
Value Statement 5:
We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work.
In March 2013, High Plains Ministry received a “cry for help” from Mandee Zerr, volunteer coordinator at Northlands Rescue Mission. The Mission was without a cook and Mandee desperately needed help providing meals. Mandee was suffering from a painful shoulder which required some necessary surgery. Two teams of volunteers from High Plains Ministry answered Mandee’s call by purchasing groceries and coffee, baking, cooking, and serving meals at the Mission. Continue reading…
The best of the best: Julie Aageson!
from Rev. Kari Bahe
One of Julie Aageson’s favorite images is the “tree of life”. It is fitting, when you think of her work with us over the years. Her work is rooted firmly in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Her work branches out to help others stretch and share their God given gifts with this world. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of watching Julie help others “branch out” in their learning and “grow” in their serving. We’ve all had the joy of seeing Julie take the concept of a resource center and move it beyond books and mortar to include resourcing and networking people, events, and lives. Continue reading…

Value Statement 4:
We are a church that believes God is calling us into the world – together.
An amazing trip to Ethiopia is being led by Calvary Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, ND. Kim Adams, Calvary’s Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator, connected with Kelly Putty, Founder and CEO of Ordinary Hero (Ordinary Hero Foundation is a nonprofit child advocacy organization; their goal is to encourage and provide a way for every person to make a difference in the life of a child in need through adoption, missions, or local outreach.) Continue reading…
submitted by Mary Jo Kinzler and Ann Wolf Zion Lutheran Church, Kulm, ND
Value Statement 3:
We are a church that believes Jesus is God’s “Yes” to us. Our lives can be a “Yes” to others.
The power of the Holy Spirit appeared tangibly on Reformation Sunday this year as Zion Lutheran in Kulm, ND recognized 15 new members during “New Member Sunday.” Continue reading…

Value Statement 2:
We are a church whose unity is in Jesus Christ, who gathers us around word and water, wine and bread.
Each time a congregation gathers for worship Jesus is present in a special way, yet some gatherings seem to remain more vivid in the mind’s eye. For example, this year on Reformation Sunday Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Valley City enjoyed celebrating both a baptism and affirmation of baptism in one worship service. Continue reading…

Value Statement 1:
We are a church that belongs to Christ.
There is a place for you here!
“The Perfect Place for Imperfect People”
“God didn’t bring me to recovery… recovery brought me to God” is a comment we often here at Recovery Worship. People are in search of a “Higher Power,” a God of their understanding that will help them live a life in recovery. More than anything else Recovery Worship is a place for “seekers”; people seeking God, and also people seeking a non-judgmental worshiping community where they can share the weaknesses and struggles with people who understand, and people who have shared in those struggles. Continue reading…

Ava Aigner, age 10
This past summer at Richland Lutheran, rural Walcott, Ava Aigner, age 10, learned about the ELCA Malaria Campaign during Vacation Bible School. She heard that $10 could save a child’s life! The first day of Sunday School at her home church, Faith Lutheran of Wolverton, MN, she told them about the ELCA Malaria Campaign and challenged her Sunday School to raise $350. Her leaders encouraged her to take the challenge to the congregation and the result was a $1,004.00 donation for the malaria campaign.
Ava is a 5th grader at Richland 44 in Abercrombie, ND where she enjoys playing basketball. Thank you, Ava.
Learn more about the ELCA Malaria Campaign
Reprinted by permission from reporter Brian Willhide, Jamestown Sun - June 21, 2012
Pastor reports Jamestown youth in Duluth are safe
A mission trip from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jamestown consisting of nine Jamestown children and three adults has been in Duluth since Sunday. “We’re great and everybody’s mostly dry,” said the Rev. Suzi Orlopp, associate pastor with St. John’s Lutheran, who is on the mission trip. “It’s a little crazy here but we’re doing pretty well and we’re safe.” Orlopp said there have been no issues with the building the group is staying in along with a 25-person mission group from Iowa and two other mission groups from Minnesota. Continue reading…