In Minnesotan
culture, pride seems to rank as one of those ‘deadly sins.’ If someone says, “I love your suit,” many
Minnesotans will uncomfortably respond, “This old thing? I got it on sale.” We don’t see ourselves as ‘awesome’…we’re
more ‘fair to middling.’ We know people
who brag about themselves…and we don’t like it!
This morning
over 100 retired pastors and their wives are on their way to Peace for their
annual lunch with Bishop Usgaard. It’s a
time for them to renew friendships and learn about what is going on in the
Southeastern Minnesota Synod. I have the
honor of giving the main presentation to talk about what’s been happening here
at Peace. We’ve been ‘in the news’ because of our new
building.
The synod
staff asked me to prepare the ‘bio’ for Bishop Usgaard to use in his invitation
to this event. Here’s what I came up
with:
Rev. Pete Reuss was called to serve
the mission congregation of Peace Lutheran Church of Eyota in 2003, following
the original Mission Developer. Since that time, the congregation has
grown from 119 members to 279 members. Peace abounds in young families,
with more than half of the members under the age of 18. Many of Peace’s
members have little or no church background, which has created many
opportunities and challenges. In 2011, after 12 years of worshipping in
an elementary school gym, Peace completed a first building for ministry.
Due to this experience in a new ministry, the Southeastern
Minnesota Synod contracted with Peace for a portion of Pete’s time, making him
the synod’s Mission Director. In that role he works with the New
Ministries Table to oversee, support, and develop the new ministries throughout
the synod.
I almost didn’t
send it. This felt WAY too much like
bragging! But why not brag…if we’re
bragging about what God has done here!
Why not brag
that the Spirit has increased membership by 234% in 8 years? Why not brag that financial giving has
increased by a whopping 300% over that time?
A few years ago Bishop Usgaard came to Peace and let us know, “I visit
many congregations without young people or kids. I’m often asked, ‘What is the future of the
church? How will it survive once we are
gone?’ That’s when I tell them about
Peace Lutheran Church in Eyota and all the young people there!” There’s
something to brag about!
Now, if we
looked in the mirror and claimed responsibility for all this ourselves, we’d be
in hot water! We’d be breaking the ‘Minnesota
code of conduct.’ WE
didn’t do it. GOD did. God took a
small band of people and turned it into a vibrant ministry. I know that in those early years there was
some doubt as to whether Peace could survive.
In fact, I look back and am amazed that we got through it all. I still remember my first council meeting,
where I was told, “Pastor, we on the council really don’t have the gifts for
leadership…but we’re what you get!” Ironically, Peace had a reputation in town as
a ‘church that doesn’t get along very well.’
Everyone told me, “You can’t grow
a church in a gym.”
God worked
at Peace to change all that. We simply
listened and followed! Leaders emerged. Interns added their gifts. Creative ministry opportunities arose. People brought their friends and neighbors
(I think we should change the name of ‘Bush Court’ to ‘Peace Court’). Peace grew strong enough to build this
lovely facility. God continues to work
to provide exciting, cutting edge ministry.
Now, in the
midst of all those exciting things I know full well that this is not heaven on
earth. Like any congregation, Peace
faces challenges. The road sometimes
gets bumpy. We can lose our focus on the
God who leads us.
Let’s not allow
those challenges make us forget what God has done here. When
those retired pastors come later this morning, I will boast! “As it
is written: “Let those who boast
boast in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31)”
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