Interconnection
MWD Ministry Worker Monthly Newsletter
Table of Contents
Theology Training
TEDS' Graduate-Level Certified Program
Location: Brookside Church Millard Campus
11607 M Cir, Omaha, NE 68137
Class begins August 24, 2026
Monday evenings 6:30 - 9 pm
Any questions? Please email Dr. Tim Wiebe at twiebe@brookside.net
History, Theology & Polity Course
(a baseline requirement for credentialing)
September 9 & 10, 2026
Location:
EFCA National Office
901 E 78th Street
Bloomington, MN 55420
This class will be offered in-person ($50 in-person) and online.
McCook E-Free Church
602 E 14th St
McCook, NE 69001
September 25 & 26, 2026
Contact the McCook church for more information 308-345-1661
Cost $96.81 includes processing fees
First Free Church
3300 S 84th St
Lincoln, NE 68506
September 27-29, 2026
Speakers
Ken Cooper
Senior Pastor at West EFC,
Wichita, KS
Sunday Evening: 6:30-8 pm Developing Unity & Trust within the Elder Board
(live and livestream)
Brandon Guindon
Senior Pastor of Real Life Ministries, Texas
Plenary Speaker
"Deciplemaking Culture"
Greg Strand
Executive Director of Biblical Theology and Credentialing at EFCA
"Complementarianism"
Church-wide Evangelism Training
EvangelismSHIFT (which presented at Transform 2025) will start their one- or two-year relationship-based evangelism training this Fall.
Please contact Bruce Dick at
bruce@evangelismshiftusa.com, 701-381-2661
Executive Pastor Network Gathering
October 19-21, 2026
Connect with fellow EFCA executive pastors at this invite-only annual event.
Full-time, vocational executive pastors in EFCA churches.
Christ Community Church
25384 MacKenzie St
Laguna Hills, CA
The Charlie Simeon Trust
October 21-23, 2026
First Evangelical Free Church
1825 N Woodlawn
Wichita, KS
Preaching Gospels & Acts: Mark
Are you ready to connect with other pastors and sharpen your skills in understanding and preaching the Word? Join us for the upcoming Simeon Trust Workshop on Biblical Exposition. Few investments have a greater long-term impact on a pastor's ministry than growing in the faithful preaching of God's Word. While setting aside three days may feel costly in the midst of a busy ministry season, the fruit will extend far beyond the workshop itself. Every sermon you preach afterward has the potential to better serve and strengthen the people God has called you to shepherd.
These workshops include a combination of interactive instructional sessions, encouraging expositions, and small group sessions where participants present work they've done in advance on specific passages and work through it together.
Each preaching workshop focuses on a specific genre of biblical literature, and this year we’re excited to have Jon Dennis (one of the co-founders of Simeon Trust!) and Neal Patel leading the workshop. They will be exploring the Gospel of Mark and how to faithfully preach Gospels and Acts. You can read more about their ministries on the workshop page linked below. We’re confident this will be a meaningful opportunity to make progress together.
The workshop is October 21-23, 2026, at First Evangelical Free Church (1825 N. Woodlawn, Wichita, KS). If you plan to come, I’d encourage you to register early and take advantage of the early registration price; cost is $139 before September 14. After that, the cost goes up to $159.
Here’s the link to the workshop webpage where you can register or find more information about the workshop and how to prepare:
We hope to see many of you in October. Please feel free to reach out to me or our Lead Pastor Josh Black (jblack@firstfreewichita.org) with any questions you might have about the workshop.
Worship Leader Network Gathering
October 26-28, 2026
Full-time, part-time and volunteer worship pastors, directors and leaders in EFCA churches. Creative, programming and production team members are also welcome to attend this FREE event. You still must register by October 26.
Valley Church
4343 Fuller Rd
West Des Moines, Iowa
Children's & Family Ministry Leader Network Gathering
Christ Community Church
5501 George Washington Carver Ave
Ames, IA 50010
November 9-10m 2026
The CFML Network Gathering is a two-day interactive gathering for children's and family ministry leaders for us to connect, encourage, and share resources, experiences, and information with each other. It is free for ministry leaders to attend.
It is a joy and a privilege to partner together across the Free Church to help connect and equip children's and family ministry leaders as we seek to grow in relationship with one another as interdependent churches who are biblical, missional, united, and free.
Geoff's Pastor Spotlight
Micah Powell - Grace Community Church, Great Bend, Kansas
As District staff, we value getting to know the pastors and families serving throughout the Midwest District; this month we introduce Micah Powell, Lead Pastor of Grace Community Church in Great Bend, Kansas.
