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* * * * *

What First Covenant Church Means to Me 

by Carolie Carlson 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on  toward love and good deeds ---- Hebrews 10:24 

​

-- Crash! I turned around to see Pastor Alan Holte of First Covenant Church on the basement floor. He had driven 300 miles from Willmar to preside over the 1987 graveside service of my mother. My mother had moved to Willmar and had become a member of FCC 10 years earlier, but she was being buried in Iowa. The old wooden basement chairs in the small country church were rickety. Fortunately, Pastor Al didn't get hurt. The Lord singled him out for special attention in comic relief, and he handled it graciously. 

-- Myron and I have been a part of FCC for over 40 years and have seen God at work in so many ways in, with, and through this congregation. One time, our daughter, Ellie, was a summer staff counselor at Lake Beauty Bible Camp. She was able to share with the whole congregation how she had the privilege of being in a cabin with six girls who accepted Jesus. Most often these days, several grandchildren serve as summer staff at LBBC in some capacity. Our entire family has celebrated the 4th of July at LBBC every year for the past 25 years.   

-- I remember attending an excellent adult Sunday school class that Stacy Rossell taught on Iran.  It impressed me how brave women in Iran were in their witness; going out each day to share Jesus, not knowing if they would live to return home that evening. May I have that same sense of urgency and courage!

-- Another memorable moment was when two leaders of our church reconciled their relationship in front of the congregation during a worship service.  This was an amazing example of humility, repentance, and forgiveness.  

-- In 2016, 21 inches of sewage floodwater filled our basement. We called the church office and asked for prayer, never dreaming of getting any practical on-site help. By the time the day was over, 23 FCC friends had shown up to help clean up the mess.  FCC people even brought an evening meal for all those volunteers. What a blessing! 

-- More recently, Pastor Chris and Allison have been a real blessing when they brought prayers of blessing for our 50th anniversary and also came to our new home to offer a prayer of dedication. 

-- Lastly, what I've really appreciated about FCC is the emphasis on freedom in Christ. I'm free to do good, which I wasn't before I met Jesus. I am free to adore Him, please Him, and minister to others to His Glory. Hallelujah! And it's not out of a sense of duty or earning Heaven, but out of a deep love relationship with my dear Jesus! I've learned this and much more in my time here at FCC.  

-- May there be many more memories and blessings, and may the Holy Spirit lead many others to join us here at this wonderful place. 

 

Thank You, Lord of the Church, for how You have worked through First Covenant Church for many years. Help us build on this legacy in Your Spirit. -- Amen. 

* * * * *

 

On the Way to Alaska 

by Diane Lawton 

The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8 

 

-- I asked the bus driver, “Why are we slowing down?”  He answered, “I don’t know.”  Panic set in as the bus slowed to a crawl, then came to a complete stop on the shoulder. I was sitting in the front of the bus with 19 passengers from First Covenant Church behind me, on our way to Minneapolis to catch a plane to Alaska for our mission trip. I was one of the trip coordinators, handling most of the logistics, including the bus rental. 

-- Rocky announced our predicament and got everyone to start praying. The bus driver called the owner of the bus company while others were trying to figure out what was wrong with the bus and what Plan B might look like to get us to the airport. I wondered whether we would miss our flight. 

After several minutes, the bus driver said, “I’m just going to try to start it and see what happens.” To our great surprise and relief, the bus started right up! After the wild cheering subsided, I told the driver, “Don’t turn on your windshield wipers.” I’d noticed that he turned them on just before the bus died. We made it in time for our flight. 

-- My prayers for the trip were for safety and protection, as well as for accomplishing meaningful work. Both prayers were answered. Sometimes, people had to wait a while for another project because of the sheer volume of 29 participants wanting to be busy. The college people were very appreciative, and the group felt they achieved something worthwhile. 

-- Upon our arrival in Minneapolis from Alaska, the same driver picked us up. On the way back to Willmar, a fierce storm hit. I asked, “Is this the same bus we had on the way in? Don’t turn on the wipers!” He looked at me: “Oh, that was you.” We chuckled. “No, we got that problem fixed.” 

--This was my fourth time coordinating an Alaska missions trip: 2004, 2014, 2017, and 2025, and probably my last. I’m so grateful to Rocky for serving as my fellow group leader. He is the perfect person to have around when things don’t go as planned. I enjoy the planning, but I don’t like it when plans change. I’m glad I was able to go to Alaska one last time, see the new gym at the college, and reminisce about my two years living in Nome and meeting my husband there. 

