Feb. 2002
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Fra Prestens Skrivebord Mindekirken: Something you cannot get anywhere else. This year the Mindekirken Congregation celebrates the 80th Anniversary and the Church Council decided to take this opportunity to initiate a membership drive. At the Worship Service Sunday January 13th the Anniversary celebration was arranged and we were happy to have Pastor T.Michael Harty as guest preacher. It was great at this special day to welcome 4 new associate members. In this way this day also was a kind of kick off of our membership drive. Last year we welcomed a good group of new members. Now it is time to take new steps forward. We are not only looking back but our main focus is the future. More than anything else we have to pay attention to the time to come. Our goal this year is to increase the Mindekirken membership list. For that purpose Mindekirken has to offer people something they cannot get anywhere else. I think Mindekirken has something unique to offer that is related to the words "Norwegian Memorial". Mindekirken has a unique history and culture. This also includes "contemporary" and "up date" what is Norwegian. This is the most attractive and fascinating to many people coming to Mindekirken. But to build up the Mindekirken congregation is primarily to be taken from something more basic that mere lengthen the membership list. I am thinking of the preaching of the positive, life-changing Good News of Christ and if we are excited by what God is doing in our church. And if we are able to create an open, welcoming fellowship and in the same time present a challenge to our new members as well as those who have been members for a number of years, - this would make people flock to Mindekirken. What drives you to Mindekirken? Every church is driven by something. That might be traditions, personalities, finances, programs, events and even the church building itself! There are some basic dimensions of building up a congregation and I think Mindekirken is capable to offer the following: - Worship Services that make our congregation stronger. - A fellowship that makes our congregation warmer. - A call to follow Christ that makes our congregation deeper. - A variety of ministry that makes our congregation broader. - A call to outreach that makes our congregation larger. Each one of these is something to pay even more attention to in order to develop and make Mindekirken to a growing community. A successful membership drive comes from a purpose driven congregation! It comes from a healthy and vital church body. It comes from quality rather than quantity. To have a long term serving staff and pastoral leadership seems to be of great importance. You are more than welcome to join the Mindekirken community to test out the principles mentioned above and to find out by experience. Ole Amund Gillebo Pastor
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The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |