REPORT OF THE INTERIM DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT2016 District Conference

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” Hosea 10:12 (NIV)

SEEKThe theme of our 2016 District & Prayer Conference is "Retying the Knot: From Fullness to Fruit. It is time to seek the LORD!" The genius of the early Christian and Missionary Alliance was the abiding connection between the Spirit baptized life and the world-wide advance of the gospel. What the early C&MA family understood was that from the fullness of the Spirit came power for service, healing, an experience of God’s love, holiness, and evangelism. Without power from on high (Acts 1:5), it is impossible to be a Christ-centered Acts 1:8 family!

So, it’s time to seek the LORD! We long to live in the fullness of the Spirit so we might see the “gospel of the kingdom…preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations,” knowing then, “the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

As we seek the LORD during our MidAmerica District & Prayer Conference, as we retie the knot between fullness and fruit, I sense this is the awakening God is looking for throughout our Alliance family. It is hardly surprising that our president, Dr. John Stumbo, will convene an Alliance regional deeper life and missions event sixteen days after our Conference concludes. It is time to seek the LORD! Let’s make this the hallmark of our District & Prayer Conference!

SOWI came to the MidAmerica District in October 2015 as a complete outsider. I had never been to Nebraska, never visited Iowa, never stepped foot in Missouri or Kansas other than to attend Council, and though as a tenured superintendent I made numerous trips to Colorado, it was always just for business. About a week before leaving for Omaha it hit me, “I really am going to places I know not.”

Upon arriving in Omaha I found myself very much at home. Not only did the city remind me of the place where my wife and I met each other in Canada, my first road trip into Iowa found me in a town reminiscent of the community where God allowed me to plant a church thirty years ago.

For nearly seven months God has given me the privilege of being part of His sowing into the five great states that make up the MidAmerica District. It has been a joy to travel into each state and to make Spirit-anointed connections with pastors and lay leadership teams from Colorado to eastern Iowa. I’ve been welcomed, warmly received, and given tremendous opportunity to be part of the flow of God’s Spirit as He sows new seed in our midst.

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I am incredibly grateful for the sowing God did through my predecessor, Rev. Doug Grogan. Doug was faithfully used by God to bring healing in the District. And while Doug labored under the strain of physical pain his last year, the District is in a much healthier place than it was when he was appointed District Superintendent in the spring of 2012. As a District, we affirm and thank God for the sowing ministry of Rev. Doug and Peggy Grogan.

Sowing into the ministry of the MidAmerica District has been a vital part of the ministries of Kay Schroeder and Kathy Herbranson in the District Office. Kay and Kathy tirelessly serve the greater District family as they sow good seeds of effective procedure, faithful systems, and outstanding administration.

I have been extraordinarily privileged to serve alongside Rev. Kent Sovine. Prior to my arrival, Kent was faithfully sowing seeds of encouragement, mentoring, and multiplication. In Kent I found a kindred spirit with an abiding desire to see systems created which provide an on-ramp for the next leg in the journey of the District.

A vital part of the sowing ministry of the MidAmerica District are the financial seeds which the churches sow every month. Without these faithful seeds our sowing together for God’s glory would be impossible! My heart is filled with gratitude. I find myself praying, “Thank you Lord for the MidAmerica churches who sow financial seeds without arm-twisting or coercion." These, too, are the heroes of the faith.

As District churches faithfully sow financial seeds providing a base for changing hearts and lives, I am extremely grateful for the careful stewardship of these resources as exercised by the oversight of our treasurer, Dan Cutler and our accountant, Jane Samson. These faithful servants are vital to the sowing which issues forth in reaping all around the MidAmerica District.

Additionally, I am incredibly grateful for the faithful sowing by the members of our District Executive Committee and Licensing, Ordination, and Consecration Council. These dear servants sow of their time, their prayers, their fellowship, and their partnership in the gospel. I love the way our two key teams serve in positive, life-giving ways, speaking into the ministries of the District with wisdom and Spirit-anointed insight. Without the oversight, engagement, and ministry of these two key teams, retying the knot between fullness and fruit would be simply another slogan. These teams are truly the boots on the ground enabling the kind of reaping and ground breaking that is described in this report.

REAP Developing a Leadership Development Pathway

In The Christian and Missionary Alliance we long to reap the fruit of unfailing love reflected by workers bringing in a bountiful harvest. Assisting us in raising up workers equipped and enabled to reap the fruit of unfailing love are our Licensing, Ordination, and Consecration processes. Built upon the five core characteristics of an Alliance worker1 we are moving as a district toward developing an integrated leadership pathway. One of the privileges I’ve enjoyed in sharing in the life of the

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MidAmerica District is to work with Kent Sovine and members of our Licensing, Ordination, and Consecration Council in developing this pathway.

