Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.  So, she filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:19 Last November we hosted the first Conference Mission Trip to South Africa. The time spent with Blessman International was packed with opportunity. Folks across our Conference from Iowa to Montana experienced and participated in ministries of mercy: feeding children and distributing food to outreach stations, caring for orphan infants, working in ey

The Conference Prayer team asks you and the church to make PRAYER your New Year's Resolution 2026. Hence, we offer some prayer points so we can pray together in one heart, mind, and spirit.   Pray for our nation as America celebrates its 250th anniversary; thank God for all the blessings we have received and ask for God's guidance, wisdom, mercy, unity, and restoration. Pray for the leaders of the country, teachers, law enforcement, the National Guard, military personnel, and

Part 1: Prevenient/Preventing Grace I would like to take several of these articles to unpack the Wesleyan understanding of salvation. I am hardly the first person to do this, so this may sound somewhat familiar. I am hoping to put the most important issues right up front and then spend a bit of time highlighting implications that don’t always get raised for those who want to go just a bit deeper. The first stage on the way to salvation from a Wesleyan perspective is Prevenien

As I reflect on this past year, I realize much of it was shaped by a long and unexpected health journey. In January of 2025, I went to the doctor because of a loss of strength and mobility in my right (dominant) shoulder. What began as a diagnosis of a torn labrum eventually led to the realization that I needed a total shoulder replacement. Three months later, I was back in surgery, followed by months of physical therapy to regain strength and movement in my new shoulder. Thr

The Upper Midwest Missions Team is excited to announce that we have approved Blessman International ( www.blessmaninternational.org ) as a Conference endorsed mission!  (It is also endorsed by the Global Methodist Church.) It’s a perfect match as South Africa is our partner Conference! Their ministries are located in South Africa where they provide food for over 55,000 children each week. There are regular outreaches supplying shoes and socks, eyeglasses, and hygiene kits to

Advent confronts us with a question as old as Christmas: Is there room? When Mary and Joseph arrived, “there was no room for them in the inn.” The Son of God entered a world too busy, too full, too occupied to receive Him.   And so we must ask: In your church and in your life, is there room for the mission Christ has given us? If we have truly made room for Jesus, it affects every part of who we are - our desires, our priorities, our calendars, our families, our witness. Jesu