committee is a resource to help congregations shape their Christian response to crises, social issues, and moral dilemmas in the world today.
How can this committee help? We hope to highlight various social issues and helpful resources in future newsletters. In the meantime, please reach out to any of the committee members if there is a social issue or concern that you are struggling with as a pastor/congregation. We want to be of help to you so that the light of Christ can shine brightly through the Mid-American Baptist Churches!
Meet the team HERE
Upcoming Webinar with Tod Bolsinger
Join us on Monday, May 22 at 1:00 PM ET as we hear from Tod Bolsinger, who will be sharing from his book "Tempered Resilience." Following the presentation there will be a short time of Q&A.
Tod Bolsinger is a speaker, executive coach, former pastor and author who serves as associate professor of leadership formation and senior fellow for the De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary. He is the author of "Canoeing the Mountains" and "Tempered Resilience."
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The Conference for Church Musicians
July 16-22
Green Lake Conference Center
Green Lake, WI
Hosted by the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians.
See www.fabm.com for registration info, and more!
This conference features nationally recognized music & worship leaders.
Bring your youth, children, and adults and prepare to be inspired.
 
American Baptists Asked to Pray and Act for Burma; Immediate Action Needed
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The Burma Advocacy Group continues to ask American Baptists to Pray and Act for Burma.
The Burma Advocacy Group was active and instrumental during the successful passage of the Burma Act in December 2022. Now, it is essential that sufficient funding for these provisions of the Burma Act is secured. Just as we must not cease praying, we must not cease acting on behalf of the people of Burma. Right now, funding for the Act is before the House and Senate appropriations committees. This is where funding amounts will be determined and recommended for vote.
Help is essential to the Burma Advocacy Group’s success for Burma. Individuals can ACT, in a simple yet effective way, as follows:
Use the QR code above or visit this website to advocate for the full funding for the provisions of the Burma Act, the $270 million that was proposed and agreed to by the House during the last session. The funding will go towards vital humanitarian aid, efforts to establish genuine federal democracy, efforts for protections of ethnic and religious minorities, accountability for those guilty of human rights abuses, and non-lethal support for those opposing the military junta.
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Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership (ESTARL)is a grant program that was established to encourage and assist those preparing for full-time Christian service. Awards are made ONLY to students preparing for leadership in religious service, such as: minister, missionary, director of church music, church youth leadership, religious education and other types of full-time religious service. The ESTARL fund is funded each year by voluntary gifts and memorials given by chapters and individual members across the state and from selected projects.
For qualification information, applications, etc. please go to the Iowa OES website https://www.iowaeasternstar.org/ and click on the link “ESTARL”. Do you know of anyone that might qualify for an OES ESTARL scholarship? Applicants DO NOT have to be an Eastern Star Member or a Mason. *** APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY JUNE 15, 2023, to Bill Howie, President of the Eastern Star Educational Board (Bill’s information is on the website).
CALLING ALL MABC YOUTH AND YOUTH LEADERS!!!!!
WE ARE GOING TO COLORADO IN JUNE OF 2024!!!!!
April 2023 Newsletter can be found HERE
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| Today, we are excited to announce that we will be offering some sessions at the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit ONLINE! Many of you have let us know that you are unable to travel to the 2023 Biennial Mission Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico - and we are happy to offer an online option for a registration fee of $49! |
| We will have a number of events happening that you may access online as a virtual attendee: |
| Friday, June 23 |
- Welcome Session, 3:00PM ET/12:00PM PT
- Spotlight on Puerto Rico, 4:00PM ET/1:00PM PT
- Worshipful Work - International Ministries Report, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT
- Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT
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| Saturday, June 24 |
- Worshipful Work - American Baptist Home Mission Societies Report, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT
- Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT
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| Sunday, June 25 |
- Sunday Morning Worship, 9:00AM ET/6:00AM PT
- Business Session, 2:30PM ET/11:30AM PT
- Worshipful Work - American Baptist Churches USA, 7:30PM ET/4:30PM PT
- Friday Evening Worship, 8:00PM ET/5:00PM PT
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Learn more: |
