February 2026

Register your church leadership team and join us – Saturday, March 7, 2026!

REGISTER HERE

Two important administrative updates for churches from Bruce Pfadenhauer, RED

MinistryWorks – a payroll processing and tax filing service

Do quarterly 941 forms, W-2, W-3, and 1099, 1096 forms make you nervous? We have an answer for you to strongly consider. Last month I recommended churches of all sizes consider using MinistryWorks, a payroll processing and tax filing service. The cost is very reasonable. One of our churches with only the pastor on the payroll is paying $370 per year. Another church with five employees on the payroll pays $683 per year. Included in the payroll processing by MinistryWorks is they complete quarterly 941 forms and the W-2s and W-3 at year end. And they understand taxes for pastors and churches! If you are interested, please call 866-215-5540 ext. 1.

I-9 Forms for ALL church employees

Open Bible’s Executive Leadership Team has discussed the need for all our churches to get I-9 forms completed and in every current employee file and any new employees in the future. This is not a new issue as this became federal law in 1986 and churches must comply. You can download the information you need at https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9.pdf. Please download the I-9 form and instructions and get your church in compliance.

Breakaway 2025 – GO!

Breakaway 2025 was truly one for the record books. Over 500 students, staff members, and adult chaperones gathered at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for 2.5 days of worship, Christ-centered community, and powerful, biblically grounded teaching!

Our Breakaway speaker, Trinity Queen, equipped students with practical and accessible strategies to confidently share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those around them. Worship was led by Jesus Collaboration, under the leadership of Judah Miller, from Life Church in Waverly, Iowa. Together, they led us into profound moments of ministry, including powerful altar calls where students encountered the presence of God.

Throughout the event, we witnessed incredible spiritual fruit:

200+ salvations and recommitments to Christ
30+ students delivered from suicidal thoughts
300+ students who rang the bell, publicly declaring that Jesus had set them free from affliction, addiction, or spiritual bondage during the event

We give all glory and praise to God for the life-changing work He accomplished among our students. If you would like to view photos from the event, please visit: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1c3s3YwhrlzTbx0i1UA08Rk1GYTpCeiu_

Breakaway 2025 also provided a meaningful opportunity to honor Justin Hibbs, who has faithfully served alongside me as my right-hand for Central Region youth and kids events over the past six years. Justin will be transitioning out of this role to pursue other ministry opportunities within his local church. Justin, thank you for your dedication, leadership, and heart for the next generation. We bless you and pray God’s favor over your future ministry endeavors.

Looking ahead, Breakaway 2026 will take place December 29–31 at the Holiday Inn near the airport in Des Moines, Iowa. We are already anticipating what the Lord will do as we gather once again!

Thank you for sending your students and leaders and for trusting us with them. We are continually praying for the growth, health, and impact of youth and kid’s ministries throughout Central Region!

– Skyler Sanford, Next Generation Director

Justin & Ruthie Hibbs

Bell of Spiritual Freedom

Speaker Trinity Queen

Global Harvest Offering 2026- BUILD HOPE FOR AFRICA

Open Bible Global Missions has changed the face of the Global Harvest Offering for 2026. Instead of printing materials and mailing them to everyone, you can now download the materials you want to use to promote this important offering. This year’s Global Harvest Offering is Build Hope for Africa. Pastor Peter Shandakwa, our pastor in Fairfax, IA, also serves as a Field Director for Open Bible in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pastor Peter planted over 30 churches in Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, and other nations as well. A portion of the Global Harvest Offering will help Pastor Peter with important building projects in Africa.

Let’s all partner together as we Build Hope for Africa through The Power of WE!

Pastors, to help promote Build Hope for Africa in your churches this year here is some help:

Share this video with your congregation (at this vimeo site there are additional videos there as well)
Here is a link to access resources to use at your church to help in your services, with printed materials, and with social media throughout the year.
Provide regular opportunities for your congregation to give to their MVP offering along with the Global Harvest Fund.

CONGRATULATIONS

Pastor Adam and Julie Koehler, pastors in Spirit Lake, IA, welcomed Noah Bruce Koehler into their world on January 29, 2026!

Pastor Cody and Taylor Van Sickle, associate pastors at Journey Church in Urbandale, IA, welcomed Teagan Elise Van Sickle into their world on January 28, 2026! Pastor Darrick and Ranada Young, lead pastors at Journey Church in Urbandale, are grandparents!

Grand Re-Opening of Agape Open Bible Church – Des Moines, IA

We had two affiliated Hispanic Open Bible Churches in Des Moines, IA – Centro Cristiano Restauracion which was started in 2000 and housed at First Church in Des Moines and Agape Open Bible Church planted by Lauro and Gina Reyna in 2020 out of their mother church – Journey Church in Urbandale, IA. Centro needed a new pastor to lead them in this next season and Agape had experienced pastors to lead so the region merged these two congregations into one. February 1, 2026, was the launch of their first service together. Pastors Lauro and Gina Reyna were joined by Ricardo Ponce, regional board member; Bruce and Robin Pfadenhauer, regional directors; and President Michael Nortune.