The Leadership Pathway which will be introduced in more detail during District Conference is an effort to engage the accreditation, ordination, and consecration processes of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in our MidAmerica context. Drawing upon the resources of the Church Ministries Licensing, Ordination, and Consecration Handbook, along with tools developed in several other districts, LO&CC has approved a pathway that leads toward becoming a life-long developing leader.

Foundational to the Leadership Development Pathway is a shift from the processes of accreditation, ordination, and consecration as simply steps to work through, toward a truly developmental process. In the developmental process every accreditation candidate will enjoy equipping with the help of an approved and trained mentor. Moving through accreditation will yield toward either ordination or consecration processes designed to lead to a life of growing as a worker who is being mentored, encouraged, and accountable.

In MidAmerica we dream of a day when every official worker will have a lifelong development plan accompanied by ongoing assessment. We anticipate a time when lifelong development plans will be shared with mentors who will assist in holding every official worker accountable as a growing worker in the harvest.

Polity TrainingReaping the fruit of unfailing love in The Christian and Missionary Alliance context includes a good understanding of not only what we believe, but who we are. One of the ways we reap this fruit is through our Alliance Polity Course.

Every licensed worker in The Christian and Missionary Alliance is required to take an Alliance polity course. Upon arriving in the district I discovered there were in excess of forty workers needing to complete this requirement. Concern had been expressed both in the Licensing, Ordination, and Consecration Council and at the District Executive Committee.

With permission of the Church Leadership Academy at the National Office, and with encouragement by the members of LO&CC, Kent Sovine and I took on the task of developing a MidAmerica intensive polity class which we offered in March both in Denver and Nebraska.

We have been encouraged by the positive feedback to the intensive. It was a privilege to have personnel from the National Office in attendance at the first intensive and to have a wide variety of workers join us both settings. At the direction of LO&CC the six papers which previously were written during the polity course have been moved to the ordination/consecration track. At the same time, assignments to be completed following the polity course were included in the intensives. These assignments invite the emerging leader to interact with concepts covered in the papers.

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It is my anticipation that the intensive polity course will be offered again. Kent and I believe we may need to add a few more hours to allow for greater interaction. We are looking forward to further feedback both from Dr. Monty Winters and Dr. Amy Roedding at the National Office.

Church Planting Leadership TeamReaping a harvest of changed lives being discipled through new churches throughout the district cannot be accomplished alone. Kent has provided outstanding oversight to the church planting ministries of the MidAmerica District. Encouraging him in reaping a bountiful harvest, in December, the District Executive Committee approved the concept of a 3-person Church Planting Leadership Team.

The goal of the Church Planting Leadership Team is to come alongside Kent as we realize the goal of reaching the 19 million of our district with the good news of Jesus Christ. Clearly the challenge before us is too great for one man to accomplish! A team will encourage, pray, provide feedback, and assist Kent as God gives us the privilege of reaping a harvest leading to church planting across the district.

Church PlantingOur District currently has 16 churches in one stage or another under the broad category of “Developing Church.” A few of these are new works since our last District Conference:

Puente de Salvacion - We celebrate what God is doing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with the launch of Puente de Salvacion (Bridge of Salvation Church). Jorge Narvaez and Todd Hart have worked with their leadership teams to launch this new Hispanic church as its own plant coming out of the Cedar Rapids Alliance Church.

Citylight Council Bluffs - We celebrate what God is doing in Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the launch of Citylight Council Bluffs. They have started developing a core team of disciplemakers who have a great heart to reach this community. Rev. Steve Diehl and Sherwood Community Church have been great partners in the effort as Citylight Midtown launches her second plant.

Reclaim KC - We celebrate the brand new work launching in Kansas City, Kansas. Jerry and Sara Breedlove will be joining our District this spring and are building a team that will launch in Kansas City later this year. They are connecting with the Burfords and some of our ethnic Alliance churches in the area and are excited to plow new ground in a city ripe for a more of the Kingdom!

Destiny Family Church and Bridge of Hope - We celebrate a new partnership in St. Louis with Bridge of Hope and Destiny Family Church. In a city filled with need, Pastor Mike and the Bodas are pressing forward as vessels of hope and light. They have formed a beautiful relationship in which the ministry of Bridge of Hope is able to connect people with the life of the local church.

