New Ministry Possibilities
Sudanese Worship
For over seven years, Fargo, ND has been receiving Sudanese refugees who came fleeing the deadly violence of war-torn Sudan. Some were Christians in need of a place to worship in their native language. First Lutheran Church (external link) opened its doors to provide safe refuge for worship and fellowship to the newly arriving refugees.
The Sudanese community at First Lutheran has been worshiping for over three years and has the potential to grow significantly. They have identified Jacob Mayen as their pastor. Jacob is longing to share the gospel with even more of the estimated 2,000 Sudanese people residing in the FM area. Support from First Lutheran Church, other congregations, and the synod will enable Jacob to serve in a fuller capacity as a ministry leader while he accomplishes his seminary education through the TEEM program.
The time is ripe for the Sudanese worshiping community to take the next step in its journey of faith by becoming First Sudanese Lutheran Church! The partnership between First Lutheran, the EaND Synod, and Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission will encourage and empower this new congregational development as we come along side them in their journey.
Several ELCA congregations and First Presbyterian in Grand Forks are exploring the range of possibilities to share ministry. First Presbyterian is open to “nesting” a traditional Lutheran congregation into their space or jointly moving into a nontraditional community which would appeal to people not currently involved in church, or to those looking for something which moves beyond tradition. They have developed a flexible structure over the years which would help that happen. The First Presbyterian facility could be utilized for a new ministry start and potentially be expanded in the future. This is an exciting ecumenical endeavor where conversation is ongoing!
Area Congregations in Conversation
Presently over 63% of the 230 congregations in this synod are in multiple point parishes. As population continues to decrease and grow older it seems to be necessary to work together in new ways. Rev. Keith Zeh, Director for Evangelical Mission in the EaND Synod, hopes conversation will promote a “we get to” rather than a “we have to” attitude towards cooperation and collaboration with neighboring congregations. Rev. Zeh also identified the mission field right outside our church doors because 40% of people in rural and small town areas are unchurched or very inactive.
Many eastern North Dakota area ELCA congregations as well as other denominations, have been in area conversations about the future of congregations and how they might work together to continue God’s mission.
Rev. Zeh suggests 2 possible processes for congregations to be in conversation with one another about working together to accomplish God’s mission: 1) a study of ministry in rural settings and the resulting book Discovering Hope: Building Vitality in Rural Congregations share best practices (prayer, worship, discipleship, evangelism, caring ministry, and leadership) and guide conversations among congregational members how to integrate or build upon these effective practices and 2) an Area Mission Strategy process where congregations study, think and talk together about God’s Word, about their history and ministry, and about the communities in which they serve, and about what their mission might be if they work cooperatively.
- Fifteen ELCA congregations from the Litchville and Hastings greater area plus Reformed and Presbyterian congregations are in area conversation and consideration on how they might share ministry together.
- Eight congregations in the Wyndmere and Lidgerwood greater area are in an ongoing shared study and area mission strategy.
Long-term Strategic Plan
Discover Your Congregation’s Future, developed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a study and planning process for long-term strategic plans for congregations. The purpose for taking this journey is to rediscover God’s mission for congregations in the places they’ve been planted to do God’s kingdom work.
There are 5 questions to consider:
- What is God’s mission?
- What is our story?
- Who are our neighbors?
- Who are we?
- How is God calling us to respond?
Richland Lutheran, Walcott and Our Savior’s, Colfax is in the midst of this journey. Together with Rev. Keith Zeh, the two-point parish has formed a Discovery Team, is mapping a process, and holding meetings and activities to eventually determine the future of their congregations.
For more information, contact Rev. Keith Zeh at (701) 232-3381 or email him at keith@eandsynod.org
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