Monday, April 27, 2009

Newton Pastor dedicated to children, families

By Cristina Janney
Newton Kansan
Posted Apr 24, 2009 @ 10:06 AM

When most kids his age were consumed by sports and first discovering girls, Doug Ingmire was discovering his passion. That is when Ingmire, the pastor of Newton Christian Church, first felt a calling to ministry.

And even though he was a child himself, he knew he wanted to work with kids.

“It is hard to describe a calling,” said Ingmire, 59, who has been a minister for more than 40 years. “I knew through preaching and teaching, God was saying something to me. The hard part was surrendering to that call.”

Ingmire said he knew he was being drawn toward the ministry, but at 12, he really did not know what that meant.

Today, Ingmire says working in the ministry, especially with children, refuels his soul.

“I just like kids. I like to hear their questions. I can work with them through their struggles,” he said.

Newton Christian Church last year, under the oversight of youth minister Jan Hastings, started the BLAST program for at-risk youth. About 20 students participate in the weekly afterschool program, which has included team-building games, life skills lessons and group trips to sporting events.

“We try to teach them not to take handouts, to learn to work hard, to respect, be patient and have manners,” Ingmire said.

Church member Pam Copper has known Ingmire since she was 16. Copper’s father was a minister and knew Ingmire when he was a youth pastor in Norton.

“He has a passion for youth,” Copper said. “He always has time for them. The kids always felt comfortable with him and could tell him anything — good or bad. He was their safe harbor in a stormy world.”

In addition to working in youth ministry, Ingmire has had an emphasis in marriage and family ministry.

Ingmire conducts workshops titled Malichi and counsels couples with his wife of 38 years, Janet.

The couple has three children, two grown. The youngest, Ethan, is a sophomore at Berean Academy.

The couple met during a Bible study when Doug was a student at Manhattan Christian College and Janet was a student at Kansas State University.

The night they met, Janet told her roommate she had met the man she was going to marry. Likewise, Doug told his mother he had met the woman he was going to marry.

Doug said he has been able to keep his marriage strong by going on regular dates and doing devotions with his wife. The couple steals away for lazy afternoons browsing in antique and old hardware stores or quick treasure hunts at the Et Cetera Shop in Newton.

“We just enjoy being together,” Doug Ingmire said. Janet said shared time, passion and interests have been the cement that has kept them together.

“We learned at an early age to communicate,” she said. “He had a ministry in Bellville, and we would travel long distances together from Manhattan. We spent a lot of time getting to know each other and asking each other questions.”

Doug said the best summer his family had was when they decided to do nothing — no soccer, no baseball, no summer camp.

“We just decided to take the summer off, and we did all our favorite stuff. We took the summer to all rebuild our relationships,” he said.

When offering advice to families, Ingmire tries to tell them to slow down and take time for each other.

“Busyness rapes relationship,” Ingmire said. “The truth is families are out of control. They are here and there. Priorities are critical. If we don’t plan time, someone will plan it for us.”

Janet said despite years of devoted service in the ministry and community, Doug’s legacy will be his family.

“I think he loves being a father and a grandfather to four and a fifth on the way,” Janet said. “He has always enjoyed his family. They are very important to him.

“His parents have been married for 60 years, and mine were married for 63 years,” she said. “I think he would say it is a legacy passed down from his parents. We both come from large families in which we were always loved. I think he wants to pass that down to the next generation.”

“We learned at an early age to communicate,” she said. “He had a ministry in Bellville, and we would travel long distances together from Manhattan. We spent a lot of time getting to know each other and asking each other questions.”

Doug said the best summer his family had was when they decided to do nothing — no soccer, no baseball, no summer camp.

“We just decided to take the summer off, and we did all our favorite stuff. We took the summer to all rebuild our relationships,” he said.

When offering advice to families, Ingmire tries to tell them to slow down and take time for each other.

“Busyness rapes relationship,” Ingmire said. “The truth is families are out of control. They are here and there. Priorities are critical. If we don’t plan time, someone will plan it for us.”

Janet said despite years of devoted service in the ministry and community, Doug’s legacy will be his family.

