News from the Northwest Conference

Tending the fire in our lives

By Dave Cairns, Executive Director of Pilgrim Pines Conference Center

Being woken up at 1:30 a.m. is not exactly my idea of fun, but I must admit, I was looking forward to it. The gentle push and quiet voice telling me to wake up meant that it was my turn to tend the fire. The fire had been burning for the previous three hours and was being tended to by students and leaders attending the East Coast Conference Adventures in Leadership PILOT program. After spending three days canoeing through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, we each spent 30 minutes on the final night tending the fire by adding small branches to keep it going. It was a time to be alone with God and reflect on all that we had experienced in the previous week.

Adventures In Leadership (AIL) has successfully trained high school students in leadership development in Minnesota for nearly 20 years. A partnership between the Northwest Conference and Adventurous Christians has solidified its consistency. Recently, the denomination asked if the NWC would be willing to develop pilot programs for other regional conferences. In 2012, the Central Conference and Canada Conference participated in pilot programs and then ran their own version of AIL in 2013. The East Coast Conference, through Camp Squanto, participated in a pilot this summer. Our two leaders and four students flew from Boston to Minneapolis before driving to Adventurous Christians.

Andrew Sturdy and I are both native Minnesotans, while our four students had never been to the state. While at AIL, we were presented with various models of Christian leadership; we took a simple and yet insightful personality profile; we explored different spiritual disciplines; AND we spent four days putting our leadership lessons into practice on the trail. Each student was given the responsibility of "Leader of the ½ Day." They were tasked with leading our group through orienteering our course, setting up and taking down camp, cooking meals and leading devotions.

I have met with two of the students and their youth pastors since returning. They speak of the way God challenged them physically, spiritually and emotionally while at AIL. They also shared how they want to take the lessons learned and use them as leaders (and followers) at school and church. We are currently making plans for an East Coast AIL during the summer of 2014.

As I sat by the fire, I reflected on my personality type and how it impacts my leadership style. I prayed that God would be active in my leading and in my life. I gave praise for the beauty of his creation expressed through the stars reflecting off the water. May we each take time from the busyness of our lives to "tend the fire" and feel God's presence.

Ministerial Association Retreat provides rest, renewal

By Kara Stromberg, Director of Children & Family Ministry

Recently, 130 pastors and spouses enjoyed some much-needed time away up at Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN, from Sept. 30-Oct. 2. This annual gathering provided rest, renewal and connections with other conference ministers.

Remy Diederich from Cedarbrook Church in Menomonie, WI, did an excellent job speaking on ministry losses, based on his most recent book, "Stuck: How to Mend and Move on From Broken Relationships." Remy's insights and personal story provided a backdrop of vulnerability that encouraged meaningful conversations.

Other highlights included introducing new Conference staff members, Jeff Burton and Judy Swanberg, as the new Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of Pastoral Care and Development, as well as engaging worship, communion, tennis, naps, walks, great food and deep connections with others in ministry.

If you haven't attended a ministerial retreat, please make plans to attend next fall. This is time well spent.

VIVE 2013

Oct. 26 at Crosstown Covenant, Minneapolis

What do your students know about FAFSA forms and college essays? Some don't have a clue, and their lack of information will cost them a college degree. For students who are the first in their family to go to college, applying to schools can be overwhelming.

VIVE is a college prep event for under-represented students in grades 7 through 12, as well as their parents and youth pastors, senior pastors and other adults who are invested in students. VIVE's mission is to encourage and prepare these young students to choose a college education. Visit northwestconference.org/children-youth-family/vive to learn more and find us on Facebook at VIVE Twin Cities.

VIVE takes place on Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Crosstown Covenant, Minneapolis, MN. Participants will be inspired by Steve Fitzhugh (former Denver Bronco), interact with the North Park University worship team and learn practical ways to achieve their college dream. Parents will get useful knowledge about helping their child get to college. And youth workers and pastors will learn about how to advocate for their students when it comes to higher education.

The day is free and a continental breakfast, as well as lunch, will be provided.

IMAGINE Volunteer Training

Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
FREE, lunch included

Plymouth Covenant Church
4300 Vicksburg Lane North
Plymouth MN 55446

We are excited to welcome Scottie May, Associate Professor of Christian Formation and Ministry at Wheaton College, to speak about "The Faith Family: Generations Being with God Together." Scottie is a popular author, conference speaker and local ministry leader who has researched ways children come to faith and how the local church shapes that process, intergenerational worship, and authentic experiential learning.

