May 8, 2025

Pastor Andrew

Greetings, Church Council. These last several months have been both blessed and difficult. The ministry of the church continues to work. We were blessed with an awesome turnout on Easter Sunday, and our attendance seems to be growing steadily. More important than that is the spiritual growth that we all are experiencing as we invest in the body. I was glad to see the Elder’s prayer incentive work so well. That represents both exciting leadership from the Elders and a willingness on the part of the body to cooperate as we pursue God together.

Lexi wrapped up her first semester here with the church. I’m confident that her work has been enjoyed by our students and their families. I look forward to seeing her continued growth. Joseph intends to keep his program going through the summer as he did last year. I think that’s a good direction. He’s also planning a mission trip to North Carolina.

I’d invite all of you to continue to pray with us on Sunday mornings. Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray earnestly then to God for more laborers in the vineyard!

Elders

Elders are still meeting every other Tuesday and starting our meeting with devotions and prayer.

Things we are working on;

• Still working on vision casting for the church
  • One area is Visitation from Elders, and each Elder took an area to work on
    • Widows and Widowers
    • Shut-ins and Elderly
    • Farmers
    • Hospital stays
    • New Christians and Visitors
  • Prayer for Zoar
    • Had a 24-hour prayer vigil during Holy Week and had a good turnout.
    • Having prayer time before the church service
• Partnering with StepMC from McPherson to teach people how to manage money and allowing them to present to the Church.
• Still offering communion one time per month
• Added to the bulletin a reminder that the Elders want to pray for fellow churchgoers and for them to submit their problems and concerns to them through their communication box in the south foyer.
• Met with Council and Brian Harris (District Minister) on how we can improve.
  • Working on more accountability 
  • Working on unity with Council and other teams in the church

• Approved team members for a mission trip to Uganda

• Working on bringing all ministry teams to Elder meetings this year to make sure they have what they need to run their ministry and to help with next year’s budget so it does not all fall on the finance team’s shoulders.
• Will be starting June 11^th providing Pop In Supper

Trustees

Have had a lot of trouble with the refrigerator, and it is fixed and working now.

Brian Wedel fixed the backflow to the boiler.

Gail Wiens is going to make a door in the wall to gain access to the boiler pump.

The basketball goal is up and being used.

There has been a request to have a bench put in by the playground.

Still need to install a fence around the playground.

Finance/Budget

Discussed the budget as of the end of April 2025. A little behind but not uncommon. The mission trip for those going to Uganda is paid for. Missionaries have received their money for the first quarter.  All bills have been paid.

Business

Pastor Andrew and Hope will be attending Sunscape Retreat in Divide, Colorado sometime early fall.

Other Business

Pastor Andrew will be on vacation from May 26 – June 2. Pastor Joseph will be giving the message on June 1. Also, Joseph will be the speaker during the 2^nd week of Ponca.

March 18, 2025

Pastor Andrew

These last several weeks have been mostly business as usual. I continue to tend to the flock while also pursuing a strategy of equipping the other leaders in our church to do the same.

We finished up our series in Ephesians during the month of February. My prayer is that those lessons continue to guide us as a church. Since then, our church has moved into a new series looking at the book of Exodus. I’m excited to lean into these passages as the year continues.

The new series is called, “Becoming the people of God”. My prayer is that the lessons of Exodus reach across the divide of time and even covenants to help us understand how we can more fully follow God.

I look forward to the weeks ahead as our church changes its focus somewhat towards Lent and the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord. We do indeed serve a risen Savior.

Trustees

Finance/Budget

Discussed the budget as of March 18, 2025. All bills have been paid.

Other Business

Pastor Andrew shared that Janet McMahon, Pam Thiessen and Hope Wuerffel will be going to Uganda June 8-22 and looking to do some fundraising to help with their expenses and give people a chance to support them.

February 13, 2025

Pastor Andrew

January and February can be busy or slow. Of course, the lead-up to the annual business meeting can be hectic for all of us. Perhaps our business meeting was the most significant thing that happened in the church’s view in the month of January.

Speaking of significant happenings, it was awesome to see two new members join the church in February.

As for the last few weeks, things got incredibly busy around the time Nora Jane passed away. I was working on several different church-related duties around that time. I’m often amazed at God’s timing. After we took time to celebrate Nora Jane’s life, Hope and I got very sick. We were out of it for about a week with fevers and bed rest. Hope bounced back quickly but I seem to have come down with some secondary infection that’s kept me pretty miserable until now. I’m still not at full capacity and am especially thankful that the church calendar is not bursting at the seams right now.  I’m especially thankful for Pastor Joseph this last month who filled in for me on Sunday the 2^nd.

I continue to maintain my basic duties and look forward to having more energy soon. This month, I’m glad for our great God who continually sustains us even when we are sick.