“I think he loves being a father and a grandfather to four and a fifth on the way,” Janet said. “He has always enjoyed his family. They are very important to him.

“His parents have been married for 60 years, and mine were married for 63 years,” she said. “I think he would say it is a legacy passed down from his parents. We both come from large families in which we were always loved. I think he wants to pass that down to the next generation.”

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A big thank you to the Kids FUNd

By Timothy Conner
Newton Kansan
Posted Apr 24, 2009 @ 10:27 AM
NEWTON —

A big thank you to the Greater Newton Kids FUNd for supporting such a diverse group of local charities for kids!

Hillcrest and Grace Community churches have partnered together to offer biweekly Wednesday night game nights for kids at the Newton Activity Center through the winter months when the skate park and playground are too cold to serve as gathering places for kids.

The program, called “RockeTown,” offers young people snacks, games, music, a word of encouragement and positive role models at a crucial age.

The grant funds will go a long way in allowing RockeTown to purchase new games and equipment, which keep the evening fun, interactive and, ultimately, relevant to the kids who participate in the activities.

On behalf of the RockeTown kids and youth, a big thank you, Kids FUNd, and all the Kids FUNd underwriters!

— Timothy Conner,

Newton

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Pastors Prayer Summit 2009

Link to the Prayer Summit Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsV5tKc7cIc

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Local Heroes of Faith Honored

Due to the recent winter storm, the Missional Church Network's Second Annual Kingdom Class Awards Banquet has been rescheduled for 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3rd at First Church of God's Family Life Center.

The banquet celebrates and encourages what the Missional Church Network calls "Kingdom Class" work in our community. Kingdom Class is seen as work that improves the community, is accomplished through broad cooperation across denominational lines, and reflects the character and heart of God for His people.

Awards in three categories include: Church, Ministry, and Individual.

In the Church category, RockeTown Youth Center will be honored. RockeTown is a collaborative effort between Grace Community Church, Hillcrest Community Church and the Newton Recreation Commission to provide game nights at the Rec. Center with games, snacks, music and encouragement in a positive, mentoring atmosphere.

Receiving the Kingdom Class Award in the Ministry category is Weekday Bible School. Newton's Weekday Bible School is celebrating its 85th year of ministry to elementary school kids and is a cooperative project of many local congregations, businesses in cooperation with USD 373.

Receiving the award in the Individual category, Tina Payne, the tireless and creative Executive Director of Health Ministries will be honored. Her tireless work to being together a broad coalition of support has led to the ongoing expansion of Health Ministries services to provide a broad range of medical care for people without insurance.

Master of Ceremonies for the catered evening will be State Representative Marc Rhoades. A special time of praise led by worship leaders from six area congregations and a Keynote message from special guest Steve Kelly, CEO of Newton Medical Center will also be highlights.

$10 tickets are available at Newton First Bank locations, and Hinz Motors in N. Newton.

Previous award recipients include the Heartland Pregnancy Care Center; the Harvey County Homeless Shelter; Hillcrest Church's UTurn Youth Ministry Skate Park Outreach which has grown to include one of this year's award winners, RockeTown Youth Center; Don Reynolds the first youth recipient, and Steve Kelly, speaker at this year's banquet.

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For More Information: Timothy Conner 316-284-0997.

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Mayors Prayer Breakfast on the National Day of Prayer

The mayors of Newton and North Newton are hosting a third annual prayer breakfast from 7-8 a.m. on the National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 7th at the VFW Hall. The event will start the day with prayer for our nation, state, county and cities, as well as local emergency personnel, families and schools, and churches.

Modeled after the annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. first hosted by Kansas' own President Eisenhower and Congress in 1953 and each year after, local organizers hope to inspire greater prayer for our community and country leaders while offering a time of reflection and inspiration.

Mayors Raquel Thiesen and Ron Braun will be hosts of the event, with prayer led by community leaders representing the various areas to be prayed for interwoven with special music, group singing and a refreshing breakfast. All are invited.