Micah and his wife, Rachel, have been married since 2009 and are the proud parents of two sons, Roman and Malachi. He enjoys preaching, discipling others, spending time with his family, reading, outdoor activities, movies, video games with his boys, and cheering on Arkansas sports.
How is your walk with Jesus?
Micah describes his walk with Christ as steady and marked by growing dependence on Jesus. He has learned that ministry cannot be sustained by talent or effort alone but requires daily reliance on God's Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. John 15 has become a guiding passage, reminding him to abide in Christ so that both his life and ministry bear lasting fruit.
What are your convictions about Scripture?
Micah believes the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and authoritative Word of God. His goal is to faithfully preach the main point of each biblical passage while helping people see how all Scripture points to Christ. At Grace, he desires to cultivate a church where people not only hear God's Word but also learn to trust it and apply it in everyday life.
How do you love and shepherd people?
Micah seeks to shepherd with both conviction and compassion by being present, approachable, and faithful. Whether through hospital visits, counseling, discipleship, or everyday conversations, his desire is for people to know they are loved, prayed for, and encouraged to take their next faithful step with Jesus.
TEDS/EFCA Church Partnership Program
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) and the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) share a profound history, a common theological heritage, and a unified commitment to the inerrant Word of God. Grounded in a shared Statement of Faith, this partnership is dedicated to equipping pastors and ministry leaders for gospel-centered ministry that serves local churches and impacts the world.
To support the local church, TEDS is offering a 25% tuition reduction available to all EFCA members across all TEDS programs, including certificates and online offerings.
As former Dean Kenneth Kantzer envisioned, TEDS was established to be "a unique divinity school" that meets critical global needs through the highest academic standards. Current Dean, Dr. David Pao echoes this ongoing, vital mission: "Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is boldly 'evangelical,' where faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ is the center of our study, our reflections, and our practices.”
Explore Our Programs: twu.ca/teds
Questions? Reach out directly to bill.yaccino@twu.ca
Next Preaching Cohort Is Just Getting Started!
Decalogue!
Join with other MWD pastors to prepare a sermon series on the 10 Commandments. Each pastor preaches his own unique sermon, but they collaborate on exegesis and homiletics. It's a weekly video meeting for the duration of the series (12 weeks or so). Some pastors will join the cohort but preach the series later in the year.
It's not too late to join - they just started.
If you're interested in finding out more, contact Pastor Eric Svoboda: pastor@hopeforomaha.com
.
Pastor Network/Cluster
Interim Pastor Ministries
Join the training to see if IPM is right for your next chapter of ministry
6 dates to choose from
CIF church loans guide offers faith-based perspective
From accommodating growth to needed upgrades to a long-term solution for a ballooning mortgage, there are many instances where a church may need a property-related loan. Christian Investors Financial answers the core questions churches ask in this useful guide: Essential questions and answers to obtaining a Church Loan. We love talking to ministries and helping them to steward the resources God has provided. Learn more and connect with us at christianinvestors.org.
Website Feature: MWD Foundation
This month, check out our “Foundation” page. We have completed moving all the money-related responsibilities that were formerly under the District Board. From the Foundation, you can apply for loans and grants for scholarships, physical plant needs, church planting, adding staff, and more.
Click here: https://www.efcamidwest.org/foundation
See all the resources on our website at: https://www.efcamidwest.org/site-map.
Thoughts to consider
by Superintendent Colby Kinser
Expand the sections below to read.
Around 3500 students were in downtown Kansas City this month for the biannual Challenge conference. The theme was "*even here" based on several psalms. Students joined together in worship, teaching, equipping labs, recreation, and outreach. I led the Prayer Outreach team, sending out about 500 students every afternoon into the city for various prayer ministries. The Service Outreach team sent out about 900 each afternoon (quite a few less on Friday). During outreach debriefings, we heard story after story of students being stretched in prayer, boldness, service, and compassion. One of the many highlights for me was having a team member who grew up in our youth group and went to several Challenges, but now is holding her own as a team member training, leading, and debriefing youth groups.
Below is a carousel of photos from the week.
Credentialing
Credentialing is now processed thru the EFCA National website. It is required for you to set up an account to submit your paperwork.
Credentialing Interview Dates 2026
Certificates for You, Your Elders,
Future Leaders
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) is offering very affordable certificates in seminary-level classes to help develop present and future leaders, and all learners.The certificates can optionally be stacked toward a TEDS degree.
Mailing Address:
Midwest District - EFCA
PO Box 360
Elkhorn, NE 68022
Midwest District Cell: 308.455.0878