Compass Church – We celebrate the launching of Compass Church on the southwest side of Colorado Springs. This has been a new effort done in partnership with Harvest Church reaching into a side of the Springs that is desperate for the gospel.

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Citylight Benson (Omaha) – Benson launched out of Citylight Midtown with a dream to see the community of Benson transformed by the gospel. The church is thriving in an arts community that is constantly seeing growth. The church has networked deeply with community leaders and has found great avenues through which to connect the kingdom-presence of the church with the lostness in the community.

New City Church – Christ Community launched a multi-site campus that transitioned into a church plant in Bellevue, Nebraska. The church has a heart to bless their city and is seeing the gospel spread into many new lives around their community.

There are numerous other church plants in our District experiencing fruitful ministry. We celebrate the work that God is doing! At the same time, we would encourage continuously lifting these new works before the Lord as the journey of starting something new comes with many challenges! Keep crying out to God on behalf of:

Cedar Point Church in Nashua, Iowa Servant Church in Overland Park, Kansas One80 Church in Lincoln, Nebraska Bhutanese-Nepali New Life Church in Omaha, Nebraska Elevation Church in Omaha, Nebraska Grace Church in Lincoln, Nebraska Church of the Living Waters in Edwards, Colorado Village Church in Gypsum, Colorado

Ministries of the District1. Global FriendsGlobal Friends is a missionary candidate training center for the National Office of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. The ministry is directed by Julie Arant a District official worker. Three young women are currently being trained through Global Friends in church planting movement strategies and various methods of evangelism. Recently a communist party member was baptized as a result. One of the young women was just appointed to serve in Jordan. Each candidate also serves alongside of a local CMA church in addition to Global Friends.

As a result of the growth of Global Friends, they have moved to a venue on the university campus called the Community Engagement Center. Meetings occur every Friday evening where regularly there are between 50-90 students and volunteers from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India and Nepal. Two learning tracks students can choose from are English practice or a Bible option called “Life’s Greatest Questions.”

2. Bridge of Hope MinistriesAfter earnestly seeking the Lord and spending hours in conversation, it was determined that the best way to see our work in St. Louis move forward was to transition Bridge of Hope from being considered a “local church” to instead being built out as a ministry center that has now connected to dEstiny Family Church. The partnership has allowed people to live out their Ephesians 4 roles in a greater way

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and allowed the ministry to enter into a season of new fruit. As far as Bridge of Hope as a ministry of the District, we are grateful to all of you who have partnered with them, sent teams to serve alongside them, and for those who have helped financially support the work.

3. Camp RivercrestWe thank God for the faithful ministry of Camp Rivercrest. Jon Classen and Tom Ehly are giving excellent oversight to this ministry as lives are being changed for the glory of the Lord! A full report from Rivercrest is included in the District Conference reports.

4. Great Commission WomenWe are grateful for the faithful service of District Great Commission Women. Great Commission Women faithfully engage the women of their communities in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. This devotion can be seen in reaching out to women without Christ and in faithful prayer and financial support of our international workers. We are grateful for the leadership of Moni Cutler. A full Great Commission Women report is included in the District Conference reports.

BREAK UP UNPLOWED GROUNDTo seek the Lord in the spirit of Hosea 10:12 we must continually break up unplowed ground. The harvest of righteousness pictured in the word of God will not be ours without this hard work. As the farmer in spring hoping to reap a harvest in the fall must work hard to till the soil, God is calling us toward the same in MidAmerica.

Missions MobilizationIn January, I convened a broad based team to engage a process considering how churches of the MidAmerica District were responding to the challenge of our president that we embrace Alliance ministries by moving toward Great Commission Fund giving minimally at 10% of local church income.

Decline in Alliance Ministries EngagementIt was noted that Great Commission Fund giving from the MidAmerica District churches has declined as a percentage of local church income to 7.80% in 2015. Reasons for this decline ranged from the connection of District pastors to Alliance Ministries, to the heart of District pastors needing development, to recognizing the tyranny of the urgent demanding time and attention, leaving little energy for engaging the missionary heart of the C&MA, to things like the absence of stories of transformation from Alliance missionaries, and a question in the minds of some District pastors in terms of “who” we send out as international workers?

Additionally, it was noted that a very real issue in the decline in Great Commission Fund giving may be related to the change in our model of international ministry.  Where once we sent workers to regions where stories readily could be sent back stateside, today, with restricted and closed access countries increasingly dominating our global outreach, progress in reporting conversions may be slower and stories may not be available in order to protect the safety of workers. The need then is to

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capture people’s hearts afresh, while the challenge is to keep prayer upfront – especially with the issue of our creative access workers.

