Ground Breaking At Trout Lake Camps
During the month of August we began construction of a cottage on the shores of Trout Lake. This project was
made possible by a family who has a decades-long relationship with God’s ministry at Trout and a deep passion to reach the next generation for Jesus.
The estate planning program we put into place at Trout almost 8 years ago was used to help the Caskey family
setup a charitable remainder trust and leave a legacy that will bless many CNC pastors and their spouses for decades. “Our family is thrilled to fund this unique cottage at one of the most impactful ministries we have ever known. May Jesus get the glory and
may pastors/spouses enjoy the shores of Trout Lake – Steve Caskey.”
In order to maximize the donation to Trout and reduce labor costs, we have called on our core volunteers to
help make this cottage a reality. Doug Carlson, Marty Walker, Mark Welty and Mark Grindahl are “first up” to build the foundation. Thank you so much and may Jesus keep our volunteers safe!
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Church Planting Assessment Center
(2 min read)
Recently, the Converge Church Planter Assessment Center took place in Converge North Central, hosted by Renovation Church
in Blaine, MN. Nine couples from all over the U.S. (including four from CNC) came together for a jam-packed four-day event with trained assessors. During this time, they got to preach, share their visions, work in team settings, and meet with counselors and
assessors. This assessment gives a personalized and thorough look at a candidate’s readiness to plant a church successfully.
Every church planter in Converge North Central goes through this process, which is based on research by Dr. Charles
Ridley, a leading pioneer in church planting assessments.
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Bright Lights and Bugs
(4 min read)
When I was in seminary, I worked at a big church in the Twin Cities. It wasn’t just a great place to learn about ministry—it
was a place where I got to see how it’s done in real life. It was the perfect complement to all the stuff I was learning in class.
Funny enough, some of the most memorable moments from that time weren’t the big events or even the week-long college
ministry houseboat trip to Lake of the Woods (although that was pretty unforgettable). What really stuck with me were the weekly staff meetings. They offered this behind-the-scenes look at how a large church really works—not just in terms of operations, but
also the genuine care and concern that was so evident. When we planned or reviewed events and ministries, everything was filtered through the church’s mission, purpose, and values. Every staff member gave a report, and there was a real spirit of teamwork and
support. And even in a big church, we took time to share the needs of individuals in the congregation and cover them in prayer. We celebrated with those who were celebrating, and we grieved with those who were grieving.
The Peace of Wild Things (3
minute read)
“It’s hard to believe it’s mid-August already.”
I’ve heard this statement many times. Often, it’s
come out of my own mouth. It seems we express this sentiment every year. You would think we would get to the point where the speed of summer passing is not just anticipated but expected.
For me, my summer has been good, but there’s too much
on the “Summer 2024 To-Do List” that remains. I know time is running short.
But it’s not just about time slipping away; it’s about
what’s coming next. It’s not the weather—I love the crisp air and colors of fall. But I’m talking about the tension we feel in the world. The dream of the world coming together on the fields of athletic competition was quickly replaced by ongoing conflicts
in our world. And let’s not even start on the political climate. It’s only going to get more heated, louder, and chaotic. Add to that the faster pace that comes with the fall season, and I find myself wishing I could hit rewind to Memorial Day.
My house backs up to a pond that is on the edge of
a wetland. Ducks and geese are plentiful. Herons and egrets are regular visitors. At night, the crickets and the frogs put on a concert while the fireflies dance around the reeds.
I recently came across a poem by Wendell Berry called
“The Peace of Wild Things.”
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
I don’t know about you, but the more time I spend
following the news and checking my calendar, the more time I need to spend on my deck observing and enjoying all that is happening in the water, weeds, and woods of my backyard.
Let me remind you, in these times when we look around
and can so easily get discouraged and anxious, that…
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim
the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. (Psalm
19:1-4)
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)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the
everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those
who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Our prayer for our pastors:
- A safe and refreshing end to summer
- A renewed focus on God first amidst all that is happening around us
- Energy and a strong start to the fall ministry season
- Whether it be a sunrise or sunset, a beautiful flower or nature in our backyard, a powerful storm, or a sky full of stars, may you draw encouragement and hope in the steadfastness and goodness of God’s presence
- May we live and see the world around us, knowing the Creator of all things holds us in his hands.
Whenever the moon is extra bright or the sky is full
of stars, I often find myself thinking of this song by Ellie Holcomb, “Constellations.
I hope you enjoy it.
Blessing in the next season,
Joel |
