By Benjamin Bradley


Your plane has landed. Nairobi, Kenya.

The sky is overcast. It’s crowded. The air smells of car exhaust. You have been traveling for the last twenty-four hours, half-way across the earth. And while you’d like nothing more than to lie down and sleep, the leadership conference you’ll be teaching at is set to begin in only a few hours. My advice for you? Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Have faith.

Faith that you will say the right words to people who call the slums “home.” Faith that you will have the strength and endurance for vigorous leadership sessions. And, of course, faith that your driver will deliver you safely through the utter chaos that is Nairobi’s rush hour traffic.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.

***

In August, the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC) had enough faith to send a few of its leaders to Africa. And while the main objective was to teach on leadership and invest in the lives of young leaders along on the trip, the team came prepared to learn from their hosts.

“I want to equip future leaders with the ability to distinguish what the essence of the Christian faith is,” said ARC leader Michael Bradley (young ARC leader, Heidi McClure pictured on left, praying with Kenyan women). “[The Kenyan people] have been living out a Christian life, facing challenges we can’t even dream of. So we have a lot to learn from them, in order to go back home as leaders and do a better job of Christian mission in our own culture.”





The team began their trip by speaking at the 2011 Soaring Again Conference, which was held in Kabiria, one of Nairobi’s many slums. Hosted by Rev. Emmanuel Kisemei (pictured below, right) at his church, Life Changing Sanctuary, ARC leaders spoke on a variety of leadership-related topics, including community outreach, growing in genuine leadership, and evangelism (pictured left with children from Kabiria are team members Debi Bradley and Tara Mabry). Kisemei, whose church is part of a broader organization called the Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK), then led the team south to a town called Loitokitok, where the FPFK Leadership Gathering was held. Throughout the trip the team built numerous relationships with local leaders, and along the way they encountered several troubled individuals who came to faith in Christ, receiving them as new members of the church.


The team, representing several organizations and churches, included leader Dawn Lundgren, an ARC pastor (pictured left with Pastor Kisemei, praying with a man to receive Christ as Savior and Lord); ARC Administrative Assistant, Heidi McClure; ARC pastor Bob Mabry and his wife, Tara; Jan Erickson and Marcy Braman; and ARC Director Michael Bradley, his wife, Debi, and their son, Benjamin.

The lessons learned are certainly difficult to articulate.

Each day was met with the confrontation of a new reality that few Americans can truly comprehend. In Kabiria the houses are nothing more than tin shacks, packed shoulder to shoulder. According to IRIN, a global humanitarian news service, the population density of Nairobi’s slums can reach alarming numbers, with around 2,000 people per hectare (roughly two and a half acres). Trenches are dug along the side of the crowded streets to be filled with human waste and garbage. For many, basic necessities like water must be obtained from boreholes or purchased by water trucks at an inflated price. Although a liter of water can cost only a few cents, every purchase is trying for families whose net income is around thirty dollars a month.

Braman, who has been on several mission trips and four times to Kabiria, paused when asked about the emotional changes she underwent before and after her first trip. “I don’t think we have the capacity to even ask the right questions…coming back, we don’t even understand,” she said. “Maybe it would be better to ask my husband or my family what the difference is [when I came back].”

Yet, while the people of Kabira face many hardships they are not without hope. Kisemei, who lives in Kabiria with his family, stands a true example of leadership. He lives in Kabiria by choice, experiencing the same conditions as his congregation, and does not see escape as the answer. Instead, he has worked with the community of Kabiria to improve the conditions of the slum. Currently in his eleventh year as lead pastor for Life Changing Sanctuary, Kisemei has seen change come slowly but surely. Last December he connected Norwegian Pastor Anita Nystrand and her church, The Way, to build a much needed water well, which now supplies the community with clean water at a minimal cost. The profit allows the facility to be maintained and, when the time comes, to be replaced so the people will continue to have access to clean water.

By the end of their stay in Kabiria, the ARC team had the privilege of seeing the foundations of a new church building being constructed. Kisemei hopes to raise the rest of the funds needed to finish the project and make room for new members. As the church continues to grow there may be a need for more land as well. The going rate for an acre in their neighborhood is 3.5—4 million Kenya shillings (roughly $43,300 U.S. dollars). In the meantime, his church continues to be a cornerstone of support for the community of Kabiria—a community that is not waiting for the aid of others, but building.