Ways to Overcome the Decline in Alliance Ministries engagementThe team discussed a number of ways that the MidAmerica District can overcome the decline in Alliance Ministries engagement. This discussion included, but was not limited to, ideas such as: Partnership. The District team can assist churches in partnering together to

adopt a worker, or a field.  What must be done in working toward partnership?1.    Have partnership between churches in the global mission of the

Alliance as a District goal2.    Challenge District churches to develop intentional partnerships3.    Plan for vision trips bringing together pastors and lay leaders from

larger and smaller churches Pastor. A District priority must be getting pastors, especially small church

pastors to a C&MA field. This must be supported and encouraged from the District Office level. 

Vision trips should be initiated from the District level with broad participation Stories of partnerships, fruit from vision trips need to be told through video

with broad distribution Develop a spreadsheet which identifies all the current District church

partnerships Leadership development for ordinands must include missional engagement

including hands on experiences with Alliance Missions Help pastors see what they are already doing as related to the mission of God

for lost people. Encourage pastors to see that global missions is part of discipleship

Work with District missionaries in partnering with the churches of the District. Churches need to see the missionary (IM worker) as part of their team. The

international worker needs to feel the same. This vision needs attention at the district level and from the National Office

Communicate from the District Office expectations for the international worker and for the church

Provide better orientation for the international workers who serve in the District on home assignment.  We need to see the IM worker coming alongside the local church pastor. Use experienced IM workers to equip newer workers in this vital part of missions

District personnel need to work with church leadership teams in creating a culture which engages Alliance missions.

Obstacles to District church participation in Alliance Ministries One of the obstacles to greater Alliance missions engagement is the absence

of a District missions mobilization team that is empowered, equipped, and enabled.

The growing presence of non-Anglo churches may be an obstacle to the kind of lift envisioned by President Stumbo. Non-anglo churches are often much

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more connected to their home country than to the mission of God around the world. This will take time and maturity to overcome. It does need to be on the radar for District administration. There must be cross-cultural engagement.  This must be a priority and Anglo churches should be encouraged to partner with non-Anglo churches.

Follow-up and follow through has been weak in terms of missions mobilization.

Absence of financial resources, training, equipping for missions mobilization

Next Steps and RecommendationsThe team considered the following next steps and recommendations. These

were approved at the April 5/6 meeting of DEXCOM.1.    Have DEXCOM establish a broad based Missions Mobilization team.  This

team should be an action oriented group who will make the connections with the churches to create lift.  The members of this team need to be high capacity, people who want to achieve, and are capable of moving the ball down the field.

2.    Focus on one-on-one with pastors as District staff visit. It is critical for District staff to not only hold up the value of being part of Alliance missions, but to encourage the kinds of values identified earlier.

3.    Have a focus on missions mobilization at District Conference. 4.    Consider a mission’s mobilization team that is regionalized.  5.    Create expanded budget lines for getting workers overseas and for

missions mobilization in general. Give clarity in terms of how these budgets are used. 

6.    Make the expectations for missions mobilization abundantly clear7.    Make church health a district priority. Unhealthy churches have little

energy to engage Alliance missions.

Regional Configurations – Cluster GroupsOne of the realities in a district which covers two time zones and five states is the need for regional configurations. I am grateful for the three regional directors; Rev. Danny Hodges (Colorado); Rev. Mark Young (Nebraska); and Rev. David MacDonald (Iowa). Working alongside these men are a number of cluster groups lead by district pastors. I am grateful for the faithful service of these men.

Two of our regional directors will be transitioning out of our district this summer. At the same time a number of cluster groups are either not functioning well or are without leadership. I have concluded after prayer and reflection that the regional configurations and cluster groups reflect unplowed ground that needs some spring-like attention. It became clear to me, especially with two of the directors transitioning, as interim superintendent mine was not the role to re-envision what is clearly a vital ministry of the MidAmerica District. I will be encouraging the new Superintendent to take time to review, evaluate, and make recommendations to DEXCOM for a revived regional ministry. For those cluster groups still functioning, I would encourage continued meeting, giving the new Superintendent time to move in God’s direction.

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There is good ground to be plowed, new seeds to sow, and a harvest of pastoral care, effectiveness, and alignment to be reaped.