 

Thank You, God, for Your faithful provision in all our comings and goings. Thank You for always watching over us. Grant us an awareness of Your presence. Amen. 

 

* * * * *

Protected in Childbirth

by Randi Farber 

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24 

 

-- On Thur., Oct. 2, at 38 weeks pregnancy, I was walking down the middle school hallway right before work began, and I happened to hit the tiniest little patch of water, slipped and fell on my rear end. I rolled my ankle a little but didn’t have any injury or pain. I messaged my doctor and she asked me to come in. 

My husband Ben and I had been trying to get pregnant for years and had a miscarriage 18 months earlier, so we’d been anxious about this baby all along, but so far everything had gone well. When I got to the clinic after work, the baby (we didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl) was fine, but my blood pressure was high. That was very unusual – my blood pressure was always low. I had some tests and they asked me to come back the next day. 

-- On Friday after work, my blood pressure was very high for over an hour – in the 150/100 range. The doctor diagnosed pre-eclampsia, which can be life-threatening for both mother and baby. I hadn’t had any symptoms, and wouldn’t have gone to the doctor until my Tuesday appointment if I hadn’t had that fall. 

-- At about 5 pm, they sent us over to labor and delivery to monitor the baby and check my blood pressure every 15 minutes. Eventually the doctor on call said, “I know you wanted to wait for a natural labor and delivery, but due to the high blood pressure for so long, we’ll have to admit you and induce you.” 

Early Saturday morning, I was induced with Pitocin. I dozed off and on, and when I woke from a dream the name “Tierza Maeve” came to my mind. We had made lists of possible names for a boy or a girl. All the old wives’ tales pointed to a boy, so that was unexpected.  Ben and I agreed the dream was a confirmation of what the name should be if Baby was a girl. 

-- I progressed quickly but started bleeding and lost a big clot of blood. After receiving an epidural, I was able to relax and breathe a bit. The doctor came back and said, “We can restart the Pitocin and try to have a natural delivery, but I’m afraid that your blood loss will cause an emergency if you have to push long or hard. Or, we can do a C-section right now, in a relaxed way, explain everything to you, and not be in a hurry. Baby’s fine and you’re fine now.”  

-- That sounded the smartest to us, so we agreed to it.  I was very nervous, having never had a major surgery. I was wheeled into an amazing atmosphere. I can’t explain the positivity and joy that was in the room. The doctor and nurses obviously enjoyed what they were doing and were looking forward to seeing a baby. The anesthesiologist told me that if the medical team stopped talking, that would be a cause for concern, but they never did. I was numbed from the ribs down, but otherwise I was awake and able to know what was going on, even though I couldn't see anything. I felt pressure but no pain.  Everything went well; Ben was by my head the whole time. The anesthesiologist explained everything that was happening and I felt very relaxed, comfortable, and confident. It was a blessed experience all around! 

-- The medical team never did find out what caused the bleeding. Looking back, I’m sure that God allowed my fall and my bleeding to make sure I had the C-section that my baby and I needed. Tierza Maeve was 6 lbs 7 ozs, 20 inches long, perfectly healthy and born at 12:53 pm on Sat.,, Oct. 4. Tierza means “beautiful” or “pleasant” and our little sweetie is both! 

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your loving care of mothers and babies.

Thank You for great medical care and thank You for coordinating the circumstances of our lives. -- Amen. 

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* * * * *

God Saved the Day 

by Lee Floren 

" . . . for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." Proverbs 2:8 

​

--Our 29-person team was on our way from Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, Alaska, to Homer, Alaska (about 90 minutes away) for a “fun day” outing. We took two 15-passenger vans; I was in the one Rocky was driving. We were about ¾ of the way there when the back end of our van started thumping and vibrating. Rocky pulled the van over on an approach, and all the men piled out to look it over and try to figure out what was wrong.

--There was nothing underneath it; the tires were in good shape. I happened to glance at the driver’s side back wheel, and three of the five lugs were gone – completely sheared off! I don’t know just how loose that wheel was, but we did not move another inch. 

--We called Shawn, who was driving the other van, and after he dropped off his group, he came back for us. We were able to enjoy most of the day in Homer, and the college took care of their van.  

--Looking back, I marvel at how God saved us and the college from what could have been a terrible accident. It’s always rush hour in Alaska during the summer with tourist traffic on the narrow and winding roads. The vibrations “just happened” to occur at a place with an approach where we were able to pull off. I “just happened” to look at the lugs.  God saved the day! 

