Finishing Well

Jim and Kari Capaldo

Ending well. This is what my Converge Heartland predecessors such as Al Magnuson and Larry Odle did in decades past. They ended their district service well. As my second term and service as the Converge Heartland Regional President comes to an end, I desire to follow in their footsteps by finishing well.

Sincere Gratitude

Serving our district is and has been a great honor! The trust you have instilled into the office of the Regional President is a great stewardship of ministry responsibilities at the local, district, national, and international levels. When I entered this service, I stood on the strengths of my predecessors but was given the liberty to be the pastor, administrator, entrepreneur, consultant, missionary, husband, and dad that God created me to be. I am incredibly grateful for this and for your care for my family, especially through the desperate season of our daughter’s medical emergency. Thank you!

Over the past decade, we have seen the district office move through operational adjustments, new staffing paradigms, fiscal recovery, global relief projects, district events, and new district service options that have further focused our work on the vision and mission of our district. With your ongoing participation, the Converge Heartland District is enjoying fiscal strength, growth, and cooperative unity. More now than ever,  the Converge Heartland staff, board, and I long to see a gospel-centered church bringing transformation to every Heartland community!

What’s Next?

Moving forward, I have been invited to serve as the US President of Christar, a long-standing global mission agency committed to seeing churches planted among the world’s least-reached people. I was not seeking this opportunity and did not apply for it; rather, I was directly invited to consider it. After some time and further dialogue, Kari and I determined to remain open-hearted towards God’s direction and regularly pray over the matter.

I have known Christar and Christar missionaries for several years, especially through my ongoing teaching of the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course. Having great respect for Christar, I authentically desired for them to experience a healthy leadership transition but was surprised when they unexpectedly asked me to serve as the US President of Christar. 

As with Converge Heartland, this is a termed position that involves a member-ratification vote. After receiving the offer, Kari and I took several days to pray over the matter. Ultimately, we felt peace to move forward with Christar. It is interesting how many Converge Heartland churches support missionaries serving with Christar. To learn more about them, please visit Christar.org. 

Leadership Transition

Regarding the selection of a new Converge Regional President, the District Board of Overseers is diligently serving as the search committee. I plan to complete my term as Regional President and help in the process of a healthy leadership transition. In April, the Converge Heartland District family, Converge National Leaders, Converge International Ministries, and all Converge Regional Presidents learned about the opening for a new Regional President. The Board of Overseers is currently processing resumes and interviewing top applicants. Though all is subject to the Lord’s direction, we are working toward the following timeline.

• April–May: Receive applications and move through the Board of Overseer’s interview process.

• May 31: Announce the Regional President Candidate.

• June–August: Help the Candidate connect with the district and learn district processes and procedures.

• August 31: End of Fiscal Year 2024 and the end of Jim’s Regional President term.

• September 26: District church delegates ratify the new Regional President at the Converge Heartland Annual Meeting at Faith Baptist Fellowship in Sioux Falls, SD.

Thank you again for the trust and support you have shown me, my family, and our growing district staff over the past decade. As Kari and I return to our missionary roots, please know the Converge Heartland District is our home and has shaped me as a ministry leader. Your influence and the leadership lessons learned through you will now be leveraged for shaping, planting, and advancing churches among the world’s least-reached people. Converge Heartland family, I praise God for you!

He is worthy!