New Church PlantsWe look forward to seeing where the Lord might lead in the coming days in the world of church planting. We currently have six different potential plants in the conversation stage ranging from small towns to major cities in our District. We are working through the “ACTS” church planting paradigm of Assessment, Coaching, Training and Support and encourage you to find ways for your local church to engage in helping to plow new ground. At any time, the District Office would love to walk with your church in the exploration of church planting!

Urban Ministry and the Inner CityWe have been very grateful to a group of men from around our district who are helping to process through reaching our cities for Christ. The conversation has only begun, but is seen as a crucial one for the coming days. The statistics are stagger-ing around the projected population shift to urban settings in the future. We have identified some settings as “urban poor” some as “inner city” and some as “urban chic.” Our hope is to navigate the difference between these contexts carefully as we consider approaches to church planting and how to best support these works. Of the 19 million people in MidAmerica, roughly 3.5 million live in the urban centers (that does not include the broader metro areas). We want to pay careful attention to how best to press into the urban world.

Central Region of the AllianceThe MidAmerica District has locked arms with the broader Central Region of the Alliance in an effort to do better together at seeing the Kingdom advance. The Central Region is made up of nine districts and three ethnic associations. In our region there are around 170,000 people in over 600 C&MA churches.

The regional team is asking, "What if we worked together? What if the King gave us all the same burden, same dream, and same expectations? What kind of impact could we have together for the advancement of the kingdom?"

Here Is What We Share In The Region:

Shared MANDATETo tenaciously pursue the evangelization of 80 plus million people and the discipleship of the responsive.

Shared CULTURAL COREThis pursuit will be catalyzed through an infectious and effective culture built around the core elements of: Divine expectation and engagement Disciple making Leadership development Mobilized ministries Church planting

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Shared VALUES Holy Spirit Dependence – God sized work done in deep dependence Collective Ownership – shared responsibility of our regional geography and

strategies Multiculturalism – diversity which allows us to reach the 80+ and beyond Deep and wide collaboration – sharing everything within and beyond the

C&MA Utilization of the ordinary – kingdom deployment of ordinary people, places

and ministries Tenacious pursuit – intentional and aggressive realization of agreed upon

outcomes Appropriate deployment – enhanced productivity and mitigating devastation Multiplication – exponential increase

Shared STRATEGIES

Implementation of pipelines that draw, develop and deploy around areas of the cultural core

Green House Environments – are intentional environments that catalyze the holistic development and strategic deployment of emerging leaders called to greater Kingdom impact.

District initiatives that help the region achieve shared outcomes

CONCLUSIONIt has been a tremendous privilege to serve the MidAmerica District for what will be a 10-month period. I have been humbled to be part of a significant move of God amongst us. Sowing, reaping, and breaking up of unplowed ground is taking place all around us. We have 19 million people for whom God has given us the responsibility. We are about 24,000 in our 62 or so churches. There is much more to be accomplished for the kingdom of God! I believe with the empowerment of God’s Spirit, new sowing, reaping, and breaking up of unplowed ground will take place in the days ahead.

Thank you MidAmerica District for the kind manner in which you have received me as your interim superintendent. You will be etched in my heart as I transition toward the next place of service that God has for me in His Kingdom. God richly bless you!

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Dr. J. Wayne Spriggs

___________________1Five Core Characteristics of An Alliance Worker

1. Christ-centered Character2. Empowered Ministry3. Spiritual Leadership4. Healthy Living5. Biblical Foundation and Alliance Alignment

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DISTRICT WORKER CHANGES AND EVENTS: APRIL 2014 TO APRIL 2016NEW WORKERSNAME MINISTRY TITLE START