Thank You, mighty God, for Your protection and care. Help us trust You in all circumstances of life. Amen. 

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* * * * *

Drop the Rock 

by Carolie Carlson 

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another that you may be healed." James 5:14 

 

-- Last summer was not one I'd ever want to relive. I had shared with a church friend about the impending death of my brother, the health decline of Myron, the need to find a smaller home, and a family relationship challenge, all converging simultaneously. 

 -- My friend was a patient listener and reassured me of his prayers. But as Summer and Fall went by, I saw my friend across the way in church on Sunday mornings, and I wished he would ask me about the challenges of the recent months. And I got ticked off when that didn't happen. Instead of seeking him out to give him an update, I found myself just avoiding him.  

-- Finally, this Spring, the Lord told me to "stop" holding a grudge and invite my friend and his wife for supper. After that time with them and another couple, my hard heart softened. As Pastor Chris preached in a recent sermon, I was convinced by God that I needed to "drop the rock" of my grudge and confess my sin. It wasn't easy, but the Holy Spirit gave me the wherewithal to do it.  Hallelujah! 

 -- My friend graciously forgave me. What freedom I had to be back on good terms as a sister and brother in Christ. Psalm 133:1 took on new meaning: “How good and blessed it is when brothers [and sisters] dwell in unity.” 

 --I had a new sense of freedom with Jesus also -- without a barrier of unconfessed sin between us. Psalm 32:1 rang true: "How blessed is the [wo]man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." 

 

O merciful God, You desire us to release everything that is not of You and find the beautiful freedom that Christ died to give us.

Help us seek Your face, confess our sins and forgive our brothers and sisters. -- Amen. 

 

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* * * * *

Am I Worthy? 

By Robin Iverson 

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:10

 

-- I was invited to go on the First Covenant Church mission trip to Alaska this summer. God blessed me to go on this trip. I almost didn’t go, because I felt unworthy. I was working at my job (cleaning the hallway of my apartment building) when I noticed that the door to the outside was open and my neighbor was smoking out in the parking lot. I closed the door to keep the smoke out. As I continued cleaning, the neighbor came over and opened the door. I shut it again. She got mad and yelled at me, “I was far enough away from the door!”  

-- I replied, “The door is supposed to be closed.” She called me a rude name and went off in a huff. I was so hurt, I cried. I asked my boss, and she said I had done the right thing. I was very troubled and almost started smoking again. I got nicotine gum instead. I felt like I was not worthy to go on a mission trip. 

This all happened shortly after I was baptized in the Holy Spirit by being dunked three times. I think the devil was trying to get me to give up. 

-- On Sunday, I came to church, feeling really bad.  In the bathroom, a friend of mine from church asked how I was doing. I told her a little bit of the story. She said, “I just had the same thing happen to me and am trying to learn how to forgive people who do mean things to me. Can I pray for you?”  She prayed for me right there in the bathroom, and I felt so much better. 

-- I ended up going to Alaska and I weeded. My team and I weeded the entire volleyball court of the college in Alaska. That was my gift. I came back and I weeded some more. That felt good. 

PS: My mean neighbor moved out! Praise the Lord! 

PPS: I got up in front of the whole church and told this story! Praise the Lord! 

 

Thank You, Jesus, that You have made us worthy by Your death and resurrection. Thank You

for sending Your people to remind us of Your grace. Please help us remind others. -- Amen. 

 

* * * * * ​

Blessed Assurance 

by Peter Stadem 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen.  -- Hebrews 11:1 (NASB) 

 

-- I have fond memories of my aunties and uncles singing “Blessed Assurance” with passion.  Everyone, including the cousins after a while, knew most of the words for all three verses.  At a family reunion, after church, at the end of a meal, even at a campfire, someone would start the song, and we would earnestly sing: 

-- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!  Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. 

-- I didn't know why this song was so special to the family until I was older. Back in 1947, my dad's brother (age 25) and brother-in-law (age 33) had died in a tragic accident. Dad told me that after their joint funeral at the city auditorium, the whole family and many friends went out to the country cemetery for the burial. After the ceremony, mourners remained at the gravesite, sharing and crying, still in shock.  Someone started singing the familiar hymn:  

-- Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels, descending, bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

-- For Dad and the rest of the family, it was a healing song, a unifying song, a hopeful song, evoking both sadness and joy.  Now I know why I enjoyed singing it so often.  I felt some of that peace and hope that the older generation felt, even though I didn’t know the story behind it at the time. 

-- Perfect submission, all is at rest. I, in my Savior, am happy and blest. Watching and waiting, looking above; filled with His goodness, lost in His love. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long! 

 

Blessed Savior, thank You for the assurance of eternity You give in Your Word and through Your Spirit.  Help us to walk in that assurance through the tragedies of our lives.  Amen. 

* * * * * 

Timeless Truths 

by Alan Arends 

 

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other;  I am God, and there is none like me." Isaiah 46:9 

 

-- When I was young, my family attended a Covenant church every week and sang hymns from a Covenant hymnal published in 1973. I love the old hymns. Many were written for people who couldn’t read, and the composers embedded profound theological truths in part to give the illiterate access to God’s Word. Additionally, songs such as “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” and “Amazing Grace” have stood the test of time. Mediocre songs from long ago have been discarded so that only the great ones remain.  

-- In 1996, the Evangelical Covenant Church published a new hymnal that used gender-neutral language. Most of the changes were minor. They 

annoyed me a little, because I’d memorized the older lyrics and now stumbled as I encountered unexpected phrases. But a few were distorted so severely as to border on heresy. “Hark the Herald Angels” is an example. The 1973 version’s “Pleased as man with men to dwell” refers to God humbling himself to put on human flesh to redeem us because we cannot redeem ourselves. The 1996 version says, “Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,” which makes it sound as though God was happy with us in our flesh. If that were true, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die. Severe changes like this made me angry. In the years that followed, my Church began singing modern praise songs. Eventually, the hymnal was seldom used.  

 -- In March of 2020, I had children of my own. Our oldest son was 6 years old and just learning how to read – he was one of the illiterate ones. The Covid pandemic had shut the churches down. Though I knew the Scriptures (Hebrews 10:25 - "not giving up meeting together” and Ephesians 5:19 - “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit”), fear, confusion, doubt, and sin caused me to ignore their plain text. Reluctantly, I consented to "online" Church.  I muzzled myself during corporate worship. I knew this was wrong, but I didn’t know what to do to make it right.   

 -- Fortunately, Romans 8:28 was in play: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

 -- The Holy Spirit was working on me. This question arose in my heart: “How are my children going to learn the truths contained in the old hymns that I was blessed to learn when I was young? We don’t sing from the hymnal much anymore; my children may only learn a few hymns before they become adults. Is this acceptable to me?” 

 -- As I prayed about this, the Lord revealed the answer. It is MY responsibility, as their father, to teach my children these truths. “How am I going to do this?” was the next question. The answer came: “I will sing my favorite hymns in my home. I will play them on the piano. I will play them on guitar. I will sing them so many times that my children will learn them without even realizing it.”  

 -- Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” I decided to apply these ideas in my home through hymns.  

 -- I bought a piano and a guitar, learned how to play them, found music to beloved hymns, and practiced daily on both instruments.  Now I get to teach my children to play and sing songs, such as "I Stand Amazed" and “The Old Rugged Cross” for themselves.  

 -- I was unfaithful -- neglecting corporate worship and singing. But God is faithful, and God will be faithful. He began a good work in me when I was young, and He is bringing this new work into completion (Philippians 1:6).  The other day, my 6-year-old daughter Olivia was singing “Blessed Assurance” at the top of her lungs as she played Legos upstairs. The sound of children praising the Lord fills my heart with joy. 

 -- I'm very grateful for the wisdom of the past and the great songs of the Church. I will let you guess which version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” you will hear in my home. 

 

Thank You, Creative God, for the wonderful music You have inspired your people to create over the centuries. Help us retain the wisdom of the past. Amen. --

* * * * * 

Sharing Our Gifts 

by Callie Williams 

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:4-5 

-- I dumped the bucket of water on Neemo’s head. “Drop!” I exclaimed as I ran around the circle of screaming, laughing children. Neemo chased me, but I collapsed, out of breath, in her spot, so now she had to walk around the circle with the bucket. “Drip...drip... drip...drop!” This game is a different version of Duck-Duck-Goose (or Duck-Duck-Gray Duck), especially suited for extremely hot days.  

-- I was in charge of games for Reading Circles every Monday in July. A team from First Covenant read stories, led games, shared snacks, and created a craft with increasing numbers of children from an apartment complex in Willmar. Each week, kids returned from the previous week and were excited to interact with us. On the last day, when the police, ambulance, and fire truck came, they swarmed all over the vehicles and got to know the officers. They were so sad that it was our last day. 

