Quirings will move to Utah this summer

Mission USA news story

A new church plant in Utah County, Utah, is on schedule to become the second USMB church plant to be initiated during 2013. Church planters Jason and Nicole Quiring, of Henderson (Neb.) MB Church, plan to move to the Lehi/Saratoga Springs area this summer.

Mission USA, the USMB church planting and church renewal ministry, has set the goal of planting six new churches in 2013 in partnership with districts and local churches. This is a partnership plant of the Pacific District Conference (PDC), Henderson (Neb.) MB Church, the Quiring’s home church, and Mission USA.

“The Utah County communities of Lehi and Saratoga Springs (encompass) an area of spiritual need that matches any area on the foreign mission field,” writes Jason in the couple’s church plant proposal. “Almost 90 percent of the population adheres to the Mormon faith, and almost an additional 10 percent consider themselves nonreligious. The need for the gospel of Jesus is great.”

Mission USA Director Don Morris says, “What feels really good about this church plant is the crossover of commitment among districts. Henderson MB Church in the Central District and possibly a church in the Southern District are committing to make this project happen alongside the PDC Board of Home Missions and Mission USA. This ‘leveling of the playing field,’ so to speak, is encouraging to me. We’re in this together—to plant Mennonite Brethren churches across America.”

The Quirings spent three years in Utah, during which Jason served on the staff of South Mountain Community Church (SMCC) in Draper, Utah. SMCC, led by Paul Robie, is the first and largest USMB congregation in the Salt Lake City area. The Quirings moved back to Nebraska over three years ago, but continued to feel a strong pull back to Utah.

“It was there (in Utah) over three and a half years ago, that (God) started to ignite a desire in us to be a part of planting a church there,” writes Quiring. “We found ourselves living out Godʼs mission right in our own neighborhood. We see those years as groundwork for what he has planned for the future.”

Quiring says that God has been teaching the couple patience, perseverance and reconciliation.

“We've discerned not only a desire to connect with ‘lost’ people (people who have not yet surrendered their lives to Jesus), but to connect with ‘unreached’ people as well—areas where less than 2 percent of the population are Christian,” says Quiring.

“The affinity we have with this area, the personal growth and convictions weʼve experienced while living, ministering and studying away from this context and the affirmation of godly people kept pointing us back to planting a church in northern Utah County.”

Gary Wall, PDC district minister says, “This is huge for us. We have a great story in Utah and to see God continue to develop churches in this area is very encouraging. We think we’ll see even more churches planted in the future.”

The project team for the Saratoga Springs church plant held their first meeting in March. The project team includes representatives from Henderson MB Church, the PDC, Mission USA as well as other key individuals. The project team will supply leadership for the church as long as financial subsidy is provided.

by Don Morris

“Boon” has a smile that reminds me of a high school buddy of mine—the Khmu version of my friend. Boon is a hard-working rice farmer, a man who typically rises at 4 a.m. every morning so he can have an hour for reading his Bible and praying before starting another grueling day. Not only does Boon farm all day long, often helping other farmers nearby along with tending his own farm, he’s also a pastor of a thriving church.

I met Boon on a recent trip to northern Thailand during the DNA Exchange Summit held at MB Mission’s Changed Life Center. The summit was a gathering of church planters from the United States, Canada, Japan, The Philippines, Thailand and areas surrounding Northern Thailand.

Boon, who lives in the northern area, endures great hardship and persecution due to his faith. So do other pastors and believers in the area. Christianity is not tolerated where Boon ministers to hundreds of people. But although persecution is a constant threat, the Mennonite Brethren church in this area of the world is thriving, with over 40,000 believers. There are many pastors and leaders who are willing to literally lay down their lives for the gospel. That is church planting dynamite!

I also loved talking with Sam, a pastor from the Philippines. He was consistently upbeat with a huge smile on his face. He beamed when talking about his church in the high country. He dreams of multiple churches being planted. His ultimate desire: to lead more and more people to Jesus.

The two church planters from Japan spoke of how extremely difficult it is to plant a church in that materialistic culture. But they remain committed, striving hard and doing all they can to reach more people. These men are humble ambassadors for Christ.

Church planting is also difficult in the Canadian urban settings of Vancouver and Montreal. It’s really tough in the 99 percent Buddhist nation of Thailand. It’s hard in America. Yet every summit attendee remains overwhelmingly committed to spreading the gospel.

Attendees heard an account of 60 people coming to Jesus on a single Sunday in one of our U.S. churches. We heard of multiple baptisms in muddy rivers and other remote places. We heard emotion-laden stories of radical commitment to Jesus in the face of threats of imprisonment. We cried together as people shared their stories. We even witnessed three people giving their lives to Jesus on the trip itself! The DNA Exchange Summit was all about sharing accounts of the gospel of Jesus moving forward in the world—with real, undiluted power. God’s power.

So we, U.S. Mennonite Brethren, must do all we can with God’s power to plant more churches here in America. After all, it’s incredibly evident that spreading the gospel is part of our DNA as followers of Jesus—all over the world.

Mission USA news story

USMB announced a little over a year ago a goal of partnering with the various Mennonite Brethren districts to plant six churches in 2012. Although a few of the churches will hold their first public worship service in 2013, they all experienced a good start with core team development and small group gatherings in 2012.

Here is a list of the churches started in 2012:

· Axiom Church, Peoria/Glendale (Phoenix), Ariz., Gavin Linderman, church planter;

· Christ Church Sellwood, Sellwood (Portland), Ore., Jared Pulliam, church planter;

· Grace Point @ McAllen, McAllen, Texas, Aaron Hernandez church planter;

· Mountain View Community Church Sunnyside, Fresno, Calif., MVCC interns and staff;

· Slavic church plant (unnamed) in Spokane, Wash., Aleks Borisov, church planter;

· The Stone

, Denver, Colo., Mark Groutas and Jonathan Branch church planters. The Stone is an affiliated church and is not a USMB-member church. As an affiliated church, oversight is more loosely defined and fiscal support amounts are lower.

“This list reflects what God has orchestrated among us over the past year,” says Don Morris, director of Mission USA. “I believe God has even greater things in store for us as we continue to plant churches that are making a difference.”

Morris says, “Not only are we planting churches in light of the vision that God gave to us, but we plant churches together, with local MB churches, districts and Mission USA all partnering to get the job done.”

USMB, through Mission USA, continues to pursue the vision of planting 60 churches within the 10-year span of 2012 to 2022—with the goal of partnering to plant another six churches in 2013.

by Don Morris

Join me in imagining the amazingly incredible scene of the multitudes in heaven standing before the throne of God. Can you picture yourself standing there immersed in the awe-inspiring wonder, joy, peace and yet incredible power that will envelop everyone in that diverse crowd? I love to think about this scene—one that I know I will one day experience firsthand. It is one of my favorite daydreams.

Often when I imagine standing before the throne, I also picture someone I’ve never met before coming to stand alongside me. This person says, “You don’t know me, but I want you to know that I am here because of the ministry of ___.” Fill in here the name of a Mennonite Brethren church plant.

I know at that moment I will be struck with the knowledge that the culmination of why we strove to plant churches, why we spent the money to do so and why we fought the fight against the enemy of people’s souls—why that mattered—was because people matter a whole lot to God. One day I will stand before the throne of God alongside people who came to know him through the ministry of our MB church plants. I have tears in my eyes as I write this line.

