​* * * * *​

God is Our Provider 

by Paul Peterson 

(Editor’s Note: Paul Peterson compiled a history book for the 125th Anniversary of First Covenant Church in 2007. This story is from that book.) 

“And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”  Psalm 50:15 

 

-- My great-grandfather, Anders Gustaf Peterson, first arrived in Willmar in 1881 as a carpenter and itinerant preacher. Over the next several years, he preached to many Swedish Christian groups in the area, from Pennock to Litchfield, from Lake Florida to Svea. He also served informally as pastor to the new Swedish Mission church, organized in 1883 by four married couples and called the Church of God of Willmar. In 1887, the name of the church was changed to the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church of Willmar. Rev. Peterson was formally called to serve as pastor. The congregation is now called First Covenant Church of Willmar.  The story has been handed down that one morning, Johanna Peterson informed her husband that there was no food in the cupboard. They decided that the children should join them in prayer to Almighty God. As the family knelt by the davenport in the living room, they all began to call on the Lord to supply their need.  As they were praying, they heard the noise of a wagon coming up the gravel road known as “Swede Hill.” An employee of the local grocer knocked on the door and said his employer had heard from God that the pastor and his family needed groceries and had sent a wagon load immediately. The family learned that God answers prayer and provides for our needs.  Rev. Peterson was also part of providing for others. In 1885, with his own money, he bought the lumber for a new building for the congregation, worked on it with his carpentry skills, and solicited contributions from Salem and other churches in the area. His daughter and granddaughter provided this congregation with musical accompaniment on the piano and organ for a combined total of almost 75 years. 

Thank you, God our Provider, for the way you use your people to supply our needs.

Help us to trust you in everything and to be diligent about sharing what you have given us. Amen. 

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​* * * * *​

A New Building (Part 3)

by Pastor Vern Anderson, Bill Cairns, Myron and Carolie Carlson, Scott Danielson, Paul Westberg,

and Ron Huisinga (from the Assembly of God), et al. as told to Pete Stadem

 

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance. Psalm 16:6; 

 

-- After years of praying, planning, and preparing, the Assembly of God congregation had moved everything out of the building, and First Covenant’s congregation had moved everything in. It was time to celebrate! One Sunday in October of 1979, the Covenant began their worship service in the old building. After half an hour, everyone was instructed to bring their bulletins and hymnals and make their way to the new building on Willmar Avenue. Some walked the mile along the sidewalks, past the funeral home, the high school, and the football field. Even the weather seemed designed to bless the move. The Assembly of God had begun their service in the sanctuary, and the FCC people joined them for a 15-minute joint service in the parking lot. Noel Paetznick, the FCC church chairman, received the key to the church from the Assembly of God president. Prayers were offered for each congregation, and the AG people drove off to their new building. The FCC congregation was directed into the sanctuary and balcony. The sliding doors between the chapel and the sanctuary were shut. The Assembly of God had allowed four stained glass windows from the old building to be set up and displayed in the chapel area. Once everyone was in, the sliding doors were opened. As the congregation saw the windows of the old church lit up from behind, Pastor Vern Anderson saw smiles on the faces of the old-timers who had been against the project. God was bringing the unity that is so important in the church.  The enthusiasm for the new building was so great that the congregation completely paid off the mortgage in just a couple of years. Ten years later, the elevator, coat room, and two restrooms were added. A man from Harvey Anderson Funeral Home heard about it and suggested, “Make sure the elevator can fit a casket in it.” Looking back, that was very valuable advice and has saved a lot of heavy lifting.

 

Thank You, Almighty God, for the ways You have led this congregation through the years.

Thank You that Your mercy never fails and that You are still leading us today. -- Amen.

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​​​​​​* * * * *​

A New Building (Part 2)

by Pastor Vern Anderson, Bill Cairns, Myron and Carolie Carlson, Scott Danielson, Paul Westberg, and Ron Huisinga (from the Assembly of God), et al. as told to Pete Stadem

"...in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." -- Proverbs 3:6 

 

After Pastor Dean Gross from the Assembly of God asked Pastor Vern Anderson if he wanted to purchase a church, the two became friends and began praying together and consulting with their respective key people. The location – right in the middle of Willmar – seemed ideal, and the idea of not having to build was also attractive. During a prayer meeting, it was decided to announce the proposal to both congregations on the same night and hold a vote. Both voted to continue the process. 

-- Ron Huisinga remembers that a new building was a considerable controversy and conflict for the Assembly of God church for quite a while. Finally, one man spoke up in a meeting: “I believe this is a step of faith for us.  And I believe we have the faith for this.” That spoke to people, and the project was adopted. 

-- Back at FCC, multiple committees were “praying without ceasing.” The FCC Building Committee was already established at that time with Red Swenson (the owner of the Olds dealership), as Chairman. Pastor Vern spoke with Red, who was in Florida at the time, informing him, “We have the committee willing to pay $300,000 for the building.” 

-- Red replied, ‘If you have to pay twice that to get it, do it!”  When the financial representatives from both congregations met to determine a price for the 12,000-square-feet (on each floor) building, they agreed on $600,000. Both churches took another vote on the sale. A sizable majority voted in favor. There were some old-timers who opposed it; Pastor Vern was concerned that they would stand in the way somehow or leave the church in frustration. But he also remembers, “It was bigger than any of us.  It was amazing how things fell together.” The Lord was obviously orchestrating, and  FCC agreed to a two-year window for the Assembly of God Church to complete their new building. 

 -- About two years later, the Assembly of God completed their new building on the edge of Willmar and moved all of their property out of the Willmar Avenue building. A new associate pastor was delegated to find helpers and trucks to move all of FCC’s property into the “new” building. Pastor Vern thought it would take a couple of days. It was finished in one night. People were very enthusiastic about the move. Soon, it would happen! 

 

Thank You, Lord, for guiding our steps as a congregation throughout these many years.