-- This was my second year helping with Reading Circles. I love children, and when I heard Stephanie’s announcement about Reading Circles last year, I was eager to volunteer. I also enjoy playing games, so that seemed like a good fit. It was inspiring to see how all the members of our team used their gifts to make this event possible.  

Thank You, All-Knowing God, that You use the gifts of Your people to love and serve the world. Help us to do everything in Your Name. --Amen.

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* * * * * 

God our Provider 

by Deb Van Buren 

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 

 

-- I was excited to go to Alaska with this team of 29 from First Covenant. When we arrived and the staff told us our options, I knew right away I couldn't work on the sewing machine at all – I wanted to be outside. Little did I know that I would learn to use a grinding thing – an angle grinder - and a skill saw, and my husband would never allow me to use those tools at home.  

-- The staff had faith that Janell, Rebecca, Andy and I could do this project. Below is a picture of the side of the new gymnasium. It’s huge – it felt like miles long – and we had to measure, fit and apply steel siding to the entire thing. We didn’t know what a pitch was, how to run a pitching tool, or how to use a screw gun as the siding needed breathing room and the screws needed to be secure, but not too secure to allow for contraction and expansion. We were thankful for direction from our leaders, Bruce and Mateo - they were great trainers and encouragers! We worked hard on Monday, and I know God provided for us because I got out of bed on Tuesday. I took ibuprofen every day because I was physically spent. By Friday I was feeling pretty good.  

-- My job at Centra Care Hospice is Volunteer Services Manager, so I spend my days utilizing volunteers, but ACC put me to shame. They have a volunteer program that is second to none. We 29 volunteers each offered 36 hours at $34.47/hour (based on the 2025 Independent Sector value of volunteer time), which comes to $35,987 in cost savings for just that week. We sent materials for food and lodging, which increased our giving to $64,500. The college strives to host 10 weeks of volunteers each summer, providing $645,000 per year from volunteer efforts – amazing! 

-- Several members of the administration spoke to us on our first night. Jeff Siemers, the Executive Vice President, told us of their commitment to being debt-free and how the Lord has provided for their needs all these years. I was proud and grateful to be a part of such a fine organization. 

 

God our Provider, thank You for providing for our every need, from excellent training to physical endurance to money.

Help us to remember Your faithful provision and trust You always. -- Amen. 

* * * * * 

Bumps in the Road 

by Lois Dunne 

 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 

 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2  

​

--When First Covenant Church announced a work trip to Alaska Christian College, it provided the needed impetus to seriously think about a long-held dream of going to Inuvik, an authentic native village in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Canada had recently finished a road to Tuktoyaktuk, so we could travel 95 miles north of Inuvik and make it all the way to the Arctic Ocean.  

-- We traded in our 26-year-old camper for a 3-year-old 5th wheel camper that was 2 tons lighter and 3 feet shorter, and started our trip on June 3 - plenty of time to make the 3200-mile trek up to “Tuk” and also the 1200-mile journey back to Soldotna, Alaska, for the work week, starting Saturday, June 21, with our church family. We asked our fellow Alaska travelers to keep us in their prayers along the way.  

-- Everything went smoothly for several days of driving on the freeway and into Canada. Our first detour came at Dawson Creek, in British Columbia, on mile zero of the Alaska Highway, on June 9. There was a big fire north of there, closing the road. Should we wait for the fire to be put out, or take the detour that would have taken us 250 miles out of our way? When we finally made it back to the Alaska Highway on June 12, the fire was still raging. We had made the right choice. 

-- We entered the Yukon Territory and reached Dawson City on June 14. The next morning, we called a campground at Eagle Plains (225 miles away), and the manager said it was first-come, first-served, but they had plenty of room – and “it takes about five hours to get here.” So we fueled up and entered the Dempster Highway late in the morning. The farther we drove, the worse the road got -- gravel, washboards, frost heaves, rocks, and potholes were just some of the problems. Some hills have up to a 10 percent grade with sharp curves and often a pothole or bridge with uneven approaches at the bottom. It’s a haul road for big trucks, presenting a danger for rocks hitting the windshield, and every vehicle creates an enormous dust plume, sometimes obscuring visibility for several feet. Despite all this, the scenery was beautiful, with sweeping valleys, forests, streams, and mountains. Bob settled on 25 miles per hour to preserve our tires. It took us 10 hours to get to Eagle Plains, and Bob noticed that the truck was difficult to start the next morning. 

