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Body Builder
March 31, 2021
Mid-American Baptist Churches of Iowa and Minnesota
strive to work together to build up the Body of Christ.
Let us gather to remember and to rejoice -
whether it be online or in-person.
Please keep our brothers and sisters dealing with the aftermath in Boulder, Colorado and in Atlanta, Georgia in your daily prayers.
We also want to pray for ABC of the Rocky Mountains and ABC of the South - the two regions these cities reside within.
We continue to pray for all those involved and affected by the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged in the death of George Floyd.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, the mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. They are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus. Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. FEMA will begin to implement COVID-19 funeral assistance in April. Additional guidance is being finalized and will be released to potential applicants and community partners as soon as possible. In the meantime, people who have COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep and gather documentation. Click HERE for more information
Annual Reports for ABCUSA 2020
Yes, it is that time of year again. As a region, we all know how important this information is to the American Baptist Churches USA denomination. The Annual Reports were sent out via USPS mail. Please complete the forms and return them to the region office via email, snail mail or fax. The Deadline is April 15, 2021. Thank you so much for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please contact the Region office.
MABC Region Board's Spring Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 17th beginning at 10am. It will be a Zoom Meeting and the link with be sent to Board Members closer to the meeting date. Board reports are due in the Region Office no later than Friday, April 5th.
First Baptist Church St. Paul, MN -
Offering Covid Vaccines on Easter Sunday!
This is an attempt to reach out to Karen people who may be reluctant to be vaccinated. There will be three other dates for people to receive initial and second shots. Ramsey County, Minnesota has partnered with FBC St Paul in making our building a Covid vaccination site. Two hundred Moderna vaccines will be offered on Easter Sunday.
- Shared by Pastor Bill Englund
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone"
-1 Timothy 2:1
- Prayers for the following MAB churches in search of pastoral leadership:
- Altamont Baptist, Harlan, IA
- FBC Battle Lake, MN
- FBC Churdan, IA
- FBC Jefferson, IA
- FBC of Greater Des Moines, Johnston, IA
- Renwick Baptist, Renwick, IA
- FBC Winona, MN
- Westover Baptist, Des Moines, IA
60 Years of Ordained Ministry!!!
 
Chuck Comfort was ordained on March 21, 1961 by the Philadelphia Baptist association of ABC Churches. Following ordination he served 6 American Baptist Churches throughout the country as full-time pastor
and also served as director of admissions at 2 ABC universities...Eastern Baptist and Judson. After he retired from full time ministry, he and his wife Pat returned to the Midwest. Chuck provided interim pastoral services to three ABC churches at various times for seven years following retirement. Chuck and his wife have 5 grown children, many grand children and a growing number of great grandchildren. They are members of First Baptist Church in Fairfield, Iowa. - Shared by Pat Comfort
Pastor Gundar Lamberts from
Westover Baptist Church, Des Moines, IA is Retiring
Join us on April 11 to celebrate the retirement of Pastor Gundar Lamberts. We will be hosting a socially distanced reception & card shower after the Sunday service in Fellowship Hall. It will be a time to wish Gundar and wife Kathy the best as they transition into retirement. If you are unable to attend, you can send your card to the church. 2330 62nd Street, Des Moines, IA 50322. - Shared by the Church Office
The early bird registration ($100) ends TODAY.
Visit www.americanbaptists2021.com to register.
You are invited to join us for a time of inspiration and fellowship as we look forward to what you can expect at this year’s online Biennial Mission Summit!
Click here to register for the Preview on April 20, 2021 at 8:00 PM ET.
Registration is now open for the American Baptist Churches Biennial Mission Summit, meeting online Thursday, June 24 to Saturday, June 26, 2021. Plan now to experience the vitality of our American Baptist family together with other American Baptists from all corners of the United States and the world during our first ever denomination-wide online Biennial Mission Summit!
The early bird registration ($100) ends TODAY.
Visit www.americanbaptists2021.com to register.
ABCUSA Office of General Secretary and Burma Refugee Commission Issue Call to Prayer for Myanmar
The American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary and the American Baptist Churches Burma Refugee Commission are issuing a Call to Prayer for Myanmar starting in March 2021. American Baptists are invited to consider setting aside time(s) to lift up prayers for Myanmar individually or collectively, in the midst of the current sociopolitical situation in Myanmar.
On a newly created “Burma Refugee Commission” webpage on the ABCUSA website, interested persons can find an introductory message from Interim General Secretary C. Jeff Woods, prayer requests and prayers, both written and recorded, information about the current sociopolitical situation in Myanmar, additional resources from the Burma Refugee Commission, and a contact form to connect with the Commission.
The Generosity Project Webinar “We Are Better Together: Cooperative Stewardship” Announced
VALLEY FORGE, PA (3/17/21)—The American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary announces an upcoming webinar, “We Are Better Together: Cooperative Stewardship,” Thursday, April 8 at 1:00pm EDT. The webinar is a part of The Generosity Project, an Office of the General Secretary initiative which examines the challenge of stewardship in the 21st century and looks at learning how to re-frame the conversation around stewardship.