DATECHURCH MASTER NAME

Ryan Albano Assistant Pastor 11/4/2014 Journey Church, Gretna, NEJoseph Arellanes Assoc. Pastor of Youth 11/4/2014 Missionary Alliance Church, Blairsburg, IAPete Beerman Lead Pastor 2/8/2015 Friendship Alliance, Grover, COAndrew Brown Youth Pastor 5/13/2014 North Springs Alliance, Colorado Springs, COEric Carpenter Outreach Coordinator 4/10/2014 Christ Community Church, Omaha, NEBen Coleman Assistant Director 6/1/2014 Global Friends, Omaha, NECaitlin Coleman Assistant Director 6/1/2014 Global Friends, Omaha, NEBrandon DelGrosso Church Planter 4/16/2015 Compass Church, Colorado Springs, COAustin Edwards Worship Director 12/1/2015 Citylight Midtown, Omaha, NEAlex Ehly Assoc. Pastor - Middle School 11/10/2015 Christ Community Church, Omaha, NEJim Eschenbrenner Pastor 11/1/2014 Northgate Alliance, Ottumwa, IAAsfaha Hiyabu Pastor 9/23/2014 Bethel Eritrean Church, Denver, COJoe Julian Pastor of Care & Counselling 5/12/2015 Citylight Midtown, Omaha, NEJared Kliewer Associate Pastor - College 11/10/2015 Christ Community Church, Omaha, NEAlex Marquez High School Ministry Director 1/1/2016 Citylight Benson, Omaha, NEQuinn McGarvey Assistant Director 6/1/2015 Global Friends, Omaha, NESimeon Menso Pastor 10/2/2014 Christ Vision Ministries International, Aurora, COAndrew Rutten Director of College Ministry 5/13/2014 Citylight Midtown, Omaha, NECaleb Schmucker Youth Pastor 5/16/2015 One-80 Church, Lincoln, NEJD Senkbile Pastor 5/12/2015 Citylight Benson, Omaha, NEHannah Shipman Assistant Director 11/4/2015 Global Friends, Omaha, NEDoug Stevens Pastor of Family Ministry 4/10/2014 Citylight Midtown, Omaha, NETodd A Stevens Worship Pastor 11/5/2015 Cornerstone Church, Boone, IAMatt Walker Youth Pastor 10/15/2014 Risenn King Community, Weskan, KSErick Whigham Church Planter 1/1/2016 MidAmerica District, Omaha, NEHelen White Executive Administrator 6/16/2015 Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, NEDavid Wilson Assistant Pastor 1/20/2015 HarvestDowntown, Colorado Springs, COKen Wombacher Pastoral Intern 11/1/2015 Gretna Community Church, Gretna, NE

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CHANGES IN STATUS AND TRANSFERSNAME CHANGE Sean Amen Assistant Pastor, New Life Community, Grand Island, NE to no credentialsPaul Aung Pastor, Non-Alliance Church, Colorado Springs, CO to no credentialsMarty Barnhart Unassigned to Director of Restored Hope, Omaha, NEAl Biere Chaplain, Western Great Lakes to Chaplain, Cedar Falls, IAJustin Blackwood Assistant Pastor of Youth to Associate Pastor, Gretna Community Church, Gretna, NEDanny Bowers South Pacific District to Student Pastor, Non-Alliance Church, St. Charles, MOMason Bragg Youth Pastor, Non-Alliance Church to unassigned worker, Monument, COAndrew Brown Youth Pastor, North Springs, Colorado Springs, CO to no credentials.David Byrd Pastor, Osage Alliance, Osage, IA to no credentialsJordan Christopher Unassigned worker, Colorado Springs, CO to no credentialsBeau Church Alliance Southeast to Worship Arts Pastor, Community Heights Church, Newton, IABen Coleman Assistant Director, Global Friends, Omaha, NE to Leave of Absence Caitlin Coleman Assistant Director, Global Friends, Omaha, NE to Leave of Absence Fred Coleman Western Great Lakes to Pastor, Bellevue Community Church, Bellevue, NEAlphonso Cooper Youth Pastor, Christ Community Church, Omaha, NE, to unassigned workerErik Cramer Unassigned worker, Colorado Springs, CO to no credentialsPaul Crosby International Worker to Associate Pastor, ClayHouse, Colorado Springs, CODaryl Dale Metropolitan District to Retired, Colorado Springs, CODon Dellos Marketplace Chaplain, Thornton, CO to unassigned workerMary Dellos Marketplace Chaplain, Thornton, CO to unassigned workerMark Failing Unassigned worker, Colorado Springs, CO to Southwestern DistrictJason Fazel Great Lakes District to Youth Pastor, Community Heights, Newton, IADennis Gorton Marketplace Chaplain to Director of Outreach, Non-Alliance Church, Parker, COJames Grout Alliance Youth Director, Colorado Springs, CO to unassigned workerFrank Hankins Special Assignment, Mentor Link to Affiliate Professor, Fuller Seminary, Colorado Springs, COTodd Hart Rocky Moutain District to Pastor, C&MA Church, Cedar Rapids, IAPaul Howard Teaching Pastor, MiddleCross Church, Lincoln, NE to unassigned workerDavid Irwin Pastor of Adult Discipleship, Christ Community, Omaha, NE to no credentialsNick Kalina Assoc. Pastor, New City, Bellevue, NE to unassigned to no credentialsChristine Kelly Global Friends, Omaha, NE to unassigned to no credentialsThomas Kelly Global Friends, Omaha, NE to unassigned to no credentials