Fun fact: One of her sons is the creator of VeggieTales, as well as the new DVD series "What's in the Bible."

RSVP as a church group by Friday, Nov. 1 to 612-721-4893 or kara@northwestconference.org

Former Minnehaha President Arthur Anderson dies

LEES SUMMIT, MO (September 30, 2013) - Arthur W. Anderson, retired Covenant pastor and former administrator of Minnehaha Academy, died Saturday. A service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Federated United Church of Christ in Chagrin Falls, OH.

Anderson, 93, was born April 17, 1920, in Lake Nebagamon, WI. He graduated the University of Florida-Miami with a bachelor of arts in history in 1944. He graduated North Park Theological Seminary in 1946. He married Bernice Anderson on August 14, 1952, in Duluth, MN.

Anderson became the fourth president of Minnehaha Academy in 1950. He went on to serve as chaplain of North Park College and pastor of Bethlehem Covenant Church in Minneapolis; Bethesda Covenant Church in New York City, NY; and First Covenant Church in Youngstown, OH. After his retirement in 1988, he served eight interim pastorates, including Covenant congregations in Bedford, NH; Omaha, NE; Coral Gable, FL:; and Indianapolis, IN.

Anderson was a frequent contributor to the online journal Pietisten. Twenty-five of his columns are available at the site. Philip Johnson, a former editor for the ecumenical journal, lauded Anderson. "Exclusiveness was anathema to him," Johnson said. "He sought a church for sinners only."

In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Sonja Solar and Ingrid Potts; a son, Kirk Anderson; his brother, Covenant pastor Gilbert Anderson; five grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Building your legacy

For decades, the house across the street from Grace Evangelical Covenant Church in Chicago served as a parsonage for the church's pastors. In 2004, the decision was made to renovate the home and turn it into an office where church staff and members can celebrate and serve each other and the community. Funding to renovate this space was provided by Nina Larsen, a member of Grace who left a generous gift to the church through her estate when she passed.

When you think about your own legacy, what do you see? As Nina Larsen has shown, the legacy you leave behind isn't simply money; it can provide a need for a church or ministry and be a blessing to hundreds, even thousands of people for many, many years.

Covenant Trust Company can help you plan your legacy and offers the tools and expertise needed to build it. We can help you create a Will or Revocable Living Trust to ensure your estate is properly distributed to family, friends, and The Northwest Conference or one of its churches or ministries.

We also have several charitable gift options, including Charitable Gift Annuities and a Covenant Endowment Trust.

If you want to build your legacy, you'll need both the tools and a plan. Covenant Trust Company can help you with both. Contact one of our local Financial Service Representatives and let us know what you want your legacy to be.

Kevin Lawson, CFP®, 1-877-222-3960 or kelawson@CovenantTrust.com

Steve Allison, ChFC, 1-877-768-1766 or srallison@CovenantTrust.com

To read more, please visit http://www.covenanttrust.com/news/

To request information, please visit http://www.covenanttrust.com/info/

Covenant Orientation Class to be offered at Bethel University

History of the Evangelical Covenant Church will be offered at Bethel University (St Paul, MN) Nov. 4-8.

Download the registration form

NWC Website
Church Resource Bank

Our website features a great tool for churches requesting or giving away materials and resources. On the Church Resource Bank page, you can browse available requests or give-aways, and submit a new resource to share with churches in need.

October 3, 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

Tending the fire in our lives

Ministerial Association Retreat

VIVE 2013

IMAGINE

Former Minnehaha President Arthur Anderson dies

Building your legacy

Covenant Orientation

NWC cal icon tan

October 8-9

Faith Community Nurse Retreat - Covenant Pines Bible Camp

October 26

VIVE - Crosstown Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

November 9

IMAGINE - Plymouth Covenant Church, Plymouth, MN

January 11, 2014

Recharge - Grace Fellowship, Brooklyn Park, MN

March 14-15, 2014

NWC Women Ministries Renewal Conference - Buffalo Covenant Church, Buffalo, MN

April 4-5, 2014

MOVE - First Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN

May 1-2, 2014

Ministerial Association Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

May 2-3, 2014

NWC Annual Meeting - Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN

August 7-9, 2014

MUUUCE - Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN

NWC Job Postings Page

Pastors and ministry leaders, if you have people in your congregation who are exploring ministry, on a part- or full-time basis, please refer them to our job postings page.