Newsletter: july 2026
2nd Annual UMV Pastor's Retreat
REGISTRATION IS OPEN for our Pastor's Retreat on Wednesday, September 9th to Friday the 11th at Ridge Haven's Cono Center in Walker, Iowa! We'll start that afternoon on Wednesday and conclude on Friday morning. Thrive Coaching Networks' Jeff Allen and Network Leader Ron Fischer will be leading a time of focusing on Solitude, Silence and Prayer and how this helps us personally and looking deeper at our churches and what is to come.There is no charge to attend. We all need time away to rest and take time for solitude and be surrounded by others who know what we do and to come alongside us. Registration will close on August 24th.
East Central Cluster Revitalization Mini Conference
We would like to invite all churches in the East Central Cluster to the Revitalization Mini Conference for your church to explore new ways of looking at their communities and their church.This will be a unique approach to a “conference” where the actual conference will present and explore ideas through collaboration and relational interactions. We welcome Pastor Jeff Allen from Thrive Coaching Network as well as Network Leader Ron Fischer, OT Coordinator Thomas Cellilli and CKT Coordinator Luke Schouten as facilitators of our time.The mini conference will be in the East Central cluster (ECC)* on Saturday, September 12th from 10am to 3pm at New Life Community Church in Coralville, IA. Consistory member attendance is most important! The mini conference has NO CHARGE and lunch is provided. *East Central cluster churches are: North Ridge Eldridge, Christ's Family Davenport, Cedar Hills Cedar Rapids, New Life Coralville, First Sully and Trinity Pella.
Conflict in our lives and Churches: Part III
By Pastor Luke SchoutenConflict is inevitable. In our previous articles, we discovered that much of our conflict begins within us, as James reminds us that quarrels often arise from our own desires and selfish ambitions (James 4:1-3). We also saw how pride can deepen those conflicts by making it difficult to admit our faults, extend grace, or seek reconciliation. If we are to honor Christ, however, we cannot stop with identifying the problem—we must pursue the solution.
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