November 2025 Update

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

As families across the United States gather for Thanksgiving, we do so mindful of the season that soon follows – Advent and Christmas. These weeks invite us first to thank God for the priceless gift of faith, and then for the daily provisions which He provides us. In this gratitude, the the hearts of God’s children are prepared for the celebration of our Savior’s birth. 

It is my hope and prayer that our conversations during these days of celebration – whether around family tables or in fellowship with believers – may be open and free, even when touching on challenging or sensitive matters. Yet may they always conclude in the joyous sermon of faith: by faith our endeavor would conclude in heaven. 

The writer to the Hebrews reminds us, “By faith the elders obtained a good testimony” (Heb. 11:2). On All Saints’ Eve, we recall this truth with thankfulness. The same faith that carried the saints of old now comforts and strengthens us as we continue the work of God’s kingdom today. 

Updates on LLC Activities 

Global Mission Work 

• We experience how much of the work we do is done together with brothers and sisters in Sweden and Finland. Adrian Pirness travels to the SRK office in Finland in early November for work sessions and meetings for global mission work. 

• Recently the believers in Ecuador and in Liberia have submitted necessary paperwork to be registered as a church in their respective countries. 

• A translators camp was arranged as part of an October mission trip to Guinea. Three members from the mission work translators team traveled to support this camp. Brothers from Liberia and Sierra Leone traveled to participate in the camp. 

• A webinar was arranged in late September to visit with pastors in Pakistan and India who have recently received the grace of repentance. We discussed the topic of the priesthood of believers. 

Education 

• Part of Global Mission Work is education. A Learning Materials & Education Team (LMET) is developing teaching materials to support teachers in foreign mission areas. There are plans for three lesson booklets. The prayer of the LMET is to complete the first book by the end of 2025. These materials will also be available for LLC congregations and camp boards. 

Pastoral 

• Area Mission Committees and boards have been gathering for their fall meetings. These sessions focus on local business matters and include planning for the year ahead. We’ve seen how valuable it is to share updates, communicate needs, and work together to serve the congregations within each area. 

• Arto and Helena Tölli have completed their mission trip in North America. They visited many congregations throughout North America. We have experienced the blessing of the exchange trips with our sister organizations. Through these trips we are able to hear God’s Word and the unity of the Spirit through services. It also gives us the opportunity to discuss mutual work. 

• We have begun planning for 2026 LLC Winter and Summer Services. A kickoff meeting was held at the Menahga church September 23. LLC representatives attended, shared planning information and formally began the planning for the upcoming services. 

Publications Department 

• Content Creators Workshops have been held at Stony Lake Camp in September and Phoenix Arizona in October. The workshops included writing support, creating melodies and arrangements, visual arts, developing material for LLC Services broadcasts and setting up the broadcast studio. An online broadcast was held at each event. 

• A hymnal supplement of thirteen new hymns will be available November 14, 2025. These hymns are an assortment of new and translated hymns. Some of the melodies and arrangements for these hymns are also new. The new supplement will only be available digitally and on the LLC Songbook app. Note that due to outdated technology, the older LLC Hymnal app will not contain the new hymnal supplement. 

• Liisa Keranen, LLC Music Coordinator, continues to visit congregations and discuss updates in the area of music work along with music in the life of a believer and in congregation life. 

• Time for Words, the first young adult (YA) novel written by a North American believer, is available for sale. Heli Jurmu wrote the book and provided illustrations.