Click here to view the embedded video.

“…Ten of us were on the road going to cities and villages called Yaounde, Garou Boulai, Baboua, Bouar, Gallo and Buhong. While we were talking and discussing, Jesus came and went with us (actually Jesus was already there ahead of us)! In the breaking of bread at worship, in homes and talking with Christians on the road – our eyes were opened. We returned with burning hearts – never had a moment of heartburn.”    - Rev. Randy Schlecht

There is also a new video featuring the Village Education Project.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Learn more about the C.A.R…

Graduates from left to right: Linda Toso, Jeanette Keeney, Nita Schultz, Jessica Poyzer and Tom Junkert

The Leadership Program for Musicians looks forward to welcoming new students in the coming year, 2011-2012. Sessions are typically held one Saturday per month at locations to TBA (location is chosen based on the home congregations of the participants).

The Leadership Program for Musicians is a teaching ministry that gives church musicians an increased sense of vocational awareness, along with the tools and resources to enable congregations to sing well and participate actively in worship.

» Download: Congratulations to LPM Grads (download .pdf file)

God in Full View!

During my very first council meeting at First Lutheran Church, Sheyenne ND (Sheyenne Oberon Area Ministry) last July, the council expressed their desire to have a special Sunday service focusing awareness on benevolence. After months of trying to organize and find a suitable date, our vision was realized on January 30. All four of the churches met in a joint service. We used this service as an opportunity to explore ways of worshipping creatively.

The service focused on stewardship. Giving was the theme of the readings, music, and message. Three very talented youth from the parish performed a drama piece that centered on the importance of being faithful stewards.  We took a special offering that went directly to the synod office. The Sunday school children made special envelopes in class that morning. Each child wrote the word benevolence on the offering envelopes and decorated them with stickers and drawings. This was a fun activity that provided a learning experience demonstrating the importance of benevolence.

Having the young people involved was the highlight of the service. God is at work in all of us young and old, rich and poor. May He continue to bless us with wisdom and humility to be faithful stewards in everything we do.

Thank you, Bishop Rindy, for providing your written message about benevolence which was included in the service.

God in Full View!

God in full view!

Learn more about our partner synod…

There was excitement and energy at the Jamestown Conference Assembly earlier this month. After engaging in a panel discussion entitled “Who is God calling us to be as the Eastern North Dakota Synod?” the assembly enthusiastically voted to send $2,000 to the synod for shared mission and ministry.

Martin’s Lutheran Church of Casselton shared with us their good news. They are planning to give $2,000 over and above their synod mission support intent!

At a church council meeting at Peace Lutheran Church of Fargo, they voted to send their intended “first fruits” to the synod even in the midst of tough financial times.

God in full view!

Day to day ministry may seem as though nothing we say or do makes an impact. In the midst of the challenges facing the church, we sometimes wonder if we have anything to say at all. In response to those doubts and feelings I share this story of hope, this “God sighting.”

A few weeks ago I met with someone curious about the church. He had lots of questions about faith and God. He was no stranger to religion, having grown up in a devout home. But the theology with which he was raised was pretty closed and restrictive. When he became an adult he turned his back on religion altogether. He’d been content to bump along as a non-churched agnostic/atheist until his son asked him this question, “Dad, what’s God?”

His son’s question caused questions of his own to resurface. Those questions eventually brought him to my office where we spent the better part of the afternoon talking about a Lutheran understanding of God, grace, and faith. Our conversation is ongoing and he and his family have begun to attend worship.

I share this story not to call attention to what we are doing at the congregation I serve. Rather I share it to highlight the work of the Spirit among all of us. The Spirit is at work in those who are restless and searching. The Spirit has gifted us and continues to gift us with the ability to articulate the boundlessness of God’s love and grace in ways that defy boundaries, honor questions, and bring hope.

How might the Spirit be at work in your community and congregation?

God in full view!

Bishop Rindy outlines the current state of our synod and the need for significant changes in our mission. He also passionately outlines the “Extra Mile for Mission” challenge, a charge to each of us to be active witnesses in our congregations, synod, and world.  Video and PowerPoint resources attached.

To watch the State of the Synod Address from the beginning, select “01″ and click the play button

What is the state of our synod? If we look solely at our budget, the outlook isn’t positive. The 2011 proposed Mission plan budget is about 38% of the 1989 Mission plan, when adjusted for inflation. Because of this, there is not much left in our dwindling budget to inspire exciting evangelical imagination. I was talking to someone just the other day, he was looking at the support of our ministry partners and commented “That’s pathetic.” I replied, “Yeah it is.” And so, I thought we need to look at our mission and support a little differently.

What would it look like if our church met our previous giving 2009 goal? What would the state of the synod be if we were to get back to 1989 giving and generosity? What unites in passionate mission? God has a vision for us as individuals, as congregations, as a synod, and as a churchwide ELCA, using our gifts and talents to make a difference in God’s world. Let’s look to Jesus and heed is commission to be witnesses and bear fruit in this world. Together we are shaping the future: to go the extra mile; to do the work God has set before us!

» Download and Share:

• Video:
  These video files are compressed with .zip but still quite large.  A high speed internet connection is required.  Please contact the synod office if you would like a copy of the video mailed to you.
  .wmv (~396 MB) (download video file) | .mov (~835 MB) (download video file)
• Audio Only:
  .mp3 (~32MB) (download .mp3 file)
• PowerPoint Presentation:
  .ppt (download .ppt file) | .pdf (download .pdf file) | View online (external link)

More information:

Extra Mile for Mission

If you have trouble viewing the embedded video or downloading the files, please contact the webmaster.

We are everyday evangelists – each of us. Congregations are re-rooting the church in their communities, listening and responding to the Spirit’s command to re-root the church. The video below shares some of these stories of everyday evangelists living out their faith in word and deed.

» Download and Share: .wmv (download video file) | .mp4 (download video file)

“Here I am, Lord.  Send me!”

If you have trouble viewing the embedded video or downloading the video files, please contact the webmaster.

These videos are great illustrations of the work our church is doing in God’s name. They are appropriate for use in worship and/or meetings and provide an inspiration for congregations to explore new avenues for ministry in their communities. Several EaND congregations – Martin’s, Casselton; Faith, West Fargo; and First, Fargo – submitted videos this summer. Great job!

You are encouraged to order these free DVDs by calling 800.638.3522 or send an email to info@elca.org

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.

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. What is God’s mission?
2. What is our story?
3. Who are our neighbors?
4. Who are we?
5. 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