June/July 2025 Update

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion June/July 2025 - News & Notes Article --

Many of our children are now or soon to be on summer vacation. I hope that in these days many would be able to experience a time at camp in the fellowship of brothers and sisters in faith. Some of you have now completed your grade studies and the next stage in becoming an adult is before you. May you with a prayerful heart approach the future with hope and aspirations and in whatever you do, do it unto God’s glory. Maybe you will find ways to contribute to the work of your home congregation!

Summer services are at the beginning of July. Already now I wish to thank the many individuals who have served to prepare for the services and in advance, to you, the many who will serve during services. There will be many opportunities for service guests to sign up for a work shift. 

I wish you a safe and blessed summer. 

Updates on LLC Activities

Pastoral 

• As we finalize the plans for the 2025 Summer Services in Outlook, Sask., we welcome Ilmari Korhonen and his wife Riitta from Finland along with Tero Lehtola and his wife Eija from Sweden. Ilmari and Tero have been sent by the SRK and SFC to serve at these services. Following Summer Services, the brothers will be traveling and serving in various congregations in North America. We will also be served by Jukka Palola and Olli Vänskä who will be traveling with the Language Camp group.

• Bob Haapala and his wife Shawna traveled to the Sweden Summer Services in late May. Kevin Ruonavaara and his wife Cindy travel to Finland to serve on a three-week trip which will include the SRK Summer Services. We wish to remember the servants of the Word and their families as they travel to serve.

Mission Department

• Over the past months, there has been a need to reorganize the work in Kenya. Joseph Kuse from Ghana is currently in Kenya for approximately one month to assist with this. Plans are also being made for a similar trip in August. Remember this work and the brothers and sisters in Kenya in your prayers. 

• We experience that God still calls seeking ones to His kingdom. About two years ago, a man from Benin was able to personally believe through a WhatsApp connection with French-speaking brothers in Finland. He requested that services could be held in Benin. On the April trip to Togo, two days were spent in the neighboring country of Benin. Listeners who had heard the preaching of God’s kingdom for the first time were able to believe their own sins forgiven. Remember them in your prayers!

Facilities 

• The Silver Springs Camp Board continues to work with a building committee on the plans and construction of a pavilion at Silver Springs. Prior to construction, a finalized plan with firm cost estimates will be presented to Minnesota congregations asking for support. The purpose of a pavilion at Silver Springs is to provide an area for food service during Summer Service events and as a service venue for regional services.

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Camps 

• Planning for camps began many months ago, and now camp season is well underway. Children especially look forward to youth camps. It remains our prayer that God will bless this camp season and grant refreshment to His children.

• The second annual health trials camp was held at the Elk River Church in early May. About 40 participants attended in person and approximately 15 attended online. Participants responded positively to the camp, expressing clear appreciation for this type of event. Plans are underway to continue it in 2026.

Education 

• We often get requests for instructional material from individuals and congregations. We are starting a process to organize presentations, articles and lesson outlines and make them available in a standardized format and searchable online via the llchurch.org website. This work is expected to be completed by mid 2026.

Communications

• Over the past two years, we’ve received much favorable feedback on the array of podcasts available on our Hearken app. Podcast series begin and then eventually they end. New podcast series take their place. New podcasts include “Guided by Faith,” “Serve One Another,” and “Along Life’s Way.” These are available to all Hearken subscribers. Today is a great day to start listening, if you haven’t already!

• We received approximately 30 applications for 14 opisto scholarships for the 2026–27 opisto year. These applications will be processed and selections made in the coming months. Applicants will be informed of the Opisto Scholarship Committee’s decisions at the end of summer. The Committee will also be sending out information to applicants and more broadly to member congregations to outline how the scholarship and the methods of supporting scholarship recipients is evolving.

• A couple of member congregations are making plans to arrange Content Creator Workshops in their local areas. Areas of focus at these workshops include writing, art and services broadcast work. These workshops will provide opportunities for those with interest or skills in these areas to see how their gifts can be used in the work in God’s kingdom. If your congregation would like to arrange a workshop, or would like to hear more about what this type of event might look like, please contact Ruth at rdelacey@llchurch.org

• We look forward to serving you at the Summer Services Bookstore. We will have several new items for sale, along with previously published items. Welcome to stop in, browse and purchase!