What I imagine is likely only a scarce replacement resemblance of what it will actually be like. I think that heavenly scene will be much more incredible than what I can conjure up in my limited human mind. Our human minds cannot quantify the immeasurable.

That’s what church planting is all about: placing ourselves within communities so that we can interact with broken people and introduce them to Jesus so that they can have a relationship with Jesus right now here on earth. So that one day they can stand before the throne of God and experience the truly immeasurable wonder of eternity.

There is nothing more important we can do as a conference of churches than reach more people with the good news of Jesus, whether that’s through planting new churches so we can expand our impact or through our existing churches’ strong evangelistic efforts.

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Rev. 7:9-10).

For me, the ministry of Mission USA is all about doing as much as we can—to help more people become a part of that future “great multitude.”

Mission USA news story

Mission (Texas) MB Church has announced the birth of a daughter church in the northern part of this city in the Rio Grande Valley. Williams Velez, pictured right with his wife, Elurden, is the church planter of Iglesia Biblica De La Gracia Hermanos Menonitas. Velez, who just completed a biblical studies degree from Rio Grande Bible Institute, Edinburg, Texas, formally began serving as the church planter Jan. 1.

Although Velez began serving as a paid staff member in January, he has ministered to a group of 15 to 20 people in the area for over a year. During that time, five people have been baptized. In addition to several adults, there are many children attending the weekly gatherings.

Mission USA, Grace Bible Church of Gettysburg, SD, and the Latin American MB District Conference (LAMB) are joining Mission MB Church as supporting entities. The church plant project team consists of Velez and his wife, Elurden; John Langer from Grace Bible Church; Don Morris, director of Mission USA; two or three leaders from Mission MB Church and perhaps a member from LAMB’s leadership board.

A small worship facility is under construction on what is known as 7-Mile Line in Mission. Plans are for this facility to provide space for the new church’s worship gatherings, but additional space is still needed for children’s activities. The church’s goal is to reach people in close proximity to the church facility, a neighborhood with many needs and broken families.

By Don Morris, Mission USA director

Why do we plant churches? Why spend the time, energy and money it takes to start new churches, especially when we have so many existing churches that could use a boost? Does church planting really make a difference? Why not simply allow big megachurches to do it? After all, they have the extra people and resources.

As someone involved in USMB church planting, I have intense feelings about these questions. If we are to follow the instructions of our Savior, then we must be about planting churches. Why? Because new churches have been proven over and over again to be the most effective means we have available to reach more people with the good news. The work and research of LifeWay Research, Acts 29, NewThing Ministries, ARC Church Planting Network, Exponential and many other national church planting organizations prove this to be true. New churches reach people for Jesus.

But don’t our existing churches count too? Shouldn’t we help them reach more people? Yes, and we are striving to help existing USMB churches and pastors be better equipped to do just that. It becomes a mix of nurturing the leadership of our existing churches and striving diligently to help plant more Mennonite Brethren churches all across the U.S.

In fact, the tagline of Mission USA is “To see more…come to know him!” My desire and the desire of the entire USMB staff is that many, many more people will come to know Jesus—that because of our tenacity to plant more churches there will be many more people in heaven.

If as a conference of churches we desire to follow the mandate of Jesus to go and make disciples, then that means planting more churches. And we do this together as a national conference of churches. We plant churches together!

Which brings me to a final, troubling thought. Over the past several months, church giving to USMB has lagged far below expectations and previous realities, and I don’t understand why this is happening. We are doing much more together than at almost any time in our history and yet receiving less financial support. At a time when we are attempting to reach more people for Jesus, we need more resources.

This is a challenging time for all of us. But people all across our nation are searching for answers. I’m humbly calling on us all as Mennonite Brethren to step up to the plate. Churches—we are depending on you to support USMB initiatives. We do it together. And what we are doing together is making a world of difference. We do need each church to help! We invite each individual/family to be prayerful and generous.

Mission USA news story

Grulla MB Church, La Grulla, Texas, has recently changed its name to Grace Point @ La Grulla in preparation for planting a multisite venue in nearby McAllen. The new Grace Point @ McAllen was launched Oct. 21 at the local Holiday Inn Express. Aaron Hernandez, Grulla’s current pastor, will lead both congregations. He and his wife, Alejandra, stand in the lobby of the hotel.

Hernandez envisions a dynamic outreach in McAllen, a bustling Rio Grande Valley city of 300,000 people. These dreams coincide with a concurrent vibrant ministry at the main campus in La Grulla. Twenty-five people became new followers of Jesus during the church’s Sunday worship services Oct. 7.

“I am still celebrating all that the Lord did (on the 7th),” says Hernandez. “Amazing! We challenged our people to bring out as many friends, family and people on the street as they could. The challenge, taken from the story in Mark 2, was to one, step up; two, pick up; and three, see God move. Wow, did we ever see God move!”

This kind of passion for reaching people who don’t know Jesus yet will transfer to the new multisite campus. Mission USA is providing subsidy for the multisite launch.

Mission USA news story

Under the leadership of church planter Gavin Linderman (pictured with his wife, Kendall, and son, Emerson), the core team of Axiom Church is preparing for an early 2013 launch of this new Mennonite Brethren church in the Glendale/Peoria area of Phoenix, Ariz. This is a partnership church plant of Copper Hills Church, Axiom’s mother church, the Pacific District Conference and Mission USA.

“In the eight years I’ve been director of Mission USA, this is one of the most gifted core teams that we have ever experienced,” says Don Morris, Mission USA director.

Two examples of the breadth of the core team’s capabilities, says Morris, are Megan and Sarah.

“Megan is a young, married and 20-something woman with significant worship-leading experience and will provide dynamic leadership for the many musicians that are a part of the core team,” says Morris. “Megan says simply that worship is all about communicating with God.”

Sarah is another young, married woman with a new baby who will provide direction for the children’s ministry.

“A gifted and experienced teacher, she has a passion for making sure kids get filled with God’s Word along with the adults,” says Morris.

Sarah says, “We’ll have a fun curriculum that coincides with what the adults are receiving; that way the whole family can learn the same things together.”

Currently the church is in negotiations to secure a venue for the start-up. Indicating the importance of finding a good location, Linderman says, “We’re seeking a place that fits our worship needs well and is also at least reasonably easy to find.”

The core team is currently reviewing rental facilities ranging from an older church building available only on Sunday evenings to the new local Community Recreation Center that offers a large room for worship plus children’s areas.

“The facility is simply a launching pad for impacting the community throughout the rest of the week, especially since our main focus is on reaching people who don’t know Jesus yet,” Linderman says.

Sellwoord-Moreland area target community for new church plant

Mission USA news story

Trinity Church of Portland, Ore., our USMB church plant started September 2010, has recently announced that they are planting another church in the Portland area with Jared and Julia Pulliam (right) as the church plant couple.

Jared joined the Trinity staff full time August 1 and has begun the process of forming a core team for the new plant, with an anticipated launch on Easter Sunday, 2013. Mission USA and the Pacific District Conference will be major partners in the new plant, providing both leadership support and funding.

The anticipated location for the church plant is the Sellwood-Moreland area. In fact, the Pulliams have already secured housing in that area of Portland.

“Sellwood fits us well, and we believe people in that part of Portland are hungry for truth. Our vision is much like Trinity’s, to teach deeply from the Word of God,” says Jared.

