I took a day off of my sabbatical to join the Shepherd of the Valley community for worship in Afton, MN. What a warm congregation. It is heartening to experience a larger congregation that maintains an authentic sense of compassionate care for one another and hospitable welcome for the guest. I talked to 18-year-old Eva who was working the video camera at the first two services. I asked her how often she did that job. “Every chance I get. This church is my safe space.”
Jeremey and Michele King are dear friends, and are doing a fantastic job stewarding the ministry of Jesus in this place and with these people. Here is the message from Sunday. Jeremey asked me to preach a similar message to the one I gave at the 2021 LCMC National Gathering.