January 2025

Many of our churches begin the year with a concentrated time of prayer and fasting. I am always encouraged by these expressions of discipline that have such a profound impact on us personally and corporately. President Michael Nortune is calling all of us to pray and fast together in this season of AWAKENING. Check it out here!

We are joining together in every region of Open Bible to read the book Multipliers and have a weekly discussion with a group of credentialed ministers. These online or in-person groups will have a maximum of 8 lead pastors or staff pastors and will meet for a one-hour weekly discussions beginning the first week in February. We will be sending more information on this initiative and a link for you to sign up by mid-January with a link to the FREE book in English or Spanish. Groups will meet weekly for six weeks and then on March 25, all Pastors Learning Community participants will have access to a national Open Bible ZOOM event with Larry Walkemeyer.

Open Bible College

Spring classes start January 19th!

CONGRATULATIONS

The following credentials for Central Region were approved and will be presented to:

Amber Blackledge, Cultivate Church, St. Peters, MO – upgrade to certified ministerial license

Jacob Ditsworth, Faith United Church, Rockwell, IA – ministerial license

Bay Khanthavixay, Kingdom City Church, Des Moines, IA – ministerial license

James Lambert, Jenks, OK – certified ministerial license

Chelsea Morton, Centerton, AR – certified ministerial license

Zane Peters, First Church, Des Moines, IA – ministerial license

Marina Raquel Sanchez-Alonso– Centro Cristiano Restauracion, Des Moines, IA – certified ministerial license

Skyler Skinner– First Church, Ottumwa, IA – ministerial license

Nicole (Reimer) Tumma – ordination

Amanda Van Zante, First Church, Ottumwa, IA – ministerial license

McKendre Veenstra, Experience Church, Des Moines, IA – certified ministerial license

Pastor Jason Minikus began serving as senior pastor at Open Bible Church in Waterloo, IA on January 1, 2025. Pastor Duane Potter has moved from the senior pastor to the associate pastor role as well. Congratulations on this leadership transition!

RETIREMENTS

We have had three ministry retirements in the month of December:

BILL (Natalie) BURCHIT, Bentonville, AR
Pastor Bill and Natalie Burchit were sent out of Hope Church of NW Arkansas in 2018 to plant a church in Centerton, AR. Pastor Bill served as Lead Pastor of Canvas Church in the Centerton/Bentonville, AR area for the last six years. Several months ago, Pastor Bill decided to step away from leading Canvas Church to partner with his wife Natalie as a real estate team. The majority of Canvas’ leadership also decided to move in other directions for church and so the region is in the process of closing Canvas Church. Thank you Pastor Bill and Natalie for your service at Canvas Church!

ERLINDA MORENO, Des Moines, IA

Pastora Erlinda Moreno came to Des Moines, IA in early 2000 with her new friends, Drs. Nick and Leona Venditti. She would soon help begin a Hispanic ministry at First Church of the Open Bible in Des Moines, IA. Pastora Erlinda received her Open Bible credentials in March 1993. Centro Cristiano Restauracion remained as a ministry of First Church until they officially affiliated with Open Bible Churches in January 2016. Pastora Erlinda was honored on December 29, 2024.

DON (Mary) PORTER, Stuart, IA

Pastor Don Porter received his credentials with Open Bible in May 1975. He served as pastor of our Guthrie Center church from July 1975 to April 2011. Pastor Don planted New Beginnings Open Bible Church in Stuart, IA in December 2012 where he served the church through their final service December 15, 2024. Pastor Don also served as chaplain with MOVE Ministries, the Lions Club of Iowa, and the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Department.