Pulliam is currently completing a seminary degree from Western Seminary in Portland, with an anticipated degree in biblical theological studies. He has also been under the tutelage of Trinity’s lead pastor, Art Azurdia.

“Jared has prepared himself well for this new work,” Azurdia says.

Julia Pulliam, a nurse and mom to their three young children, is also a gifted facilitator, encourager and administrator. “They make a great team and have a great marriage,” says Don Morris, Mission USA director. “We are already making an impact in Portland, and it’s going to continue to increase, Lord willing.”

Morris says, “I am personally thrilled that a church as young as Trinity, just two years old, is already in a position to plant another church. We anticipate that a few people will leave Trinity to join the Pulliams, giving them stability from the beginning. Trinity Church has said all along that they want to be all about doing whatever it takes to reach people, and this church plant is a passion-filled indicator that they mean it.”

Azurdia is also in the process of training several more young men for future church planting and/or pastoral ministry. “It’s part of what we do here at Trinity to prepare for future church planting—training up new leaders,” Azurdia says.

by Don Morris, Mission USA director

When I have the opportunity to consult with church leadership groups about their purpose and vision strategy, I often use an airplane analogy to help them understand the importance of clear communication. Maybe I use this comparison because I fly so often.

The analogy goes like this: As we think about our church or church plant, imagine getting on an airplane to go somewhere. We know several people, but not everyone, boarding the big passenger plane. Most of us know the routine: people are stashing their luggage, finding their seats, getting to know the person they’re seated next to, putting their phone to sleep, etc.

For many on board, this is an exciting adventure. We’re going someplace! The plane fills, the flight attendant gives his mandatory safety speech and the plane backs out from the terminal. Soon, the plane taxis to the runway, ready for takeoff.

As the engines roar and the pilot eases his foot off the brake, the plane lurches forward and the people are mashed back into their seats—the plane is leaving the runway. Quickly the plane rises into the sky, “and the things on earth look strangely dim.” The clouds are beautiful, and everyone is enjoying the ride. There’s even free coffee and soft drinks. Everything is great.

Then the pilot comes on the intercom and says, “We’re so glad you’re aboard this flight to Detroit. Please sit back and relax.”

People begin looking around. Detroit? “I thought we were headed for the outdoorsy city of Denver,” says one man. Someone else says loudly, “Hey, I thought this thing was headed for Philadelphia—you know, the City of Brotherly Love!” “No! I distinctly saw Redmond, Ore., on the flight marquee. I don’t want to go to a big, risky city like Detroit!” Pretty soon it’s chaos, as everyone has a different destination in mind.

At the first stopping point in St. Louis, several people get off the plane in disgust. One can be heard saying, “Can you believe this thing was headed for Detroit? I’m outta here. I’ll just find a bus back home.”

Back on the now half-empty plane, no one is happy except for the pilot who is oblivious to the rancor in the passenger area. The plane full of people, happy when they boarded and took off, is now filled with disgruntled, angry, disillusioned individuals—and all because of poor communication about the destination.

When we plant new churches, we’d better know where we’re going. We’d better have a plan. We’d better communicate that well—over and over and over to those who are joining in. Otherwise, chaos will reign. And this is true for existing churches as well. Headed somewhere new? Excited about a new vision, new direction? Communicate well before takeoff! And not just over the intercom.

by Don Morris, Mission USA director

As our USMB church planters lined up at the front of the assembly hall, I couldn’t help the lump in my throat or the tears at the edges of my eyes. They had just shared with the delegates of Conection 2012 in Omaha, Neb., a short tidbit of what God is doing with and through them.

I wish we could have had every Mennonite Brethren church planter present, but it was great to have the eight who could attend. They shared how God is entering into people’s lives as the church makes connections with them—people who don’t know Jesus yet. People who are broken and looking for answers.

The planters spoke of baptisms and how whole families have experienced dramatic change when they came to know Jesus. They shared about the need for facilities and core team helpers. They shared about God doing the seemingly impossible.

We have church planters who are from various walks of life, with varied backgrounds and life experiences. We have planters who are white, off-white, tanned, brown and dark-skinned. (Note: We are on the cusp of seeing even more ethnic church plants in the near future). We have pastors who know how to plant in some of the most challenging cities in America—places like Portland, Ore., Phoenix, Ariz., Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Mo., McAllen, Texas, and Aurora, Colo.

So, as I stood there on the stage preparing to pray for these selfless servants as they gathered in front of me, I realized how amazing it is to be a part of God’s work in the world. I realized how fortunate I am to have the privilege of working with these planters and our district church planting boards and district ministers to help plant churches in areas where we’ve never been before. I realized how crucial this work is—to enter into places that Satan has previously controlled in order to bring the good news to people who need a Savior.

As I was praying over these men and women and for their families, I realized how vital it is that we pray and pray often for their protection. As they enter into enemy territory, the enemy is not going to take it lying down. Satan will do all he can to damage ministries, destroy families and launch obstacles. In fact, we have seen him do just that.

But we have power at our disposal. Paul says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). We’re in a battle for the sake of the gospel.

So as we seek to encourage our current church planters and look into the future and envision many more, it is imperative that we pray and pray often for them. That we “fight” on their behalf—with divine weapons of power.

Changed lives lead to baptisms

Nestled in the very southwest corner of Utah, St. George is a unique city that is home to SMCC@The Springs, a USMB congregation. Close to 80 percent of the city’s 140,000 residents are of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon) background.

The Springs began in the early 2000s as Desert Springs Church under church planter Tom Mertz. After struggling for several years, Mertz had a heart-felt “meeting-of-the-minds” with Pastor Paul Robie of South Mountain Community Church in Draper, Utah. The fledgling church officially joined the SMCC family in January of 2009 and became known as SMCC@The Springs. Mission USA, the USMB church planting and church renewal ministry, has supported The Springs since 2009 and is currently assisting with funds for Phil Wiebe’s position as associate pastor.

In early 2009, the church had an attendance of about 90 people. Since then, it has grown consistently at an annual rate of about 20 percent, hitting a high attendance of 460 in 2011. After moving from a cramped converted warehouse to a local high school a few months ago, numbers have drifted somewhat lower as people adjusted to the new location and new venue.

The most exciting part about The Spring’s three-year growth is life transformations. Since early 2009, 38 people have been baptized, with over half of those being of LDS background. Moreover, the church has over 100 children—from babies to teens, indicating a dynamic family-oriented environment.

As people have come to know the true Jesus and not the falsely created “Jesus” of Mormonism, these public professions of faith have been dynamic, says Wiebe.

“The interesting thing with people who have an LDS history is that salvation rarely comes by a discussion and a prayer,” says Wiebe. “It usually happens over time. We have numerous attendees that remain LDS while coming to our church as they try to sort things out. It takes a while for them to process the truth of the gospel that they are hearing for the first time in their lives.”

Small groups are an important aspect of the church’s life-transformation ministry, and some of the groups have recently exploded in size. One small group that began with four couples grew to 16 couples and 30 children in the last month. Five of the couples have recently come out of the LDS. The group is now breaking off into four small groups.

The Springs has matured in its strategy for dealing with LDS realities, most recently utilizing some of the more mature previously LDS Christians to help with the transition of younger LDS believers. This is crucial because leaving the LDS church is a very difficult thing for individuals and families to do, says Wiebe.

“Imagine your children telling you they were leaving your church for the LDS church,” says Wiebe. “Take that emotion and then add the fact that families disown each other because of the transition, and that's what we deal with. It brings new meaning to Christ's words about leaving your father and mother on his account.” 

