As our Transformation Depends upon the work of God . . .

May Prayer Corner

Welcome to our district Prayer Corner—a space for lifting each other in the Light of God! 

This month, please be in prayer for…
·        Bob Dell—district moderator-elect, suffered a mild heart attack in early April. Three stents were installed in Bob’s heart. He is home and doing very well.
·        Lisa Hazen and Family—pastor at Wichita CoB and district board chair, has experienced the unexpected death of her dear aunt Janet in a car accident.
·        The Kingery Family—Mayer Aaron was born to Heather and Dennis Kingery on Apr. 6.
·        Ellis Oxley—Ava Oxley, wife of Ellis Oxley, passed away April 7. Ellis is a long time supporter of Camp Mt. Hermon and has been a past treasurer and trustee.
·        The Snyder Family—Zachary Tyler was born to Laura (pastor at Newton CoB) and Tony Snyder on Feb. 26.

Our Congregations in Western Plains

·        Enders (Neb.)

·        Wiley (Colo.)

·        Parsons (Kan.)

·        Peace Community (Windsor, Colo.)—“We are looking for new leadership, someone to help us spiritually and help us be more involved in the Windsor community.” Prayers of strength and energy for our church family as we are small in number and few to do all the work. Prayers to extended family members struggling with lack of work, home foreclosures, and illness.

Our Denomination, Our Nation, Our World

·        Ben Shively—son of Jonathan and Kim Shively. Ben is now out of the hospital and has returned to school, and Jonathan is back at work for the denomination. Please be in continued prayer for Ben and the Shively family.

·        Those affected by recent earthquakes in China, Haiti, Chile, Turkey, and those in the CoB and beyond contributing to these disaster relief efforts.

·        CoB Churches in northeast Nigeria – An outbreak of violence that has occurred at EYN, the CoB in Jos.

·        Shawn Flory Replogle, Annual Conference Moderator

·        Stan Noffsinger, General Secretary, and all CoB staff

·        Our elected officials at all levels of government     

The Transformation Movement in Western Plains

For several years God has been doing a new thing in Western Plains that we now refer to as a Transformation Movement.  It is hard to put your finger on just what this is, but some aspects are listed below:

A fundamental question.  Congregations and individuals have been asking the question, “What is God calling us (me) to be and to do?” The movement is most centrally one of spiritual, prayerful discernment—of discovering what God is doing and finding ways to join in.

A covenant partnership.  Congregations have begun to partner with the Western Plains District to walk together on a journey of transformation.  So far 18 from Western Plains and two from neighboring districts have joined this walk.

These Gathering conferences.  In some mysterious way these conferences have become a powerful unifying force, enabling God’s spirit, lifting a new vision and building the commitment of our people.

Pastor and leader training.  An outgrowth of the movement has been an intentional effort to train our leaders to lead out in transformation.  Currently about 45 persons from three districts are enrolled in a variety of leadership development initiatives, all focusing in periodic training workshops held in Great Bend, Kansas.  Strong bonds of unity and spiritual sharing are being built.

Ministerial calling and training.  Since the beginning of last year 17 persons from Western Plains have been ordained or are in some stage of licensing and training for ministry, and more are in earlier phases of ministry discernment.  On the plains we rely heavily on calling and training our own leaders in partnership with the Brethren Academy and Bethany Seminary.  This is happening in a strong way, undergirding our congregations.

Many other ways, large and small, that God creates.  We cannot anticipate nor limit God’s activity.  But God is blessing us.  Many of these ways are unexpected.  We are challenged to identify this activity and join with it.