Grant us ears to hear Your voice in the coming years as well. Amen.                            To be continued - - - 

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​* * * * *​

A New Building

by Pastor Vern Anderson, Bill Cairns, Myron and Carolie Carlson, Scott Danielson, Paul Westberg, Ron Huisinga (from the Assembly of God), et al. as told to Pete Stadem

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple

and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?" --1 Corinthians 3:16

 

-- By 1975, when Pastor Vern Anderson arrived to take his call, First Covenant Church had already determined that they needed a new building. The old building was on the corner of Seventh Street and Highway 12, next to Peterson Brothers Funeral Home. Built in 1931 (for a cost of $35,000), it was too small and was pretty crowded on many Sundays. The seats weren't pews but rows of attached chairs. The wooden seats folded up so people could get by. If a kid happened to put his feet on the seat in front of him, and someone put that seat down, the kid would get his feet pinched -- ouch! Under each seat was a space to store a hat. Everyone wore hats to church in those days - men and ladies. The floor was slanted like in a theater.

-- Paul Westberg remembers that the balcony ran across the entire north wall of the sanctuary from the stairway to the belfry. The bats lived in a small room in the belfry behind the organ pipes on the north wall. A man who was in the Youth For Christ choir at the time remembers singing at the church with bats swooping around during the concert. Paul said, "We really did have bats in our belfry!" Men would stand in the bell tower with shotguns and shoot at pigeons that were trying to return to their nests in the bell tower. The small room where the organ pipes were located was used as a Sunday School room and was also where Reuben Bengston would broadcast his Sunday morning radio program on KWLM. The older kids enjoyed seeing how far their paper airplanes would fly from the balcony. At some point, at least one Sunday School class needed to be held at the Puritan Cafe in downtown Willmar.

-- Somehow, the sound system picked up CB radio signals. Now and then, something would blare out in the middle of the sermon “10 - 4 good buddy” or whatever. A member remembers that as an opportunity to pray for drivers with colorful language. As the pastor approached the pulpit one Sunday morning, a light fixture fell onto the pulpit right in front of him. Also interrupting the services occasionally was the power plant siren.

-- It was time to move, but where? Pastor Vern was excited to be a part of it, as he had been a part of two building programs before coming to Willmar. A family wanted to donate a land parcel south of town for a new building site. Mr. Larson (a Home Mission agent from the denomination) came out, and he and Pastor Vern drove around the edge of town looking at that property and others. Mr. Larson, speaking from his experience, said those properties weren't in a good location. "Location, location, location, he explained. "It's just as crucial for a church building as for a house." So the project was mothballed, and the building committee (all men at the time) kept praying, along with Pastor Vern and the entire congregation. They understood that the church is not a building; it's the people. But a building can be an excellent tool for ministry and mission.

-- Sometime in 1978, Pastor Dean Gross from the Willmar Assembly of God knocked on Pastor Vern's office door. He asked, “How would you like to buy a church?” (To be continued . . . )

 

God of the Church, thank You that You are always working in and through Your people. Thank You for buildings and other helpful tools.

Help us keep them in proper perspective. Amen.

 

* * * * *​

God’s Word is True

by Kari and Pete Stadem

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness…2 Timothy 3:16

 

Kari: On a Tuesday morning in May of 2025, we’d driven ten minutes from our hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, when my husband Pete said, “Where’s my phone?“ as he patted his pockets and glanced around the car. I joined in the search and finally pulled up “Find My IPhone.” The phone was back at the hotel.

Usually, I would roll my eyes and say something snarky at this point – let’s just say this situation is not uncommon - but thank the Lord, I didn’t even feel that upset. “Praise God you thought of it now and not an hour from now,” was my only comment. Pete reminded me that he had a feeling we were missing something as we left the hotel and wondered where the phone could be. “Maybe under the pillows?”

As we crested the hill and caught sight of the beautiful Duluth harbor, I trusted, “I suppose it will all work out for the best after all.” After all, that’s what Romans 8:28 tells us. When we reached the hotel, I stayed in the car and told Pete I’d play the “Find My” sound in precisely three minutes.

 

Pete: Up in the room, I started scanning every surface. I looked in the bathroom, kicked at the towels on the floor, checked the closet, and pulled back the covers and pillows on my side. Nothing. I went to check Kari’s side, and as I moved the pillows, I realized, “This is Kari’s pillow!” It looked just like the others, but it’s her favorite pillow, and she always stuffs the case with her charger cord, book, glasses, and other essentials for a quick overnight stop. The “Find My” sound started playing as I was digging through her pillowcase, but my phone wasn’t there, nor on or in the couch behind me. I finally found it on the window ledge behind the sofa – I still have no idea why I put it there! At that moment, Kari called, and I said, “I found it – and guess what else I found? You would not want to leave this here!”

 

Kari: When Pete came out of the hotel with my pillow, I couldn’t believe it! Thank You, Lord! The book was a library book and everything else would be a pain to replace. I was so thankful that I hadn’t judged Pete, “...for in the same way you judge others, you will be judged...” (Matthew 7:1). Jesus knew what He was talking about! To top it all off, the Bible verse of the day was 1 Timothy 4:8: “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things...” I hope I will exercise that kind of faith in God’s Word more and more.

 

Thank You, God, that Your Word is true and guides us into godliness. Help us to trust You and Your Word in all situations. Amen.

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* * * * *​

A Good and Faithful Steward 

by Pete Stadem 

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you

have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all

things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. -- 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 

 

-- I asked the Lord to provide a faith story for me to gather, and Jay Lawton came to mind. When I went to the YMCA for my stretching and strengthening, there he was, and we had a chance to visit. He was working with the Heart & Sole Running Club. There were about 15 young runners (ages 8-14 or so) who typically ran outdoors but were driven inside by the weather. As they came around the track, Jay tried to catch each one and asked, “How many laps?” on the way to 11 (a mile). They’d yell back, “5!’ or “8!” or whatever, the older ones running more laps than the younger. One of the youngest runners stopped each time around the track and looked up at Jay. “Are you gonna quit?” Jay asked once. He didn’t say anything, just turned around and started running again – and kept going each time. Jay began volunteering at the running club after its founder, Dean Madsen, asked him for help. I’ve seen Jay volunteering at races, helping with timing, or setting up the track or the course. 