By Don Morris, Mission USA director

As we plant Mennonite Brethren churches, we are providing for more people to become followers of Jesus. We’re also starting someone’s home church. And that’s something huge.

I grew up on a farm near Ulysses, Kan., where my family attended the United Methodist Church. We were the last ones to leave almost every Sunday. My mother loved visiting with the other women. She would tell my sometimes-not-so-patient dad, “This is the only time of the week I get to see other people, I have to talk with them!”

After returning to Ulysses in 1978 after four years of college, my wife, Janna, and I began attending Ulysses MB Church and have been firmly Mennonite Brethren since then. Yet I have many fond memories of my childhood church.

I remember eating soup crackers out of a baggie during the worship service when I was little. I’m sure the reason for the crackers was to keep me quiet.

I recall sneaking into some of the nooks and crannies of the church building, finding little hiding places and playing hide-and-seek with the other kids. I remember raiding the church’s refrigerator and sipping communion grape juice.

I remember the stale smell of our rather old “Reverend,” as we called him. This same minister patted my head with water along with about 20 other middle school kids when it was time for our baptism. Side note: When I was 20 years old, I was immersed by Ken Ediger, now pastor at North Oak Community Church in Hays, Kan.

I remember listening to Three Dog Night and Iron Butterfly (people my age will know exactly the rock groups I’m referring to) before heading into the church for handbell practice. Now that was a strange mix of music genres.

One prayer gathering when I was around nine years old became a monumental moment in my life. I was the only child present. As several people prayed, God gripped my heart in a powerful way and I prayed out loud, among the adults, for the first time in my life. I felt an overwhelming sense of God’s presence at that moment, one I will likely never forget.

I also remember rededicating my life to Jesus while in high school, going to the front to kneel and experiencing God’s powerful presence once again.

I remember being married to my wife, Janna, in this church when we were both very young.

I remember my parents serving in so many capacities in this church, from hospitality to singing in the choir to teaching Sunday school. They had dozens of middle school-aged young people in their classes. They saw this church as a mission field.

I remember my dad’s funeral when this church was filled to overflowing and the place reverberated with Dad’s favorite hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” After the funeral, one long-time parishioner told me that he had never heard that hymn, or any other hymn, sung louder than at that service. It made me feel really good.

My mom continued to serve in the church until her health began to fail in 2009. For years she decorated (and I mean decorated) for every wedding and banquet held at the church.

Why am I telling you this? As we plant Mennonite Brethren churches, we are providing new pathways for more people to hear the gospel and become followers of Jesus. We’re also starting someone’s home church. And that’s something huge.

Mission USA news story

Stony Brook Church, Omaha, Neb., is a USMB church plant that is growing numerically, spiritually and as a self-supporting congregation. Chad and Elaine Stoner and Stephen and Mary K Humber are leading this two-year-old congregation.

Stony Brook Church, a USMB church plant started in October 2010, continues its pattern of growth and making a difference in the lives of many people in Omaha, Neb.

Under the leadership of Lead Pastor Chad Stoner and his wife, Elaine, along with Associate Pastor Stephen Humber and his wife, Mary K, the church has tripled in size in 20 months. But the story of growth is so much more than numbers. It is about life-change as Jesus transforms people.

Attendees of the church were recently asked why they are thankful for Stony Brook Church. Their answers highlight that this young church family is learning and serving together.

• “Stony Brook is a shelter in a time of storm.”
• “It is a place to belong, accepting people for who they are and where they are in their faith journey.”
• “I can learn more about Jesus and his love.”
• “Stony Brook is unlike any other church (I’ve attended). I hear the Truth every single week and am challenged to become more like God. I have learned more in this church community than ever before and my family and I are changed. We’re a part of something BIG…”
• “I have seen lives changed and hearts moved toward Christ. I myself am serving and enjoy knowing that I have a part in God’s kingdom work. I have seen miracles happen, which reminds me of how good God is.”

Stephen Humber, previously associate pastor at Parkview MB Church in Hillsboro, Kan., joined the Stony Brook staff last summer. The Humbers have been immersed in the work of ministering to people who are in various stages in their personal journeys with Jesus, and they love their ministry.

Humber says, “This is hard work, but it is amazing work. We see God working in people’s lives every week. We see young people and adults coming to know Jesus and others who have re-discovered him.”

The Stoners (Chad Stoner pictured left) and Humbers (Stephen Humber pictured right) met at a church planter assessment in Lakeside, Ohio in 2010. “It was amazing how God orchestrated that. We hit it off immediately and knew right off that God was up to something as he brought us together,” says Stoner.

“We have a problem,” says Mission USA Director Don Morris. “Stony Brook is space-challenged. Plans are to begin a third worship service this summer. But even with that, they are quickly running out of space. What a terrific problem to have!”

Not only is the church growing numerically, but also in giving. The church is already 60 percent toward the goal of becoming a self-sustaining congregation.

“Our people have learned very quickly that part of living life with Jesus is being generous,” says Stoner. “We’ve made significant strides in becoming self-sufficient in just the past six months.”

Numerical growth, a generous spirit, individual and family transformations, baptisms, a wonderful atmosphere, intense worship, learning how to be true disciples of Jesus—these are all aspects of Stony Brook Church, a true MB church plant success story.

Mission USA news

Recruiting gifted, qualified church planters is a growing priority for Mission USA, the USMB church planting and church health ministry. As the vision of planting six new churches by the end of 2012 unfolds, the bulk of the work in starting these new churches will be on the shoulders of leaders who have what it takes to get the job done right.

In light of this, the eight USMB staff members have adopted a six-month theme of praying for new church planters and looking for church planters within their individual spheres of ministry.

To date, several names of potential planters have been channeled to Mission USA.

“I have had names come to me from many sources, including our USMB staff,” says Don Morris, Mission USA director. “Some names come from our MB family and some are names from outside our family.

“Another avenue for finding church planters comes from our district leaders,” says Morris. “In fact, district leaders quite often take the lead in discerning leaders who have the capabilities to start something new.”

While Morris is thankful for the growing list of names, he is quick to emphasize the importance of carefully assessing potential church planters.

“Although many names may come to us, we need to make sure that these are leaders who have the right kind of gifts,” says Morris. “Otherwise, it will be detrimental to us as we seek to plant churches and to the leader and his family if they find themselves in a failing environment,” he says.

Finding qualified church planters has become an issue for this year as well as for coming years. Our vision is to plant 60 churches in the next 10 years—six per year. This will require a pipeline of church planters who are in various stages of development. Some leaders will need to spend time in a current church plant environment to learn how to plant a church from the ground up. Other leaders may need experience in preaching or leading teams.

Mission USA is in the process of developing, along with district church planting boards, a system that will enable church plant interns and apprentices to work their way through a prescribed plan of preparation.

“Just yesterday I had a very strong church planter candidate ask me, ‘What do I need to do to get ready to plant a church?’” says Morris. “That is exciting, because it tells me that they are in it to do it right, not just to do it. We want to reduce the number of failed church plants to as low a percentage as we can. To do this, we need to develop and train excellent planters.”

Morris says the national average, for all denominations, for failed church plants is about 32 percent. The USMB failed rate is now around 20 percent.

“If we can keep it there or below, we know we have done a good job of choosing, assessing and preparing church planters,” Morris says.