| With the theme “For Such a Time as This,” the biennial event is the premier opportunity for American Baptists to gather and connect with one another, hear directly from American Baptist partners and friends, worship together as one family of God, and learn the latest happenings across the American Baptist denomination. |
| Learn more about our Keynote Speakers. |
| www.americanbaptists2023.com |
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| Please note that online registration is available for participants only - we are unable to offer online registration for Delegates. |
| We hope that we will see you in Puerto Rico in June! |
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May 8 issue of IM OnLine is available from International Ministries
Join us for our next Everyday ABC Conversation:
Congregational Innovations
on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 3:00pm ET
with presenters Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula and Rev. Travis Norvell
Congregational Innovation happens in many ways across
American Baptist Churches USA.
We invited two American Baptist leaders to share about
how they are innovating in their own ministry.
Rev. Dr. Greg Mamula will share about Congregational Innovations around the Table,
noting: “We are hard-wired to flourish within the context of community.
Innovative opportunities like Table life are a holistic approach to faith and life
while fostering thriving community connections."
Rev. Travis Norvell will share about Congregational Innovations while riding a bike,
taking the bus, and walking on a sidewalk as a way to connect with your neighborhood and discover God already at work in the world around you.
REGISTER HERE
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Please Help Us Finish Our Multipurpose Center
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May 4, 2023
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We are very excited to share the status of the second phase of our expansion project with you and others in our churches. Construction of our multipurpose center is in full swing! Many of the children and families we serve tell us how happy they are to see Bethel Center, the place where they feel welcome, love and support, is being expanded to provide a larger space for worship, fellowship, learn new things, exercise, learn about healthy lifestyles and many other activities. We sincerely thank our American Baptist Churches for your continued support of our ministry. Your partnership with Bethel continues to allow us to provide programs and services that help to transform lives in our community.
We hired the Miller Stauch Construction Company to build our new multipurpose center. We hit an obstacle, and we are hopeful that your church will help us overcome it. We must raise an additional $700,000 to finish construction of the new center. The original construction budget prepared by our architectural firm was too low as the cost of labor and construction have gone up very high within the last two years.
Unfortunately, we started the second phase of the expansion project in one of the highest inflated construction markets experienced in decades. As a result, we were forced to increase the construction budget to reflect the following:
· Inflation
· Energy Cost Increases
· Labor Shortage
· Material Cost Increases
· Supply Chain Disruptions
· General Contractor Coverage
All of this had an impact and continues to have an impact on costs to complete the construction of the multipurpose activities center. Your consideration, and continued funding support for this project is requested and will be greatly appreciated. The Bethel Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and those in the communities we serve acknowledge the generosity of our ABC churches and its members.
Our roots as American Baptists go back decades to the founding of Bethel, with all support from churches - both monetary as well as in a diversity of other ways - being significant and continuing through the decades. And we thank and praise God for each and every member of our American Baptist Family. Without your prayer and financial support, many of the services we provide could not have been achieved. Thank you so much for your continued support of our mission center!
We are grateful for your consideration of funding this project once again. We prayerfully ask your church to consider a new donation from $500 to $200,000 to Bethel Neighborhood Center to help us complete our project. Please let us know if additional information is desired.
Your support is creating a brighter future for so many children, families and Seniors who seek and find HOPE at Bethel. We can’t say thank you enough!
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 May 3, 2023, MCC Newsletter HERE
May 10, 2023 News (Click on Logo)
Click on the logo below to read May 12, 2023 Newsletter
Click on the Logo
 
Come to Dayton Oaks for Memorial Day Weekend!
Join us for some Worshipful Work.
We will have a work day on Saturday, May 27th.
Bring your family and come stay at the camp all weekend.
We will have worship together on Sunday morning at the camp.
Plan to stay all Weekend!
If you are interested, please contact Dani Siebert to reserve your space
Tel: 515-547-2417 Email: mabcamp@lvcta.com
MABC ABWM Upcoming Events:
 
The application can be found HERE
2023 Women and Girls Conference
Shalom Retreat
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