South Dakota C onnection Check out the District News District Superintendent................... 2 District Secretary ............................ 3 District News.................................. 4 District News continued.................. 5 YCE................................................ 6 SDAG YCE Scholarship recipients. 7 SDAG Girlfriends........................... 8 M’pact Girls Club............................ 9 Royal Rangers................................10 Team Honor Bound MM..................11 50+ Ministries.................................12 Native American Information..........13 District Directory Changes............. 13 District Leadership Information...... 14 District Office Information...............15 District Calendar of Events.............15 “Great Places, Great Faces” May 2012
Transcript
South Dakota Connection
Check out the District News District Superintendent................... 2 District Secretary............................ 3 District News.................................. 4 District News continued.................. 5 YCE................................................ 6 SDAG YCE Scholarship recipients. 7 SDAG Girlfriends........................... 8 M’pact Girls Club............................ 9 Royal Rangers................................10 Team Honor Bound MM..................11 50+ Ministries.................................12 Native American Information..........13 District Directory Changes............. 13 District Leadership Information...... 14 District Office Information...............15 District Calendar of Events.............15
“Great Places, Great Faces”
May
2012
The 4th and final retreat of the Acts 2 Journey was a great success. It was exciting to hear the leadership teams from churches across the state as they presented plans for their churchʼs future. And the results are already becoming visible as plans are being implemented and the resulting changes are becoming reality.
Our goal through the district office is to effectively resource the churches of South Dakota with ideas and training to better fulfill the Great Commission. We are currently working on plans for continued coaching and training for interested pastors." " " " " " " " " Rev. Stephen Schaible -
A few weeks ago, a man in our congregation went several states away to take a course in improving his sales technique. Thatʼs what this man does, he sells things. Another man who is in the medical field, recently attended a weeklong seminar to develop a new health technique. My mechanic regularly takes courses to learn how to fix newer cars. It happens all the time --- skilled persons who are further honing their skills to better serve others.
I was reminded of this a few days ago as I sat in a session with Ron McManus at our District Council --- reminded that Iʼve not yet arrived and still have so much to learn. While Iʼve been a pastor for many years, I am always trying to minister better, minister differently, or go to a deeper level of ministry. I took pages of notes from those excellent sessions. Times like that provide us with an opportunity to learn and to be stretched beyond our experience. For those who attended, we came away from those sessions refreshed, encouraged, and challenged…challenged to do it better!
Take advantage of those “sharpening times” that are carefully and prayerfully
planned in our district. They are provided to assist us in being a more effective tool in Godʼs hand.
-Gary Wileman-Secretary / Treasurer
NEW CREDENTIAL APPLICANTSIf you are interested in either first time credentials or upgrading your credentials, please contact the district office for your “Credential Application Packet”. It is NEVER too early to begin the process. Contact us by clicking SDAG and we will get all the information to you. Deadline is November 1, 2012 but letʼs start now.
Congratulations to New and Upgraded Credential Recipients
at the 2012 District Council
OrdinationRev Janel CampbellRev Joseph DonnellRev Randy HahneRev Randy Jensen
Rev Ray LailRev Melanie StrongRev Johnny Wade
LicenseRev Terri Blanchette
Rev Sarah DavisRev Bryan NewswanderRev Amber Thompson
R o n M a s t e r s w a s honored at the 77th South Dakota District Council April 16, 2012 commemorating Fifty Years as an Ordained M i n i s t e r w i t h t h e Assemblies of God. Ron and La Vonne have served the South Dakota district for 29 years.
It is a privilege to have such wonderful servants of the Lord here in our
" " " " district. "
Congratulations Rev Ron Masters
Edna Tufte made her final journey home to be with the Lord March 5, 2012.
A Celebration of her life was held March 31, 2012 at Rapid City First. There is nothing as special as celebrating the long and “fruitful” life of one of Godʼs dear saints. Edna & husband Richard Tufte were long time servants of the Lord here in South Dakota. They pastored at Mitchell, Miller, Brookings, Edgemont, and also directed the Teen Challenge Center in Brookings and numerous other areas. Edna loved to teach and was a prayer warrior. She was the Women's
Ministries Director for the state. Our dear sister will forever be loved and greatly missed in this life. We are so thankful for the blessed Hope of spending eternity with our Savior and our family and friends who have made the journey before us.
Terri Blanchett is the new pastor of Newell AG which is now known as Dakota Life Christian Center. Terri came to South Dakota from Rhode Island. It was also our pleasure to recognize her ministry at the 77th SDAG District Council as a Licensed AG minister. DLCC is growing and making an impact in the community of Newell, SD. Welcome Terri!
