When you go to Open Bible’s national website, the first thing you will read is our joint mission to “make disciples, develop leaders, and plant churches.” I have the very fortunate position in Central Region of bringing focus to the third part of that strategy. We hold such high emphasis on beginning new congregations because of their impact on local communities. Due to their entrepreneurial nature and the excitement of starting something new, every person associated with that new work becomes evangelism and invitation powerhouses. An enviable position indeed! Here are updates and prayer requests on a few of our new works in Central Region.
Open Bible Church of Sleepy Eye, MN
Kyle and Kathy Asp will be soft launching the church in Sleepy Eye, a town of about 3,500 in southwestern Minnesota, in September of this year. Kyle has felt a call to ministry for many years, but recently was thrust into the pulpit when the pastor in his church retired. Kyle took it upon himself to fill in for what he thought would be a few weeks but continued for nearly a year, until the denomination officially closed the church. There is a need in Sleepy Eye for a congregation and we are excited to partner with Kyle and Kathy!
Shalom Hill Church in Minneapolis, MN
Michael and Teya McDougal both have significant ministry backgrounds and are preparing to transition from a Bible study to a launch team phase in the next few months. They are planning a multicultural work near Mall of America with a strong emphasis on connecting with marginalized groups. As God spreads the word about Shalom Hill, a location and soft launch target date will be established.
Cultivate Church in St. Louis, MO
Shane and Amber Blackledge are in final preparations for moving their family to the St. Louis area. They will need to establish new connections, communities, and partners in ministry. This type of “parachute plant” is often considered the most difficult, but Shane and Amber are natural evangelists called to help the broken, addicted, forgotten people of St. Louis’ worst neighborhoods. They will begin by starting Celebrate Recovery groups and developing leadership.
Partnering with you in FUTURE FORWARD,
Kevin Starkey, Church Planting Director
re.fresh…we are at the half-way point of the calendar year and we have half of our available church consultations reserved. We have space for five more churches to do a re.fresh health consultation. Please contact Bruce Pfadenhauer at bruce@openbiblecentral.org to inquire about or schedule your re.fresh!
ADJUSTED Housing Allowance
With the realities of inflation, you may want to consider a mid-year increase in your housing allowance. That is permissible as long as it is done in advance of the increase and recorded in church board minutes. For those under regional supervision, please contact the regional office.
ADJUSTED IRS Mileage Rate
The IRS has approved a 4-cent increase in the optional standard mileage rate from 58.5 cents to 62.5 cents per mile effective July 1, 2022 through the end of the year.
COMFORT
Lawrence Beary, father of Rev. Randy Beary of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the West Ridge Specialty Care Center in Knoxville, IA. Services were held Monday, June 27, 2022 in Albia, IA. Here is a link to the obituary. Randy has been credentialed with Open Bible for many years and has served as interim pastor and pulpit supply in many of our churches.