This encouraging image was needed before traveling south, where the team’s work grew more demanding. In the dusty town of Loitokitok, located at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the team only took breaks for their meals. Teaching sessions doubled. Evenings included speaking at crusades, where ARC leaders would preach on stage to the general public, with people coming to faith in Christ each evening. And when the sun had gone, the team would return to the Loitokitok church for one final session before getting some well-deserved sleep. Then they would wake up to do it all over again.

The ARC speakers taught on lessons ranging anywhere from Lundgren’s “You have an appointment with God,” to Mabry’s “You have beautiful feet” (see Isaiah 52:7) (ARC Pastor Bob Mabry pictured here with Kenyan interpreter and pastor, James). Powerful, striking, and at times particularly quirky, each lesson helped break down cultural barriers and impart important insights on leadership.



Bradley discussed the importance of such cultural validation later, saying that “Unless what you’re teaching can be taught in every culture in the world, it’s not truly Kingdom of God teaching, it’s cultural teaching.” Such opportunities, he said, allow leaders to better understand the core strength of their lessons and build upon them as they return home.

Bradley (pictured left with his son and team member, Ben Bradley and ARC pastor, Bob Mabry) especially understands how such experience is invaluable to the ARC organization, as it seeks to develop young leaders. “Trips such as these will help us be very intentional about investing in and developing the growing number of young leaders in the ARC,” said Bradley. One such leader, Heidi McClure, proved to be more than a capable. McClure not only taught at both conferences, but spoke at two evening crusades—preaching in a town square where locals set aside their daily routines and listened to her message.

Later, McClure would meet with Bradley to discuss her experiences. “Leaders are not built in a classroom, leaders are built in the context of relationships with experienced leaders,” said Bradley. “Much of leadership is learned in the context of being ‘with’ someone who is a safe place; someone who is whole and healthy enough to share their life experiences of victory and failures…to spend time helping a young leader process and integrate all they’re learning.”

Next year the ARC will be preparing for trips to South Africa, Brazil, and Kenya, where it hopes to continue to offer younger leaders a chance to broaden their global perspective. According to Bradley, these trips “Expand the world view of young leaders,” and lead individuals away from a westernized perspective by bringing them closer to a “biblical worldview.”

Throughout their journey the team had many powerful encounters. They prayed over orphaned children. They received several individuals who were troubled by alcoholism and drug abuse as new members to the church (ARC Director Mike Bradley and Kenyan Pastor, Daniel are shown here praying with a man to receive Christ as Savior at an open air crusade). In one particular case, a woman came forward bearing a rope. She was prepared to kill herself. But after listening to the message that morning at church, she had found God. Her hands still shaking after the service, she handed the rope to over to Lundgren.

***

Exhale. Open your eyes.

On the last Sunday service of your trip the clouded sky finally clears. The sun shines down on your shoulders. A cool breeze travels across your neck. And while the church comfortably seats a hundred the service must be held outside. There are simply too many people. Wood columns hold up a make-shift tarp roof, made up of flour bags that are stitched together. A new church is under construction to meet the demands of a growing congregation, the second church you’ve seen being built in two weeks. Nothing looks so promising as the piles of red earth that have been dug up to lay a cement foundation.

And as the lead pastor of the Loitokitok church thanks you and says goodbye, he leaves you with this message from 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

What happened at the ARC Southwest Gathering on July 13th-15th? Well, not much, except…Five people received Christ as Savior and Lord; many received a filling of the Holy Spirit; others stood to pray for healing and one man had his knee healed just while we were worshipping together; spot on prophetic ministry that encouraged and set people free; receiving of prayer language and singing in the spirit over others by some; encouragement and ministry to the host (Penasquitos Lutheran) staff and congregation; current relationships renewed and strengthened, new relationships birthed; over 90 teens and young adults gathering together to worship the Lord; a baptism in the ocean of a Midwest teen (yeah, Alex Franta!); challenging and empowering messages from keynote speakers Kristi Graner, Pete Greig, and Mike Bradley; workshops that cast vision and further equipped people for ministry; and more.



All in all we spent 2 ½ days in an atmosphere beneficial for kingdom transformation, relationships, and mission. Listen to the testimonies of some who attended:

• “The 2011 annual Southwest Gathering of the ARC in San Diego was a breath of fresh air for me and the leaders from my church who attended. It was so encouraging to remember that we are part of a spiritual family that is bigger than our own congregation, yet connected by common values, vision, and a genuine concern for one another.”
• “The ARC Gathering (Southwest) was an anointed time in Southern California. The spiritual deposit left at the host congregation (PLC, San Diego) along with the many other leaders and pastors from congregations around the country will, no doubt, fundamentally change ministry for years to come.”
• "What happened here this week was utterly amazing and cannot be put into words; it is something that we've caught and will now need to take away and infect others."
• “Pete Greig's message of getting real with prayer, taking off the masks, and crying out to God was exactly the word I personally needed to hear. The personal ministry I received from not only my colleagues and friends, has renewed and refreshed my spirit.”
• “My husband and I were so encouraged to not give up with our unanswered prayers; encouraged to keep pressing.”
• “I liked how our keynote speaker Friday evening shared then ministered; shared some more ministered again. I was on the edge of my seat, fully engaged because I knew God was in control of the evening.”
• “Pete Grieg was outstanding. I was again very impressed with his humility and transparency.”
• “The opportunity to fellowship with new found friends was paramount.”
• “The speakers were inspiring, the worship was powerful, and the workshops were stimulating.”
• “As a pastor it was so encouraging to have a group of our folks from our congregation at the conference to enjoy the Lord's presence together. I fully expect that we will enter a new season now as the Lord creates us to be a community of prayer.”
• “Highlights for me: Pete Greig's honesty about wrestling with unanswered prayer, remaining in a place of grace and faith even when the Lord seems to be silent. Prophetic words spoken over some of the people who are nearest and dearest to my heart and to see how encouraged they were that God is indeed at work in their lives and has a future and a hope for them. Great conference let's do it again sometime!!”
• “This is the most authentic multigenerational and relational group I have connected with in my 33 years of pastoral life.”

We are very grateful to the staff and congregation of Penasquitos Lutheran Church in San Diego who did such an outstanding job of hosting us!

Join us for The Midwest Gathering on October 26-28 at North Heights Church-Arden Hills in St. Paul, MN. You can register for the gathering and get hotel information by going to our website at: arcusa.org.

See you there!

I attended the ARC Southwest Gathering in San Diego this year. It was my first time at an ARC gathering and although there was a huge problem with this one I can’t wait for next year’s gathering.

Having never been at an ARC Gathering I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but since God, with his penchant for the unexpected and counterintuitive, has decided I should be an intercessor and since prayer was the focus of the Gathering, I thought I had better go. The session topics looked pretty good and I might learn something practical.

Holy Spirit had a different idea.

Almost immediately during the Wednesday evening worship God started bringing to light and dealing with some things that were hindering my spiritual maturation. After the worship, Pete Grieg gave a powerful message focusing on moving from prayer as a guilt-inducing “should” to an invitation to be in the presence of God. That served as a personal keynote for the rest of the week.

Thursday morning kicked off with a chapel service where Holy Spirit was leading me through some necessary stuff. It was a profound and liberating time. Seemingly off-hand remarks from speakers would set off new waves of Holy Spirit’s work in me. I had more honest, BS-free conversation with God than I suspected was possible.

With each new speaker and each new topic Holy Spirit was at work dealing with me where I needed it most. It was sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes euphoric but it was always truly awesome. People I did not know prayed for and with me. One had a vision that confirmed to me and reinforced what Holy Spirit had been telling me.

With each new lesson, both from the speakers and from Holy Spirit, my prayer time became more genuine, less pro forma, and more vital and intimate.

Friday dawned with new revelation for someone else that I was able to share and then take to the Lord in a very powerful prayer time. This was amplified by someone ministering to me in prayer while I was praying over the revelation for someone else.

Friday evening the Gathering concluded with an incredibly powerful, Spirit-filled evening of personal testimony, revelation, worship, and the saving and renewing action of the Spirit. I was disappointed to have it end after only three hours.