Morris invites all USMB churches to be in the ongoing mode of discerning church planters. With 60 new churches on the horizon over the next 10 years, the need is obvious. “With God, all things are possible!” says Morris.

Mission USA news

New Hope Church in West Valley City, Utah, a two-year old church plant supported by Mission USA, the USMB church planting and church renewal ministry, the Pacific District Conference and key stakeholders, has closed. The church had its final service March 4, the day on which Josh Gonzales, lead planter, resignation took effective.

 Several factors led up to the closure, including declining attendance and a desire for the Gonzales family to concentrate on their own needs. Members of New Hope have been encouraged to find a church home at one of the other USMB churches in the Salt Lake City area.

“It’s not easy to announce that a church plant has closed,” says Don Morris, Mission USA director. “During its short tenure, the church witnessed several people become followers of Jesus. For that we give thanks.”

When greeting a person with a handshake, have you ever noticed not only the variety of shakes but also of hands? I think it’s an interesting exercise to gauge a person’s work habits, grooming and personality by their handshake and also by their hands.

The other day I shook the hand of a man who just about crushed mine. It was quite the bear paw. His hands were huge and rough. So I figured out quite quickly that he worked outdoors, had a lively robust personality and that “Ouch. That handshake hurt!” I tried mightily to keep at least a half-grin on my face.

I’ve also had those handshakes that feel like a wet fish. You know the kind where the other person just sort of limps their hand into yours. You are then responsible for creating all the action of the handshake, because it certainly isn’t going to be generated by them. Usually these people have quiet, unassuming personalities. They are probably fearful of doing hand damage, so they keep the shake to an absurd minimum.

Then there are those shakes that are just right. Both shakers are giving about the same amount of hand pressure and just the right kind of action. It’s the kind of shake that is encouraging and invigorating, and you immediately know that this is a person you can connect with on a higher level. It’s easy to smile when getting one of those handshakes.

Hands are important, are they not? Psalm 90:17 says “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us, yes, establish the work of our hands.”

When thinking about a new church plant project or a new church health initiative, I often envision all the hands that will be involved in getting it off and running. Hands that vary in size, shape, roughness and tenderness. It takes all kinds of hands to effectively start a church from scratch—all in order to reach more people with the message of Jesus.

Maybe you have hands that God wants to use to help start a new church. Maybe God is calling you to get your hands a little dirtier, a little stronger, a little rougher than they are right now. To have hands that go to work on a mission.

Take a look at your hands. Is God calling you to use them differently than you have been? Not that how you have been serving has been wrong. But maybe, just maybe, God would like to use your hands, firmly grasped in his,  in a new mission—a life-changing mission for the transformation of individuals, families and communities in the name of Jesus. Lord, establish the work of our hands.

For more info on how you can be involved, go to www.usmb.org/mission-usa

I earned my living as an agricultural crop consultant in the early 1980s. I walked a lot of fields and made a lot of recommendations to growers. One crucial aspect of my work was identifying beneficial insects among the nasty insects in a field. Since most insects live on the underside of crop leaves, I would turn over the leaves to see what was actually happening. The beneficial bugs had the capacity to destroy the nasty bugs—if they were indeed the right ones and were appropriately mature.

It saved the grower a great deal of money if beneficial insects controlled the pest problem rather than resorting to chemical warfare. But this was risky business. If we waited too long on these good guys to develop and they didn’t have the capacity to get the job done, the bad guys were able to overrun them and create a lot of damage. So I spent hours studying the qualities of beneficial insects, looking through a magnifying glass to make sure I had it right.

I then instructed the grower about what I was seeing so that he could decide either to wait on these good bugs to do their job or wipe everything out (including the good insects) with powerful, expensive spray. Get it wrong, and a grower could lose his profit. Get it right, and the grower would win.

Okay, now this may seem like a strange analogy, but these days part of my work still involves turning over leaves, so to speak, looking for leaders who have the necessary qualities to plant churches and to get the job done right. They must have the capacity to multiply and to overcome the opposition. In fact, the entire USMB staff has embarked on a collective mission to uncover more gifted church planters.

To be able to fulfill the God-given vision of being integrally involved in planting six new Mennonite Brethren churches by the end of 2012, it’s imperative that we find the right leaders for these projects. So, our staff is using all kinds of methods within their spheres of influence to help identify those who have a passion for reaching lost people. We’re looking for leaders who can make something out of nothing, can effectively cast vision and develop teams through relationship. We’re looking for couples who support one another and who have strong marriages. We’re turning over leaves.

We know that no new church will succeed apart from a leader with a message who effectively leads a church on a mission. It’s risky business. The conditions have to be right. If not, then the good guys can end up being overrun by the enemy. It happens every day in the world of church planting.

Help us turn over the leaves in your fields of influence to see if there is someone who you believe has what it takes to be a successful church planter. To learn more about what qualities are needed in a church planter go to: www/usmb.org/mission-usa and click the tab labeled “Church Planters Needed.”

Mission USA news release

Reaching young adults in the West Valley of Phoenix, Ariz., is the aim of the newest Mennonite Brethren church plant led by Gavin and Kendall Linderman. For the past year Linderman, who with his wife completed church planter assessment in November 2010, has served as a staff intern at Copper Hills Church, a late 1990s Mission USA church plant in Peoria, Ariz.

Linderman has focused his ministry among 18 to 29-year-olds, and this has become a vibrant outreach. This group, made up of mostly young couples with children, will form the nucleus of the new church. The core team is gifted, energetic and very passionate about helping launch this new church in order to reach more people with the gospel.

"(This will be) a church plant in the West Valley of Phoenix that is committed to seeing our culture transformed by the gospel through individuals, families and communities living on mission," says Linderman.

Copper Hills Church will take the lead in this project with strong support from the Pacific District Conference and Mission USA, the USMB church planting and renewal ministry.

“We have sensed for over a year that Gavin is the right person to establish this future church,” says Brad Klassen, Copper Hills pastor.

“This is another church plant project that is being accomplished through partnership,” says Mission USA director Don Morris. “It’s exciting to see Copper Hills Church ‘daughter’ another church. I know they have had an intense desire to do this for a long time.”

The Phoenix area was a major focus of church planting activity for Mission USA when the ministry was established in the mid-1990s. Ed Boschman, USMB executive director, says, "When Carol and I moved to Phoenix in 1996, I had just accepted the invitation to serve as the first executive director for Mission USA, which was at that time the new domestic mission initiative of our national family.”

“We envisioned that in the next 15 years USMB would establish a cluster of new churches in that metroplex of more than 3 million people,” says Boschman. “The fact that we are now partnering with Copper Hills Church (the first church plant in Phoenix) and the Pacific District Conference to birth a new church is nothing less than a prayer answered. We are very grateful to God for his affirmation of those prayers of faith offered 15 years ago. A vision has been revived. And for the sake of the mission of God, Phoenix is rising.”

Linderman will complete a degree in Christian studies from Grand Canyon University in May, and at that time the project team will begin meeting on a regular basis. The core team will be developed over the summer, and the church launch is expected sometime in the fall of 2012.

What an amazing reality: God wants us to ask him for the impossible—things that only he can accomplish. Jesus says to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20).

I struggle with this. Isn’t asking God to do the impossible a little presumptuous on my part? Why would he do this for me? Why do I have the right to approach the maker of the universe with such requests?

