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Great Plains Conference

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The Great Plains Conference has more than 220,000 United Methodists across Kansas and Nebraska.

10/28/2026

Our second day of Orders & Fellowship is under way with Scott Brewer leading a discussion about the future of the Great Plains Conference and The United Methodist Church.

10/28/2026

According to the old resource "The Christian Word Book (1968)," saint is a term from the Latin word “sanctus,” meaning holy. Christians use it in two ways. We consider saints to be all persons who belong to God and who believe in Christ. Thus, in the New Testament saints are all Christians. The second usage is more formal. The church describes saints as those who are especially holy. In the first century All Saints Day was intended to honor these special ones who were martyred because of their faith.

Either usage leads to the question of what are the characteristics of a saint. Maybe the words of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) describe one who is a saint. Saints are those who are hopeless, who grieve, who are humble. Who are people today who demonstrate these characteristics on a regular basis?

Who do you know who hungers and thirsts for righteousness? Are you acquainted with someone who often shows mercy or whose heart could be described as pure? There are persons in our world today who are striving to make peace, and often they are harassed, insulted, or endure all sorts of accusations because they love Jesus.

What a privilege it is to know someone who demonstrates one or two or three of these characteristics. Such saintly persons encourage us in our day-to-day living just by their example. They may make our days more blessed; we may feel happier because of their presence. In addition, they help a troubled world focus on that which is most important – God’s desire for all of creation. They bring our attention back to God.

During the days of this week and on the upcoming All Saints Day think about those you would label as saints. Which world leaders demonstrate saintliness? Who among your personal acquaintances live in ways that impact you and the world near where you live? Emulate their lives. At the same time in the days ahead offer praise for all of those who have lived saintly lives over the centuries. Today, let us praise God and give thanks for the ones who touch our own lives in especially personal and holy ways. Honor all of the saints this week by working to live lives of discipleship according to their examples.

-- Dianne Tombaugh, retired elder

We're in prayer today for these conference staff members: Shontell Marshall (communications administrative assistant), Israel Sanchez (communications multimedia content specialist), Nicole Scherle Conard (interim congregational excellence director) and Richard Fitzgerald (conference circuit pastor).

10/27/2026

Our annual conference theme for this year is "Serve Joyfully!" So, what does that mean for our Great Plains staff? We're sharing in our own words! Today, we introduce you to Rev. Dr. Charles Kathurima Murithi.

“I serve as the superintendent of Central Nebraska District. I am serving my sixth year on the Cabinet. Having served in all corners of Nebraska before becoming a DS, coming to central Nebraska was truly new but one thing remained the same about the people: ‘Hearts of Nebraskans still resided here.’ After many years of pastoral ministry, I have come to believe that we are called to do one thing, and one thing only: ‘Love people.’ Very often when you love people, they will love you back. It was love that moved God to give his son to die for us.”

How do you serve joyfully? Share with a photo and quote of your own. Use the hashtag .

10/27/2026

Our Orders & Fellowship clergy gathering is under way with a call story from Marcia McFee and a look at the history of our calls as United Methodists by Rev. Dr. Emily Nelms Chastain.

10/27/2026

The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” -- 1 Kings 3:5

Sit with how dangerous that sentence is. No fine print. No category limit. Ask whatever you wish.

Most of us think we would like to be asked. But an open question is harder than a narrow one, because it does not tell you what kind of answer is expected. A specific request is easy to make. An unlimited one makes you say what you actually want, and then live with having said it.

Solomon is about 20 years old, newly installed over a kingdom he has not earned, measured every day against a father who is already a legend. God asks him what he wants, and the answer will reveal what he thinks his life is for. So will ours. What would you honestly ask for if God asked you what you want today?

-- Rev. Andrew Conard
McPherson UMC

We're praying today for members of our communications team: Todd Seifert (director), David Burke (content specialist), Michelle Ferris (website and social media coordinator) and Grace Grant (event planner).

10/26/2026

Have you ever felt that God was testing you? What was that experience like? What did you learn about God through that experience? About yourself?

Discuss in the comments.

We're lifting up these members of our clergy excellence team: Anne Gatobu (Intercultural development coordinator), Karen Jeffcoat (BOOM registrar), Julie Krueger Kohr (administrative assistant) and Shelly Petz (clergy health and wellness coordinator).

10/26/2026

We are having an incredible morning! The pre- Orders & Fellowship workshops are currently in full swing, and we captured a few moments of the learning and connection.

Rev. Hollie Tapley is leading a Disaster Response Training session.

Rev. Elmer Armijo is guiding a workshop on Living in the Eden of Your Appointment.

Behind the scenes, our Mercy & Justice team is meeting to discuss how we can serve, advocate, and bring compassionate support to our communities.

10/25/2026

God of all goodness, we give you thanks for entrusting us with your gospel and giving us the witness of your faithful followers across time. May we be people who are tested — and approved — by you as disciples who are full of your love for one another and for the world. Give us awareness of your invitations to be tangible expressions of your love in the world around us. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Continue our prayers for these conference staff: Kelcy Snyder (Administrative coordinator), Avery Temple-Bowie (Conference administrative assistant), Kathy Williams (Clergy excellence director) and Heather Clinger (Clergy enlistment and development coordinator).

10/24/2026

We’re all on a faith journey, but it’s easy to stray from the path. Staying close to God can be aided by what the Revs. Michael and Josh Kurtz call “guideposts.”

“These are things that have kept us on the path, kept us moving forward in faith,” Josh shares.

This father-and-son team brings their decades of pastoral insight and different generational perspectives together in the book "Leading, Loving, and Living: Ten Guideposts for the Jesus-Following Journey.."

“Here are ten guideposts, not the only ten… These are foundational, universal, time-tested disciplines and practices that we’ve seen, both ancient and modern, that people have benefited from, which we experience and base our life upon,” Michael explains.

The guideposts including leading through three rules, loving through three rules and living through four rubics.

Read more from umc.org and learn more about the book:https://www.umc.org/en/content/staying-on-the-path-ten-guideposts-for-your-faith-journey

We pray today for these members of our conference staff: Emma Taylor Carreno (Data and project manager-statistician), Darci Renyer Koci (Controller), Pam Lake (Accounting coordinator) and Jennifer McAferty (Human resources manager).

Address

100 S. Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS
66603

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17852729111

Website

http://www.greatplainsumc.org/

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