Eastern North Dakota Synod

A Word from Bishop Rindy

During the Pentecost season, the color of our altar paraments and pastors’ stoles is green. It is a season of growth, not only for nature, but for us as children of God. Many of our scripture lessons during the Pentecost season are teaching lessons or parables. Jesus used every day, common examples to help us understand and be more aware of the Kingdom of God that is at hand. For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, we are being taught lessons every day.

At our synod assembly, I was overwhelmed by the amazing response to the “extra mile” for mission challenge; for example, individuals and groups are donating roofs for churches and motorcycles for clergy in the C.A.R. Remember, the “extra mile” is over and above regular giving and encompasses all the ministries we do together. Visit our synod website for information about our shared ministries; continue to watch for additional resources about the “extra mile” effort.

At assembly we adopted a faithful, yet frugal, “first mile” mission plan. The first mile is our initial commitment to the ministries we do together (the “extra mile” is the bold invitation to go an “extra mile” in our giving). We pledged our support, not just to “the synod”, but to all of the ministries we do together. As you experience your own seasonal challenges as congregations, with summer reductions in cash flow, the synod experiences the same reductions. It is human nature to worry and/or fret about our circumstances, perhaps even prudent to do so at times. Yet I have chosen to believe in the people and congregations of eastern North Dakota to be able to face the future, not with dread, but with confidence!

As I visited with Willie and Ann, two of our missionaries, and with Greg, one of our campus pastors, I reminded them (in the face of financial challenges) not only of the faithfulness of the God whom we serve, but also of the faithfulness of the people of God with whom we journey. Sure, money is tight. But the lesson I need to continually learn is that God is faithful. As we put our trust in God, (and our money where our mouth is) God is able to work with us and accomplish “abundantly more than we are able to ask or even imagine,” as the Apostle Paul said.    If you or your congregation find yourselves in a position where you are able to share of your blessings with the ministries we do together now, great.    If you find yourself in a position where you are going to need to adjust your commitment, please let us know so that we can most faithfully adjust support to the mission partners who depend on us.

I hope that you will join me in trust in this growing season as we continue to learn what it truly means to be on this road together.

Pastor Bill Rindy
Serving as Bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

» Download: A Word from Bishop Rindy (July 2010) (download .pdf file)