Why? Because our prayers are pathways for God to act in powerful ways. Jesus says, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).

Amazing. Because I am his child, God expects me to ask him for big things. God delights in displaying his glory.

So I’ve started asking God for some things that seem impossible. In fact, they are impossible—for me. In particular, I’m humbly asking God for something very specific pertaining to Mission USA and the planting of new Mennonite Brethren churches.

I was walking on a beach, gazing at the ocean, when God impressed this on me: “Ask me for what seems impossible to you. Ask me to help Mission USA reach people in my name. I can create oceans. Ask me.” I stumbled when God said this. I stammered. I couldn’t get the words out for quite some time. 

Do I dare ask for six church plants and for the money to get it done? If this would come to pass, it would result in more new churches being established in any one year than we have seen happen since the early years of our immigration from Russia. Wow!

For hours I walked and listened. This would almost be like Joshua asking the Lord to stop the sun from setting so he could vanquish the Amorites (Joshua 10). It would be a “sun stand still” kind of request.

Before I could pray for six new churches, I asked myself: Would this glorify God? Yes, he obviously wants to reach people who don’t know him yet. Would some see this as just a plea for more money? I don’t know, maybe. But maybe it would truly energize some that have a passion for reaching the lost. Would I be able to relate this “sun stand still” prayer to others with the right motives and with a true heart? Oh, how I pray so!

So, Lord, I ask, I pray, this “sun stand still” prayer: For Mission USA to have an integral part in planting six new MB churches by the end of 2012, and for the money it will take to get this done.

From a report by Norm Thiesen

Trinity Church of Portland, Ore., celebrated one year of public ministry and worship with a banquet Sept. 17. Trinity Church is a Mennonite Brethren church plant supported by the Pacific District Conference and Mission USA, the church planting and church renewal ministry of the U.S. Conference of MB Churches. It is already a self-supporting congregation, now off of subsidy.

Following a catered dinner and musical entertainment, Art Azurdia, senior minister of word and worship, recounted God’s blessings throughout the past year and members shared stories of their experience at Trinity Church. The celebration continued Sunday morning (Sunday worship team pictured right) with five baptisms, accepting 15 people into church membership and appointing another elder to the leadership team. Trinity experienced its highest Sunday morning attendance, with 173 joining the celebration.

Sally Gentry was one of several members who spoke at the Saturday banquet of the Lord’s work in their lives through Trinity Church.

“I am Sally Gentry, and I am married to Larry who recently turned 75. Why do I mention this? Because I am pretty sure that we are age-wise the oldest members of Trinity Church. In many churches, this would push us to the outer fringes of the circle of fellowship. We would be relegated to a box out here for the doddering elders who are somewhat eccentric.

Now, we may be doddering elders who are somewhat eccentric—and we perhaps don’t always remember your correct names—but you have welcomed us into the center of your fellowship circle where we can joyfully share our lives together. This fellowship has caused us to stand amazed as we are continually deepened in our understanding of how wonderfully Jesus builds his church. I’ll give you some examples:

• Who would have thought we could have a serious conversation about the Heidelberg Catechism with a musician who is a Christian rapper? 
• Who would have thought that a 75 year-old guy would be invited to one of your bachelor parties? 
• Who would have thought that a young couple sitting next to us in Sunday worship would invite us on a double date? 

In every generation we find our refuge in Jesus. One day when you are 75, should the Lord tarry that long, you, too, will be a witness to another generation with your testimony of God’s mercy and steadfast love in your life.”

Mission USA News

Church planting today is more successful than it was even 15 years ago. Recent research by organizations such as Lifeway Research, led by author and speaker Ed Stetzer, indicates that church plants across America have roughly a 15 percent higher success rate than in 1995.

“We are doing many things better and much of this is due to the emergence and development of church planting systems,” writes Stetzer.

Success of Mennonite Brethren church planting is following this national pattern. The MB church plant success rate for the past 15 years is around 80 percent, which is where the national average stands. A “successful” church plant means the new church reaches a point of self-sufficiency and viability.

One of the most important ingredients for successful church planting is church planter assessment. Mission USA, along with the various district church planting boards, is committed to having each potential church planter assessed by a competent independent assessment agency. Typically a potential church plant couple will spend three to four days in an intensive assessment that includes personality profiling, psychological reviews, gift-mix analysis, family health review, physical health review and peer assessment. There are also in-depth ministry-related exercises and performance reviews. It is a challenging event.

“It continues to amaze me how much we learn about a couple’s readiness for church planting through these intense assessments,” says Mission USA director Don Morris. “Sometimes couples attempt to fool the assessors when they first arrive at an assessment, trying to put on a flawless front. But the assessments are so involved that we soon see the couple’s realities. Assessment is not perfect, but it’s a great filter. We don’t want to put couples into the tough realm of church planting until they’re truly ready.”

Mission USA has used various assessment agencies, but most often uses Church Planting Assessment Center based in Johnson City, Tenn. Up to 10 assessors, including an assessor from Mission USA when a Mennonite Brethren couple is being evaluated, and 12 to 14 couples are involved in the process.
True church planting success involves not only the sustainability of a new church. More importantly is whether that new church is seeing life-transformation. According to Morris, that’s how all of this fits together.

“If we assess people for church planting and simply determine that they have good skills, that’s one thing. But if we discern that they have a passion for reaching those who don’t know Jesus, that’s something even more vital,” says Morris. “So, we look for both—skills for planting and a burden for the lost. Why else would we invest so much time, energy and funding into church planting if it wasn’t to help build God’s kingdom?”

One thing is certain: Church planting is getting better returns these days. No longer is it just a shot in the dark. Good systems, networks, planning, partnerships and funding initiatives have all added up to help ensure that when a church is started it has a high degree of expected sustainability.

But without assessment, even those safeguards are incomplete. Morris says, “Even if Billy Graham came to us and wanted to plant a church, the first thing we would do is send him to assessment.”

By Don Morris, Mission USA Director

It is so easy for me to grumble. I find myself grumbling about a lot of things that are totally out of my control. As I write this Oklahoma is enduring the hottest summer on record. Daytime temperatures have often hit 110 degrees. Along with the heat, one can almost hear the collective wail of every person in Oklahoma: “It is sooooo hot!” “Can you believe how hot it is?” “We’re burning to a crisp!” “Even the swimming pool has hot water in it now!” Grumbling.

Another thing I find myself grumbling about is our government’s handling of the nation’s finances. No, it’s not a pretty picture, and it’s easy to be frustrated. More grumbling. “How can they do this to us?”

I grumble when I have to get up early. I grumble when I have to mow the lawn—again. I grumble when the electric bill comes. I grumble when my wife doesn’t see things my way. I think I have a pretty good case for my grumbling, don’t you?

The Apostle Paul breaks into my reasonable grumbling with some words of wisdom. He writes, “Do everything without grumbling (emphasis added) or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Phil. 2:14-16).

Great. Out the window flies my righteous grumbling. And there are other passages referring to grumbling. God simply doesn’t like it. Instead, God wants us to focus on what’s truly important as we follow him. And when we do that, it’s not as easy to fall into grumbling.

Even when it’s 110 degrees outside, God wants us to focus on being salt and light. Even when things aren’t going quite right in some area of my life, God wants me to pray for people who don’t yet know him or who are going through a tough situation. Even when I think I have a suitable case for being in a grumbling mood, God is looking to me for fellowship with him. Even when things look bleak, God wants me to see all the good things he’s providing and to focus on those.

