SPOTLIGHT ON MISSIONS: Mike & Laura Beth Strong • Minneapolis, Minn.

This report will be a little different than normal. I recently met in Missouri with one of our most faithful supporting groups to share what God has been doing over the last year. I put together an update for them which included information on what, Lord willing, we will be working on in the next 12 months. If God changes our course, we will be looking and listening to go where He leads, but we would like to share it with you so you can celebrate what God has been doing, pray with us for what is in the works and partner with us wherever He may lead you. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed us:

• October 2021 — September 2022 metrics: 8 new baptisms, 4 new members (by letter or statement), 18 total current membership; 17 groups meeting (meeting monthly at minimum).

• Major milestones: added an intern (potential church planter or pastor of current plant), began weekly worship with an average attendance of 19 and added the following groups:

D-group for leadership, youth group, Spanish-speaking children’s ministry; 11 attended the weekly Story of Hope (evangelistic study) meeting; new 1:1 discipleship relationships, members are beginning to minister; Pedro leading men’s weekly study with 7-9 guys;

Bobby committed to regular outreaches at church, our neighborhood and FreedomWorks (buying food and cooking); Laura is mentoring women 1:1 and teaching Spanish-speaking children the story of hope and Sunday School; Isaiah: 8 groups (some are 1:1, but others are youth group and outside groups like timber bay & a college age class in north branch; added a steering committee and updated it with new members.

• Plans for the next 12 months: teaching focus will be the Christian life as stewardship, especially financial stewardship; begin the 501c3 process through StartChurch (Dustin Wisely recommended this and we have had a meeting and priced the cost at $3,341); Continue to multiply tsoh, more outreaches and bible study groups (initiated & led by members); praying to add a worship leader and team, children’s ministry leader and team, Brotherhood, Women’s Mission Auxiliary, women’s Bible study group, pre-service weekly prayer meeting.

• Needs: fundraising goal (remaining need): commitments totaling $102,000 (remaining salary, worship expenses — including space rental, outreach and Bible study expenses).

Visit our new website at fmbctwincities.com.

— brothermike@nnccmpls.com