-- We started for Inuvik, another 226 miles away. We stopped at the Arctic Circle to take pictures, and ferried across two rivers. From this point on, the sun never set; it just rolled around the sky.  Sometimes, we kind of lost track of time and stayed up too late.

We arrived at Inuvik in the late afternoon on June 16, and found a campsite where we could keep the truck running all night. Bob just knew that if he shut off the vehicle, he would not be able to get it started again.  

-- In the morning, we unhooked the trailer and located a mechanic who found that our batteries were shot. We bought two new batteries which he replaced for us, and to our relief, the truck started just fine. We drove to Tuktoyaktuk (Tuk - another 95 miles on gravel), had lunch at Grandma’s Kitchen, took a picture of our truck under the Arctic Ocean sign, and headed back to Inuvik. The Arctic Ocean was a big ice floe by the shore, but we could see that it was free of ice in the distance. Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik are located on Tundra -- flat and barren land-- but we saw “pingos” when we got close to Tuk. They are mounds of earth with cores of ice, and we saw the second-tallest one on earth – 984 feet in diameter at its base, rising to a height of 161 feet (a 15-story building) - which may be a thousand years old and is the largest one in the world that is still growing. These pingos were very noticeable, protruding from the flat tundra. 

-- The next day, June 18, we started for Eagle Plains – 225 miles away. We ferried back across the two rivers and were on a relatively flat stretch of road when a tire on our camper blew with a big BANG. It was in shreds. We had a tire repair kit with us, but you can’t fix a shredded tire with just a patch. Bob changed the tire, and we drove the rest of the way to Eagle Plains on our spare tire, which was not in the best shape, and arrived late in the day. The next morning, we were grateful to find two tires of the right size for us. The mechanic doesn’t have a set inventory, and some people had to wait until the next day to have their tires shipped in, but God made sure our tires were there. By the time the tires were mounted, it was 2 p.m. We drove about 60 miles and camped at a beautiful rest area on a mountain pass, just before Seven Mile Hill. The sun went down that night – for about half an hour! It made it a little hard to sleep, but we were exhausted.  -- We had no more trouble on the Dempster Highway, but when we arrived in Dawson City on June 20, we found out a fire had closed the road we planned to take. The next morning, a hazard warning was still in effect, so instead of the “Top of the World” highway with a 195-mile trip, our detour cost us almost 500 miles extra. On the way, Bob checked the tires at lunch and noticed one low tire. He changed the tire – we were happy we could change it at a rest stop instead of on the road.  

-- On June 22 – Sunday evening – we arrived in Tok, Alaska, still 470 miles away from the College. We would now miss our first day of work. Bob didn’t want to miss any more work days, so we started as soon as we got our spare tire fixed and arrived at the College about midnight.  We missed a day of touring and one day of work at the College, but were able to drive to the Arctic Ocean on an adventure we will never forget. We are especially grateful for our church family and friends who kept us in their prayers. 

 

Thank You, mighty Creator God, for the beautiful earth You have made.

Thank You for answering the prayers of Your people and keeping us safe. Amen.

* * * * * 

Blessed to be a Blessing 

by Markus Mehr 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my

witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   -- Acts 1:8 

-- In 2020, I was supposed to go to Ecuador on a mission trip. I had raised a lot of money, but the trip ended up being cancelled. God impressed upon me that I should use the money to go overseas through Matthew 28:19-20, where Jesus tells his disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

--I prayed that the Lord would guide me to a ministry opportunity that would fit my skill set. The first site that popped up after that prayer was a sports camp called Summer Madness run by Salt Factory Sports in Northern Ireland. I have gone there every year since. There are approximately 2,000 to 5,000 students, aged 12 to 18 years, at the camp each year. Volunteers provide sports for the camp, help setting up and tearing down. We are to help them know the joy and light they see in us come from the love of Jesus. 

-- God was at work in the camp. We were able to pray for multiple students, and the speakers also had opportunities to pray over the camp. The Holy Spirit was clearly at work, and the most significant highlight of all was that, while last year we had 200 students make a decision for Christ, this year 700 students received the Lord. What a fantastic thing to witness! 

