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 Iowa-Missouri ConferenceIssue #11 · August 20, 2026 |
| Share your church’s, school’s, or area’s inspiring stories and photos with our community! Send them to communication@imsda.org to be featured in upcoming newsletters. |
| Featured MessageDear Iowa-Missouri Conference Family,Spiritual Revival Part 4 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…As we see the current condition of the world and the fulfillment of prophecy that this world will grow worse and worse, it can all be traced back to that moment in the Garden of Eden when sin came into the world.Sin, according to Isaiah 59:2, creates separation between God and His people. This was proven with Adam and Eve and is demonstrated throughout the stories of the Bible — when people choose to follow sin, it creates separation from each other and God. Which is why 2 Chronicles 7:14 clearly states, after calling for humility, prayer, and seeking after Jesus, there is an appeal to turn from sin.I believe this progression is very important. In Romans 2:4 we read, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” What is it that truly leads a person to repentance and turning from their sin? It is seeing the goodness of God. How good is God? Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This verse has always spoken heavily to my heart. While we were lost in sin, while we were outside of His will, while the world was completely lost to sin, Jesus died on our behalf.When I think about what truly should motivate the Christian experience, it can be summed up in two main Biblical themes: Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins so that we could have eternal life, and He promises through the power of the Holy Spirit to give us victory over sin and transform us into His likeness. True motivation for turning from wickedness can only happen when the sinner, which is all of us, truly sees themselves through the lens of Christ, as individuals who He died for and longs to mend the broken pieces of our lives to make us whole.Which brings me to my next point. It seems like when it comes to sin, we have perfected the art of pointing out everyone else’s sin while ignoring our own. That’s part of our fallen human nature. We would like to believe we see with clear eyes what is wrong with others, yet we’re blind to our own indiscretions. And it seems lately there are YouTube videos and articles in abundance that point out the sins of many in the church.But I believe for there to be true spiritual revival among God’s people, repentance and a turn from wickedness has to start by pointing the thumb back to ourselves as opposed to pointing the finger. There has to be individual repentance before there can be corporate repentance.Everyone agrees there needs to be a revival in the Seventh-day Adventist church. But we must each take responsibility for the lack of true spirituality that exists among us, rejoice in what God has already done for all mankind, and repent for our personal sin, that created the need for Jesus to die on the Cross.Let us continue to pray for:Spiritual Revival in our own hearts Spiritual Revival in our homes Spiritual Revival in our local churches Spiritual Revival throughout the denomination  Lee RochholzPresident |
Conference   Pastors and Teachers Gather togetherDuring the First week of August, all our pastors, teachers, and Sunnydale staff gathered at Sunnydale to meet and learn from one another how each can support the others’ ministries. |
Pathfinders Fall TLT RetreatMore than 90 Iowa-Missouri Conference TLTs gathered at Camp Heritage August 5-9 for this year’s TLT Retreat, combining service, training, and fellowship. Around 65 TLTs kicked off the week with a community service project at Climax Springs Natural Spring Hill Park, spreading a four-inch layer of mulch to help restore the park. The rest of the week included leadership training led by area coordinators and graduated TLTs, individual meetings with TLT Coordinator Allison Cook to preview the 2026-27 Pathfinder year, preparation for the upcoming Camporee, waterfront recreation at the Lake of the Ozarks, and a keynote from Pastor Michael Coridan of St. Louis Central. “We are truly blessed to have this active ministry dedicated to training youth for leadership,” said Iowa-Missouri Youth Director Jeff Fender. Please keep our TLTs in your prayers as they return to their local Pathfinder clubs this August to lead and mentor. |
Churches   Iowa City Hispanic Womens MarchOn July 18, the Women’s Ministry Department of the Iowa City Hispanic Church joined as security guards and traffic logistics support at the march in favor of the women’s shelter, while also sharing a message of hope through El Centinela magazine. We thank each volunteer who dedicated their time and effort to make this possible, reflecting Christ’s love in every step. “Defend the rights of the poor and the fatherless… rescue the weak and the needy” (Psalm 82:3-4, NIV). Let us continue being light and helping hands in our community! |