It was no surprise to anyone when Pastor John and Lois Hostettler went to Milbank Calvary as “interim pastors” that the congregation fell in love with them and began “pursuing” them as their “shepherds”. It was an honor to install them as Lead Pastors at Calvary AG in Milbank, SD. Pastor John and Lois retired a couple years ago as lead pastors of Pierre New Life AG after pastoring the congregation for nearly ten years. While in Pierre they oversaw the construction of the new fellowship wing added to the church.
Rev Joel and Lori Gross were youth pastors in Watertown under the Schaibles, as well youth pastors in Lincoln, Nebraska. The were lead pastors in Uptown, Minneapolis and had a “coffee shop church” called The Beat. We welcome Pastor Joel, Lori and Taylor back home here in SD as lead pastors of Westgate Community Church in Rapid City. Watch what God is doing in Rapid City!
Welcome To Quentin & Diane Beard Lead Pastors of Sioux Falls
First Assembly
Rev Quentin & Diane Beard come to us from Pittsfield, IL where they pastored the past nine years. Both Pastor Quentin and Diane are ordained ministers. We welcome them and sons Hunter and Tanner to the South Dakota district as lead pastors of First Assembly in Sioux Falls. Wonderful things are happening at SF First.
The SDAG Youth Department is pleased to announce two recipients for the J. Robert Ashcroft District Scholarship.
Each will receive $500 towards their education at an Assemblies of God institution of higher learning.
Jordan RohrbachFirst Assembly of God, Aberdeen
Attending Trinity Bible College
Ellendale, ND
Heidi SteffenFirst Assembly of God, Yankton
Attending North Central University
Minneapolis, MN
South Dakota Youth Scholarships
You South Dakota Girlfriends are awesome!We had a very special time at the spring luncheon at District Council in Huron with Janie Downing ministering and singing. There were over 90 ladies in attendance and we were blessed. Many ladies were ministered to and received prayer.$8,288 was given through Dedicated Dollars that helped ten of our home missions churches. You helped with insurance, propane, a motor for a sanctuary heater, a mortgage payment, a refrigerator, storm doors, teaching materials, gravel, paint, and an electrical box. I want to challenge more of our churches to become involved in raising money towards this project. There were only 11 of our churches that gave in the Dedicated Dollars. Thousands of dollars were requested that couldnʼt be met. Just think of how much more could be done if all 45 of our churches participated. Please encourage your ladies to give. In the Commissary area we had $7,146 given through cash and gift cards. Plus many items donated. The Commissary is such a blessing to our foreign missionaries, nationally appointed home missionaries, home missions pastors and retired ministers. I have received many thank youʼs and you are making such a difference in their lives by your generosity. Fifteen churches were involved in the giving towards the commissary. I challenge the other 30 churches to give.Thank you to Elaine Harris for her faithful service as a rep to the Southeast Section. She has served for several years and now Phyllis Kuno, pastorʼs wife from Calvary Assembly in Sioux Falls has stepped up to the plate.
Rachel SchaibleSouth Dakota Girlfriends Director
South Dakota
2012 Ladies Spring Luncheon
Phyllis Kuno & Rachel Schaible
Save the date for the Fall Retreat coming up October 5-6. Jodi Detrick, from Washington, will be the guest speaker. She is the Chairperson for the Network for Women in Ministry
Janie Downing
Janie Downing & Janel Campbell
Dakota Girls Ministries is going great!!
I am continually amazed at what God is doing in each of our programs across our state! One of the highlights of 2012 so far is our Together Training event with the Royal Rangers this past March at Mitchell Assembly of God. It was a Friday evening and all day Saturday training and we had a great turn out with about 42 in attendance. James and Bruce Dye did an awesome job Friday night with a together training on church safety. Then on Saturday we had our separate trainings and they both were a complete success. We will be planning more of these events in the future!!
I am also so proud to report that our GM girls raised $3,280.00 for the Love Basket projects for our SD Missionaries. We were able to cover all 8 projects that were submitted and had $1,337.50 left over to help 4 churches with the Dedicated Dollars projects and more gift cards for the commissary!! The Pierre girls did a hands on project with the Jensen's in taking them out to lunch and going shopping with them for their Love Basket project. Getting the girls involved with our Missionaries and actually going and being the hands and feet of Jesus is awesome!! Several testimonies have been reported as well with Rapid City 1st AG having all 6 of their 3rd year Stars girls filled with the Holy Spirit and their leader receiving a healing from her long struggle with Diabetes. Also at Bethel AG in Rapid City their Prims girls all believed together and laid hands on a little girl with a rash and she was healed!! These are the types of reports I am receiving and I am just blown away with what God is doing in our girls and leaders across our state!! Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness and your blessings upon us!! May we always give you the Glory, Honor and Praise!! AMEN!
