In the spring, when my garden comes to life, my favorite plants are hostas. Hostas die off in the fall. All winter, the ground where they grew is bare and barren.
No signs of life. And then, there they are, like magic, growing bigger and better than the year before. And I did nothing.
Listen to how Paul describes God’s good work in Romans 8: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn[n] among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (vss. 28-30, NLT)
God is doing good work even when our lives seem barren. I had a mentor who once told me, “When it seems like God is working the least, God is working the most.”
God’s work is not always visible or in the ways we expect or easily understood. But we are the kind of people who believe that God is with us when we don’t see or feel His active involvement. God still does good work even when it is not obvious.
I’m so thankful that God never stops doing good work on my behalf – and on yours!
Kent Landhuis Pastor of Teaching & Leadership
Did you enjoy this article? Did you laugh, cry or learn something new? Let Kent know.
Our small group recently studied Philippians 2. After much discussion, one of our group said, “Listen to this, it’s the New Living Translation: Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (vss. 12-13)
The phrase “work hard to show the results of your salvation” grabbed our attention. It baffled us. We know that we do not work to earn salvation, so what is this hard work?
And then, someone said, “Look at the next verse too – it says God is working hard. God gives us the desire to obey, and God gives us the power to obey. God is working hard so work hard. But what hard work is left for us to do?”
What’s left for us is obedience. We obey God with deep reverence and respect. We obey with the desire and power that God gives us! That sounds amazing! And so does this: I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)
June 1-8 we will be partnering with World Vision for a special Chosen event. As a church, we’ll be signing up to sponsor children in Guatemala, but instead of us choosing a child, the child gets to choose YOU.
To make this event successful, we are in need to volunteers to help out in the Gathering Space. There are multiple opportunities, including the Saturdays before the big events and different times throughout the Sunday mornings of June 1 and June 8.
Welcome Host // First point of contact for the lobby experience to help the line move smoothly and quickly. This role initiates the sign-up process.
Sign Up Roamer // Helps sponsors sign up and receive their Chosen code (via a World Vision iPad) so they can take their Chosen photo. Help congregants fill out all needed information and keep the line moving.
Photobooth Host // Capture the Chosen code tied to the new sponsor’s contact information and take a photo of the sponsor (and family).
Line Host // Keep the line moving quickly and smoothly and direct congregants to the next available photo booth or space at the Reveal Wall (Reveal weekend only).
Reveal Host // Reveal Weekend only. Help sponsors find their Reveal Chosen envelope with information about the child that chose them as their sponsor!
As a volunteer, you’ll be given an orange t-shirt (to wear during your shift), training, and a specific role for your shift. In addition:
1. All volunteers will be assigned specific roles upon arrival.
2. You’ll still get to attend a worship service.
3. World Vision requires volunteers to sign a waiver HERE prior to arrival (minors must have form completed by a parent).
4. Watch the Training videos:
Consider volunteering today and making this event a wonderful one!
Spring is a season of renewal and hope—something we see reflected every day in the lives touched by your generosity. It’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate the positive change your support is making in the Cedar Rapids community!
I’m excited to invite you to join us for The Salvation Army Cedar Rapids Open House.
The Salvation Army Open House
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: 1000 C Avenue NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
Come take a tour, meet our team, and see firsthand how your contribution is making an impact. Whether you stay for a few minutes or the full event, we’d love to have you there!
We are excited again to host the annual gathering of the Upper Mississippi Valley network. Our gathering will be June 13-14 at Cedar Hills Community Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
If you ever wanted to explore ways to “think outside the box,” join us on Friday, June 13th to hear from Verlon Fosner. Verlon is the Founder and Director of the Dinner Church Collective (dinnerchurch.com) and is bringing the gospel to the people of Seattle and beyond with new approaches to reach small, medium and large communities. You won’t want to miss this. The first session will focus on the role of pastors and church staff, we’ll have dinner then the next session will focus on pastors, lay leaders and members and how they can make a difference in outreach.
2:00pm-5:00pm – Training
“Seeing, Reaching, and Communicating with the unengaged” with Verlon Fosner, for pastors and staff.
5:00pm – 30-minute break
5:30pm – Meal
6:30pm- 9:00pm – Training “Leadership and Outreach” with Verlon Fosner for all leaders.
Saturday, June 14 – Annual meeting
Child care available! Please indicate need on your registration form.
8:00am-9:00am – CHECK-IN/BREAKFAST
Check-in
Continental Breakfast, and Fellowship.
Registration Open
9:00am-9:30am – WELCOME
Welcome to UMV
Worship
Devotion
9:30am-10:15am – KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Greg Alderman, Alliance of Reformed Churches
10:30am-11:25am
BREAKOUT Session #1
A.I. and Ministry (Chuck Huckaby) Empowering Outreach, Operations, and Weekly Worship without Selling Your Soul!