I went expecting a couple of days of informative teaching. As is often the case with God, when we go seeking, he way over-delivers. I got a two-and-a-half day spiritual retreat and boot camp that changed my relationship with the Father in ways I would not have dared to go after.
If you’ve read this far and if you noticed the title you are probably wondering, “So what was wrong with it?” Here’s what: there were not nearly enough of my brothers and sisters from Wonderful Mercy there to share in the spiritual bounty!

I can’t wait for the chance to go next year. If you don’t go you will surely miss out on something sweet the Father has for you.

Please make your plans now to attend the 2012 Southwest Gathering in Huntington Beach in July. There will special sessions for children, youth, and adults. It promises to be an amazing experience!


Note: David Hammerslag is a member of Wonderful Mercy Church in Gilbert (Phoenix), Arizona.

From Mike Bradley, ARC Director:
ARC Pastor-Author, Dave Householder, has published a new novel entitled, The Blackberry Bush. I recently read Dave’s new book and really enjoyed the read. In The Blackberry Bush, Dave does a nice job of weaving different periods of history in and out of a story that keeps you engaged and presents characters you’re interested in. The two main characters, Kati and Josh seem destined to cross paths eventually and throughout the novel you follow their search for freedom. The novel is filled with “chance” encounters which don’t seem to be “chance” at all and that’s one of the powerful and relevant messages Dave confronts us with in his book: it’s often the “chance” encounters transform our lives.

As I was reading The Blackberry Bush I “happened” to take it with me when I got my hair cut one day. The young gal who cuts my hair asked me what I was reading and as I shared with her I could see she was interested. After cutting my hair I gave her the book as a gift and I’m looking forward to my next hair cut (I don’t get that many!) to see if she has begun to read it yet and if so, how she’s enjoying it. I’ve now given away over a dozen copies to various people. I encourage you to go on Amazon.com and buy your own copy (in paper or on your kindle). You’ll enjoy the read and just may be encouraged to be more alert than ever to the “chance” encounters God has given you in life, and be on the lookout for the ones He still has coming your way.

Thanks, Dave, for this creative gift you’ve graced us with!

We are excited to announce that Hosanna Church in Lakeville, MN has joined the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC). Led by pastors Bill Bohline (pictured), Ryan Alexander Mike Swecker, Tim Hatt, and Patricia Moe, Hosanna’s mission is to advance God’s Kingdom everywhere, one person at a time. Hosanna values include intimacy with God, loving relationships, generosity, serving and evangelism.

I (Mike Bradley, ARC Director) recently had lunch with Bill Bohline, Ryan Alexander and Mike Swecker. As we ate together, Bill told me that Hosanna joined the ARC because of so many shared values between Hosanna and the ARC, particularly the non-negotiable value of embracing the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

We are looking forward to discovering how God would have the ARC serve and support Hosanna, and how He gives them revelation regarding their participation in the ARC. Hosanna is one of the latest of a number of churches who have been in process of joining and partnering with the leaders and congregations of the ARC. We look forward to announcing other churches and leaders who have joined the ARC in the coming months as they complete their application processes.

Please be praying for Hosanna and her leaders. Welcome, Hosanna, to the Alliance of Renewal Churches.

As Director for the Alliance of Renewal Churches (ARC), I highly commend to you Heart of the Father Ministries, led by ARC pastor, Dr. Joe Johnson (pictured on the right). Joe is a longtime friend of so many of us in the ARC, and literally incarnates the heart of the Father. Joe’s teaching is biblically based, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and transformational in impact.

Heart of the Father’s kingdom purpose is: To connect you to the Father's heart of love for you, the healing power of Jesus and the empowering presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Heart of the Father ministries sponsors a variety of teaching and ministry opportunities throughout the year to equip God’s people to do kingdom ministry and be apprentices of Jesus such as:

• Teaching seminars led by Joe Johnson on topics such as praying for physical and inner healing, and ministering the Father’s love
• Sponsoring men’s retreats – the next one is on April 8-10 at Palomar Mountain Camp near San Diego, CA
• Sponsoring schools of prayer. The next one, “How to Pray for One another in Small Groups and Leadership Teams” will be held March 19 at Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, CA with guest teacher, Dr. Georgiana Rodiger
• Sponsoring inner healing seminars – the next one features Dr. Chuck Kraft and will be held at Grace Lutheran Church on April 29-30

During the past year, Joe:

• Has traveled overseas to minister in Germany and Norway
• Has held training conferences for Our Saviors Lutheran Church (ARC) in Midland, TX and Community of Hope Lutheran Church (ARC/LCMC) in Tucson, AZ
• Traveled to Sacramento, CA for Courage Be To You ministries, providing prayer appointments, and healing prayer training for their staff and volunteers
• Been a workshop presenter for The Holy Spirit Conference in St. Paul, MN and for both ARC Gatherings in 2010.

