Welcome...
At the South Dakota Assemblies of God we strive to fully equip our churches for effective ministry to the heartland. Our home page features the blog of Superintendent Stephen Schaible which features thoughts and resources for ministry to the heartland. To maximize this resource, please subscribe.EAT THAT FROG

Brian Stacy wrote a great book on leadership. He starts with three sayings that inspired his title:
2. If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest first.
3. If you have to eat a live frog, it doesn't pay to sit and look at it for very long.
4 STEPS TO EVANGELIZING YOUR WORLD

Guest Blog
by Evangelist Todd Leininger
I am so excited to have an opportunity to share a leading God has laid on my heart as He led us to be an Evangelist almost 18 months ago. I am passionate about the church and it being involved in the Fathers Business. Luke 5:31 Jesus made the statement, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 19:10 says, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” For too long the church has not been involved in the harvest field; we have waited for the harvest field to come to us. So as God has led me I believe he has led me to a 4 step plan to help churches become harvesters.
I have a passion and a vision to come to churches to help them in these 4 areas. First, we need to impassion the church to be on fire for God so God is active in their lives and we have an active relationship to testify about. Secondly, we must learn to pray for the lost. To go out and prayer walk our communities, to pray directly for lost people in our lives. Thirdly we need to restructure our evangelism mode by being available to share Christ as God opens the doors. We cant follow Him if we are leading. So we follow Him to show us lives we can be involved in by befriending people, by planting seeds, by watering and as God harvests the soul maybe we will get to be there too. So I want to help teach on this new approach to evangelism. Finally, the fourth step is to help church provide outreaches that meet communities in their world.
I dream of partnering with churches over time to make a difference in their communities by instilling these 4 principles. It would be a dream over a 1 – 2 year period working with a church by coming at minimum 4 times to develop each area of these four steps.
God is about lost people – in the day we live in – the Church must be about lost people. I would love to help your church develop a plan and a passion.
We also have a passion for sharing in your churches anyway we can help you and anyway we can assist you. If we can do banquets, training seminars, children, youth, Sunday am services, revival meetings, teachings, etc. , please let us know. I have a passion to share about the legacy that can be changed by your choices. I love to preach on the Holy Spirit. But most of all I love to pray and ask God to give me His word to each church for that day. Call us and let us come help you. Come let us see what God wants to do I your community.
Serving Christ for the Lost
Evangelist Todd and Goldie Leininger
I Love Smart People

2009 Minister's Retreat

Featuring H.B. London
H. B. London, Jr. is Vice President of Church and Clergy Outreach for Focus on the Family, a Colorado Springs-based ministry whose primary reason for existence is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That objective is accomplished by a commitment to nurture and defend families worldwide.Focus on the Family's founding president, Dr. James C. Dobson, believes that pastors and their families must remain strong if we are to successfully resist the downward moral trends which threaten the very foundation of our nation and has asked H.B. to represent Focus on the Family in supporting clergy families worldwide.
As first cousins who grew up more or less as brothers, it is a dream come true for them to have an opportunity to serve God in a joined ministry. Rev. London's ministry continues to be people-centered -- "When you find a need, you fill it." He operates by the slogan, "God loves you as though you were the only one in all the world to love -- and that makes you a very important person." H.B. and his wife, Beverley, have two married sons and four grandchildren.
Retreat Info
Location: Best Western Ramkota, Pierre, SDDate: September 28-30
Time: Begins Monday at 6:30 PM with a general session
Ends Wednesday around Noon
Lodging
All events take place at the Pierre RamkotaRamkota - - $78/night - - 605.224.6877 - limited rooms available
Comfort Inn - - $86.39 - - 605.224.0377
Governors Inn - - $85 - - 605.224.4200
Days Inn - - $73.99 - - 605.224.0411
Super 8 - - $58 - - 605.224.1617
Orlando General Council

For those who missed the 53rd General Council of the Assemblies of God, the sessions and services are available online at http://www.agtv.ag.org/. Check it out!!
Kamp Kinship Wins Award

Washington D. C. - June 8, 2009 - Kinship Mountain Ministries has been selected for the 2009 Best of Deadwood Award in the Church category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Sabbath Keepers
- Divert Daily - If your work is largely mental, let your diversion be physical. If your work is more physical, let your diversion be something less physical.
- Withdraw Weekly - A weekly day of rest is necessary for all of us!
- Abandon Annually - A vacation plan is an important part of a balanced and healthy life pattern.
Introducing Jerry Dahmen...

I few months ago, I met a man by the name of Jerry Dahmen. Jerry is a nationally recognized broadcaster, journalist, and author. He is also a believer in the power of inspiring testimonies of God's greatness. He has created a series of "I Love Life" minutes that you'll hear more about real soon. He recently shared with me "Six Spiritual Principles for Successful Living".
- If you dwell on the darkness, you'll never see the light.
- Take the focus off you.
- Fill your mind with Godly thoughts.
- Forgive and let go.
- Lighten up.
- If you can't change your circumstances, change your attitude and make it an attitude of gratitude.
BIRDS and BEES and BATS
Someone sent this to me this week...
THE BUZZARD:
If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
THE BAT:
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE:
A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
PEOPLE:
In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem! Just look up.
Tech Savvy, Sensitive and Lonely
“The gap used to be between people 25 and 50. Now it’s between 25 and 40. The ones 40 are out of it. These kids are coming from a different world. They know so much about technology. We can’t really be in touch with this generation but we can be in touch with people who are in touch with them. We can see in the Spirit and be aware of what’s happening. There are teachers who are just giving out what they have taught for the last twenty years instead of learning with the students.
“Because of that we will start losing students because we’re not relevant. They’re coming to seek the Lord but if the teachers are not in touch, we will lose them.”
