News from the Field

Category Archives: Stories

Mission in Motion

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. Continue reading…

Local Congregations Finalists in ELCA Video Contest

Congratulations to the three Eastern North Dakota congregations who were among the 10 congregational finalists (external link) in the ELCA “God’s work. Our hands.” video contest (external link)! Please view the following videos from Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo; Martin’s Lutheran Church, Casselton; and First Lutheran Church, Fargo. Continue reading…

Walking the Road Together as Family

I grew up in a family of six kids. At times it was wonderful, at other times it was frustrating. It is no wonder that “family” is one of the metaphors Jesus used to describe those called to follow him, along with other scriptural metaphors of “body”, “temple”, “priesthood”, etc.

In just over a month the churchwide assembly (external link) – one of the ways in which we are ELCA together – will commence in Minneapolis. There are things about this assembly that will be wonderful: worship, Bible study, contemplating full communion with the United Methodists, and getting to know other members of the family/body/temple/priesthood. Other parts of the assembly may have the capacity to cause frustration: wrangling over rules, voting on the recommended social statement, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, along with voting on proposed changes in rostering policies. Continue reading…

A Recipe for Rural Renewal

by Rev. Keith Zeh, Director for Evangelical Mission, EaND & NW MN Synods

Cooperative ministry is happening among many congregations in many places throughout the Eastern North Dakota Synod territory. According to a report given by the ELCA Research and Evaluation Department, 63.8% of the congregations in the synod were in multiple point parishes in the year 2005. This percentage has most likely grown in the past couple of years, and will continue to grow in the years to come. Continue reading…

Eastern North Dakota “US” – Stories of Shared Ministry

A new DVD, The Eastern North Dakota “US” – Stories of Shared Ministry, is now available thanks to generous people willing to share their talents. This DVD highlights some of the good work happening in the Eastern North Dakota Synod.

The two main stories on the title page of the DVD convey the mission of the Synod and that of the greater ELCA. There are 12 chapter story videos detailing some of the ministries of the Eastern North Dakota Synod. Enjoy viewing them. We want you to know the ‘Synod Stories’ to feel good about enthusiastically supporting our work together. Each congregational president has received a copy of this DVD for use in their local congregation.

Continue reading…

Featured Articles

Recent News

Archives

  • Browse by Month:
  • or
  • Browse by Year:

Categories

Popular Tags

Bishop Election Bishop Foss Bishop Rindy Book of Faith Call Process Campus Ministry Central African Republic Churchwide Assembly congregational leadership correction ELCA Fall Professional Conference Featured flood Global Mission LMM Lutheran Social Services mission Newsletter Planned Giving Regional Partnership Initiative Resources rural ministry Seminary on the Prairie Sermon staff Synod Endowment testimony the Project F-M workshop