Elders

Well, another year to gear up for.  We really discussed at our last meeting all the ways we see work being done for God’s kingdom at Zoar Church.  Along with the Elders being more visible, we are trying to make sure that our leadership for the church is God-Centered.

Finance/Budget

The Annual Business Meeting went well and the new budget for 2025 was approved. Discussed the budget as of February 13, 2025. All bills have been paid.

Other Business

Gordon Enns gave a presentation.

Pastor Andrew

The regular work of the church continues without any hindrance. We canceled church of course on the 5^th of January. I have used the extra time I’ve been awarded because of that cancelation to do some visiting at the Home.

I’m eager to see what God has for us in the New Year and hopeful that all of us will surrender to God’s will in all things.

Thanks to everyone here and everyone represented here for making the last year work.

Elders

• We have been working on goals

Trustees

• Basketball goal has been selected and paid for
• Discussed creating manuals needed for operations in the church. (re: HVAC, Sunday Morning setup)
• There are plumbing issues that need to be taken care of. Some of the drains need to be changed to help drainage. The baptistry drain needs to be revamped. Sometime in January, we will have a camera/snake run through the drains to see their condition.

Finance/Budget

Discussed the final outcome of the 2024 Budget. All bills are paid and we’re in really good shape. Reviewed the 2025 Budget to be presented and voted upon at the Annual Business Meeting.

Other Business

• There was discussion on the possibility of having an online directory.

December 12, 2024

Pastor Andrew

Merry Christmas. Greetings, Church Council. As we enter the Christmas season, our eyes focus on Christ. The simplicity of a Child in a manger reminds us of why we exist. The church’s job is not just to maintain itself. Rather, we are called to leave what is comfortable in order to reach the world around us, just like Christ did. Let’s make sure as a church that we are not like the busy innkeeper, housing everyone and everything but the most important Person.

Nothing really has changed since our last meeting. Our ministries are winding down for the season. Hope did an awesome job with the Children’s ministry. I’m hoping that Lexi will soon add to the good foundation that Julie and Hope have set as she digs into the work of the church.

We have been blessed with a well-attended membership class as well and a few young people who got baptized. This couple communicated to me that our church and the ministry here was really beneficial in their walk. God is good.

This council has my prayers as they shore up the business of the church before our business meeting in January. I’m thankful for each of you. Your leadership, diligence, sharp minds, and good intentions have helped our church through the 2024 year. Teresa, thank you for putting up with us men for this whole time. You are a gift.

Elders

Working on Goals for the Elders for 2025.Still studying the book Biblical Eldership and it has been an eye-opener.  Feel really good about how far the Elders have come in the past 2 years

November 21, 2024

Pastor Andrew

Elders

Things we are working on:

• We are still in the book “Biblical Eldership” and going through a chapter at each meeting. It has been an eye-opener to study what God expects from elders in the church. Elders are not only held to a higher standard but being above reproach takes on a much stronger meaning. Elders are assigned, according to God’s word, to shepherd the flock and be an example to other Christians while also supporting the pastors.
• In-depth discussion on 2025 goals for Elders
• Will be continuing on Elder Transparency.
• The youth, with the guidance of Pastor Joseph, will be leading Advent.
• Elders will continue to work on the book on Biblical Eldership and will work on goals to present at the January Business Meeting.

Trustees

• Making a few changes to the lighting inside
• Outside projects are being discussed
• Working through a small hit list in the kitchen

• Discussed budget summary as of November 19, 2024. All bills are being paid and things are running smoothly.

Other Business

• The Annual Business Meeting is set for January 26, 2025

October 10, 2024

Pastor Andrew

As we ease into the mechanized feeling of these mid fall months, I’m thankful for several things. Firstly, I’m thankful for our good God who continues to provide for our every need. I’m thankful for the additions to the Elder board. And, I’m thankful for the awesome people who have stepped up so that we can continue to have an operational Children’s ministry program.

This last month was unexpectedly different. My planned vacation went off without a hitch and I was thankful for a nice time away. I’m also grateful that Rick from the MB foundation was able to step in and talk about stewardship while I was gone. Two weeks after my return Hope and I took an unexpected trip to North Carolina to visit my brother and his wife who have recently experienced a loss. These two trips made these months a little disjointed but still blessed and fruitful.

We continue to work through Ephesians and I am glad for our time now studying spiritual warfare. I’m also glad for the finance Sunday school class the MB Foundation is provided for us. Thank you all for your continued leadership and support.

Elders

We have met a couple of times this past month and started working on our goals for the next year.  We have kicked around some really good ideas and it seems to be coming back to: What can we do for Inman?  This may be what our focus will be leaning towards.  

Finance/Budget

Discussed budget summary as of October 9, 2024. All bills are being paid and MCC Meat Canning received their money. Things are running smoothly.

Other Business

An event organized by Children’s Ministry will be October 30^th and is Gospel-focused.