--Jay told me that years ago, he did some research on stewardship. He even thought he might give a message on it sometime - but he became convinced that we should tithe not only our money but also our time and talents. Obedience to God’s leading and making good use of his gifts are things that have brought him great satisfaction. Jay and his wife, Diane, volunteer with the FCC children’s ministry, and Diane is organizing the Alaska trip this summer. Their entire family has visited Alaska several times, helping with Alaska Christian College projects. Diane and Jay met at the Christian radio station KICY in Nome, Alaska.  

Jay has been on the school board and a city council commission. He and Diane are now grandparents and try to spend time with their grandchildren consistently. Mike Buer has been inspirational in challenging Jay to give more than a tithe through Mike’s involvement in the Green Project, where a portion of his crop is donated. 

-- Jay had heart surgery a year ago, so now he’s on blood thinners and other medications, has a CPAP machine for breathing, and has to have an annual physical. He can't do as much as he used to, and he remembers that healing takes time. He is optimistic and working to improve. Now he’s retiring from Jennie-O and getting his license so he can drive the city bus.  My visit with Jay was inspirational, and I’m glad to know such a faithful steward of God’s good gifts. 

 

Thank You, Father, for Your good gifts. Help us to be faithful stewards of our money, our time, and our talents. -- Amen 

 

* * * * *​

Strength from God

by Etta Johnson

For the sake of. . . my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. --- Isaiah 45:4

 

-- I was always interested in teaching special education. As the newest job coach at a placement and training agency in Iowa, I was chosen to lead a team to fulfill a contract with the Waterloo jail. It wasn’t somewhere that I wanted to go, especially with a group of brain-injured individuals! So, with much trepidation, I transported my clients to the jail in my car.

-- The reception area was a large one, and our footsteps echoed as we trudged into the building. We had to go through security so nothing could be smuggled into the jail. That was scary for my people, but they made it through as I reassured them. We were directed to the dish room where the work would take place.

-- Our team had to scrape plates and load the dishwasher with the dirty trays, cups, and cooking pots from the prisoners’ noon meal. There was no silverware as the residents at the jail had to use plasticware for security purposes.

-- I gave instructions about loading the dishwasher and showed each person how to do their job. I had to watch to ensure the trays and cups were clean after they went through the dishwasher. Sometimes, items had to be rewashed. I remember one big guy was frustrated when he had to clean a tray again because it was still dirty. He yelled and slammed down the tray, but eventually calmed down after a few minutes. On many occasions, I had to remain calm and help my clients settle down.

-- This was a challenging job, and I wish I had been a Christian at that time. I know I would have felt God’s reassuring presence in my life. Looking back, I can see He was watching over me, giving me strength to do my job well, and providing comfort for my workers and me!

 

Thank You, Heavenly Father, that You care for believers and unbelievers alike. Help us to introduce people to You so they can enjoy Your comforting presence. Amen.

 

* * * * *​

A Cry of Desperation 

By Annette Thompson  

In my distress, I cried to the LORD, and He answered me. Psalm 120:1 

 

-- On December 18, 2017, my mother gave me a birthday present. It was a mustard seed necklace with Matthew 17:20 engraved on the back. “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will be moved, and nothing will be impossible for you.” My doctor scheduled my eighth surgery on my vocal cords for December 27. Although I had learned much about God and myself, I hadn’t received many “yes” answers to my prayers. I hadn’t seen a mountain moved. 

-- Every day until surgery, I wore that necklace, repeating that promise back to the Lord. One day in my car on the way to town, I desperately screamed out to God. “If I have to go through this again, can it at least be without pain?” 

 -- December 27 turned out to be a day of miracles. The first was the length of time for the procedure. I went into surgery at 8 a.m. and was back in my hotel room by 1:30 p.m. Every other surgery had been an all-day affair. 

 -- While in the recovery room, the nurse asked me if I wanted a pain pill. Instinctively, I answered, “Yes.” At that moment, I realized that I could talk! Usually, it had been several days to several weeks before my voice returned. And best of all, I had no pain - then or any time in my recovery. The mountain had come tumbling down! 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your promises. Thank You for hearing our cries of desperation, and thank You for moving mountains for us.  Amen. 

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* * * * *​

It Will Be Worth It All

by Kari Stadem 

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing  with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

 

October 2024 - The street construction that has been all around our house all summer (we haven’t been able to take our usual routes to anything since May) has finally hit our cul-de-sac. About a month ago, they tore up the asphalt, and since then, we’ve had giant machines out of our front window off and on. Fascinating, but also annoying. They stir up all the dirt on the street, and then the wind blows it around. Everything in our backyard and on the deck is covered with a layer of dusty dirt. We haven’t had much rain, but even a little rain turns the dirt layer into mud. We’re getting a new driveway, so the old one is torn up, too. We haven’t been able to get into the garage (or the cul-de-sac) for about a month. We’re parking in a vacant lot across the back yard and through the fence. It could be a lot worse, but I feel I’m too old to be scraping ice off my windshield in the mornings!  

My granddaughter, Amalia, was over the other day, and as we were talking about all this, I started telling her about how it was going to be when it was finished with the smooth black tar, the bright concrete curbs and driveway. She said, “It’ll be worth it all.” I agreed.  That reminded me of Paul’s letter to the Romans where he declares, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” In devotions that evening, I told this story and assured the grandchildren that although we have many troubles in this life and in this world, Heaven and our eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord will “be worth it all.”   

