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State Missions offering highlights stories of transformation

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Draper, UT – Everyone has a story. So does every church. Within those stories are triumphs when a new ministry is birthed, grief over family tragedy, laughter over something said by a kid to a ministry volunteer, and stories of families transformed by the simple message of the gospel. Stories tell our history, and this year, the State Missions Offering is highlighting stories of churches and associations that have utilized resources from past mission funds to impact their communities with the gospel. The week of prayer shares eight days of stories focusing on just a few of the ways your Utah Idaho State Mission dollars have been used in just the last twelve months. And these stories continue to be written.

Our goal is help churches across Idaho and Utah to know how your funds are being used across our convention. When you know what you are giving to, it is easier to ask your congregations to help us reach our $90,000 goal for 2023. 100% of the money you give through the State Missions Offering stays in Utah and Idaho to be given back through Disaster Relief, Collegiate Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Special projects, direct church requests for funding, missions efforts both locally and nationally, local church planting expenses, and helping churches do what they may not be able to do by themselves.

We would encourage you to visit https://uisbc.org/smo for more information about where your State Mission Offering funds are going and how you can be a part of this vital mission effort. We have bulletin inserts your church can order and distribute, as well as downloadable media files that will help you promote the State Missions Offering throughout the year. Thank you for giving and supporting our local mission priorities.

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Pastors and their spouses encouraged to win at home and at church

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Pastors and Wives pose on the last day of Recharge for a group photo.

Park City, UT – “But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Mark Dance started the Recharge: Pastors and Wives Retreat with those words of encouragement from Acts 20:24.  The room was filled with pastors, church staff, mission partners and their spouses from several states and entities. Each one came to this event with many different burdens and stressors put on them by life and leading the churches they serve. This event sought to help pastors and their spouses carry the weight of their mission call upon their lives. They don’t have to carry that weight alone.

“The hope for this event is that pastors and their wives know they are appreciated for the work they do serving churches across our two states” commented Rob Lee, UISBC Executive Director.

Our 2023 Recharge: Pastors and Wives Retreat at Newpark Resort in Park City, UT held July 18-20 was a huge success and would not have been possible without partnership between three entities working together with one goal in mind: to bless the pastors and their wives who bless our churches across Utah and Idaho. GuideStone Financial Resources provided travel and accommodations for Mark and Janet Dance who oversees Pastoral Wellness at GuideStone. Worship was provided by Danny Kugelberg from Church at the Gates in Missoula, MT. North American Mission Board provided gifts and meals, as well as the majority of the financial expenses to allow our pastors to attend with no personal financial burden to themselves other than transportation to the resort. Utah Idaho SBC picked up the remainder of the expenses for meals and rooms. Every pastor and their spouse was blessed with resources, gifts, and gift cards from all the ministry partners who participated.

Mark and Janet Dance provided uplifting and challenging words to the pastors and their spouses in attendance.

The three days were highlighted by four sessions led by Mark and Janet Dance with the focus on encouragement and also allowed several hours of free time for couples to interact with other guests, or to just spend time together as a couple. The facility was the perfect setting for all of those missions to be accomplished.

Dallas Claypool of Sand Hollow Baptist Church in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho came with his wife, JoEllen. He commented on his social media after the event concluded “the best part was meeting some of the awesome pastors and their wives who are fighting the good fight. They spoiled us rotten and refilled our hearts and souls. My only regret is that it’s taken me seventeen years to make the time to go. If you are pastor and they invite you to the next one of these events, drop everything and GO! You won’t be disappointed.”

Amy Mamatela, whose husband Dan pastors in the Millcreek area of Salt Lake City commented to one of the convention staff, “you all make us feel like royalty with such wonderful rooms and thoughtful gifts. Thank you so much, we are glad we came”.

The next Recharge: Pastors and Wives Retreat will be in McCall, Idaho in the spring of 2024. The schedule and format will be very similar to the Utah event, running Thursday-Saturday, April 25-27. If you are interested, block out those dates on your calendar and stay tuned for more details which will be posted and distributed through our website and UI Connections monthly email blast.  

We are grateful for the partnership between GuideStone, North American Mission Board, and your State Convention in providing these events. Through partnership, we are more effective than any of us could be on our own. Thank you to our ministry partners and friends who made Recharge 2023 possible.

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