--I’ve been drawn to the calling of youth ministry for a while now, and just before this year’s trip to Northern Ireland, my friend, Reuben Lanctot, sent me a text about serving as the youth director at Harbor Church in Spicer. Maddie and I prayed throughout the time I was gone. At one point during camp, I was thinking, “I don’t think I will take this job.” At that moment, the song “Make Room” came on, and I felt like the Lord confirmed the call, telling me to “make room” for what He wants to do through me. 

-- As Maddie and I continued to pray during the month after my return, we committed to Harbor.  Last Sunday, First Covenant Church prayed and commissioned us to this ministry, and we go forward, blessed to be a blessing. 

Thank You, Lord, for calling us to serve You, empowering us to do so, and encouraging us

through other believers. Grant us to witness to Your goodness everywhere we go. --- Amen. 

* * * * * 

A Place to Grow and Serve 

by Gwen Johnson 

I thank my God every time I remember you.  Philippians 1:3 

​

-- Back in 1990, when Bob and I were new attenders of First Covenant Church, I worked at Rice Hospital. One day, I got a call from our associate pastor, Allan Holte. “When is your coffee break? I’d like to come and visit you.”  

-- We met in the Rice Hospital cafeteria and spent twenty minutes visiting. I can’t even remember what we talked about, but it meant so much to me that someone from the church reached out to me personally. I felt God’s love in that pastor’s visit. 

Serving through our church has been very meaningful for me. Whether being on the decorating committee and preparing the sanctuary for different seasons, serving a meal to the Wednesday night family education group, or teaching children, I have learned the meaning of “Give, and it will be given to you.” 

-- I loved teaching Awana at FCC for all its years, co-teaching Sunday School with Ione Ingebretson, and working with Diane Johnson and Eileen Twedt on the children’s musicals. Getting to know the kids and helping strengthen their faith through Scripture memory, activities, and talking about Jesus was a highlight of each week. They say that the best way to learn something is to teach it, and I indeed found that to be true as I grew in my faith through teaching the children. 

-- For many years, Barb Buer led a weekly women’s Bible study that met at 7 a.m. It was such a great way to start the day that I would go to work at 6, check out, and attend the Bible study and then go back to work!  I have also appreciated other studies, including an Amazing Collection Study and, most recently, Sherilyn Honken’s Monday afternoon studies. 

-- During the past two years, as our granddaughter Ava grew ill and eventually passed on, FCC helped us greatly through Pastor Chris’ visits to our home, prayers by the leadership and members, and special Lenten Prayer nights.  God has used First Covenant Church in writing my story, and I’m forever grateful. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the way You have used Your body at First Covenant Church to bless, serve ,

and help people grow. May we continue to build Your kingdom here. Amen. 

​

* * * * * 

Assurance Amid Doubt 

by Stephanie Carlson  

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 

​

 -- I clicked “send’ and thought, “There’s no turning back now!” It was the Friday before the final Trailblazers (grades 3-5) at Lake Beauty Bible Camp. I had agreed to be the speaker, giving six talks throughout the week. Jodi Bertrand, camp program director, needed my slides by Friday. I had spent the last two months preparing the talks and slides for each one. Now I felt sure that all six talks were doomed to fail. I was ready to scrap them all - convinced they weren’t engaging enough; the wrong topics, confusing, you name it, I felt it! 

 -- At our Sunday morning worship service, as our guest preacher, Mike McCain, began his sermon, I couldn’t believe my ears. One by one, he made the points that I had planned to make in my mini-sermons! Relief and joy filled my heart as I whispered, “Thank you, Lord, for this confirmation that I’m on the right track.” 

-- I’m happy to share that the Lord honored the time and heart I poured into those messages. As I committed each talk to Him, He established the path, bringing clarity, confidence, and connection with the kids that only He could orchestrate. The object lessons were well received, and the chapel sessions stayed lively and focused. It was a joy to watch God take what I feared was inadequate and use it for His good purposes. 

Lord, thank You for confirming Your presence and guidance when doubt clouds our hearts.

Strengthen our trust in You, even when we can’t yet see the fruit of our obedience. Amen. 

* * * * * 

Help from the People of God 

by Diane and David Frey 

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

    

-- We received a call from Fort Wayne, Indiana, at 7 a.m., and the voice on the other end said, "Diane, Mom isn’t doing well; can you come home?” Diane’s mother, Hilda, was 102 years old and sharp as a tack, but she had just suffered a stroke, and it looked like her time was near.  