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the hope of eternal life with You, given to us by

the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant us to keep that perspective.  -- Amen

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* * * * *​

Making Memories 

by Deb Van Buren 

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6 

We moved to a farm in northwest Iowa when I was in 4th grade – actually trading homes with my maternal grandparents. It was a good move, but it brought with it lots of work, lots of mowing, lots of animals, and lots of buildings to tear down, reshingle, rebuild, and crops to plant. There was not a dull moment as we were involved in all school activities, 4-H, farm life, and (of course) church.  My dad was a workhorse, spending endless hours at a manufacturing plant, coming home to work on our farm, and expecting everyone in our family to work hard, too.  As a high school and college student, I would have a list of chores on the kitchen table every summer morning, and Dad would call before 9a.m. to see how far I had gotten. These chores weren’t taking out the trash or feeding the cat – it was more like this: shingle the tool shed; paint the fence posts; put all the hay bales in the haymow; move the railroad ties from the corn crib to the new storage pile by the grove.  Do you know how much a railroad tie weighs?  More than I did at that time.  It was hard work as we walked bean fields and even our corn fields. We lived in a predominantly Dutch community. Cleanliness (and weed-free bean AND corn fields) was right next to Godliness.   

Inside the home was no different. Every Saturday, my mom and I did Saturday’s work.  Our Saturday work was the equivalent of spring cleaning for many homes today – we would wash down all the woodwork, including the mop boards and all the wood slats in our decorative window shutters.  My mom had a bad back, so vacuuming was always my job, moving all the furniture and using all the attachments to get into every groove and crevice that could possibly collect dust.  After cleaning, we prepared food for Sunday’s company. Every Sunday, my brothers and I would have friends over after church for lunch and to play. We would reunite them with their family at church in the evening, and then more families would come to our house after church for coffee and dessert.  It was like this each Sunday, and the only way we got out of going to church on a Sunday evening was if “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” or “The Wizard of Oz” was on our console television set.   

At Northwestern College, I met my husband, Scott. In the morning, I received my BA degree from Northwestern, and on the same day, in the afternoon, I received my MRS degree as Scott and I were married. Why not? Everyone was there for the graduation, and that’s how we got things done!   

My dad got along exceptionally well with Scott, as they shared a great work ethic. One tax season, as I raised our two girls virtually by myself due to Scott’s long hours, I took two trips to Iowa to spend time with my parents and have an inexpensive getaway.  As I gave my dad a hug goodbye in early April, he said, “Now, don’t come back again unless you bring Scott!”   

When we moved to Willmar, I began working at the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. I got to know the movers and the shakers, and we worked hard to make this community a better place to live, work, play, and do business.  Each day was a struggle during that chapter of my life as we had young children; Scott and I both worked long hours; we were very involved in the community and in First Covenant Church.  I worked hard and gave 100 percent because that was what I thought was important.   

Then, I lost my dad to Multiple Sclerosis.  When he died from complications of MS at age 63, I was so surprised at the funeral when no one said, “My, what a hard worker your dad was!” What? Why?  Wasn’t work what he was known for?  I heard, “Man, I’ll never forget the day we played hooky from work and drove our snowmobiles up north in a snowstorm.”  They shared special moments --special memories they shared with my dad that I never knew about!  I could hardly wrap my head around it.  But it got me thinking; maybe those special memories matter more than hard work. 

At this stage in our own family, my girls were in their teenage years, and I didn’t think I was giving them the memories they deserved. I resigned from the Chamber without a real plan; I felt God was asking me to work less and be more available to my family.  I took a position with a local bank, which allowed me to work just 32 hours a week – quite a change from my previous schedule. 

For the next several years, I could spend more time with both our daughters and our little grandson. Looking back, I am so grateful that the Lord led me into a situation where I could create wonderful memories with my family. 

​

Creator God, thank You that You have good work for us to do and good plans for our resting and remembering. Help us to do everything in Your way. Amen. 

 

* * * * *​

A Still, Small Voice 

by Kari Stadem 

...but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still, small voice. 1 Kings 19:12b 

 

-- In February of 2025, my college roommate Shelley came to mind. I talk with her about once a year. When we get together about every three years, it’s as though we’ve never been apart. 

-- One meaningful connection I had with Shelley happened 25 years ago. My mom had just died, and Shelley showed up at her funeral – completely unexpected by me. I hadn’t even thought of contacting her long-distance (this was before the days of cell phones), as the funeral was just three days after Mom’s death. But Shelley’s sister lived in Willmar, saw the article in the newspaper, and called Shelley. Shelley made the 4-hour drive with her husband just to be there for me in my time of grief. I was overwhelmed with joy amid the sorrow at the thought that she cared enough to do that. 

-- I was thinking about this and wondered, “Is Shelley’s dad, Don, still alive?” Her mom died during the Covid lockdowns, and only immediate family was allowed at her funeral. Shelley and her dad kept coming to my mind several times in the next few days, and finally, when I had a chance, I googled his name with the word “obituary.” Sure enough, it came up that he had died two weeks earlier. I clicked on the link – - would the funeral have already passed? No! It was still a week away – and on a day when my schedule was free! I immediately told my husband, “I’m going to the Cities next week for Shelley’s dad’s funeral.” He would be in South Dakota, but I intended to go and surprise my dear friend. 

-- I shared this story the following Monday, and my friend Barb said, “Are you going? My husband and I were thinking of going but he can’t. Can I ride with you?” Barb was the best friend of Shelley’s late sister. We enjoyed visiting the entire drive to St. Paul and back, and I didn’t have to drive alone! 

-- Shelley was amazed and thrilled to see both of us, and we were pleased to be able to support her and her family and hear of God’s faithfulness in Don’s death. As I was in the middle of dealing with breast cancer with a lot of decisions to make, it was very encouraging to realize that I was hearing God’s “still, small voice.” 

 

Thank You, Lord, that You are in the stillness, as well as in the mighty thunder. Help us to be quiet and listen for Your voice. Amen. 