I personally, and we as a network, highly trust and commend Joe Johnson to you, and encourage you to consider scheduling him to come teach and minister in your congregation.

In addition to serving as the Director, Heart of the Father Ministries, Joe serves as Community Life Pastor for Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, CA and as interim Pastor for City on a Hill in Torrance, CA.

To arrange for speaking or ministry with Joe, email jjohnson@gracehb.org

"Do not conform (be shaped) any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good and pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

In my 15-years serving as a pulpit minister, I've experienced two major moments of personal "mind transformation." Both have shaped and moved me to test and approve God's will for my life and labor as a servant of the Lord Jesus!

The first breakthrough came several years ago when I was on the verge of leaving congregational ministry. In the midst of deep discouragement, I was introduced to the movement of Lutheran Renewal, the start of The Master's Institute Seminary and the beginning of the ARC, (Alliance of Renewal Churches). It was at that time the Lord "renewed" my energy and transformed my mind to a new vision of leading and teaching by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My second great moment of transformation came just over a year ago. I wasn't contemplating leaving ministry, but I was feeling flat and fatigued. After working extremely hard for six-years, focused solely at planting a church in Northfield, MN, while seeing the fruit of a healthy and vibrant congregation, I was not witnessing transformation in the over-all area of Northfield. The city and the region seemed quite un-changed.

There was good news and bad news. Good News: pre-believers were coming to faith at Rejoice! Bad News: Northfield was still experiencing terrible corruption at city hall. Good News: Offerings were up at Rejoice! as we prepped for building a facility. Bad News: Northfield was cranking up debt while main street businesses were fighting to stay relevant. Good News: High school youth were choosing to be a part of our growing Rejoice! community ministry. Bad News: the over-all youth culture of Northfield was still making state news with drug and alcohol abuse. Good News: the city's two private colleges, St. Olaf and Carleton were financially stable with plenty of great faculty and students. Bad News: more and more of the college faculty and students were seeing Jesus as just a good guy along with Buddha and Mohammad; rather than as their personal Lord and Savior.

The Lord put two scenarios in my path. I could be happy for Rejoice! and settle for less by adopting a "too bad for the rest of the city" mindset, or, I could start seeing Rejoice! as the igniter-church for a marketplace transformational movement in blessing the whole city.

I have chosen the latter. In doing so, the Lord has transformed my sense of pulpit purpose. Rejoice! is no longer just focusing on congregational growth, but kingdom growth. Obviously it's still hard work, but I am no longer feeling flat and fatigued, but energized with faith! How did this come to be? I'll try to make a long story, short. My purpose is to encourage you as ARC pastors and congregations to seek the Lord's biblical transformation of your own life and ministry--- to better know God's good, pleasing and perfect will for His entire creation.

About four-years ago, I caught word on what the Holy Spirit was doing in Elk River, MN. Pastors were meeting with business owners, government officials and school employees to really dig-in and pray for the city. Unity in Christ for the sake of the city was out-weighing denominational preferences and traditions. The impact of this faithfulness triggered miracles throughout the city! For example, Elk River's teen suicide rate, once the highest per-capita in the nation, fell to nothing. Business, government and the schools began to flourish with greater favor. Christians went from Sunday morning pew sitters to Monday morning marketplace action ministers! Business leaders began opening doors for employees to pray and participate in Bible studies. Now-a-days, the mayor is constantly being asked to speak at various engagements around the world--- more about her faith than about her politics!

