Paul Linnemann looks back on his almost-15 years of ministry as District President and shares stories of Jesus' love, and reflects on the powerful influence of loving people "one person at a time.”

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Pastor Albino Kong of Anchorage, Alaska, on his journey as a refugee from Sudan to becoming an LCMS Pastor and serving the Sudanese immigrant community. Refugee immigrants can be found in every state and, especially, every urban metro region of the Northwest. Their perseverance and dedication to family are an inspiration, and their growing communities are the source of many new ministry starts. This episode is a testimony to God's faithfulness to Pastor Kong, and Pastor Kong’s joy and passion for Christ. It is also a great illustration of Jesus' desire for all ethnicities and people groups to know His love.

Jeremy Lucke and Ty Schommer (NOW Start Network Cultivators) interview Jeremiah Drelleshak, DCE, about his journey serving families in a congregation to serving families as a barber in his community of Boring, Oregon. How do you know it’s time to move from traditional church ministry to something different? How do you connect a vision for serving people to a job that does good? What are the steps to start NOW? Jeremiah's story is a testimony to stepping out in faith and prayer. It is the story of the power of Jesus, the value of coaching and mentors -- and the joys of having a dream, a team, taking the first big step, and putting one foot in front of the other to reach a vision.

This is a recording of a presentation on MTC by Rev. Jonathan Priest, Director of Mission Training Center, at Best Practices for Ministry 2023, hosted by Christ Church, Phoenix. Mission Training Center https://missiontrainingcenter.com/ is a lay-training platform under the oversight of the three West Coast Districts of the LCMS (PSD, CNH, and NOW) in partnership with Concordia University, Irvine (CUI).

Jonathan and Dust share fun stories, a brief history of MTC, and look at the influence of MTC going forward.

(An interview with the new director for MTC https://missiontrainingcenter.com/, Rev. Jonathan Priest, on "growing a leadership culture," and how MTC supports leaders and ministries across the West Coast and beyond in "just in time training" for leaders of all kinds.)

Pastor Zabdi Lopez grew up in Mexico. His wife Elizabeth grew up in the Mid-West. Their story is a mind-blowing account of God's faithfulness to them and God's "Missio Dei" -- God's sending heart. This episode captures the story of how they got together plus the sorrows, challenges, and joys of being a multi-ethnic couple committed to Jesus and His ways. Extra bonus! Great details on how Zabdi and Elizabeth identify and equip the next generation of leaders.

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Amy Schweim, DCE, MSc., Director of Outreach and Connections of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Puyallup, Washington (and also a NOW Start Network Cultivator!). What happens when a DCE has a passion for "family resiliency" and decides to help families in her community? All kinds of stuff! Amy talks about her passion for "family resiliency" and launching new ministries that support families with education, children's day camps, coffee shops, and more to support a "one-stop community resource center for families."

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Gerod Bass, DCE, Worship Arts Director of Our Savior Lutheran Church (OSLC) in Tacoma, Washington. How do the arts and having and "open door policy" for a church building serve as a bridge into the community? Gerod tells the story of how OSLC launched a theater ministry after their sanctuary was destroyed in a fire, and digs into what discipleship looks like when you cross boundaries to share the love of Christ.

Mike Von Behren (NOW Start Network Cultivator) interviews Rev. Ruberto Ek Yah, of Trinity Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. What happens when an Anglo congregation "gets out of their box" and practices hospitality with their Latino neighbors? How does a network of support (Lutheran Latino Ministries) influence young leaders? Rev. Ruberto Ek Yah is a bivocational Mayan-Latino LCMS Pastor whose story is an example of the grace of God, the power of God answering consistent prayers for new leaders, and raising Latino workers for His harvest.

Note: critical update! President Linnemann shares a story of how Concordia University, Portland, was a blessing to him as a young man and invites memories (saved in audio format) from others to be sent into the District Office in preparation for an evening remembering the blessings of Concordia University, Portland.