 

* * * * *​

Be the Light

by Deb Van Buren

“You are the light of the world… In the same way, let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14a, 16

 

-- On August 26, 2009, one of the lights in my life was snuffed out. My 19-year-old daughter Jenna was on her way to work at Pizza Ranch, four days away from going back to college for her sophomore year and planning to study abroad in Spain the following semester. Jenna obeyed the speed limit, wore her seat belt, and had her cell phone in her back pocket. She was doing everything right but was in the wrong place at just the wrong time and died instantly in a car accident.

-- In the depths of despair, we cried out to God for comfort, hope, and peace. Jenna was a bridge builder – she had the ability to take groups of people and connect them even with all their differences. She was a friend to exchange students from South America and many of her friends were refugees from Somalia. She found these relationships rewarding as she saw the United States as a small place and the world as an adventure and wanted to be a part of it. There were many days in the summer when Jenna would be the only Caucasian girl on our boat on Eagle Lake. She didn’t see color; she saw lives, relationships, new thought patterns, and beliefs – and embraced it all. We didn’t know how we would go on without this light in our lives.

-We were overwhelmed with the love and support that came pouring in. About a thousand people extended their sympathy to us at both the visitation and the funeral. I was blessed to hear about the lives Jenna changed: Girls she led to the Lord through a Bible study she started in Junior High, the difference she made in the lives of others by shining her light and loving others no matter the cost. We read the college reflection papers she had written and the closing page of her high school senior portfolio: “God has something greater planned for me than I can ever dream or imagine. My purpose here on earth is much bigger than myself and my personal fulfillment, happiness, or comfort. My purpose here on earth is to serve God completely and hopefully bring others to Christ through my acts of service and ministry.”

She shared the verse found in 2 Timothy 4:7 and 8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” This is now our family’s life verse.

-- On the day of Jenna’s funeral, as my family and I were following her casket to the front of the church, I could only look down and cry. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her face smiling at me from the front of the church and she was laughing! It was a beautiful picture of her that had been enlarged on the screen in the front of the church, and it spoke to me. I heard: “Mom, look up – don’t look down! Be a light in a dark world! I’m okay, and you will be here soon!” It was an amazing moment – a private conversation that blessed, encouraged, and transformed me. I will never be the same – Jenna’s spirit lives in me through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, and for that, I am thankful!

-- God answered my prayer and offered me a peace that passes all understanding as He carried us through the valley of the shadow of death. He was all I hungered for and was all I needed to get through an hour - and then a day (especially Wednesdays) - and then the 27th of every month – and then Christmas and her birthday. It’s still difficult, and I know it always will be as I am on a new journey, a journey of bereavement as I lost one of the greatest gifts God gave me. There is no way I will take a day, a relationship, or an opportunity to share my faith for granted again. I do my best to follow Jenna’s example and shine the light of Jesus and His love to everyone I meet every day.

 

"Light of the World, we thank You for the hope You give in the darkest times.

Help us to shine the light of Your love to everyone we meet." Amen.

 

* * * * *​

Healings 

by John Thompson 

 

 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. James 5:14-15 

 

For years, I had chronic nephritis (kidney infection) that caused blood in my urine and sore kidneys. After a friend and I attended a Holy Spirit conference called “Catch the Fire” in St. Louis, we worshiped at a rural church before we headed home. At the end of the service, the speaker invited anyone wanting prayer to come forward. I went forward to receive prayer for my kidneys. I was wearing two shirts and a sweater. When two ladies praying for me laid their hands on my back in the kidney area, I felt warmth through those three layers. Which (at the time) struck me. Since then, for at least 30 years, I haven’t had a single kidney infection. I believe that God healed me that day! Praise God!  Miraculous healings aren’t guaranteed, but they strengthen our faith and bless those who receive them. 

 God of all healing, thank YOU for the many ways YOU heal our bodies, minds, and spirits. Help us to turn to YOU whenever we have trouble. Amen. 

 

* * * * *​

The Cry of My Heart 

by Carolie Carlson 

 

"Then you will call upon me and come to pray to me, and I will listen to you.  

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13" 

 

I loved my home!  We lived there for 20 years, and it had unique features and large spaces to host our whole family. I knew I needed to hold it loosely in my heart.  I must not let it become an idol. It would have been easy to do that because of all the dreams, sweat equity, and good memories of fun times with family and friends.  A few years ago, God answered my prayer to resist the tendency to make this 4000-square-foot home an idol when I realized it was becoming a lot to care for as we grew older.  For three years, I searched Zillow online for a smaller home for us. We looked at a few different places.  Myron was never enthused. It also had to be a place he liked. Our children were not anxious to see us move out of our spacious home either.  In the summer of 2024, Myron began having health issues.  This changed his ability to help maintain our big house. Finally, we knew for sure it was time to downsize.  Even though I had prayed about housing many times before,  I cried out to Jesus earnestly and desperately from the bottom of my heart one night. The next day, we were invited to friends who owned a twin home. They told us there might be another one available in their neighborhood. Sure enough, the next day, we found a 1600-square-foot twin home that we both fell in love with.  It had an affordable HOA (which meant a lighter outdoor workload for Myron), a second bedroom with space to be both a guest room and an office, a lovely dining area, a large master bedroom, a fireplace, and large windows.   Myron and I have always prayed that our home would provide ministry opportunities. This house is right on the second hole of the Valley View Golf Course. This summer, we look forward to opportunities to meet friends (old and new) as they walk by our patio!  I am so grateful that God is near to those who cry out to Him with their whole hearts. He was so near me that night and powerfully answered my prayer. To Him be the glory!  

Thank You, Mighty God, that You are near to those who cry out to You. Help us trust You with every detail of our lives. -- Amen. 

