Team Wisconsin Update 5/29/07

Last Thursday afternoon Skip Coolidge left this world to take a one way trip to heaven. Mary Coolidge, his wife and pastor of the Woodland Wesleyan church, continues to experience God’s grace and strength through the prayers of her friends and colleagues in ministry. Skip and Mary were married about 26 years ago, just a few years after he had lost his first wife. After serving in the military and working for a few years, God called him to ministry. He began his ministry in the Nazarene church, then later was called to pastor in the Wesleyan church in Colorado. Under the encouragement and mentoring by Skip, Mary also prepared for ministry and began ministering alongside her husband. Because he was over 20 years older than Mary, and due to his declining health the past several years, Mary began to take the lead in their ministry. Four years ago they came to Woodland where she was called to be their pastor, with Skip assisting.

On Sunday afternoon, the family, congregation and friends gathered for a memorial service. His son, Greg, also a minister, shared a wonderful tribute to his father. Mary and others from the family and congregation also shared words of tribute and honor. He was a man that was faithful to his family. He was incredibly creative and able to fix just about anything. He was tenacious, kind, gentle, faithful, committed to his principles, and a gifted servant and shepherd. Among other things, the defining characteristics of his ministry were his smile and handshake – something he always gave to every person every week. He was a faithful servant of Christ and he will be missed as a colleague of the Wisconsin leadership team.

Please continue to remember Mary especially in your prayers as she begins to walk the path of life and ministry without her husband.

News and Notes
Eau Claire has a new assistant pastor for spiritual formation and outreach. Matt and Kendra Ohime will be joining the staff with Pastor Dwayne Winterberg, coming from LaPorte, IN. Matt and Kendra just recently returned from Romania, serving as missionaries there for the past five years.
Rob McDowell, former assistant in Eau Claire, has accepted a staff position at a Wesleyan church in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He will be working with Jay Guptill.
Good news from Nicaragua and the Eckhardts.
· Julie Eckhardt’s test results for cancer came back clear.
· The first course, taught by Mike Knox, at the Bible school is about over and the attendance and participation has continued to be great.
· The Amigos del Rey church has opened another preaching point—their 3rd this year!

Prayer list for Nicaragua
· Pray for the Sprung family, Matt, Manda & Isaac, as they prepare to travel to Nicaragua on June 3 for a 2 month internship.
· Pray for the Knox and Eckhardt children as finish their school year in June.
· Pray for the search for a building site for the Nicaragua Ministry Center—we have a good possibility, but need to do some more research.
· Pray for the Mount Horeb church. We have been attending there and helping with the Sunday School Program.
· Pray for Jim as he prepares to teach the next course at the Bible school starting in July.

The Wisconsin district website is up and running – http://www.wisconsindistrict.org/. It is still under construction and will continue to be expanded. Check it out.

Pastors,
· Remember May 31 is the absolute deadline for the submission of ALL reports. It is critical that all reports be in on time because of the short time to process and prepare the reports for our annual conference. If you have any questions, feel free to call Mark Holmes, District Secretary.
· A reminder to have your church continue sending in their monthly USF amounts at the same rate as last year for the first month or two. You will be notified of what the amounts will be for the 2007/2008 fiscal year, as always, at district conference. Any adjustments can be made then.
· Northern and Southern Kids camps are coming soon. Pastor Jim Maness and Pastor Jeremy Mavis are working hard with their teams to make a great week for the kids across the district. Pastors have information for registration. Information is also on the website.
· June 4 is the deadline for you and your delegates and congregation to sign up for the meals at district conference. Sand Lake is providing two meals for us, but we need to have you all send in your information. The form is on the back page of the District Conference/Family retreat brochure. Meals are $5 per person for those 12 and over. Kids younger than 12 are free.

Dates for your Information

May 31 Local Church Statistical and other District Reports Deadline

June 1-2 Wesleyan Church Doctrinal Symposium – International Center
June 3 Drop in Visit
June 10 Westbrooke Visit/Board
June 11-15 Northern and Southern Kids camps
June 13-14 Wesleyan Women’s Ministry Summit
June 17 Drop in Visit (Father’s Day)
June 20 DBA
June 21-22 District Conference/Retreat/Ordination
June 24 Mt. Pisgah Visit/Board
June 21-29 Nicaragua Youth Ministry Team
June 24-29 Middle School Camp
June 30-July 1 Gull Lake 90th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

July 30-Aug. 4 Senior High Camp

Team Wisconsin Update 5/22/07

One’s on the hill. One’s in the valley. Pastor Alan Tripp leads them both. He, along with his wife Irene, has been giving capable leadership to these two congregations for almost 25 years. Both Alan and Irene have roots in the Wisconsin district and have served in many different capacities including District Secretary and Nicaragua Partnership team leaders and members. The Valley church is going on 120 years of age and has served the small community and surrounding area faithfully with the gospel all those years. The Burr church just celebrated 150 years of age last year and is still going strong. They’ve recently added new chairs to the back third to accommodate the people. Pastor Tripp tells me that in a few weeks they will have 8 children under the age of 1. After speaking in both of the churches we had a good meeting with each of the boards through the afternoon.