The inspiration for this transformational movement came from the world-wide ministry of Ed Silvoso and International Harvest Evangelism. Marketplace miracles, like those in Elk River, are occurring every day all around the world. Focused on Jesus' calling to "make disciples of all nations..." the heart of Harvest Evangelism is birthed from Jesus' instructions in Luke 10. He is instructing his followers how to effectively evangelize a city and a nation with the biblical purposes and principles of God. It doesn't begin with a soap-box and a declaration to "turn or burn." It doesn't start with handing out tracks and inviting people to come to a church program. Instead, Jesus lays-out God's strategy for permanently winning people to His salvation and kingdom purposes for their lives. Luke 10 is a process of patient persistence, making evangelism about God's grace and our daily obedience to serve Him. Here are the four action steps from Luke 10:

ACTion-1: "Bless" others. Speak "God's peace" to people and systems in your spheres of influence, Luke 10:5-6. After I began taking Jesus seriously at his word, it's no more drive-by cursings for me, where I complain to God about a government agency, a school system or even a church mission. Instead, I'm seeking more to bless people, places and things into God's care. The prayer of peace pushes back the kingdom of darkness and breaks forth God's kingdom of light! The ARC knows that!

ACTion-2: "Fellowship" with others. Build relationships with those outside the kingdom of God, Luke 10:7-8. People will trust you as a Christian as you show them you are trust worthy! I'm now intentionally taking the time to speak to more and more people outside my congregation. I'm not trying so much to get them to come to Rejoice!, but seeking to get them to first trust a Christian!

ACTion-3: "Minister" to others. Respond to people's felt needs in the name of Jesus, Luke 10:9a. Once trust is established, people will begin asking you for Godly advice, or healing prayer, or an invitation to your church worship service! After being patiently bold enough to pray and fellowship with others in my community, I am finding growing favor to minister to them as well!

ACTion-4: "Proclaim" to others. Announce the kingdom of God has come near and is available to them through Jesus Christ, Luke 10:9b. People are far more open to hearing how God wants to transform their lives and labor when prayer has taken over the city, leading to fellowship and ministry. I'm learning, even bit-by-bit, that when I trust God's idea for evangelism (Luke 10), rather than my own cleverness, I'm experiencing greater freedom and success as a pastor. Yes, I mean supernatural success!

So, with a new paradigm and a network of like-minded believers around me, I am greatly inspired to believe that God has the same heart for Northfield that He does for Elk River and the whole world. This Romans 12 and Luke 10 paradigm shift has led me to faith ACTion, as I have joined others in establishing a prayer room in downtown Northfield. We are inviting anyone and everyone to use it during all hours of the day...and people have been doing so! I am now networking with Ed Silvoso and Harvest Evangelism, attending both the international and North American conferences. I didn't go by myself, though, instead I have taken dozens from Northfield with me so we can all catch and grow into the vision!

From this core group who share a heart for Northfield, we have invited various other marketplace folks from around town to join us in a Bible study created by Greg Pagh, the lead pastor of Christ Church in Otsego, MN. The study is called "Faith Beyond Belief." I have used it as a small group teaching tool for both my congregation and for local business people, government servants and school officials outside my congregation! Again, I am no longer feeling flat and fatigued, but energized on faith!

Over the last year, the practicing core of Northfield transformation marketplace ministers has grown to over 60 people. We are now gathering weekly for prayer, and meeting monthly for breakfast and testimony sharing. Members are seeing themselves as ministers and their labor as their worship of God!

You'll take great delight in hearing that my whole perspective of ministry has been transformed--- shaped and moved by the Holy Spirit's calling to pastor the public with plenty of marketplace minister assistance! I am no longer just serving a wonderful congregation of 270 worshipping souls, but participating with others to disciple a whole city of 20,000 souls--- believers and pre-believers!

Is it working? Indeed, we are already seeing the fruit of marketplace ministers serving in their various spheres of daily influence. People are getting excited about living their faith like never before. They are establishing and taking responsibility to lead all sorts of new kingdom ministries; everything from prayer walking the neighborhood streets, to building playground equipment on the school grounds, to running for various local government and school leadership offices, to one business owner dedicating his business as a "kingdom company" for the Lord's work. We are believing on God's word like never before!

As a whole, Northfield-Dundas are certainly not "there yet", but with city-wide prayer evangelism, I know the two communities are improving. They have to, because as we are obedient to Jesus' directions in Luke 10, our faith always triggers God's Holy Spirit power of mind transformation-- to know His good, pleasing and perfect will!

Pastor Dan Clites
Rejoice! Lutheran Renewal Church
Northfield-Dundas, MN
www.rejoicenorthfield.org