 

* * * * *​

Minnesota man’s murder conviction vacated in wife’s death      By MARGARET STAFFORD Associated Press   Published January 15, 2023 9:16am CST      Crime and Public Safety ; Associated Press  (AP) - A Minnesota man who served nearly 25 years in connection with his wife’s death walked out of prison on Friday after authorities vacated his murder convictions and allowed him to plead guilty to manslaughter, citing a problem with expert testimony from a doctor whose statements in other cases have also come under scrutiny. Thomas Rhodes, who is now 63, was convicted in 1998 of first- and second-degree murder in the death of his 36-year-old wife, Jane Rhodes, who fell overboard and drowned on a night-time boat ride with her husband on Green Lake in Spicer in 1996. The murder conviction hinged on the testimony of Dr. Michael McGee, who said Rhodes grabbed his wife by the neck, threw her overboard and ran her over several times, the Attorney General’s Office said in a statement Friday. Rhodes told investigators his wife fell out of the boat and disappeared while he frantically searched for her in the dark. 

  

God’s Protection 

by Lois Dunne 

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 

 

In 1996, while at work, we had a person in our department who was a first responder at the scene of the event printed above. The following day, he told us some details I cannot even remember now, but they sounded awful. Sometime later, I got a letter telling me to report to the Kandiyohi County courthouse for jury duty.  I had to complete a multi-page questionnaire and wait until prospective jurors were called into the judge’s chambers. 

I was called in and seated. The judge sat on my right at an elevated desk. A court reporter, (to my right and behind me), was typing every word that was said.  Across the room and in front of me was the defendant, Mr. Rhodes, along with his lawyers.   

I told the judge that we had a first responder in our department who was at the accident scene. The judge asked: “Can you be an impartial person on the jury?” 

I was so nervous! In anguish, I (honestly) spilled my guts with a Freudian slip and said: “Well, I know that a person is guilty -- I mean--innocent until proven guilty. However, right now, I cannot look at this guy and see him as an innocent person.” 

The lawyers walked up to the bench and conferred with the judge. The judge turned to me and said: “You are dismissed.” 

I am quite certain that if I had been on the jury, I would have gone along with Dr. McGee’s expert opinion at the time.  However, almost 25 years later, after reading that Mr. Rhodes was allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter, and that his murder convictions were vacated, I was happy that I was dismissed from serving on that jury. I did not have Mr. Rhodes’ wrongful sentence on my conscience. I was thankful for God’s protection and faithfulness. 

  

Thank You, heavenly Father, for guiding our steps, and for Your faithful protection. Amen. 

 

* * * * *​

Catching the Fire

by John Thompson

…for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29

 

Annette and I were members of what some called a “Holy Roller” church in Montevideo. We never saw anyone roll on the floor. Still, we experienced others in the church speaking in tongues and saw unexplainable acts of the Holy Spirit. We joined because we were hungry for God wherever He would be found. I was working in the community and, through a Bible study, became friends with a Baptist pastor who invited me to a Holy Spirit conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

The morning we drove to Sioux Falls to catch a plane, we turned south from a US highway onto a state highway. After driving about half a mile, I saw a fence post – “on fire.” I saw the flames, looked around for a person or vehicle because it wasn’t near anything, and thought of the burning bush in the Bible. I was afraid my friend would mock me or think I was crazy, so I said nothing. The conference theme, “Catch the Fire,” was associated with the Toronto and Pensacola revivals of the 1990s. It increased my awareness of the unseen world and the power of the Holy Spirit.  On the trip home, as we were waiting on the St. Louis runway for our plane to take off, the captain announced we were returning to the terminal to get an instrument problem fixed. My friend and I quickly prayed. Moments later, the captain announced the instruments were working, and we took off.

On the drive home from Sioux Falls, when we drove past the fence post that had been burning, I started to ask the pastor, “You know what . . .” Before I could finish the question, he responded, “I saw it too!”Our new experiences increased our faith in God, forever changing our lives. We saw these and other miracles, and God was certainly with us at the conference.

Holy Spirit, thank you for always being with us.Help us to catch the fire, always trust You, and be open to Your leading. Amen.

* * * * *

Accident Prone

by Barb Buer

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 

 

-- My sister Soni was a very accident-prone little girl. She loved to stand on her head and do handstands and all kinds of gymnastic moves in our living room. She had many goose eggs on her forehead in her young life.

-- One Sunday afternoon, when she was almost 4 years old and I was 6 and a half, we stayed with family friends Eric and Ingrid because my parents had a church activity. Their daughter and I were diving for quarters in the deep end of their backyard pool. Suddenly, I noticed Ingrid and her friend pulled Soni out of the water, and Soni was blue! I started screaming!

-- The two women, both nurses, had been visiting in the shallow end. Soni remembers chasing a beach ball beyond the shallow end to a spot where she couldn’t reach the side of the pool, touch the bottom, or get their attention. They did some CPR at the side of the pool, and I remember them turning her over. She threw up and started breathing. She remembers being concerned that her vomit might get in the pool. When the paramedics came, Soni was sitting up. When they tested her cognition by asking her what she had done that day, she said, “I went to Sunday School.”

-- While I was in college, I got a call from my mom in the middle of the night. Soni was being prepped for emergency surgery. They had been to a Covenant Bible Camp in Washington for a Winter Retreat. Soni and her childhood friend Lynn had been sledding on the same sled and hit a tree. Lynn had some noticeable bumps and bruises, but Soni had internal injuries. She spent the night in the Leavenworth Hospital. The next day (even though Soni was still very nauseated), the hospital staff released her since her vitals were stable. She vomited many times on the 3-hour drive home and had a rough night. The next day, my dad took her to a clinic, and they referred her to Valley General Hospital. Soni remembers that the nurses surrounded her and prayed for her. At the hospital, the radiologist noticed on the x-ray that Soni's diaphragm was elevated, and she was rushed into surgery. When they opened her up, they found that her liver was lacerated, and a large blood blister had formed (that was what had lifted her diaphragm). The blister burst as soon as they made the incision. There could have been a very different outcome if it had burst before surgery. As it was, she recovered after four or five days in the hospital, and extra time taking it easy.