News and Notes

Annette Burger, a former DBA member (Greg Burger, her husband has also served on the DBA for a number of years), had successful surgery with a good prognosis and results. No cancer was found in the lymph nodes.

Continue to pray for Skip Coolidge, assistant pastor with Mary Coolidge from the Woodland church. He continues to lose strength and finds it difficult to keep food down. He is now receiving hospice care in the home.

The River, the new developing church in Minong, is already running out of space. They went to two services on Mother’s Day and had 135 people, the same number as on Easter Sunday. And this is cool. For mother’s day, this new baby congregation paid for all the flowers for the mothers at Hayward. It was their way of saying thank you for Hayward being the mother church to them.

The Wisconsin district website is up and running – http://www.wisconsindistrict.org/. It is still under construction and will continue to be expanded. Check it out.

Jesse Hamble, Worship and arts director at Rice Lake Red Cedar, had his first concert in his hometown of Turtle Lake before a home crowd of several hundred. His was the first of several Christian concerts slated for the town as a way of trying to reach people for Christ. It was viewed a success because there were a couple of people who came to Christ.

The board that oversees the development of present and future ministers met last Saturday, processing a bunch of newly called people as well as those who have been on the journey a little longer. Ron Gormong, pastor of the Spooner church, leads the board and does a good and faithful job working with the many and varied people in the ministerial pipeline. Remember to pray for those who are in training and preparation for the great call of a lifetime.

Pastors, remember May 31 is the absolute deadline for the submission of ALL reports. It is critical that all reports be in on time because of the short time to process and prepare the reports for our annual conference. If you have any questions, feel free to call Mark Holmes, District Secretary.

Pastors, just a reminder to have your church continue sending in their monthly USF amounts at the same rate as last year for the first month or two. You will be notified of what the amounts will be for the 2007/2008 fiscal year, as always, at district conference. Any adjustments can be made then.

Northern and Southern Kids camps are coming soon. Pastor Jim Maness and Pastor Jeremy Mavis are working hard with their teams to make a great week for the kids across the district. Pastors have information for registration. Information is also on the website.

Dates for your Information

May 27 Beulah – Dennis Jones Installation
May 31 Local Church Statistical and other District Reports Deadline

Looking Ahead

June 1-2 Wesleyan Church Doctrinal Symposium – International Center
June 3 Woodland Visit/Board
June 10 Westbrooke Visit/Board
June 11-15 Northern and Southern Kids camps
June 13-14 Wesleyan Women’s Ministry Summit
June 20 DBA
June 21-22 District Conference/Retreat/Ordination
June 24 Mt. Pisgah Visit/Board
June 21-29 Nicaragua Youth Ministry Team
June 24-29 Middle School Camp
June 30-July 1 Gull Lake 90th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

July 30-Aug. 4 Senior High Camp

TEAM Wisconsin Update 5/16/07

Josh and Jamie Hilty moved to Baraboo from Indiana about eight months ago to give refocusing leadership to a church that was put on developing church status. They’re giving good leadership as they work to clean out a lot of years of things that haven’t been productive or useful. Some significant physical plant things have been addressed. They are also writing their mission, vision and core value statements along with working on a strategic plan for reaching a different preferred future. In the past couple of months, two of their neighbors have begun to attend and open their hearts to Josh and Jamie. Another young man is moving to the area and will be helping them soon. Continue praying for this developing church along with Rice Lake High Point and church plants The River, Northern Lakes, Iglesia Cristiana Wesleyana Casa de Dios, and Safe Harbor.

Church Plants

The DBA has approved the ground work for establishing two more new congregations in Wisconsin this year. One is a north Milwaukee plant and a second one is a Hispanic plant in the Milwaukee/Waukesha area. Jason Butler has been approved to move forward with establishing a core group in north Milwaukee. He will be leaving Our Savior’s staff the end of June. We are in the search process for the pastor for the second Hispanic church plant.

Prayer and Notes

Kelvin Friebel, an ordained minister in Wisconsin and professor at Houghton University, lost his mother on Monday. Kelvin’s father was a pastor in the Wisconsin district for a number of years. Mary Friebel was living near Grand Rapids, MI. The funeral will be Friday afternoon. The family has requested that any memorials be given in her name to Hephzibah. Kelvin and the family would appreciate your prayers. We have requested that any memorials be given in my mom's name to Hephzibah.

Annette Burger, a former DBA member (Greg Burger, her husband has also served on the DBA for a number of years), has been diagnosed with cancer and will be going into surgery Wednesday, May 16. I know they would appreciate your prayers.

Stevan Sheets, presently the assistant pastor at Warsaw Wesleyan in Indiana, will be joining the staff as Student Ministries Pastor at Our Savior’s the first week of July. We are excited to welcome the Stevan and Jessica Sheets family to the team.

Rice Lake Red Cedar has also begun to hold services once a month for a new Hispanic work there. A Bethany student, Damian Gonzalez, will be doing his internship there this summer and fall. Damian, who is fluent in Spanish and English, will be working with the Hispanic ministry as a part of his assignment.