Churches   Hawkeye Church Annual Fair BoothHawkeye Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted its popular annual photo booth at the Fayette County Fair, July 21-25, 2026, offering fairgoers a chance to create lasting memories while experiencing Christian fellowship. The rustic barn-themed booth, complete with stuffed farm animals, hay bales, and ride-on toys, has become a beloved family tradition, with many locals returning each year to capture their children’s growth. “Our photo booth is more than just taking pictures—it’s a simple, joyful way to show our community that we care,” shared church members involved in organizing the event. Beyond the photos, volunteers used the opportunity to build friendships, share free Christian literature, and connect with neighbors—including a partnership with local radio station KRJE, “Radio for Jesus,” handing out punch balloons to children. Through simple acts of service, Hawkeye church members continue to step outside church walls to be a loving presence in Fayette County. |
Churches  West County St Louis Church VBSWest County Church hosted 37 children, ages 4-12 ages at Vacation Bible School for a week in July.With the theme of ‘Heroes’, the experience of five young Bible characters were amplified, and the children were encouraged to also make a big difference in small ways. They were challenged to be brave, devoted, caring, bold, and generous. Each evening the children were welcomed to ‘Bethany’ with prayer and singing, and then they made their way through five stops in the city; Discovery House, where they were learned a Bible story; Oasis, where they were engaged in prayer; Marketplace, where they made a fun craft, Bethany Arena, where they enjoyed active games, and Milk and Honey Cafe, where healthy, tasty snacks were served. On Sabbath day they took part in the Worship Service, sharing the songs they learned during the week. |
Churches   Sedalia church at the Missouri State FairThe Sedalia Seventh-day Adventist Church feels truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to host a booth at the Missouri State Fair. With the generous support and help of other churches throughout the conference, we have been able to purchase literature and hundreds of books to share with guests attending the fair.Our mission is simple: to share the love of Jesus and the hope of salvation with as many people as possible. We pray that each book, conversation, and interaction will plant a seed and be a blessing to those we meet.A huge thank you goes to Stephanie and her amazing team for their dedication and hard work in organizing and running the booth. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has volunteered, donated, prayed, and helped make this outreach possible.May God continue to bless this ministry and use it to share His love and hope with our community. |
Churches  Independance SDA Church Special Musical ProgramWhat a special Sabbath day we had yesterday, Aug 1, 2026 with Scott Michael Bennett and Family! A story of tragedy, faith, and perseverance. God is God Tour. A blessing to all who chose to receive it. |
Schools   Hillcrest School Picnic Kicks Off the YearHillcrest students and families gathered for the school’s first whole-school picnic of the year, enjoying a morning of cool rain showers followed by an afternoon of sunshine and fun. The day began with worship led by Pastor Barnes, who introduced this year’s school worship theme, “The Armor of God,” encouraging students to prepare each day to share God’s love wherever they go.As temperatures rose, students cooled off with water games and outdoor activities, spending the afternoon enjoying time with friends. Hillcrest extends a special thank you to all families whose support helped make the day possible, and looks forward to a year full of memories ahead. |
Upcoming Events in the Conference Alive Youth ConferenceSeptember 18-20 · Des MoinesMark your calendars—the ALIVE Youth Conference is coming to Des Moines Seventh-Day Adventist Church (2317 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321) this September 18–20! Get ready for an inspiring weekend of worship, growth, and fellowship you won’t want to miss. Follow Alive Youth Conference on Facebook and @imaliveconference on Instagram for registration details and sneak peeks! Women’s Retreat 2026October 9th – 11th · Des Moines, IARegister Here → Creation Science WeekendOct 10th 2026 Man Camp NE IowaOctober 9-11 · Yellow River State ForestMore Info → Sign Up for My Outlook NewsletterSign Up → |
| We are always eager to share the wonderful things happening in your church or school. Please send your stories and pictures to communication@imsda.org or tag us when posting on Facebook.communication@imsda.org |
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
4444 W. Kimberly Rd.
Davenport, Iowa 52806
(563) 391-3016
Website: www.davenportsda.com