Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion February 2022 - News and Notes --
During this ongoing pandemic, we continue to make modifications to LLC work. I often remember believers in faraway lands, praying that God will continue to protect them as He protects also us. Our hope is that despite challenges, God’s Word will still reach those who long for comfort and encouragement on the way to heaven. And that those who are seeking a place of refuge would find it. We pray that God would reach all who seek forgiveness and peace and grant them grace to believe.
The theme for the 2022 LLC Operating Plan is “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” This theme is central in planning our camp season. Let us remember our children and youth in prayer, for they are in the forefront of the battle.
Updates on LLC Activities
Administration
2022 LLC Winter Services are scheduled to be held at the Phoenix church March 17–20. Welcome! Organizers ask that service guests plan to carpool to the church due to limited parking.
The LLC Board meeting will be held March 18, 2022, at Black Mountain Baptist Church.
The updated LLC website is fully operational. We thank you for your patience as we transitioned from old to new.
SRK-LLC-SFC joint meetings are rescheduled for October 2022 due to continued impact of the pandemic.
The LLC Board took the following actions at its January 22 meeting:
– Granted Adeline Moll approval to work remotely in Ecuador for five months later this year. In addition to learning Spanish more fluently, this will allow Adeline an opportunity to learn practical aspects of her work as LLC Mission Assistant.
– Approved moving the LLC Education area of work from the Communications Department to be overseen by Phil Jurmu. This will allow the Communications Department additional time to focus on digital publications as we prepare to release the LLC Hearken app.
– Approved hiring a full-time Digital Communication Specialist to replace Sarina Siljander. This position has recently been advertised. Contact us for more information.
– Approved hiring Doug Mattila as caretaker at Hasscib Lake Camp and Kevin DeLacey as caretaker at Stony Lake Camp for the 2022 camp season.
Mission
Foreign mission trips are paused through April. We monitor the pandemic situation with the goal of resuming trips when possible.
A workshop for newly called ministers was held at the LLC office January 14–15. Eight ministers participated in the workshop. Topics of study included the role of a servant of the Word, how to study the Bible, Sacred Acts, and the LLC Conduct and Sexual Misconduct policy.
Communications
The LLC 50-year history project is progressing. In early March, the reading group for the history book will meet for the third time to review what’s been written so far. Also, local congregations have been active in compiling their own historical record.
In the development of our Hearken publications app, we recently had a flurry of testing activity. There were over 100 people of all ages and technology backgrounds testing how the beta version of the app works. Everyone was able to log in easily. Many commented that they like the user interface, that they are able to find things easily and that the features seem to work as users expected. Thanks to all our testers for your input and feedback!
We have not set a release date for Hearken yet. We will keep you posted on our progress.
We’ve recently released Songbird, our collection of illustrated song videos. You can purchase access to them via the LLC website.
We are pleased to note there continues to be great interest in attending the three Opistos in Finland! For the 2022–23 school year, there are nine students interested in paying their own way in addition to the 14 scholarship recipients. Applications for scholarships for the 2023–24 opisto year are currently being accepted. Contact us for more information, or look for the application on the LLC website.
We remain thankful for God’s continued blessings and protection. He has given us a time to work, and He has blessed us with needed temporal and spiritual gifts. We pray for His continued care and direction!