Newsletter:
January 2026
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Looking back at 2025 in the network!
In September, Horizon hosted an all-staff gathering for our churches. We had staff from all our churches gather for a time to get to know each other and network for future opportunities. We started the meeting off with devotions from Pastor James Runcorn from Hope Church in Spencer, IA.
After devotions, we broke into your ministry teams to celebrate ministry and discuss some of the challenges we face in our particular context.
We ended the day with lunch from a local Mexican Food Truck and enjoyed a time of fellowship!
On October 26, 2025, pastors and leaders from the Horizon Network came together at New Life Community Church in Sioux Center, IA, for their annual gathering. The day was filled with prayer, celebrations, and a reminder to remain focused on being Gospel-centered churches. Bobby Van Otterloo shares some of the highlights from the Horizon Network Meeting below.
Being a Gospel-Centered and Innovative Network
Pastor Jamie Dykstra led us through our Network vision, values, mission, and priorities. He unpacked how we seek to be Gospel Centered, innovative for the Kingdom of God, and empowering the local church. We also restated our commitment to be about three main priorities: leadership development, missional engagement, and multiplication.
Shining a Light on Horizon’s Churches
During our meeting, we celebrated what God was doing in our respective congregations. Church leaders celebrated the different ways they were engaging in leadership development, missional engagement, and multiplication. Pastor Dan Kruse and Pastor Chris Godfredsen led us in times of praying with and for each other and our churches.
Celebrating Pathways Candidates
Pastor Jesse Henkle gave an update on our Network Ordination Team. We were able to celebrate the pastors who have been going through Pathways, as well as over a dozen Pathways candidates. We also celebrated the work of our coaches and their investment in all of our Pathway candidates.
Five-Year Renewal Process
Pastor Bobby Van Otterloo gave an update on the Covenant Keepers Team and shared with churches how Horizon will handle the 5-year covenant renewal process.
In 2025, the Horizon Board awarded multiple grants to Horizon churches. Some of the grants helped fund an internship, a residency program, and a mission trip to Mexico. Over the last few years, every church in Horizon has been awarded a grant from the Network!
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-6
