November 2024 Update

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion November 2024 - News & Notes Article --

Memories come from my childhood when we would gather in the school gymnasium to pause and remember the soldiers that fought to bring an end to the battles and allow for peace to return among nations. November 11 is a day to give thanks to God for the blessing he has allowed for His children in the nations they dwell. The greatest blessing is the name of a child of God that will one day bring us to experience true eternal peace. 

November also marks the end of the church calendar year, and the approach of Advent. On November 1, All Saints Day, we lovingly remember those who have gained the victory of heaven. They are remembered with longing, and with the hope of reunion one day in the glory of heaven. As plans are made for Advent and the upcoming Christmas season, may we remember our heavenly Father’s many blessings and the hope of heaven that waits at the end of our journey. 

Updates on LLC Activities 

Mission 

• Minister and Wives camp was held in Longview, Wash., September 20–22. Around 60 couples were able to attend in person along with 20 connections online. Ministers and wives were able to visit about the mutual calling. 

• We have seen how many congregations have called new servants into the office of ministry. We will again be hosting a New Ministers workshop at the LLC office in February. We encourage local congregations to support in sending those that have recently been called to this weekend event. 

• Jari Warwaruk has been asked by the Saskatchewan congregations to serve as a fulltime pastor. The Menahga congregation has asked Rick Nevala to serve their congregation as a fulltime pastor as well. We want to remember Jari and Diana along with Rick and Kathy and their families as they transition into this calling in the coming months.

• A committee is working on updating language of Luther’s Small Catechism. The edition of this update is expected to be ready for distribution for the 2025–26 Sunday School year. 

• LLC staff can support congregations that wish to have Teacher and Camp Directors Workshops. Contact the LLC Office for details. 

• Planning for the 2025 Camp Season is in the final stages. During December geographic registration for confirmation school will begin. Nine Confirmation Schools are planned for 2025: 

– Four at Stony Lake:

• June 14–21 

• June 22–29 

• July 12–19 

• July 20–27 

– Two at Kamp Kipa: 

• June 15–22 

• July 13–20 

– One in the Pacific Northwest: 

• Dates to be determined

– One at Prairie Shores: 

• July 20–27

– One at Hasscib Lake: 

• July 13–20

Communications

• When we look back over past decades, we note that over 700 North American youth have attended the opistos run by believers in Finland. This is one of the many meaningful ways the Zions of Finland and North America interact. We are also happy to note that interest in studying at opisto continues to be strong. We had nearly 30 applications for 14 opisto scholarships for the 2025–26 opisto year. In addition, several students are interested in paying their own way to opisto. We are currently waiting for the opistos to let us know how many spots will be available for North American students. 

• The following scholarships were awarded for the 2025–26 opisto year. Names of recipients are shown along with their home congregations. Per current selection criteria, initially six scholarships are awarded to applicants from the East-Central mission area, five scholarships to applicants from the Northwest area, and three to applicants from the Southwest area. These numbers align with the proportional distribution of membership. The numbers may shift as some recipients cancel and others from the waiting list take their spots. We wish these scholarship recipients God’s blessings as they prepare for their year abroad that will begin next August!

Jämsän Kristillinen Kansanopisto 

Ava Byman – Phoenix, Ariz.

Andrew Niemela – Elk River, Minn.

Anne Pirness – Outlook, Sask.

Lucia Wuollet – Glendale, Ariz.

Ranuan kristillinen kansanopisto

Marjetta Haapala – Longview, Wash.

Anton Haataja – Seattle, Wash.

Costin Simonson – Glendale, Ariz.

Holly Ylioja – Lethbridge, Alta.

Reisjärven kristillinen opisto 

Mikael Anderson – Williston, N.D.

Krista Edwards – Alaska

Katherine Hotari – Toronto, Ont.

Laurel Hill – Ishpeming, Mich.

Connor Kinnunen – Cokato, Minn.

Kristy Lehtola – Rockford, Minn.

• It is exciting to note that we have a dozen or so book projects currently underway. We work on these as time and resources allow. We will work to complete these and publish them over the course of the next few years. At the top of the list right now is the LLC history book, for which the manuscript is finalized and final edits are being made before layout.

• As noted in previous issues of The Voice of Zion, the LLC’s fiction writing contest is open through the end of November. We are happy to note we’ve already received several submissions! Once the contest is closed, we will begin to review the submissions. A reading group appointed by LLC’s Print Publications Committee will select the two winning manuscripts that will be developed into books.

• Our Hearken app has been in use for two and a half years! We are satisfied and grateful for how this venture has gone thus far. We have been able to offer a steady stream of new content, and we have received useful feedback as well. As we continue to publish content on this app, we also ponder what the future of Hearken should look like. What thoughts and wishes do you have? Freely share them with us!

• In our Hearken plans for upcoming weeks, there is plenty of Christmas content. This is something that Hearken subscribers can look forward to.

• In 2025, we plan to share content with SRK’s Päivämies newspaper in every issue of The Voice of Zion. We will produce one page of content on a mutual theme, and they will produce another page, and then we will each publish a two-page spread on the theme in question.

• For 2025, the themes for Voice of Zion issues will be miracles of Jesus. Stay tuned to see how these themes are discussed on the pages of this paper in the coming year.

• We plan to host a Youth Content Creators day camp at the LLC office in Monticello, Minn., in January or February. The focus of the day camp will be on illustration, writing and broadcast/podcast skills. When details are finalized, we will send information on this day camp to LLC congregations.