For me, it’s also easy to grumble when I compare my ministry with the one across town that has thousands of people attending and that attracted 2,800 people the first Sunday their new campus was opened. “Why can’t we have that happen for us too, God?” Grumbling. God doesn’t like it.

What does God seek instead? For us to love him and to serve him with the right attitude—without grumbling. Paul reminds us of this with these words from Romans: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Zeal. Fervor. Serving the Lord. No grumbling allowed. “But Lord, have you stepped outside today? It’s boiling out there and….”

I’m sitting in my home office looking out at our front yard where a tree grows. Why is this of any significance? It has taken my wife and me seven years to grow a tree in our front yard.

You see, we live in Oklahoma, and the soil in this part of the state is made up of red clay that creates an unbelievable barrier to tree roots. When a person digs with a shovel and chips with a pick and then digs and chips some more into this red stuff, sweating and moaning, just to make a hole in the ground to plant a tree, that hole quickly becomes just a big clay pot in the ground. Tree roots hit the end of the dug out hole and stop cold. The roots then wrap around and around, never going deeper than the hole, and the soil in the hole easily dries out. The tree struggles to survive in this pit—and well, it’s not a pretty picture.

We have previously planted four other trees that I can count in the dreadful tree hole in our front yard. They all succumbed to the “clay pot beast”—dead within weeks.

But finally we have a tree that is growing. We just had to find the kind of tree that is able to beat the clay pot. Actually, we finally got the brilliant idea of asking a nursery expert what kind of tree to plant. This tree, a Bald Cypress, is now growing like it doesn’t know what a barrier is. It loves red clay.

Now the analogy: In my opinion church planting is a lot like growing trees in challenging soil conditions. If we don’t insert the right kind of church plant into what are oftentimes very difficult circumstances and demographics, these church plants will likely succumb just like our first four trees did; dead within just a short period of time.

But with the right plan, the right planters and the right supporting team, we can watch these new churches grow—like they don’t know what barriers are. Obviously, we must ask the expert Gardener what and how to plant.

As one of those entrusted with church planting among Mennonite Brethren in the United States, I know how crucial it is that we get this right. As I watch the tree in my front yard, the green leaves are dancing brightly in the breeze. And even though it won’t last forever our tree will likely last for a long time.

But with church planting, the results do last forever. A thriving church plant reaches people for Jesus. A thriving church plant helps people follow Jesus, growing and maturing in their walk. A thriving church plant helps us as a conference of churches to be active, supportive and more alive as well.

Even in the difficult areas and in these challenging times, we’ve got to get church planting right. If we do, we’ll watch these new churches grow, thrive and dance in the breeze.

Discerning Littleton’s greatest need

The Micah Project (TMP), a church based on Micah 6:8 and planted Jan. 1 in Littleton, Colo., wants to grow deep connections with the community. “We are seeking one specific mission that we can embrace and throw our energy into,” says church planter Vaughn Jost. “The question we’re asking is: What’s a great need in Littleton that we can match to TMP’s giftedness?” In an attempt to discern Littleton’s needs, Jost continues to meet with various leaders in the community, including city officials and school administrators.

Four key core team couples have joined Jost and his wife, Taryn, in this new venture born out of Trailhead Church in nearby Centennial. Trailhead, under lead planter Jeff Nikkel, began in 2006 and has already multiplied its influence in the Denver area through TMP.

Three of TMP’s core team couples have strong ties to Trailhead. “It was tough to leave Trailhead,” says Dave Cartwright, “and we prayed long and hard before we decided to commit to being a part of TMP. But my wife and I have made the commitment to give up what we’re receiving for ourselves at Trailhead to be on mission with TMP. We want to help make a difference in the lives of people in Littleton, and we love working with Vaughn and Taryn.”

A fresh look at church health

Under the umbrella of Mission USA, the U.S. Conference of MB Churches is providing oversight for a revamped national church health program that will focus on providing various tools for pastors and church leaders. Mission USA is collaborating with district leaders to develop this ministry. The program will include church health survey consultations, regional leadership seminars, conflict resolution assistance and other leadership enhancing resources.

But perhaps the most important piece of this new program is providing coaches for pastors and church leaders. According to many people involved in promoting church health, solid coaching is a key element, as it provides leaders with deep accountability and insight, maximizing a leader’s potential and ultimately the potential of the church. Coaching keeps vision on track. It keeps leaders focused on the right things both in ministry and in life.

The current plan is to train six or seven Mennonite Brethren leaders over the next year through the coach-training program of Ministry Coaching International. These trained coaches will then be certified to train additional Mennonite Brethren leaders as coaches, ultimately providing a strong network of certified coaches.

“Our goal is to have trained coaches that are available for any MB pastor or key leader who desires to have one as the network of coaches develops,” says Don Morris, Mission USA director. “It will take a little while to build up that coaching team, but we want to do it right and to make sure our coaches know how to coach well.”

By Don Morris, Mission USA director

For the past decade, Billy Hornsby, a pastor and church plant initiator who recently died, led one of the most successful church planting networks in the United States. He was known for believing in people and making them feel worthy. He was an encourager.

The story goes that when Billy was in eighth grade a math teacher yelled at him, “Hornsby, you will never amount to anything.” Billy later said that something inside of him died at that moment, and he stopped trying to be anything or anyone. When Billy was 19 and with a wife and daughter to support, he applied for a job at a large corporation in Baton Rouge, La. Part of the application process was taking an aptitude test. When a man from the company’s human resource department called and asked Billy to come in to talk about his score, Billy said, “Look, just tell me I failed it, and I’ll move on. Why waste your time and my time?”

But the man convinced him to come in anyway. When Billy met with him he once again blurted out, “I know I failed the test, so please just let me move on.” The man looked at Billy and said, “Not only did you not fail the test, but you scored higher on the test than any one of the hundreds of people that have ever taken this test.” And then he pointed his finger at Billy and said, “Hornsby, you know, if you apply yourself, you just might turn into something special.”

Billy said that was the moment his whole life changed back around. From that point on, the math teacher’s “curse” left him, and he went on to accomplish great things in life and for the kingdom of God.

I myself remember a coach who told me I was too small to play football, a game I loved. So I stopped playing. I remember another coach who told me I could do great things if I just believed in myself. I loved playing for that coach.

How many of us go through life never believing that God can use us for great things? I wonder if there are some amazing church planters, leaders, pastors, servers and helpers among us who believe they don’t measure up and so God can’t use them. Are there men and women who could lead but feel stifled by their low self-esteem? Maybe someone once said something derogatory. Maybe they feel scared or unworthy.

God uses imperfect people to do amazing things. He believes in us and wants to show us his vision for us! What if we also believe and go out and do it! Maybe, just maybe, the kingdom of God will experience a powerful jolt.

Phil Wiebe, associate pastor of South Mountain Community Church of The Springs in St. George, Utah, reports that over the past two years this Mennonite Brethren church plant has grown by leaps and bounds. The Springs, located in a predominantly Mormon (LDS) area, has seen many find new life in the true Jesus. Baptisms are common occurrences at The Springs.

Wiebe, who joined the church’s pastoral staff in October 2009, is involved in the development of small groups, assimilation of new attendees and oversees other staff.

When Wiebe arrived on the scene, the church had recently been “adopted” by South Mountain Community Church in Draper, Utah, where Paul Robie is the lead pastor. At that time the weekly Sunday average attendance was 80 to 90 people. This Easter the church enjoyed record attendance of 415.

