Mission Central

03/11/2026

What a blessing to welcome some dear friends from the E-Free Church of Arthur, Iowa. They came for a special full tour on Thursday, March 5, 2026. They were amazed at what the Lord has done here in the middle of a cornfield in western Iowa. These special "not normal" women will always remember their tour and our time together!!!

10/24/2024

On October 19th, Pastor Alex and Lindee Kaldahl brought members from their three congregations at Marcus, Quimby and Hinton, Iowa to visit us here at Mission Central. They received a full tour of our campus and even enjoyed a wonderful noon meal prepared by our awesome volunteer ladies. Here you see the entire group down by our world-famous sign. It truly was a day that we will never forget.

05/15/2024

For those of you who don't know about Main Street Living, we thought we would share this wonderful television ministry with you and encourage you to check it out. The peace of the Lord be with you always.

04/11/2024

This past Tuesday night, April 9th, Gary's wife, Maxine, was called to be with Jesus in our real home in Heaven. Funeral services will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton, Iowa on Tuesday, April 16, at 11:00am. Visitation will precede the service from 9:00-11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials can be sent directly to the support of missionaries for the Lord Jesus payable to Mission Central at 40718 Highway E-16, Mapleton, Iowa 51034, which was the love of Maxine's life, that she helped to establish for 30 years!

Maxine Ann Thies, the daughter of Ernest E. and Ethel A. (Nielsen) Nutt, was born on April 28, 1937, in Castana, Iowa. She grew up on a farm three miles south of Castana and received her education at Castana Consolidated School graduating with the class of 1955. After high school, Maxine started a career at Talley & Harvey Abstract Co. She then transferred to the Monona County Courthouse where she was employed as a secretary in the recorder's office.

On January 25, 1958, Maxine was united in marriage to Maurice "Sonny" Jensen, Jr., and the couple were blessed with two daughters Marla and Melissa. On June 27, 1975, Sonny lost his life in a tragic farming accident.

Maxine married Gary Thies on April 18, 1980, in the St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Maxine enjoyed watching birds, keeping the 4 acres of their home and Mission Central manicured along with tending to her flower beds. Having a heart of gold, she was always fulfilling God's work and lending a helping hand. She was a faithful member of the St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Mapleton and a previous faithful member of the Castana Community Church where she previously held the financial secretary office for 26 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 43 years, Gary Thies of Mapleton, IA; daughter Melissa (Dean) Satre of West Des Moines, IA; son-in-law Michael Allen; grandchildren: Griffin Satre, and Nicole and Lauren Allen; and brother-in-law Irvin Thies.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Ethel Nutt; first husband Maurice "Sonny” Jensen, Jr.; daughter Marla Allen 8/9/2019; siblings: Harold (Margierie) Nutt, Jerry (Sharon) Nutt, Roger Nutt, Karen (Melvin) Houchens; and sister-in-law JoAnn Thies.

05/03/2022

Ascension Day service at Mission Central is coming up on May 26th.

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig will be purchasing food and supplies for a supper to be held at 5:00 pm immediately before the Ascension Day Service for local congregations.

We hope that God's people will be strengthened in faith and life following our risen and ascended Savior, Jesus Christ. We hope their participation in this event will also result in a generous out-pouring of financial support of missionaries sent to spread the saving Gospel of Jesus.

Here is the link if you would like to donate.

Click here to help Ascension Supper For Mission Central organized by Merle Mahnken. I would love to have your support on the impact being made in my community. Check out my project page for ways to support.

03/09/2022

It was truly one of those dear and special days that we will never, never forget. The Lutheran School from Trinity Lutheran Church at Fremont, Nebraska came f

01/11/2022

https://missioncentral.us/sharp-family-from-denison-iowa-come-to-visit-and-present-on-january-8th-2022-to-kick-off-the-new-year/

January 8th, 2022 was a special Saturday and we had a very, very wonderful group of NOT NORMAL people who came from Sioux City, Walnut, Ute, Harlan, Denison, an

12/29/2021

https://missioncentral.us/special-not-normal-people-come-from-all-over-the-midwest-to-send-the-sharp-family/

What an absolute JOY to receive guests from Sherburn, Minnesota, Lincoln, Nebraska, Council Bluffs, Iowa and Mapleton, Iowa for a day tour here at the world fam

12/27/2021

https://missioncentral.us/special-early-morning-visitors-arrive-at-mission-central/

Yes, we have very, very NOT NORMAL people arrive at Mission Central, even at 7:00AM on a Monday morning. December 27th, 2021, was no exception, when Dr. Davi

09/22/2021

Battle Creek gets it. What a great group that visited the other day!

We have thousands of people that the Lord sends to HIS Mission Central. However, one of the groups that Old Missionary Gary enjoys having more than any ARE TH

09/08/2021

Another group from Omaha got to see Mission Central in action.

What a JOY and blessing to welcome a special group that was put together by our wonderful missionary friends, the Honorable Missionaries Bob and Dottie Zink fro

09/08/2021

Come visit Mission Central this Fall like this group did from Logan, Iowa!

What a special JOY and blessing to welcome the Honorable Missionary Pastor Daniel Steeb and the members of his congregation from Immanuel Lutheran Church at Log