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CHANGES IN STATUS AND TRANSFERS (Con't.)Jonathan Kingery Assistant Pastor, Faith Community, Red Oak, IA to no credentialsDan Kingery Unassigned worker, Newton, IA to no credentialsTyler Kramer Youth Pastor, Community Heights, Newton, IA to no credentials Darnell Loyd Associate Pastor, Bridge of Hope, St. Louis, MO to unassigned workerTim Majorins Missions Pastor, MiddleCross Church, Lincoln, NE to unassigned workerKevin McGraw Pastor, Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, NE to unassigned workerBlessing Mobolade Unassigned worker, Colorado Springs, CO to no credentialsJorge Narvaez Assoc. Pastor, C&MA Church, Cedar Rapids to Pastor, Iglesia Puente de Salvacion, Cedar Rapids,

IABen Nevius Pastor, Friendship Alliance, Grover, CO to no credentialsCory Orr Assoc Pastor of Youth, ClayHouse Church, Colorado Springs, CO to unassigned workerMichael Osterbauer Associate Pastor Worship/Children, Community Heights, Newton, IA to North Central DistrictCoulter Page Associate Pastor of Youth, Bethany Alliance to Senior Pastor, Bethany Alliance, Charles City, IARobert Palmer Unassigned worker, Newton, KS to no credentialsBarry Peterson Unassigned worker, Colorado Springs, CO to no credentialsNick Petrick Assoc. Pastor, New Life Community, Grand Island, NE to Assoc. Pastor, Relevant Comm, Elkhorn,

NEMark Porter Pastor, Non-Alliance Church, Lynville, IA to South Pacific DistrictGarfield Powell Retired, Southern District to Retired, Sunrise Beach, MORebekah Sagor Childrens Ministry, Aurora Alliance, Aurora, CO to no credentialsKent Sovine Pastor, Bethany Alliance, Charles City, IA to Assistant to the District Superintendent, Omaha, NEWayne Spriggs Eastern Pennsylvania District to Interim District Superintendent, Omaha, NEJim Stern Central Pacific District to Pastor, Osage Alliance, Osage, IADoug Stevens Family Pastor, Citylight Midtown, Omaha, NE to Church Planter , Citylight Council Bluffs, Co. Bluffs,

IA Jeff Thrane Associate Pastor, Bethel Church, Boone, IA to unassigned worker to Western Great LakesElvin Torres Associate Pastor, Christ Community Church, Omaha, NE to Pastor, New City Church, Bellevue, NEJoel Trainer Youth Ministry, Kanakuk Camps, Branson, Mo to no credentialsBob Trempert Assistant Pastor, HarvestDowntown, Colorado Springs, CO to Minister at Large, Colorado Springs,

CODan Vallier No credentials to Chaplain, Ellsworth, KSCody Villarreal No credentials to Worship Pastor, New City Church, Bellevue, NELarry Walker Chaplain, Newton, IA to Chaplain, Pueblo, CORick Weigman No credentials to Pastor of Recovery Ministries, Sherwood Community Church, Council Bluffs, IA

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CHANGES IN STATUS AND TRANSFERS (Con't.)Erick Whigham Church Planter, MidAmerica District to Church Planter, Citylight Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs, IADoug White South Atlantic District to Pastor, Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, NE Zenawi Woldetsadik Unassigned Worker, Aurora, CO to no credentials Tyler Zach Associate Pastor, Citylight Midtown, Omaha, NE to Pastor, Citylight Benson, Omaha, NE ORDINATIONSNAME MINISTRY ASSIGNMENT DATE PLACEMarty Barnhart Restored Hope, Omaha, NE 9/24/2014 Omaha, NEKlint Bitter (Sustained) Christ Community, Omaha, NE 9/24/2014 Vail, COReid Brown Christ Community, Omaha, NE 9/24/2014 Vail, COBrad Burkhart Cornerstone, Boone, IA 9/24/2014 Vail, COJosh Clark Hamlet Union, Hamlet, NE 9/24/2014 Hamlet, NEJay Miller Chaplain, Blair, NE 9/24/2014 Vail, COTim Perry Christ Community, Omaha, NE 9/24/2014 Vail, COMark Porter Non-Alliance, Lynnville, IA 9/24/2014 Vail, COJeff Thrane Bethel Church, Boone, IA 9/24/2014 Vail, COAnthony Keim Military Chaplain, Co. Springs 2/26/2015 Colorado Springs, COMichael Osterbauer Community Hghts, Newton, IA 3/5/2015 Newton, IATJ Callaway Northgate, Ottumwa, IA 9/23/2015 Vail, CODoug Petersen MiddleCross, Lincoln, NE 9/23/2015 Vail, COBob Witt Wallace Comm., Wallace, NE 9/23/2015 Vail, COVictor Matos HarvestDowntown, Co. Springs 1/24/2016 Colorado Springs, COCoulter Page Bethany, Charles City, IA 2/21/2016 Charles City, IA BIRTHS      NAME CHILD'S NAME DATE  Ryan and Amber Albano Isaac 4/23/2014  Justin and Kendra Blackwood Cullen 10/4/2014  Dan and Jenny Brown Gracie 12/15/2015  Brad and Valerie Burkhart Piper 11/19/2015  TJ and Amber Callaway Aspen 10/9/2014  Eric and Terry Carpenter Avery 5/4/2015  Brandon and Callie DelGrosso Maeve 8/15/2014  BIRTHS (Con't.)Josh and Deanna Dreher Eowyn 5/11/2015  