“We Are Better Together: Cooperative Stewardship,” will look at how Congregations today are feeling limited by their resources of volunteers and finance and often also feel they have to go it alone. What if we engaged in a kind of “cooperative stewardship” with other congregations and worked together in covenantal partnership? What would that take to do this well? What creative solutions are there when we feel limited in what we can do alone? This webinar from The Generosity Project will explore these questions and more in a conversation facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri, Associate General Secretary for Mission Resource Development, American Baptist Churches USA, with church leaders who have found “we are better together” and can share from their experiences of cooperative ministry, mission, and stewardship.
Joining us for conversations are pastors:
Rev. Laura Ayala, First Baptist Church of Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico,
Rev. Jesús García, Iglesia Bautista de Metropolis, Carolina , Puerto Rico,
Rev. Dr. Eugene Downing, New Hope Baptist Church, Denver, CO, and
Rev. Anne Scalfaro, Calvary Baptist Church, Denver, CO.
Interested persons may register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Check out https://www.mid-abc.org/upcoming-events
for more information about all MABC Upcoming Events
Click here for registration form
Are you looking for an exciting way to grow your faith this summer? Positions for summer staff now open at Dayton Oaks Camp. Three cabin leader positions available. Need 2 female leaders and 1 male leader. We are also looking for a maintenance person for the summer season. Must be 18 or older to apply and complete a background check. Email Matt or Dani at mapcamp@lvcta for more information. Dayton Oaks is also looking for older youth volunteers and adult leader volunteers throughout the summer camping season. Responsibilities will vary, but some available duties will be dishes, cleaning, helping with weekly camp leadership, painting, tidying up camp buildings and grounds. Send Dani or Matt your information and what week you are available, and we will get back to you about helping with summer camp.
Check out Dayton Oaks Camp Fundraiser Video - 100 Days to Raise 
Forest Lake is looking for an assistant cook for summer 2021 camp season. Contact the camp at (641)684-8908, forestlake@mid-abc.org or Shawn at (641)680-0648.
FOREST LAKE VENTURE 2021 This is a note reminding you to mark your calendars for this year’s Forest Lake Venture work week for volunteers. Mark April 19 - April 24. Volunteers wishing overnight lodging are welcome to arrive on Sunday 18th afternoon. It will be nice working with you following a year’s absence due to Covid 19. Shawn & Teresa have taken good care of things during the “trying” times and a snowy winter. I am looking forward to being near all of the camp’s natural beauty during the week with spring bursting forth in the forest and waters at the camp, and working side by side with each of you. All of Gods beautiful creations. There are projects and needs. We can help. Trail grooming & bridge inspections & maintenance One day of burning (Lyle & others) AC / Heater installations & $ in Cabins. Painting (a professional interior is volunteering time) Wood cut, transported, split, & stacked for the winter’s supply for heating the main dining hall building. Leaf & lawn work. Carpentry, cabinet work, garbage disposal install with some plumbing skills in the main kitchen. All volunteers. We are needed. I believe we can help to bring out a little of God’s beauty to shine just a little brighter at Forest Lake Camp in 2021. - Shared by Gary Morrison 515-961-4983 515-729-7722
 
Printable Registration Form HERE
MABW Scholarship Application is now available -
Deadline to apply is May 15, 2021
Click on Scholarship logo for more details
- COVID-19's Impact on Women: An Emphasis on Addiction, Treatment, & Recovery Webinar – April 1, 2021
- Sisters in Prayer – April 8, 2021
- Domestic Violence Training and Certification – April 23-24, 2021
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- Iowa East Spring AB Women's Zoom Event - April 24,2021 10:00am to 11:30am
- Devotion Leader: Dr. Lachaka Askew, Midwest Coordinator
- Special Music: Tess Curtiss
- Speaker: Global Servant, Lauren Bethell, Ministry Priority: Abolishing Global Slavery
- She has worked with victims of human trafficking and is founder and coordinator of the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution.
- If you plan to attend please contact streetmc@cfu.net and Marcia will send you the link
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- Iowa West Spring AB Women's Zoom Event - May 1, 2021 10;00am - 11:30am
- Theme: "Caring Beyond Ourselves"
- Devotional: Rev. Deb Harkness, Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church of Des Moines in Johnston, IA
- Speaker - Dawn Doerr-Johnson - National Events Coordinator
- Speaker: Kristy Engel, Global Consultant for Health
- Special Music: Amazing Grace, Pentatonix
- If you plan to attend please contact remickcrr@gmail.com and Coleen will send you the link.
 - (If the image above is too small for viewing, simply click anywhere on it and it should expand)
- Women’s Day – June 12, 2021
For more event information, visit www.abwomensministries.org/events.
Did You Know?
You can support Mid-American Baptist Churches of Iowa and Minnesota with every purchase you make on Amazon and that there's absolutely no added cost to you? Simply click on the Amazon Smile logo and be sure an select Mid-American Baptist Churches as the charity of your choice. Then, make sure that you always shop for your unique Amazon smile LInk (desktop and mobile). When your order from Amazon, 0.5% of your purchase comes directly to our ministries here in the region.
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