-- In the summer of 1982, Soni and her boyfriend Rob decided to drive out to visit Mike and me. I was so excited. They were to be our first overnight guests since we married and moved into our little house on Diamond Lake in Minnesota. I had even bought a watermelon! They never made it. I got a phone call from my dad saying they were in a severe car accident near Anaconda, Montana. Driving through the night, Rob had followed a motorhome, pulling a pickup truck. Rob nodded off, and when he caught himself, he saw the motorhome to his right and thought he was in the wrong lane. To adjust, he pulled over, but the motorhome had pulled off and stopped, so Rob's vehicle went right underneath the pickup truck. I was shaken and sick with the news of the accident, so I can only imagine how Rob felt.

Soni had the worst injuries. She had a traumatic brain injury and severe facial injuries. She was in a coma for 13 days. The plastic surgeon said he needed to perform her facial surgery by day 10. He couldn’t wait until she woke up, but sending her deeper into unconsciousness was very risky. When the surgeon finished, he came out to the waiting room. He told my parents, “I’m a gifted surgeon, but (I) hadn’t done Soni’s surgery. God did it.” He worked on lepers while in the mission field, but at the time, he worked in the little hospital in Butte, Montana. What a miracle -- God provided a gifted, God-fearing surgeon since moving Soni wasn’t an option.

On one of the Sunday mornings, while my parents were sitting at Soni’s bedside, they got a call from Kent Covenant Church, where my dad was the pastor. The congregation sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness” over the phone. I imagine the quality over the phone wasn’t terrific, but it sure meant a lot. To my parents, they sounded like a heavenly choir.

-- I’ll never forget the call I received when Soni finally opened her eyes! As soon as I hung up the phone, I drove to the farm to find Mike, to tell him the good news! I saw Mike’s dad first; he hugged me and cried with me. He was so happy to hear it! Soni spent three weeks in the hospital, but she wasn't herself for a long time after being released. My mom, dad, and Soni came to visit us that September. She did (and said) some goofy things. We laugh about them now, but at the time, I wondered if she would ever be her old self. Soni was able to go back to college for the winter semester and chose to transfer to be near Rob. The accident had brought them closer together.

-- I am so grateful for answered prayer and miraculous healing. I don’t understand why Soni had to go through such hard things, yet I have seen God’s hand and goodness in many ways in each situation. At Soni and Rob’s wedding, we sang, “Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness. Morning by morning, new mercies, I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your great faithfulness. Grant us eyes to see Your mercies, which are new every morning. Amen.

 

* * * * * 

Another Prayer Answered

by Robin Iverson

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

​

-- In the summer of 2015 (after I moved to my new apartment), I was walking outside and met a woman named Sandy. I invited her to my house and learned that her husband had died a few years earlier. I asked her to come to church, and she came for several years. Lately, she hasn’t been attending because of health issues.

-- Sandy was an answer to prayer. When I moved in, I prayed for a friend. Sandy has been a good friend, and she became a fellow member of First Covenant Church. We’ve gone back and forth to each other’s apartments for coffee and meals and have enjoyed riding our three-wheeled bikes together.

-- Sandy has always loved my two dogs, Solomon and Mocha, and even threw a baby shower when Mocha was a puppy. Eight ladies came and brought puppy gifts, and we had tasty food and a lot of fun. Mocha was a good boy and looked stylish in all the new puppy clothes he received. It impresses me how faithful God is to answer my prayers. He will answer yours, too, as you believe and trust Him!

Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your faithfulness in answering our prayers.   Help us remember and dare to call upon You for small and great things. Amen.

 

* * * * * 

Ask, and You Shall Receive

by Peter Stadem

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

 

-- I was at our son David's home in Grand Forks, in February, 2025. I was hurrying to get the car warmed up and ready to take Kari and our grandchildren to the church where David and his wife Callie would be providing special music. I slipped on the sidewalk ice and my hand came down on a fence post with a nail on it. I could tell from my experience that my ripped palm might need stitches, but it could also be harmful if it didn't get cleaned well or if I was overdue for a tetanus shot.  I wondered whether to go to church or head right to the emergency room. I didn’t want to go to the hospital if it wasn’t necessary, as we had just paid $2,000.00 for an ER visit that our insurance didn’t cover. I decided to buy iodine and soak it at the church and prayed that there would be a nurse I could consult with before the worship service. When we finally got to church (after bandaging my hand as best we could), it was too late to find a nurse since the service had started. I left Kari and the kids there and went out to find iodine. I filled a bowl and soaked the wound through the rest of the service (I did get to hear the beautiful special music). As we were visiting during the coffee hour, a guy in tennis shoes who looked like he could be homeless (but was dressed pretty well), asked what happened to my hand. When I told him, he responded, “Mind if I look at it? I am a doctor.” He counseled that if it was his hand, he would put a stitch in it. But he said I could use superglue and bandage the hand well, and it should heal just fine “as long as you're sure you’re current on your Tdap shot. It’s OK to get a booster when you get back.” That was just what I needed for confidence in my self-care. I immediately praised God because it answered my prayer beyond what I had imagined or thought. I saved at least $1,000.00 by avoiding the ER and had a full-fledged doctor who helped me. I am currently praying for my wife’s healing from breast cancer and through this experience, it was as if the Lord said to me, “I will look out for you in the same way, beyond what you can imagine.”

Thank You, Lord, for Your answers to prayer. Help us ask, seek, and knock, knowing that You are always paying attention. Amen.

 

* * * * * 

Right Where I Was Supposed to Be

by Beth Broberg

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."  Isaiah 30:21

 

-- On a Thursday in January 2025, as I was getting ready to leave for my daughter Brooke's house, I got a call from my other daughter saying, "I tested positive for COVID." I'd been with them the day before. Sighing, I called Brooke. "What do you think?" I was supposed to go to Walker, MN, and care for my granddaughter, Ellie, on Friday because Brooke and her husband had work commitments. Then we were all going to a baptism on Sunday where they were sponsors. Brooke thought about it for a few minutes and then said, "You know what? Ellie (or any of us) could get COVID going through the doorway at the grocery store. Please come anyway."