Pastor Andrew suggested that it would be good to have an Event Planning Committee.

Brian shared that the Voter Registration at the church is going well and getting good information out to people. Conversations have been a success – some light-hearted and some serious.

September 12, 2024

Elders

• A few elders and finance committee members met to review Joseph’s recommendation to make funds available to offer to the interim children’s ministry director.  It was agreed that we would pay for a start-up for Wednesday night missions through October and revisit it at the end of October.  Hope Wuerffel has been filling that role until a director is hired.  Melissa Funk is assisting and will add the hours to her regular hours submitted. 
• The first Wednesday night of the season was a huge success. About 75 kids and 25 middle schoolers attended.
• Have had some conversations about how to make the Elder Team more visible and more approachable.  Also making resources available for people in need.
• Talked at length about what goals we want to work on and how we can report on how our goals have been accomplished in the past year.
• The Elders have ordered a book to study titled “Biblical Eldership” and will be discussing a chapter at each meeting on leadership, what it means, and how to lead.
• We visited what we need to do to minister more to young married men and what it means to be the leader of your family.
• A group was formed to address the church members at PVH and church members who have not attended for some time.  This will be an elder-led group.

From Children’s Ministry Director Search Team

• Have an interview for the director position coming up in the first week of October.

We will still be in prayer for the church as well as following God’s direction. 

Trustees

• Van purchased has been doing good.
• We will purchase products to put the fence up around the playground after harvest
• Gave permission for Krafty Kids Daycare – Leah Schmitz, to use the church basement as an evacuation location in case of severe weather.
• We will work on the basketball court after harvest and will do the concrete work ourselves.
• Lighting – bulbs have been replaced in the north end of the sanctuary and looking to replace all of the bulbs in the sanctuary and some in the south foyer.

Finance/Budget

Discussed the budget summary as of September 12, 2024. All bills are being paid and missionary payments have been made. Multiply has been paid half of its payments and MCC Meat Canning will be getting theirs soon.

Business

Zoar will have volunteers to register voters in the south foyer on the mornings of Sunday, October 6 and 13, 2024. Also, the volunteers will be handing out voter information guides with a Biblical perspective and have been approved by the Elders. Voter guides will represent a Biblical perspective of the candidates and issues and be from sources that may include, but are not limited to IVoterGuide.com and Kansans for Life.

August 8, 2024

Pastor Andrew

Since our last meeting, Hope and I along with some Zoar Church delegates attended the USMB National Convention. The experience was encouraging in a few regards. Firstly, it was good to rub shoulders with some fellow Pastors and full-time ministry persons. Secondly, I was thankful for the content and the speakers who discussed helpful subjects. Finally, I was encouraged by the stance that our denomination took through its speaker selection. All the speakers seemed to be rooted in the word of God. One speaker especially who discussed apologetics and the world view

was pronouncedly conservative and Bible-based. This stance was a confirmation of USMB’s continued diligence in trusting the scriptures as our guide and standard.

Church ministries continue to function. I was impressed with Joseph’s organization and hard work with his recent lock-in. Hope Wuerffel and Melissa Funk have tackled the fall Children’s Ministry program by coming up with a basic fall plan and rounding up volunteers. I am so thankful for their work. The search for a Children’s Ministry Director has also had some very encouraging leads.

I continue to work through the book of Ephesians and seek God’s help in leading this church into fruitful ministry as we Develop Empowered Disciples. I’m glad for God’s call to Pastors and Elders to oversee the church. We seek to do that diligently and thoroughly.

Elders

It has been a little slow this summer but we have still been able to meet 2 times in July.  Some of the things we are working on are:

July 16, 2024

Pastor Andrew

This summer has been productive and also discombobulating. There’s a mechanic to the spring and fall schedule that keeps the church on track and me sorted out. With changing schedules, vacations and some unpredictable things I feel that the church has been blessed and chaotic in a good way over the last few months.

As I already mentioned, this summer my wife and I vacationed in Florida in the later part of June. Before and after this I had been busy with a preaching series in Ephesians. I also participated in David and Kaylan Prieb’s wedding.

Looking forward, I will be gone again July 23-27 to Nebraska for the US MB conference. I plan also to continue with our series in Ephesians, while being available for the regular pastoral duties that arise.

A few things I’m especially thankful for. Our Pop-in Summer Suppers have seemed to be a success. Two new families attended church on Sunday representing a success I think in that strategy. VBS was really good this year. A better spirit surrounded the event than the year before. I’m glad for that. I’m also glad for the individual relationships that are being built in the church. God continues to work here. Praise God.

Elders

We have met off and on in the past few months with different things going on within the church.  When not able to meet because of our busy summer schedules we stay in contact via email and text.  When we meet, we start our meetings out with devotion and prayer for God’s guidance. The Elders continue to work on their goals.

Trustees