Testing the Soil

In February, I shared with you about the importance of our congregation “cultivating” some important initiatives this coming year. At the top of that list was the development of a new relationship with St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stacy, Minnesota. So how did this possibility emerge?  

A couple of years ago, Pastor Tony Stoutenberg reached out to me about his upcoming retirement from St. John’s and wanted to discuss a possible partnership with CGLC. He had already broached the subject with his Church Council and was “testing the soil” with me. We agreed to get together “sometime” for a conversation and left it at that. Fast forward to last fall. Pastor Tony and I agreed to have a few leaders from our congregations get together for a friendly discussion about the future. We met and had a wonderful conversation about our shared history (Pastor Mary Ellen Steinkraus and the late Pastor Al Valerius each served at St. John’s). They are just beginning a call process and are very interested in what ministry partnership could look like. 

So far, our Student Ministry has collaborated with St. John’s for some shared events and we will be exploring other ways to connect.

Why does all this matter? I believe that the Holy Spirit may be up to something as we discern the future ministry and mission of CGLC. We didn’t go looking for this opportunity, it simply presented itself to us. I am not certain where this leads, but the possibilities are exciting and I think it is important that we “test the soil” to find out. 

As things develop, I will keep you informed. In the meantime, I would ask you to pray for St. John’s Lutheran Church and to listen to what the Holy Spirit might speak to you. We are in this together!