LINK Winter 2023

WINTER 2023

NM MN LE A D E R S H I P

MICHEAL DICKENSON Network Pastor

DERECK OWEN Assistant Network Pastor & Men’s Director

AUSTIN POPER Next Generation Pastor

GAIL OWEN Vivid Women’s Director

MIRIAM GRIER Girl’s Ministries Director

TED SCHMIDT Royal Rangers Director

EXECUTIVE

PRESBYTERS

PRESBYTERS Kent Barnard

Ruben Guajardo Jr

Brad Coates

HONORARY PRESBYTERS

Jason Dickenson

Marcus McClain

Rudy Martinez

Jeral Dickenson

David Vistine

David Iglesias

NETWORK PASTOR COUNTDOWN! At what point do you begin the countdown until significant events in your world? Our youngest granddaughter, Nora Joy, begins the countdown to her next birthday a year in advance! Have you noticed that the stores start the countdown until Christmas several months in advance? “Only 127 days until Christmas” some might say, while to the rest of us, Christmas is several months away, and we’re not even thinking about it!

It’s hard to believe that we are really into the final countdown for 2023 and another New Year is just before us. We’ve just paused in our world to celebrate Thanksgiving and to reflect and rejoice in God’s faithfulness and provisions in our lives and to be thankful!

And now, the countdown until Christmas 2023 is already getting serious!

As time continues to fly by, let me pause in our countdown to express gratitude to every church and all of our pastors who lead and serve our churches for another wonderful year here in New Mexico. Becky and I have the joy and honor throughout the year to travel our state, ministering in our churches, and we are grateful for every church in every community!

I pray that, as you lead and serve into the upcoming Christmas season, you and your ministry will experience the freshness and newness of God’s presence. What an incredible joy it is to, not only celebrate Jesus’ birth, but to celebrate Jesus, “…the same yesterday, today, and forever!”

As you read through this issue of LINK, you’ll see lots of things to rejoice over, such as Called Camp, etc, and upcoming events in the early parts of 2024 such as Leadership Tour, PK Retreat for our pastor’s kids, Men’s Conference, Fusion/Fine Arts, and NetCon24! And before you know it, summer camps will be happening!

At our most recent Presbyter’s Meeting, our 2024 & 2025 Network Calendar dates were approved. Just go to nmministry.net/calendar to access the calendar, and please take note of the various Network events that are planned just for you and your church in the months to come.

Thank you, again, for the incredible joy of serving you! We are humbled and blessed by your friendship, your ministry partnership, and the joys of serving God together.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Pastor Mike & Becky Dickenson

HOMECOMING During the Homecoming at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, on November 10th, Pastor Micheal Dickenson was awarded the P.C. Nelson Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2023.

To honor this recognition, and with the partnership of generous friends and churches, an Endowed Scholarship in the amount of $75,000 was established as the “Mike and Becky Dickenson ‘Called to Serve’ Scholarship” which willtoday! bless and Register encourage our New Mexico SAGU students until Jesus comes back!

If you or your church would like to contribute to the goal of increasing this to $100,000, you may click on the link provided HERE to give today. On behalf of SAGU students, both past and future, we celebrate this honor and endowment.

Pictured L-R: Rick Bowles, VP for Advancement; James Carnell, Senior Director of Alumni Relations; Mercy Dickenson, Granddaughter & SAGU Sophomore; Lisa Dickenson, Daughter-inLaw & Alumni; Jason Dickenson, Son & NM Alumni Rep; Becky Dickenson; Mike Dickenson; Dr Kermit Bridges, President; Greg Thurstonson, Alumni President.

ASSISTANT NETWORK PASTOR

U N TA P P E D P O T E N T I A L Last month, I sat in a room full of national church leaders as we listened to Dr. Sam Chand highlight where “The Church” is headed. The statement that I have not been able to stop thinking about is, “over 90% of church leaders got their start in a small church.” In other words, the local church environment is the greatest leadership pipeline for church leaders. The room was asked to think back to where they got their first opportunity to minister and almost everyone in the room could trace the early days of their call to ministry to a small church. Dr. Chand went on to explain how large churches produce leaders as well and a great percentage of them continue ministry at the large church. However, small churches, overall, raise up leaders and send them out. Both are needed!

While at Called Camp earlier this month, I witnessed over 200 students eager to pursue or explore a call to ministry. These students have since returned to their local churches with varying degrees of passion, skill, and initiative. The next step is ours. As pastors and church leaders, we can give these students the opportunity that someone once gave us (or if you weren’t given an opportunity, give them the chance you never received). These students can serve and lead today! This concept isn’t isolated to students. As leaders, we can empower others. In doing this, we support God’s call and equip “The Church.” I believe that the greatest ministry pipeline exists right under our noses, if we will just ask and give them the space to lead.

Here are a few more ideas to consider as you process what I’ve shared: -You don’t know and they don’t know what potential is hidden in them.

-There is a massive difference between serving and leading.

-If you have leaders, they will bring people around them to see the fulfillment of the vision.

-Who do you need to give a chance to minister? Ask them to lead today!

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Pastor Dereck Owen

The NMMN LINK is fully digital!

Sign Up for LINK HERE

SPEAKERS DAN HUNTER

GRACE CHURCH HOUSTON, TX

DICKENSON NEWDERECK OWEN REGGIE DABS DUSTIN WOODWARD JASON HARVEST ABQ MEXICO MINISTRY EVANGELIST CITIZEN CHURCH FORT MYERS. FL

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

WITH CITIZEN WORSHIP

NMMENSCONFERENCE.COM EARLY BIRD RATE ENDS 1/31

CREDEN TIAL UPDATES TRANSFERRED IN:

TRANSFERRED OUT:

Craig Cox, (L) Las Vegas Cooper Cox, (L) Las Vegas Shea Hoffman, (L) Las Vegas Forrest Pasquier, (C) Albuquerque

Jerry Jamieson, (C) Oklahoma Chuck Kofahl, (O) N. Texas

CREDENTIAL RENEWALS The National Office is now live with the Minister Renewal process for 2024. All ministers are required to renew their credentials by the December 31, 2023 deadline. Please renew on line at ministerrenewal.ag.org. If you opted for a paper renewal this year, please be certain you mail it to the Network Office for processing postmarked by December 31, 2023.

Annual General Council Fees: Ordained $300, Licensed $240, Certified $120.

NM Ministry Fees/Tithes: Ministers are required to pay 10% of their tithe (salary & housing) to the NMMN minus the above General Council fees. **If you do not receive a ministerial income, you are required to meet the minimum requirements to NMMN: Ordained $300, Licensed $240, and Certified $120. This is in addition to the General Council fees listed above.

Renewals received after December 31 require a $50.00 late fee. Renewals received after January 15 are lapsed and the minister must apply for reinstatement and meet the Executive Presbytery. Please email Devonna at dcummins@nmministry.net, if you need assistance.

SUMMER 2023 LINK is a publication of the New Mexico Ministry Network