August 2025 Update

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion August 2025 - News & Notes Article --

We experienced God’s blessings at Summer Services in Outlook, Sask. Approximately 4,200 service guests attended with several hundred online connections to the service broadcast. It was truly secure to gather around God’s Word and in the fellowship of dear brothers and sisters in faith. 

We thank the heavenly Father for this time of refreshment, and we also thank the believers in the hosting congregations in Saskatchewan for their preparations and service of love.

At the annual meeting in Outlook on July 4, 2025, LLC delegates reviewed and gave support for the proposed 2026 LLC Operating Plan and approved a $1/month increase in LLC dues. This will allow additional support for publications staffing.

Delegates also approved a proposal to use two additional Bible translations, the New International Version 2011 and the English Standard Version. 

We experienced throughout the meeting the freedom to discuss the work of our church and the demonstration of the Holy Spirit when presented with items for decision. Delegates will be prepared to give a detailed report to congregations when meeting minutes have been finalized.

Updates on LLC Activities

Camps

• The 2025 Camp Season is underway and going well. There is a continuing need for kitchen volunteers. Please review your schedules and see if you can find time to serve in this way.

• The LLC and SRK continue to exchange confirmation teachers each year. This year Mika Kalliokoski from SRK served at Hasscib Lake Confirmation School, July 13–20, 2025, and Phil Jurmu from LLC served at Maitoinen 3, June 14–20, 2025.

• 
  

Pastoral

• At the 2025 Summer Services we experienced the comforting message of God’s Word through the 26 different ministers that were sent from North American congregations, Finland and Sweden.

• The 2026 Summer Services will be held at Silver Springs in Monticello, MN hosted by the Menahga congregation. The motto for these services is “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you” from 1 John 1:3.

• Sam Roiko and his wife Marleigh have traveled to Finland to serve the believers from July 16 through August 4. On this trip, Sam will serve at each of the Opisto services over a three-week period. Ilmari Korhonen, Tero Lehtola, Mika Kalliokoski and spouses and the language camp lead by Olli and Nina Vänskä and Jukka and Virpi Palola traveled to many congregations throughout North America to serve in the month of July. Through these services we have felt the unity of Spirit, and the same comforting message of the gospel.

• With the busy summer camp season winding down in August we begin to take a closer look at the details and plans for 2026 service and events.

Communications

• We will hold a Content Creators Workshop at Stony Lake Camp September 12–14. This workshop is open to those who participate in creating written content (poetry, fiction, prose), content for services broadcast work, and music compositions. Please sign up on the LLC website. Note: a visual arts workshop will be held early next year at the LLC office. There will not be a visual arts track at this workshop.

• At the request of the LLC Print Publications Committee, we have produced and published a special issue of The Shepherd’s Voice. This issue welcomes preschoolers and kindergarteners to Sunday School! Congregations can order the appropriate number of copies from the LLC office.

• How do you find out about new LLC publications? Or how do you hear of special offers and sales? We post these notices on social media, we send messages to local bookstore agents, and we also post new products and products with reduced prices in our online shop. If you have thoughts on how you’d prefer to hear these updates, please let us know! Send a note to rdelacey@llchurch.org

• A song leader and organist workshop was held in connection with 2025 LLC Summer Services. Representatives from 13 member congregations gathered at the Dunblane church to practice and learn together.

• After Summer Services ended, a three-day, continent-wide choir camp was held in Outlook and Saskatoon, Sask. Sixty-five singers along with choir conductors Lea Waaraniemi and Janna Ylioja and accompanist Liisa Keranen practiced pre-distributed music for two days at the Outlook church. On the third day, the group recorded fourteen songs at Knox United Church, a borrowed facility in Saskatoon. The theme of the camp was from Psalm 121, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” The album will be published next February.

• This month, 24 students from North America leave to Finland to spend a year at one of the opistos there. We wish these students and all who study at opistos a blessed and rewarding year!