 -- We desperately wanted to be at Mom's side, but we lived in Minnesota. How could we get there? We had become friends with Bill Fry, a local church member, teasing each other over the “misspelling” of our last names. Bill knew our family lived in Indiana and had told us, “I’m a private pilot. If you ever need me, please call.” Remembering this, we called Bill at 7:30 a.m. and sure enough, he said, “Meet me at the airport at 9.” We threw some things into a suitcase, met him at the hangar, and by noon, we were in Fort Wayne. Bill waited with us until someone came to pick us up and insisted that we only pay for his fuel, not anything else.    

 -- When we arrived, the hospital was on Covid lockdown and visitation was severely restricted.  Unfortunately, a niece had put her name down for Hilda, so Diane couldn’t even get in to see her mother! This news was truly a devastating blow. Years earlier, Hilda had been a nurse at this very hospital, assigned to work the very room she was in. Diane had also been a nurse at this same hospital, assigned to the emergency room.  Both Hilda and Diane were longtime family friends with Patty, who stepped in when she learned about Hilda's situation. Patty still worked in hospital administration and was able to relax the rules for Hilda's family. We were permitted to discreetly move around, being quiet and careful to keep her door closed so Hilda had the comfort of her entire family as she passed away. 

 -- We were deeply grateful to God and His people for providing for our family during this difficult yet peaceful time, as Hilda went to be with her Savior. 

 

God of all comfort, thank you for sending your people to bring us your comfort in hard times. Please help us to pass it on. Amen.

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* * * * * 

A Great Teacher 

by Jenna Van Buren 

Editor’s Note: Jenna Van Buren died in a car accident in 2009.

This story, written in her senior portfolio, and is shared with her family’s permission. 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 

 

-- My youth pastor, Dave Ostercamp, has been one of the biggest role models in my life. He has taught me so much about myself, my life, and my relationship with God. 

-- A couple of years ago, Dave showed me that I needed to change, not because I was caught up in bad or mischievous things, but because I was stuck in a comfort zone with my family, friends, and church. I am not a shy person, but I wasn’t reaching out to serve others outside of my bubble. I was like a small child, being cared for by my family and friends, and still taking baby steps to become the person God intended me to be. It was time to walk without holding someone’s hand. 

-- Dave had me start small, with day trips to the Cities to serve at a homeless shelter or food shelf. I enjoyed every moment. Eventually, he suggested that I join the church’s mission trip to Ecuador. I would step out on a limb, not only sharing my faith and serving others, but also leaving my home and going to a completely different environment. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I came back a whole new person. 

-- I grew in patience in Ecuador. First, Dave encouraged me to speak with the people in spite of my very poor Spanish abilities. I don’t think they understood what I was trying to communicate at all, but it was good for me to try, and they appreciated it. Next, Dave put me in a group working with children. Previously, I didn’t have the tolerance to put up with kids, but I hesitantly agreed to do it. It was so amazing; they clung to me and in a short time, I fell in love with them all. 

-- I learned to be humble and willing to serve. Sometimes the food we were given or our projects were gross, but I learned not to react with disgust or side comments. And the friends I made are remarkable. Seeing how content they are even when their circumstances are much harsher than mine probably will ever be is inspirational. I’ve learned not to take anything for granted.  

-- I’m so grateful that Dave has taken me under his wing and taught me so much about myself and God.  

 

Thank You, God, for the people you send into our lives to help us grow.   Grant that we may help others to grow as well. Amen. 

 

* * * * * 

God Owns it All 

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.) 

The earth is the Lord’s & everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1 

 

A former pastor of First Covenant remembered Leo Rosland’s story. Leo was a member of First Covenant Church and the last of three brothers who still lived on the family farm southwest of Willmar. They had farmed successfully and significantly increased their acreage. When the pastor drove onto the property to visit Leo, he saw what must have once been the showpiece of the area. He surveyed white buildings, a groomed lawn, and a small, humble home. He and Leo sat in the kitchen, and Leo shared the years of progress he had experienced: from horses to tractors, from crop rotation to intensified farming. At the end of their discussion, Leo remarked, “Pastor, God has given all of this to us, and when we are gone, He is going to get it all back.” Leo had worked with previous FCC pastors in his estate planning. After Leo's passing, the church inherited a substantial amount of property from the Roslund Estate. After all of it was sold, Leo’s farm funded significant ministry to people in the Willmar area and beyond. God did indeed “get it all back.” 

Creator God, You made this world and You sustain it. Help us to remember that everything we have is Yours and to use it for Your glory and Your purposes. Amen.