Discover how local churches in and outside the ARC are using AI tools to enhance their outreach, streamline office work, and multiply the effectiveness of their discipleship efforts. Get your AI questions answered! * Orange Room
Reaching the Next Generation (Steve Poole and Frankline Tshombe) Learn tools and practices to reach the next generation. * Red Room
Evangelism for Non-Evangelists (Ben Ingebretson) Because engagement precedes evangelism, this session will focus on introducing a wide range of evangelism methods. Transferrable, field-tested approaches relevant for all churches. * Teal Room
11:30am-12:00am – Business Meeting
Alliance Update
Budget Review
Update on Board Members and Election
Five-year Review
12:00pm-1:00pm – Catered Lunch
1:00pm-1:50pm
BREAKOUT Session #2
Dinner Church (Verlon Fosner and Scott Stephan) Discover a practical tool to reach your community and discuss its implementation with practitioners who have seen its fruitfulness. *Orange Room
Four Fields (Thomas Cellilli and E3 Partners) Explore an evangelism framework to engage in outreach with experienced leaders. *Red Room
Discipleship Pathway (Ben Ingebretson) Look at models and methods for discipleship that will re-ignite the priority of discipleship. A crisis in discipleship usually precedes a crisis in ministry – come discover why. * Teal Room
2:00pm-2:15pm – Closing Thoughts and Prayer
PRESENTERS
Ben Ingebretson is the Director of Church Multiplication and Vitality at CORAM DEO. He is husband to Karen, father to three adult kids and their families, and lives in Grand Rapids, MI. Since college and seminary days in Minnesota and Scotland (Bethel St. Paul and then University of Aberdeen) he has been a bi-vo church planter, pastor of a multiplying church and served as new church development director with two denominations: the Reformed Church in America and the United Methodist church).
Over those years he has taken part in the development of over 200 new churches in rural, urban, suburban and multi-ethnic contexts. Ben has published several books: Parent Church Landmines, Multiplication Moves, and most recently Plant Like Jesus, the church planters devotional. In his down time he loves to tandem bike with his wife, hang out with his growing family and sail the Great Lakes!
Verlon Fosner is the Director of Dinner Church Collective. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have been in church leadership for 44 years in Seattle, Washington. After several years in their tenure as lead pastors the church went into decline and they faced a decision: move to the suburbs or become an urban church. After much prayer, the leadership felt called to not only stay, but to dive further into the urban neighborhoods of Seattle.
What began as a single urban church plant quickly grew into a multi-site Dinner Church, and then expanded into a national Dinner Church Network. Then in 2016, Verlon and Melodee joined the Fresh Expressions team to lead the Dinner Church Collective.
Greg Alderman serves as the Executive Director for the Alliance of Reformed Churches. Greg was born and raised in Southern California and is a lifelong Dodgers fan. He received his BA from UCLA and M. Div from Fuller Theological Seminary. Prior to joining the staff at the Alliance, Greg served for 8.5 years as Lead Pastor at Centerpoint Church in Sioux Center, IA and 15.5 years as Senior Pastor at Christ Community in Carmichael, CA. After his time serving at Christ Community, Greg founded a non-profit, One Voice Board, in July 2022 to help churches and other non-profits in board governance at no cost.
Since 2022, Greg has served as an interim pastor at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church and then at First Reformed Church in Orange City, IA. Greg lives in Denton, TX with his wife Veronica. Together, they have four adult children and four grandchildren.
OTHER PRESENTERS
Ron Fischer, UMV Network Leader
Kent Landhuis, Pastor of Teaching & Leadership, Cedar Hills Community
Steve Poole – Pastor of Youth & Young Adults, Cedar Hills Community
Frankline Tshombe, Director of Children’s Church, Cedar Hills Community
Scott Stephan, Senior Pastor, CrossView Church
Thomas Cellilli, Lead Pastor, New Life Community, IA
Chuck Huckaby, Lead Pastor, First Reformed Fulton
Leah Carolan, Worship Pastor, Cedar Hills Community
Bible Study at 6:30pm – with Randy Fox. Currently meeting at A Place For Friends at 212 Edgewood Rd NW and is next door to Roscoe’s Pizza.
Men’s Connection & Trivia at 6:30pm – with Gary Sager. This group usually meets at Whiskey River in Palo but it is best to double check the bulletin for location information.
WEDNESDAYS
Bible Study at 6:30am – with Alan Crandall. Meets at the Crandall home: 231 McKinsie Ct NE., Cedar Rapids, IA
Bible Study at 8:00am – with George Young and Gary Mills, Gathering Space @ Cedar Hills Church (every other week), includes work projects.
Bible Study at 6:30pm – with Pastor Kent, meeting at Cedar Hills in the Red Room
Thursday Throwdown @ Koru Aronia Berry Farm (1685 U Ave, Homestead, IA) – Thursday, May 29, 5:00pm-9:00pm. Join us at Thursday Throwdown with Bryce Janey Duo at Koru.
Typically, there is a food truck and drinks for purchase. It will be a fun night of live music and fellowship in a beautiful setting. Bring a chair, we typically sit in the grass area.
PRAYER MEETINGS – Wednesdays at 6:00pm in the Zoom app (details below). Everyone is welcome to come! Even if you are uncomfortable praying out loud, come and agree with us in prayer.
GRADUATE RECOGNITION SUNDAY – Sunday, May 18 we will recognize all of our high school, degree, college (and beyond!) graduates with a special presentation.
If you are celebrating a graduation this year, please submit your information online by Sunday, May 11 to be recognized at our celebration. There will be cake!
Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27. Our group from Cedar Hills will work in two teams (Mon-Fri). You can join us one or more of those days as you are available.
No skills are required; you can join us one or more of days as you are available.
Ben Ingebretson is the Director of Church Multiplication and Vitality at CORAM DEO. He is husband to Karen, father to three adult kids and their families, and lives in Grand Rapids, MI. Since college and seminary days in Minnesota and Scotland (Bethel St. Paul and then University of Aberdeen) he has been a bi-vo church planter, pastor of a multiplying church and served as new church development director with two denominations: the Reformed Church in America and the United Methodist church).