Sincerely,Diana KjerstadSD Girls Ministries Director
Diana Kjerstad
Training Session
Training Session
SDAG ROYAL RANGERSMarch was a time of gathering and training. We met in Mitchell at First Assembly of God together with the Girls Ministry Leadership for a couple days of Safety Training. What a great group came out and a wonderful time of getting to know one another from across the South Dakota District. If your church is
interested in starting a Ranger Outpost, please contact me and we will be more than “excited” to help you get started. You can E-mail me at James Dye [email protected] SDAG Royal Ranger Director. July 9-13 at Camp Eagle Rock Missouri, 6 thousand Royal Rangers from around the country and many foreign nations, over 70 activities for boys 9-17 including climbing/boulder wall, shooting sports, swimming, talent/fine arts, a 5K run for Master's Toolbox, concerts, and great evening services each night- speakers include George Wood, early registration deadline is May 15th, more info can be found at nationalcamporama.ag.org
I've been reading in First Kings lately, and I'm reminded of the fact that God always keeps his promises; for good as on behalf of King David or for destruction as promised to some of the others. The fulfillment of God's promises aren't often instantaneous. Sometimes the promises take a generation to fulfill, but they will come to pass. Remember the promises in life and ministry; believe them, fight for them and never quit. God has vision and blessing for our men. Please join me in prayer as we seek God's plans and promises for our men throughout the state. At the District Men's luncheon, we were blessed to have Teen Challenge share what God is doing in and through their ministry. We are taking a team on May 24, 25 and 26 to help Teen Challenge in Brookings roof their new facility. If you would like to be a part of the team, please call me at 605-641-1169. Together for Christ, David Winter
Sisseton Faith Family AGPastor Bob Beasley (NA Past)Phone: 605-698-7631 E-mail: [email protected] Address: PO Box 17 57262
Summer work/VBS/outreach projects are scheduled. If you would like to partner with one or more of SD Native Ministries, please contact them. Many are already booking for 2013 summer projects. Thank you for all your prayer and financial support. Respectfully, Tim Harris Resource & Development Coordinator
“The Harvest is ripe! Pray the Lord of the harvest will send forth LABORERS into the harvest fields.” The following are our SD Native Mission churches. We heard at district council NA Summit they “all” are in great need of laborers to come along side to bring in the harvest. Most can use additional team members.
As you read this edition of the South Dakota Connection we will have completed the 2012 50+ Ministries Spring Banquet Tour. God is so good, we thank Him for His faithfulness to protect us as we traveled across the state. His presence was so close as people in each section were ministered to.
The 2012 Spring Banquet tour took place at the following: " ~APRIL 30th ~ Sioux Falls First Assembly "" ~MAY 1st ~ Brookings First Assembly of God" ~MAY 2nd ~ Church Night R&R " ~MAY 3rd ~ Aberdeen First Assembly of God" ~MAY 5th ~ Bethel Assembly of God Rapid CityThe “kick off night” of the tour was at Sioux Falls First where the Sandrens were Lead pastors “many years ago”. It was wonderful to see so many there that attended when they pastored and continue even today. Old “acquaintances” renewed. The Sandrens blessed us all at each of the banquets in different ways. Their “spirit and love of life” is so very contagious. Nels and I met them for the first time and have made life long friends for sure. "In the next issue of The Connection we will share more testimonies from the Spring Tour and give further information regarding the 50+ Ministries Fall Camp Meeting, which is scheduled September 5-7, 2012 at Camp Judson, which is located near Keystone, SD and Mount Rushmore. Due to a medical issue, Dan Betzer will not be ministering at Camp Meeting. Please keep him and Darlene in your prayers. We are happy to announce that our own Tim & Elaine Harris, South Dakota Native American Ministries Directors, have graciously agreed to step in and fill that position. We know that God has a plan for this Camp Meeting, and we are looking forward to it being fulfilled. We wish to thank all of you for your faithfulness to support this ministry with your prayers and faithful giving.
Nels & Angie Easterby, Directors"50+ Ministries of South Dakota