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Josh and Teresa Eggerson Joshua 1/28/2016  Alex and Erin Ehly Quinn 11/20/2014  Matt and Lauren Hayden Noah 3/14/2014  Chris and Kristin Hruska Lucy 4/8/2015  Jared and Kerri Kliewer Liv 5/7/2015  Doug and LaShawna Petersen

River 1/1/2016  

Jon and Lacey Randall Nyla 5/7/2015  Ethan and Cheri Smith Sage 3/28/2015  Erick and Sarah Whigham Iver 4/7/2015  David and Juree Wilson Esther 7/26/2014   MARRIAGESNAMES DATE    Eric and Terry Carpenter 7/12/2014    Ben and Caitlin Coleman 5/4/2014    Austin and Kristen Edwards 5/23/2015    Alex and Jadee Marquez 12/6/2015    Andrew and Bailey Rutten 6/21/2015     RETIREMENTSNAME DATE    Virg Ediger 1/1/2014    Doug Grogan 9/1/2015    Justin Hsu 4/1/2015     DEATHSNAME DATE    Donald Miller 11/15/2015    Garfield Powell 6/25/2015    Richard Slater 6/27/2015    

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MIDAMERICA DISTRICT CHURCH STATISTICS

CHURCHES:Accredited Churches 42Affiliated Churches 5Plants/Developing Churches 15TOTAL CHURCHES 62

CHANGES IN CHURCH STATUS APRIL, 2014 TO APRIL, 2016

CHURCH NAME CITY AND STATE DATE

AccreditedChrist Vision Ministries International of the CMA Aurora, CO 3/22/2015Citylight Midtown Omaha, NE 5/20/2015

AffiliatedThe Christian Fellowship Church of Vining Vining, IA 10/19/201

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DevelopingBhutanese-Nepali New Life Church C&MA Omaha, NE 9/1/2014Grace Church C&MA Lincoln, NE 9/1/2014New City Church Bellevue, NE 1/12/2015Citylight Benson Omaha, NE 10/1/2015

MergedMiddleCross Church and Rosemont Church Lincoln, NE 9/1/2014

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STATISTICS FROM MIDAMERICA DISTRICT CHURCHES' ANNUAL REPORTS2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

TOTAL CHURCHES 55 56 56 58 60TOTAL INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP 21,024 19,970 19,515 22,595 24,028AM ATTENDANCE 10,778 11,740 12,008 13,321 13,311

OPENED CHURCHES 1 1 5 3 3CLOSED CHURCHES 2 1 2 1 0

TOTAL PROFESSIONS OF FAITH 1,249 915 1,003 1,145 1,275

TOTAL BAPTISMS 638 464 591 675 559

INCOME AND GIVING PATTERNS OF MIDAMERICA DISTRICT CHURCHES2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

GENERAL FUND GIVING 15,085,064 16,379,096 16,846,552 19,101,266 19,640,321DISTRICT OPERATING BUDGET GIVING 577,442 646,549 633,616 684,364 785,981CHURCH PLANTING BUDGET GIVING 192,859 182,379 207,265 ** 101,550 **

CHURCHES GIVING TO DOB 50 49 51 48 49

GREAT COMMISSION FUND GIVING 1,839,318 1,807,807 1,629,427 1,736,384 1,826,012CAMA 50,834 55,389 40,947 69,492 66,754SPECIAL 267,406 218,139 166,551 356,541 306,210NON-C&MA 798,905 1,301,658 1,254,287 1,204,365 1,519,360

**Bylaw approved at 4/14 District Conference consolidated DOB and Church Planting to one fund

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