On behalf of the mayors, organizers from the Kiwanis, Rotary, and Lions Clubs, the Newton Ministerial Alliance and The Missional Church Network have received broad support for this third city wide event.

Tickets are available at all Newton First Bank locations for $10.

Questions: missionalchurchnetwork@gmail.com or call 316.284.0997.

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Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Pastor's Prayer Summit - June 22, 23, 24

“I praise the Lord for this summit. From the very start we experienced a great level of unity – how beautiful it was (Ps. 133). We were strengthened and encouraged by His Holy Spirit and I pray that overflows into our ministries and beyond.” - Pastor



Greetings in Jesus’ Name.

What a privilege to be called of God to His people here in Newton, and we rejoice at how He has been working in our midst. We are thankful for the Newton Ministerial Alliance and the Missional Church Network and the many expressions of working together that we share. We get to be thankful, but not satisfied! There is so much more. There are too many people here who have not yet responded to His love. There is not enough of heaven here in our part of the earth.

Do you believe God would want to draw the spiritual leaders of Newton, across denominational and racial lines, together to seek His face? What would happen if the spiritual leaders of our city got away for several days just to be in His presence and ask Him how He wants to impact our city through us?

We believe God has invited us to spend 48 hours away with Him at a Prayer Summit. We know that we all have busy schedules, but we believe this is something that will reap great rewards for each participant, each of our congregations, and our community.

We have invited Pastor Howard Boyd of International Renewal Ministries (www.PrayerSummits.Net) to help us in this process. In the past 17 years, IRM has assisted over 1500 Prayer Summits for spiritual leaders in more than 35 states and 20 other nations.

So, our request is that you mark June 22, 23, and 24 on your calendar as days that you are spending with other Newton shepherds - in the Lord’s presence.
Please don’t let anything keep you from responding with us to this special invitation from the Lord.

If you have any questions please contact Timothy Conner at 316/284-0997 or missionalchurchnetwork@gmail.com

SCHEDULE
Monday June 22 Arrive to share lunch together.
Wednesday June 24 Depart After lunch ~ recharged!

LOCATION: Crosswind Camp & Conference Center
8036 N. Hoover Road, Hesston, KS 67062-9322
620/327-2700 http://www.crosswind.ws

Cost: $130 Includes: 2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners and 2 nights, hotel style, single beds.

TOTAL COST: The fee for our facilitator and his travel have been underwritten by a generous grant from the Mission America Coalition - dramatically reducing our costs! Scholarships are also available for any pastor unable to attend due to finances. Please call Timothy for information.

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Kingdom Class Awards Ceremony & Banquet - May 3rd

Cheering one another on to love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

A Second Annual
Kingdom Class Awards Ceremony & Banquet

The Kingdom Class Awards honor individuals, congregations and ministries in Harvey County who in the past year have modeled a Kingdom spirit: inter-denominational cooperation and "Be good news / Share good news" community impact.
Three awards will be presented at the banquet this year:

Tina Payne, Director, Health Ministries
RockeTown Youth Center (Hillcrest & Grace Churches)
Weekday Bible School, Celebrating 85 years of ministry!

And… a low key fund raiser for our work together through MCN

When: Sunday, May 3rd, 6:00 p.m.,
Where: First Church of God Family Life Center
Why: To celebrate the work of God through individuals and organizations who have demonstrated working together toward a Kingdom Class Community and to lift the vision for more God-honoring work in the years ahead.

Tickets $10 at Hinz Motors and Newton First Bank locations.

Banquet Also Features:
- An inter-denominational praise team of pastors and worship leaders from six churches will lead in a time or worship celebration!
- Steve Kelly CEO, Newton Medical Center, will be the Keynote Spreaker.
Steve lives out his strong faith as a businessman in ministry and shares his vision for Kingdom Class Community. Newton Medical Center is known throughout the region for excellent medical care with a caring and personal touch. Those who have dealt with Steve can testify to his integrity and passion for Christ. Steve was a Kingdom Class Award recipient last year!
- Video Presentations on each of our ‘09 recipients.
- Rep. Marc Rhoades, Master of Ceremonies

Please mark those calendars!

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