For those interested, the present owners of Burr Camp are planning an auction on Tuesday, May 22. All furniture, equipment, etc., will be sold. For more information, you can call one of the pastors in the area – Pastor Roger Miller or Pastor Alan Tripp.

The Wisconsin district website is up and running – http://www.wisconsindistrict.org/. It is still under construction and will continue to be expanded. Check it out.

Dates for your Information

May 17 Meet with Dennis and Sela Jones
May 18 Jesse Hamble Concert – Turtle Lake
May 19 DBMD
May 20 Burr/Valley Visit/Boards
May 27 Beulah – Dennis Jones Installation (Memorial Day)
May 31 Local Church Statistical and other District Reports Deadline

Looking Ahead

June 1-2 Wesleyan Church Doctrinal Symposium – International Center
June 3 Woodland Visit/Board
June 10 Westbrooke Visit/Board
June 11-15 Northern and Southern Kids camps
June 13-14 Wesleyan Women’s Ministry Summit
June 20 DBA
June 21-22 District Conference/Retreat/Ordination
June 24 Mt. Pisgah Visit/Board
June 24-29 Middle School Camp
June 21-29 Nicaragua Youth Ministry Team
June 30-July 1 Gull Lake 90th Anniversary Celebration Weekend

July 30-Aug. 4 Senior High Camp

Leading a great team.

Your Servant,

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent

TEAM Wisconsin Update

Located about 20 miles east of Highway 53 and Spooner, Pastor Don Berry, supply pastor, continues to give good leadership to the Stone Lake congregation that has a dream of moving back to full-time ministry leadership in the future. They have completed a new two-story fellowship/multi-purpose addition, which provides space for meetings, meals and their Monday evening Kids clubs. The basement is gradually being finished to eventually provide added classrooms and activity space. Don and Bea travel from their home in Rice Lake to minister to this congregation and community. It was a good day with the congregation. Following the meal with the people I had a good meeting with the Local Board. As always, Don and Bea were very gracious in their hospitality toward me. And, if you’re ever there at the Berry’s bed and breakfast, he makes a great breakfast and a fantastic bowl of oatmeal!

Prayer and Notes

We received word yesterday that Skip Coolidge, who has been in the hospital in Duluth, will be going home for Hospice care. He has several physical issues that, without a miracle, cannot be resolved. Continue to pray for Skip and Mary in this difficult time.

Lowell Davis, retired minister in Marshfield, has been moved to a health facility. He can still be reached by calling his home phone. He is still very weak and needs our continued prayers.

Dennis Jones and his wife arrived in Wisconsin last Friday. They are unpacking this week and beginning their ministry at Beulah. We welcome them and thank you for keeping up with the Joneses.

Rob and Julie McDowell, Assistant pastor at Eau Claire, plan to pack this week, then move on Monday, May 14. They are moving back to Canada. Their visas were not renewed, even though they have applied and completed the paperwork. The federal government agencies are at least two years behind in processing these applications. I was privileged to stop in for their farewell at the Eau Claire church. There were many personal tributes shared that confirmed a positive influence and impact by Rob and Julie on the church over the past six years. Rob and Julie also confirmed that the church has made a significant impact on their lives as they established their home and began their family there. We wish Rob and Julie the best of God’s blessing and favor as they move to another place of life and ministry.

Chris Atkins, Assistant Pastor at Eau Claire, and Amy, his fiancée, will be married in Ohio this Saturday. I’m guessing Pastor Dwayne will give him Mother’s Day Sunday off. Congratulations to Chris and Amy as they begin their married lives together. May God bless their marriage and their home.

Doctrinal Symposium

Ken Heer writes, “We are one month away from the Doctrinal Symposium that will be held at Wesleyan World Headquarters, June 1-2. Space is available if you have not registered but would like to attend, or if there is someone from your district you would like to send. Registration can be accomplished online at www.wesleyan.org/symposium, or by simply letting me know you want to attend. There is a $50 fee that covers food and materials.

I have begun to receive papers that will be delivered at the Symposium, and they are excellent. This should be a most important, interesting and informative meeting. The topics that will be presented and discussed should have direct bearing on issues of church polity and practice that will undoubtedly be debated at General Conference. I hope you will participate in it.”

Website

The Wisconsin district website is up and running – http://www.wisconsindistrict.org/. Kudos to Jesse Hamble, worship arts director at Red Cedar, for his great work in designing and putting it together, and Merea Bragg, my administrative assistant, for the work on the details and content.

Dates for your Information

May 13 Mother’s Day
May 15 Annual Service Reports Deadline
May 19 DBMD
May 20 Burr/Valley Visit/Boards
May 27 Memorial Day Sunday
May 31 Local Church Statistical Reports Deadline

Summer Events

June 11-15 Northern and Southern Kids camps
June 21-22 District Conference/Retreat/Ordination
June 24-29 Middle School Camp
July 30-Aug. 4 Senior High Camp

Leading a great team.

Your Servant,

Dan Bickel
Wisconsin District Superintendent

Welcome to the new Wisconsin District Website...

Over the next couple weeks we will be refining the new website, adding links and updating the content. You can check back soon to find the 2007 District Conference reports and journal. Hope things are going well!