about

vision

our calling

Just as river valleys channel water, we channel Jesus - the living water. We are a Network of believers offering living water to the Upper Mississippi Valley. As followers of Jesus, we offer living water to thirsty neighbors through vibrant ministries led by spirit-filled leaders.

key verses

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38

our values

Christ Centered. We affirm the supremacy of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who is leading His Church through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. (Colossians 1:17-18)

Gospel Focused. Our work is to preach the Good News of the finished work of Jesus Christ who lived a perfect life, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and is coming again. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Biblically Grounded. The Bible is God’s Special Revelation, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as Absolute Truth, the fully sufficient and infallible Word of God, and our only rule for faith and life as individuals and churches. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Kingdom Minded. Jesus Christ commissioned then sent his followers out into the world to be His ambassadors, to proclaim the Gospel message, and to multiply disciples through word and deed. (Matthew 6:33, 28:18-20)

Intentionally Equipping. We are called by Jesus and led by the Spirit to be Ambassadors and Witnesses, Jesus calls and equips leaders within churches to build up followers of Jesus for ministry. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Ministry multiplying. We want to start new ministries that bring Jesus - the living water - to the thirsty in our communities. (John 4:10)

Neighbor Loving. Looking out to the world in love, we seek the well-being of our neighbors with bridge-building cultural engagement to offer living water to the thirsty who live in our communities. (Jeremiah 29:7)

how we live this out

Make Healthy Disciples. We will encourage and equip congregations to multiply disciples who follow Jesus in grace and truth. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Strategy: Cluster Coordinators will provide encouragement and oversight while providing training and regular sharing during planned cluster meetings.

Equip Healthy Leaders. We will help congregations identify, encourage, and equip servant leaders who follow the leading of the Spirit. (Matthew 20:25-27).

Strategy: Continue with strong support of Pathways and the Ordination Team as well as establish our Covenant Keepers Team to support congregations facing conflict and in preparation for future assessments.

Multiply Healthy Ministries. We will encourage and equip congregations to intentionally and continually multiply ministries that offer living water to the communities God calls them to reach. (John 7:37-38)

Strategy: Provide support in staff transitions (partnership with Chemistry Staffing), sharing best practices, establish collaborative hub ministries and support and work together with other local congregations.

Grow Healthy Communities. We will encourage and equip ministries to make the neighborhood better for everyone by loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. (Jeremiah 29:7)

Strategy: Increase focus on Outreach and evangelism training and work together as we seek a future in church planting.

our vision

The UMV is a Network of congregations offering Jesus - the living water - to thirsty neighbors in the Upper Mississippi Valley. We offer Jesus through vibrant ministries led by spirit-filled leaders who love the communities where God has placed us.

history

In the winter of 2023, several churches from the eastern half of Iowa and the western half of Illinois, many already a part of the Dakota Network, started discussing opportunities to have a network closer to our area.

Leaders from the various churches, through talks with each other, decided to meet in the spring at Northridge Community Church in Eldridge, Iowa. At this meeting there were discussions on where the churches would best fit into the Alliance and to organize a network to represent themselves. Volunteers from different churches stepped up to form a board and in the summer of 2023 through thought and prayers they laid the ground work to organize the UMV Network. In the fall of 2023 the Dakota network held their annual meeting. At this meeting, there was a vote to rename the group to the Midwest Network. There was also a blessing and send-off for the churches in Iowa and Illinois with a launch date of January 1, 2024 to become the Upper Mississippi Valley (UMV) Network. 

Since January of 2024, more churches have joined the UMV network. Volunteers stepped up to form the Ordination Team and the Covenant Keepers Team. Programs were also established to aid churches in the growth of our God's Kingdom. Through prayer with common ground to serve, we look to the future with our Lord's guidance.

THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE

The Upper Mississippi Valley Network (UMV) is a part of the global Alliance of Reformed Churches and is accountable to the global Alliance.  The network receives support and resources from the denomination so that the network can serve the church.  The global Alliance and the UMV both believe that “the church’s faithful witness to Jesus is the hope of the world.”

MINISTRY TEAMS

  • The Alliance of Reformed Churches and its member congregations and pastors seek to live in the love of Jesus as the people of God, the body of Christ, the Church. The Covenant Keepers Team of the Upper Mississippi Valley Network seeks to come alongside the congregations, consistories, and pastors of the network for the purpose of assisting in the health of congregations and pastors. Healthy churches and healthy pastors are essential for effective ministry for the Kingdom of God.

    Three avenues of ministry that the Covenant Keeper Team of the Upper Mississippi Valley Network will seek to implement for the purpose of promoting healthy churches and healthy pastors are:

    • The Covenant Review of Congregations and Pastors:  Each congregation and pastor have committed themselves to participate with their Upper Mississippi Valley Network in five-year reviews in regard to their commitments of being a member of the Alliance of Reformed Churches.  

    • Consultation and Mediation:  A second avenue of support will be through consultation and mediation when conflicts may arise within the relationship between congregations and its pastor(s). This avenue of ministry will seek to bring reconciliation to those involved in the conflict.

    • Sabbaticals: The purpose of these grants is to help with financial assistance to your congregation and your pastor during the absence from each other.  

    For more information contact:

    Pastor Luke Schouten, CKT Chair
    pastorluke@ecmorrison.org

  • The Ordination Team consists of ordained pastors from Alliance churches who are dedicated to developing the next generation of pastors for ministry in the 21st century. Our team recognizes that God provides many pathways that lead someone into ministry. Some are seminary-trained, others are second career pastors, and still others are students or laypeople exploring their calling into pastoral ministry. Our goal as the Ordination Team is to walk alongside candidates wherever they are at, and offer them the coaching and mentoring needed to be effective Ministers of the Gospel. 

    Team Members: Rev. Thomas Cellilli, Rev. Steve Poole, Rev. Zachary Fraley, Rev. Russell Muilenburg, Rev. Roger Lokker