Ministry Update
Scott and Marti Owen
Church Facilitation Director with a Conciliation and ITM Emphasis
Wellman, IA
March 2023
Thanks for praying for us this winter!
Currently, the sun is shining and the snow is sparse here in southeast Iowa. We have had an enjoyable and, for the most part, an uneventful season. We have appreciated that, because our schedule of travel increases next week as we head to Ohio to report to the Council members at Baptist Church Planters.
Since we have been able to stay close to home, most of our ministry has been via the Internet. Marti has been co-leading a weekly Grove study by video. This is the ladies equivalent of the Leadership Journey that I have been leading with the men.
I am continuing my weekly video studies with churches. I am up to five currently. I provide coaching for an additional 15 churches that are leading their own Leadership Journeys and working on their intentional disciple-making plans. These weekly meetings are crucial to create the church collaborations needed to plant new churches in the future.
The needs of churches without pastors has not diminished. I spend much time on the phone or video calls talking with pulpit committees. I am currently providing counsel for seven churches at varying stages of looking for a pastor.
We are encouraged for the work that is being done onsite. The church where the Basingers were serving as ITM interim recently called their next pastor. We look forward to seeing God use Marty and Susan in another church soon. Dean and Faith Taylor continue their ministry in Des Moines.
We are traveling Sundays to provide a modified interim for First Baptist of Monroe, Iowa.
We attended Faith Baptist Bible College’s annual Refresh Retreat for pastors and wives. This is a great time for us as a couple and provides many helpful connections. I am able to see pastors I already work with as well as several that show interest in the work at BCP.
It’s been four months since we have worshiped at our home church on a Sunday. But our schedule keeps us in town through the week, so Marti is a regular in the nursery and I lead a small discipleship group for men on Wednesdays.
In addition, our church hosted a marriage conference that we were able to attend. The speakers were good friends of ours.
Also, our youth pastor asked us to help counsel for a winter retreat weekend called Winter Meltdown. Many people have volunteered to help us over the years, so we were glad to help out our pastor and invest in these teens. The camp is only 90 minutes from our friends in Rochester, MN, so we attended Calvary Baptist Church’s morning service, thanking them for their recent decision to partner with us. We also enjoyed soup with them for their Souper Bowl Sunday.
Please pray for the following events:
March 13–16: BCP semiannual Council meetings in Grafton, Ohio—Directors meetings, report presentations, and I am leading one of the training sessions
March 22–29: Rocky Mountain association of churches in Colorado—I am speaking and we will fit in time with family
April 21–22: IRBC Camp Counselor Training in Ventura, Iowa—I am teaching a couple of workshops
May 22–26: School of Church Planting meeting at Faith Baptist Bible College—I join BCP President Jon Jenks as two of the speakers for this weeklong training hosted by BMM
Serving by His grace,
Scott and Marti Owen