Friday morning, I left early, and when I was halfway there, my phone rang. Brooke informed me, "Ellie has a fever." I said, "Well, I'm halfway there already, and maybe I'm going to get COVID - I'll come anyway." I enjoyed caring for Ellie, who didn't feel too bad despite her fever. On Saturday, we played all day. Ellie was still sick on Sunday, so I stayed home with her while Brooke and her husband went to the baptism. Clearly God had me there for very good reasons. My husband Don, who had stayed home without really knowing why, could take care of his grandson, Luke, whose dad also got sick that weekend. It was meant to be.  . . . PS – None of us got COVID!

Thank You, all-knowing God, for guiding our steps and empowering us to serve when it's

most needed. Help us trust in Your provision when we can't see the reasons or when we can. --Amen.

​

* * * * * 

One Last Gift

by Beth Nordstrom

 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart;

yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

-- I gathered with my family in the Chicago area in January 2025 to celebrate the life and mourn the death of my mother. All my siblings and all our children were able to attend and we praised the Lord for our wonderful mother. Mom was a quilter and a prolific writer. She wrote plays, changed words to songs for our celebrations, and wrote her family history, my Dad's family history, and our family stories. She put them all together in the “Patchwork Pages.” Here is a quote: "I am thinking of this story like a patchwork quilt with many different pieces and colors. There are dark colors, sad and regretful memories, light and cheery ones, and pieces that are dull, faded, and almost forgotten. The picture of my quilt emerges in my mind with many little pieces that are stitched together with hundreds and thousands of tiny stitches. This is the most special part of my quilt...Stitches representing God's love put all the pieces of my life together. Perhaps I would like to take some of the dark pieces out of my quilt...no, that would destroy it. Every piece is a part of my journey and has a story to tell." And at the end, there was a little surprise. As the grandchildren were milling around my mother’s apartment, trying to decide on mementos to bring home, one of them lifted an Indian brass plate off the wall. Hidden behind that plate were five notes from my mother, one to each of us siblings. We were all so surprised and sat together with tears streaming down our faces as we each read our notes. Mine expressed Mom’s joy in the person I had become, thanked me for visiting and caring for her in her last years, and ended: "See you in heaven. Love, Mom.” It was just like my sweet mother, and just like our kind heavenly Father, to give us one last unexpected blessing.

 

Thank You, Father, for making all things beautiful in Your time. Thank You for the sweet surprises  You give us. Help us to recognize them as from You. Amen.

 

* * * * * 

Trials & Tribulations

by Melissa Thomas

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Psalm 27:10 

 

-- My parents called me their "miracle baby." When I was born, I had fluid on the brain, which caused my heart rate to drop with each contraction. I had low blood sugar, and the doctor dislocated my hip by pulling me down when I got stuck. The doctors were able to drain the fluid and fix my hip, and I went home on my father's birthday three days later. 

I grew up in Oklahoma, and every year, my dad and I celebrated our birthdays at the Golden Corral with the rest of the family. When I was 15, my parents moved to Willmar. They left me in the care of friends of our family so I could finish high school. They didn't tell me in advance, and my living situation was unclean and miserable. On my 18th birthday, I told this family I would be leaving, and as soon as the school year ended, I moved up here to be with my parents. I was angry with them but forgave them because I loved them. I was very close to my mom. Just two years later, Mom (who was a type 2 diabetic) developed pneumonia. She went to the hospital on New Year's Eve. I was praying hard for her recovery, and I heard a voice say, "I'm ready for her now." I didn't know what it meant.

-- On Jan. 4, 2006, I didn't want to leave Mom's side, but Dad and I went home to take showers. As we were getting ready to return to the hospital, we got the call that she had died. In the hospital, I clung to my mother's body, sobbing and wailing: "I want to go too!" It took Dad and two others to pull me off. For two weeks, I completely shut down. I couldn't pray or read the Bible. I couldn't even eat. Finally, my friend, Allison, showed up and said, "It's time to move." Other friends told me, "Your mom wants you to live a good life."  

-- When I went to read my Bible again, it dropped open to Psalm 63:1-3. "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." I realized that the Lord was with me and that He was the one I needed. At a young adults retreat in 2009, I received the exact same passage. To me, it confirmed that God loved me and would take care of me. In September of 2006, I went to live with my sister in Oklahoma to help her with her 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. One November day, I talked to my dad on the phone for about three hours. We had a pleasant conversation, but he kept mentioning his life insurance policy. He asked that one of our favorite songs, (Daddy's Hands) be sung at his funeral. It was strange talk for a 59-year-old man. The next day, my sister got a phone call. When she came out of her room, she couldn't speak. She just kept repeating, "Da…da….da…" I cried, "What's wrong with Daddy?"  Back in Willmar, my father's car ran out of gas and he walked home in the bitter cold. He made it to the parking lot of the apartment complex, had an asthma attack, and died before anyone found him. I was an orphan at age 21. I stayed with my sister for another month and then moved back to Willmar. 

-- I lived with my dad's sister and her husband for a year and a half. When I would cry about my losses, my Aunt would say, "Just suck it up. No one wants to hear your problems." When it got too overwhelming, I called Allison and she would pick me up. The minute I got in her car, I would start bawling uncontrollably. Eventually, I moved out on my own, started meeting with a counselor, and began to heal. 

-- I'm grateful for the Lord's mercy and provision as I've endured many trials. He sent many friends and my church family to help me. My dad's brother promised my dad he would take care of us girls if anything happened to my dad, and he has kept that promise. My friend Heidi's family has practically adopted me, treating me like one of their own. 

 

Thank You, Father, for caring for the fatherless. Help us all to be part of your plan to love and serve others, especially the most vulnerable. Amen.

 

* * * * * 

p us realize Your presence always. --Amen