Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Pastors’ Column – 06/02/14



“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Isaiah 52:7

It’s that time of year again when we go out into the world to share our faith. That’s outreach – bringing good news! As a church, we aren’t going as far away as Africa, it’s only to Howard Lake . . . but it’s still important.

And it really shouldn’t be just once a year that our personal outreach occurs. Each of us can have outreach opportunities daily in our communities as we “acknowledge Him in all our ways.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) We can have a daily witness for the Lord.

I love the rich heritage of outreach within our Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). Our founding fathers were from Norway: Georg Sverdrup, Sven Oftedahl, and Hans Nilsen Hauge. Through Sverdrup and Oftedahl, both seminary professors, we have good theological teaching regarding the importance of the sacraments and creeds, and our statements of faith. With Hauge, we have our strong heritage of outreach and evangelism.

Hauge was a Lutheran evangelist who had a ministry separate from the state church of Norway, and through his travels and preaching as an evangelist, thousands of people came to know Jesus. There was a lasting effect on the people of Norway, and many soon emigrated from Norway to the United States.

What a beautiful heritage we have in the AFLC, with both great Biblical theology, and great outreach.

Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” John 7:13-14

Unfortunately, most of the people we meet in the communities around us don’t know the Lord. Most of them have attended church in the past, or grew up attending church, but not any more. They won’t hear the gospel message in church because they don’t attend.

Sometimes we tend to cloister. I know I do. We enjoy our small group of Christian friends who think and believe the same things we do, and we don’t feel the need to reach out beyond that group.

It’s a comfortable place. I like comfortable. And the fellowship is important. But I have found the greatest joy is in reaching out of my comfort zone and into the world.

Come join us at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday nights through June for Evangelism Outreach, and possibly beyond. I believe that you will be blessed, and that you will be a blessing as you share your faith in Jesus.








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