Manna Fellowship came to Belton, Missouri via a slight detour from Africa.

In 2013, Pastor Rick Friesen left the staff of a vibrant suburban church to answer God’s call to missions. Although he lives in the Kansas City area, Rick has traveled the nation and the globe to raise funds and awareness to combat Africa’s spiritual and physical hunger.

As a director for Manna Worldwide, a global missions and relief agency, Rick partners with individuals and churches to start nutrition centers, orphanages, water purification systems and congregations throughout Africa.

The work in Africa was challenging and rewarding. Yet God had more in store.

Nearly 20 years ago, Rick accepted the call to local pastoral ministry. He still felt that calling, but the work in Africa was urgent. He wrestled in prayer, trying to resolve the tension. Something had to give. Or did it?

God eventually revealed to Rick that, through Christ’s power, he could serve both causes. Soon after, Manna Fellowship Church was born in Rick’s living room in 2015 and now meets in a dedicated building in Belton. It’s a unique church dedicated to meeting the spiritual and practical needs of Belton, Raymore, Peculiar and Cass County.  Yet it has a vision that extends around the globe.

We chose Belton because it’s a community with many practical needs. 16 percent of the population lives below the federal poverty level. Nearly 10% of the community is Hispanic. Yet it’s diverse, with neighborhoods spanning nearly all income groups.

We started with 8 people in our home. We are now in a building with more than 100 attending. In the past year we’ve discovered the meaning of Ephesians 3:20, that God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. Here are some things we are grateful to God for:

  • We worship in a rent-free building.BRKC Association Church Plant Manna
  • The church has been able to bring Pastor Rick on full-time.
  • We’ve been able to reach our community through works of mercy.
  • Our congregation has generously supported an orphanage in Kenya and five missionaries.
  • We’ve been able to support Missouri Baptist causes on a monthly basis.
  • Finally, we’ve seen 10 salvations and 20 baptisms.
  • 16 people have gone through a one-on-one systematic discipleship ministry.

Our biggest prayer request is that we will put God first and make a noticeable impact in our community–we want to meet spiritual and practical needs. We also will have to make a decision by this fall to go to two services or look for a larger meeting space where we can still worship together in one service with room for growth.

Manna Fellowship is pleased to be a church-planting partner with the North American Mission Board, a member of the Missouri Baptist Convention and member of BR-KC Association.

 

This article, written by Rick Friesen, was originally published in the June 2016 edition of our Missions & Ministry Newsletter.