Becoming a part of the South Mountain family as well as being supported and subsidized by the Pacific District Conference and Mission USA provided this young church with much-needed momentum and tools for growth. Tom Mertz, The Springs lead church planter and teacher, continues to connect with Robie and the pastoral staff at the Draper campus on a weekly basis through emails and phone calls, even though the churches are almost 300 miles apart.

Steady at the helm

In early 2006 when Rod and Donna Anderson determined that God was calling them to plant a church in Sioux Falls, SD, they knew from experience that it would be a long, hard road. But this couple, having now started two new Mennonite Brethren churches, has been steadfast in their efforts over the past four years. Their work is paying off as they witness Christ Community Church grow, mainly by conversions.

“God has been very good. Two more (adults) received Christ as their personal Savior over the past two weeks (in addition to three people the previous month),” says Anderson. “We praise God for how he is building his church. Easter services went very well, with another opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Keep praying that God would grow his church!”

For the past two years the church has been using a building that was converted into a church facility by a different church plant. The congregation has two Sunday worship services due to attendance growth and space limitations as well as to provide an alternative time slot for attendees. This summer Christ Community Church will complete their Mission USA financial subsidy.

Both Rod and Donna are known and appreciated for their sometimes “slightly different” humor. But according to Rod, this keeps them sane and stable. “Church planting is hard enough, but if you can’t laugh once in a while, it gets even tougher,” he says.

While driving on one of these treacherous, icy stretches in Nebraska, going about 40 mph in a 70 mph zone, I started wondering what it would be like to suddenly be in the presence of Jesus. The old “what-if” game started pinging in my mind: What if I hit a really bad icy spot and go see Jesus right this moment? I pictured in my mind standing there before the throne of God, awestruck by the wonder and majesty of his presence and being incredibly thankful that I was adopted into his family. I would bask in the joy of being reunited with loved ones who have gone before and so on. I guess it’s easy to be whisked away to a vision of heaven when your car is slipping and sliding in a way it’s not supposed to.

So I made myself snap out of that heavenly daydream and focus on staying solidly right here on earth by driving a little more carefully. But that caused another wave of thinking: Why do I want to stay on earth? Well, certainly for my loved ones—my wife and our kids and their families and others too. But also because there is still so much work to be done on earth to help build God’s kingdom until he does call me home. I thought of all the people who won’t ever have the experience of standing before the throne of God, basking in his majesty, because they don’t belong to his family.

So as the car swerved and slipped a little more, I was reminded that this is all very real, eternally real. What if? What if the car in front of me left the road and the people were immediately ushered into eternity. Would they stand joyfully before the throne of God? Or…would they…. Wow, this was getting a little unnerving. Those people that just passed me going 42 mph looked nice enough. But were they Jesus-followers?

Perhaps we don’t think about heaven enough. If we did, maybe what’s going on in our lives right now would include more passion, real passion, for reaching those who aren’t yet adopted into the family.

The weekend of April 30-May 1 has been designated Mission USA ONE Weekend by the USMB Leadership Board. Mission USA ONE Weekend was created for churches to individually and collectively organize and designate various fundraising activities for the benefit of Mission USA and church planting.

The Leadership Board also hopes Mission USA ONE Weekend will increase interest and passion for planting additional MB churches and for renewal efforts. “Hopefully this will get our MB churches thinking more about church planting and becoming active participants in helping to make it happen,” says board member Clyde Ferguson of Hudson, NC, and a member of the Mission USA subcommittee.

While some congregations may choose to raise funds by taking a special offering for Mission USA, organizers encourage groups to plan special fundraising events such as car washes, garage sales or sponsored walks.
Information about Mission USA ONE Weekend has been sent to all USMB churches. Questions about the event should be directed to Mission USA Director Don Morris at don@missionusa.net

The idea of Mission USA ONE Weekend was born at the October 2010 USMB Leadership Board meeting. Members of the Mission USA subcommittee discussed ways to help fund the church planting and church renewal mission of Mission USA. One idea that quickly caught on was to promote one weekend a year that would be used by all MB churches as an event to help raise funds for Mission USA.—MUSA

LEAD Seminar a success

More than 80 pastors and church leaders from Kansas and Oklahoma attended the first ever Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Seminar held Feb. 24 and hosted by Memorial Road MB Church of Edmond, Okla. Mission USA, the USMB church planting and renewal ministry, facilitated the seminar, designed to provide key leadership ideas for pastors and leaders.

This first LEAD Seminar incorporated various presenters: Don Morris, Mission USA director, Tim Sullivan, Southern District Conference Minister, and Derk Madden, pastor of Discovery Bible Fellowship, a Mennonite Brethren congregation in Collinsville, Okla.

Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv pictured right, was the special guest presenter. Groeschel is well known in the Christian community as the founding pastor of one of the largest networks of churches in America. Groeschel spoke on “Mindset Shifts, ” identifying practical ideas that pastors and leaders should incorporate in their ministry given today’s challenging social climate.

LEAD seminars could become a regular feature of a new national church health and renewal program being formulated by Mission USA in consultation with district leaders, says Morris. Other aspects of the new program being discussed are a coaching network, church surveys, conflict resolution initiatives and a church health resource exchange.

“This new program will have a coaching focus rather than a consultant focus and I’m excited about what we’re putting together,” says Morris. “There is a huge need in our churches for a solid national church health program that incorporates leadership tools that will make a difference.”—MUSA

by Don Morris

I had just had a brief conversation with the person sitting next to me on a recent flight. We hadn’t talked about much of anything of significance, but we did eventually come to the point where I shared that part of my job involved planting new churches. After that, the passenger hid himself in his book.

A moment later, the pilot came on the intercom and said we were preparing for landing. I wondered how many times I have heard that same message over the past six years of my work with Mission USA and the travel it involves. So I kind of heard him, and at the same time I kind of didn’t hear him.

What caught my full attention on this occasion was the huge burden that began to settle on my heart as I looked out the window and observed the city where we were arriving. I also thought of the person sitting next to me that didn’t have any desire to continue a conversation when he found out I worked for Jesus. And as I looked out the plane’s window, I thought about all the hundreds, no thousands, of homes I was seeing as we descended.

“There are likely thousands of people with no real interest in God who live in those homes. And, there will be thousands in the next city I fly into, and the next and the next,” I remember thinking. I had to keep my head turned toward the window so the man next to me wouldn’t see the tears forming in my eyes.

I wondered as I prayed, “Lord, how can we Mennonite Brethren make any significant difference in this world? How can we even create a drop in the bucket in light of the magnitude of the spiritual void I’m imagining from 10,000 feet?”

What I believe God then said back to me was: “You can’t do it all, just do your part. And, remember this is my plan (to reach the lost) not yours.”

The world looks really big from the window of an airplane. But once on the ground, it doesn’t seem so huge. From the ground you can see individual people and neighborhoods. The world then becomes very real and personal. It’s in these neighborhoods that we can make a difference—and we are! As we develop a stronger and stronger vision for reaching those who don’t yet know Jesus, and as we strive to create relationships that matter, the result has been and will continue to be transformed lives.

So, what’s the moral of this story? The task of reaching people looks impossible when viewed from 10,000 feet. But when I’m next to someone, it’s not daunting at all. So do what I did that day on the plane: start with the person beside you.