blast
THE AGK BLAST
THE AGK BLAST
November ‘25 EDITION
The office will be closed November 26-28 for thanksgiving
credential application deadline
The next Credential Interviews are scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026. To be included in this interview date, completed applications must be submitted by December 1, 2025. For questions, please reach out to our office at credentials@agkansas.com to begin the application process
Introducing Our New Presbyters:
Dr. Michelle Parks
Pastor Phillip Dow
Dr. Michelle Parks serves alongside her husband at Cross Point Church, where together they are passionate about building a Christ-centered community, and they encourage believers to love God and His people. In addition to her pastoral role, Michelle is a dedicated teacher, bringing the same heart for encouraging and building up others into the classroom.
With a deep love for the local church and a commitment to seeing God’s kingdom advance, Michelle is honored to serve the Assemblies of God Kansas Ministry Network as a Presbyter. She is excited to partner with fellow leaders in strengthening churches, supporting pastors, and fostering healthy ministry across the district--making Kansas an easy place to know and love Jesus.
Pastor Phillip & Michelle have come to New Beginnings Church after pastoring for many years in Fort Worth, Texas. Phillip & Michelle have two sons, Tyler and Mason. Phillip holds a MA in Practical Theology and a Master of Divinity. During his time in ministry he has led a thriving kids ministry in a large metropolitan area, served on staff a a rural church in OK, served on non-profit boards, taught at a Christians University, and led his former church in DFW through great growth and revitilization.
Phillip and Michelle are very invovled in the community and love SW KS. Michelle teaches in the Liberal School District and serves our kids. Their boys love playing baseball and making friends.
"ACT LIKE MEN" - KANSAS MEN'S CONFERENCE 2025
The Kansas Men’s Conference 2025 was nothing short of extraordinary. This year, we shattered records, with over 300 men in attendance, marking our largest gathering yet. Even before the sessions began, the energy was palpable as men from across the state poured into our pre-service man activities, including golf, skeet shooting, and bowling. Not only were these events at full capacity, but they also set a new standard for participation, showing that men are eager to build a brotherhood, laugh together, and create memories before stepping into powerful times of worship and into the Word.
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…it was the spiritual transformation and genuine connection that took place. We saw multiple men draw closer to the Lord and to each other, proving that the heart of this conference has always been more than just an event—it’s a movement. From the youngest men in their teens to seasoned saints in their eighties, every generation was represented. Men traveled from every corner of Kansas to be part of something greater than themselves, united under one banner: the name of Jesus.
That call was captured in this year’s theme: “Act Like Men.” Drawn from 1 Corinthians 16:13, the theme challenged every man to embrace biblical manhood—not as culture defines it, but as Christ commands it. From the opening session to the final prayer, the theme echoed through testimonies, conversations, worship, and preaching, leaving men inspired to rise up as leaders, fathers, brothers, and sons who reflect the strength and humility of Jesus.
We were honored to welcome Pastor Mike Santiago as our speaker. His message from 1 Samuel 13 gripped the hearts of every man in the room: “There were no blacksmiths in the land.” With passion and conviction, Pastor Mike challenged us to recognize the spiritual blacksmithing God has entrusted to men—to forge faith, sharpen one another, and prepare future generations for battle. His word reminded us that the absence of blacksmiths leads to unprepared warriors, but the presence of Godly men changes everything.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of Pastor Stephen (KS Men's Director), the Kansas Men's Lead Team, and our awesome host church, ZAIK Church in Wichita, KS. With more than 40 volunteers, men and women gave their time, talents, and treasure to ensure every detail was covered—from hospitality to production, from setup to teardown. Their servant-hearted leadership created an atmosphere where God’s Spirit could move freely, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.
We also extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors who made this conference possible: Scheels, Eddy’s Cadillac, C3 Firearms, Murphy & Sons, Auburn Hills Golf Course, the LFTL Steak Team, and FireBible. Their partnership not only supported the event but also demonstrated a commitment to building strong men and stronger churches across the AGKansas family.
As the weekend came to a close, one thing was clear: Kansas Men’s Conference 2025 was more than a record-breaking event. It was a Kingdom-advancing moment, one that will ripple through homes, churches, and workplaces for years to come. The harvest is plentiful, and the men of Kansas are ready!
Creating a Fool-Proof Church Offering Counting Program
By Rollie Dimos | Church Budgeting & Finances
Churches rely on financial stewardship to support ministry, outreach, and operations. A well-organized counting program ensures offerings are handled with transparency and care. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing process, this guide will walk you through the essentials.
Kidcon Recap
Axis
Axis equips parents for gospel-centered conversations with their teen about faith and culture.
In preparation for an upcoming foreign missions trip, the team received important information from the host missionaries about the cultural norms in their area of ministry. The purpose was to make sure that the gospel could be presented in a way that was clear and understandable despite language and cultural differences. Now imagine the number of updates required if the culture is shifting every few weeks and the language is in constant flux.
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…and it is nearly impossible to keep track of all that is happening. How much time should a parent or youth worker invest in the fight to stay current? How many social media accounts do you need to stay up-to-date? How many artists’ album releases do you need to listen to? How many movies should you watch to be current?
Worry less, fam (i.e. don’t worry about it, or take heart, loved ones)… axis.org is your best friend. Axis.org's mission is to help build lifelong faith in children and teens by equipping parents, caring adults, and youth workers with skills for conversations and culture translation to disciple their teens toward a Christ-centered future. They provide resources to help adults understand and discuss complex topics like culture, social media, and mental health, enabling them to connect with their children and guide them in their faith. Their content is available through many social media websites as well as an extensive, free library of resources on their own website. At one time, axis.org was a subscription service only available to those who could pay the premium. Fortunately, they have moved to a donor-based platform and their resources are now available to anyone who wants to take the time to visit their site.
If you want a sample of what they offer, go on their site and subscribe to the weekly Culture Translator. It will arrive in your inbox every Friday, full of resources to have better conversations with students.
For more information about Axis.org, contact T.R. Stewart.
He is available via trstewart@lifechurchemporia.com or Facebook Messenger.
