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Pekka Kainua | The Voice of Zion  October 2025 - Mission Work Field Notes Article -- A confirmation camp was held in Accra, Ghana, August 3–10, 2025. The camp took place at the Greater Hope Royal Foundation International School. A total of 47 confirmation students attended from various parts of Ghana, with the largest group coming from the congregation in Hatsukope. Most of the students were between 13 and 15 years old, though ages ranged from 12 to 37.  Joseph Kuse was the director, and George Dozidenou was the assistant director; both are speakers in Ghana. Carey Simonson from Canada and Pekka Kainua from Finland served as teachers. There were eight counselors, all from Ghana. Lessons and devotions were conducted in English, with much of the content also translated into Ewe. The students slept in classrooms on mattresses. They woke up every day at 5 a.m. to wash and prepare before breakfast. The camp program was largely similar to that in Finland and North America. Topics included God’s plan of salvation, the sacraments, the Bible, the Triune God, prayer, the gospel, and the Kingdom of God.  Sometimes lessons ran longer than planned, but the students were eager to learn more. They took notes diligently and enthusiastically learned new songs. Each day began and ended with a devotion based on God’s Word. “Knowing our Savior Jesus Christ and becoming a child of God is the most precious matter in life,” was a sentiment repeated many times during the camp. The gospel of forgiveness was preached both in devotions and lessons.  There was also free time, during which students played soccer and volleyball, skipped rope and played darts. On the second-to-last evening, we had a campfire in the school yard, where we ate and sang together.  The program had allocated time for three question box discussions. So many questions were received that a fourth discussion session was added. Many of the questions were doctrinal, and many concerned courtship and marriage.  On Tuesday, the third day of camp, 28 confirmation students and 3 small children were baptized. Some parents and local believers also attended the baptism ceremony, which was held in the school yard. Most who were baptized wore traditional festive clothing.  On Saturday, the last full day of the camp, a “class trip” was made to the memorial park and museum of Ghana’s first president. For most of the youth, it was their first visit. Ghanaian flags were at half-mast due to a helicopter accident that took place during the confirmation week in which two government ministers died.  On Sunday, August 10, a confirmation service was held in the Accra church. Two school buses transported the students to the church. Joseph, the director, asked the confirmation students questions about key matters of faith, and the youth responded well. George led a prayer and gave words of encouragement to the parents. Pekka administered communion, and Carey preached about the prophet Elijah on Mount Horeb. God did not reveal Himself to Elijah in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper.  At the end, the song “God be with you till we meet again” was sung. The youth wish to remain in faith, and they asked to be remembered in prayer as they returned to their home villages.   A Big Sister at Ghana’s Confirmation School Shares Her Thoughts  Pekka Kainua interviewed Joyce Nana Kuse  I am Joyce Nana Kuse, a 25-year-old IT student at Bluecrest College. I am Ghanaian and live in Accra. My family consists of my parents, one sister and two brothers.  The activities of the believers in Accra started in 2007. I was 7 years old at the time. At first, the services were held in our home. Later, we rented a classroom from the school as a place of worship. After that, we rented land from the school. The believers built our own church on rented land. That church building was completed in 2009. Last year, the current new church was completed on our own land that we bought.  Our home Zion currently holds services every Sunday morning. We have two ministers in Ghana, my father Joseph Kuse and George Dodzidenu. If both ministers are speaking in other villages, we listen to the WhatsApp services in the church.  I work as a Sunday school teacher in Accra. There is also another Sunday school teacher in the home Zion, Eugenia. Usually, we hold Sunday school every Sunday. I started teaching Sunday school last year. It’s nice to be a teacher because I also learn. I prepare for Sunday school by always making short notes beforehand. I also prepare questions. Being a teacher also teaches me patience. I get to know each child. I like children.  The Ten Commandments are my favorite lesson. It’s important to know God’s will and His commandments. Sometimes I also do other work in the church. I help with the organization of services, for example by selecting songs. Sometimes I serve by making announcements in the church. Sometimes I help by cleaning the church.  Now I was a big sister at confirmation camp, for the second time. The previous time was in 2018. My own confirmation was in 2013. It helped build my faith life. There are few believers in Ghana, but it was important to be in confirmation school with other believers.  As a big sister or counselor, you get to know the students well and have conversations with them. In this role, I can encourage them to believe, read the Bible, and talk about faith. As a counselor, I’ve even learned more from the confirmation lessons than I did as a student. What comes to mind when you think of the following words?  Home Zion:  Home Zion and family make it easier to remain a believer.  The Bible: It’s not just a book. Reading it helps and encourages.  Confirmation school: I was in confirmation school in 2013. It was my first time at camp and away from home. The confirmation school helped me to interact with other people. I also learned a lot about our faith.  Family: I have a believing family where everyone is a believer. It is a great blessing. We always get to ask for forgiveness and to forgive sins at home.  Work for the Kingdom of God:  It has been nice for me and a blessing in many ways.   Letters from Ghana’s Confirmation School Students Dear brothers and sisters in faith, God’s Peace, how are you doing? We are at confirmation camp in Accra, Ghana, 2025, building our faith and learning more about the gospel. We are remembering you in our prayers. We hope that God protects and guides you in this narrow journey home. It is a good thing to confess your sins and have them forgiven through the name and precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Preach the gospel to your country, people, and we wish you the best of luck. We hope to see you one day in heaven.  Thank you, God’s Peace, G-Mike, Princess Nayram, Sarah Atigah, Esther Apenya, Gabriel   God’s Peace, dear brothers and sisters in faith.  This is David’s group at 2025 confirmation camp, Ghana. We write to extend our warm greetings to you believers around the world. We have faith that God will put everything in control, and forgive our sins so we can go to heaven and sit at Jesus’ feet, and we hope we can meet all of you in heaven. We all know that the most precious matter in our life is to become a believer and to become a believer we need to believe our sins forgiven and we pray your sins will be forgiven in Jesus’ name. We want you to keep faith and good conscience to preach the gospel of the Lord to others. God bless and protect you. God’s Peace once again, stay blessed.  Thank you. Mary-Queen, Juliet, Douglas, George   Dear brothers and sisters in faith,  God’s Peace! We hope you are fine by the grace of God. It is our prayer that we continue to stay in faith. We hope to meet you someday. It has been such a blessing to be a believer in faith. Make sure you keep faith and have a good conscience. Always keep listening to the gospel and love your neighbors as yourselves.  Thank you. Erica Adidivi, Desmond Adidivi, Alida Asare, Vincent Logosu   God’s Peace dear brothers and sisters.  We are a group of 12-year-old boys and girls at Ghana confirmation camp 2025. We hope you are doing fine by the grace of God. Keep your faith in God and believe the gospel so that it will lead us to heaven. Dear believers, believe all your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood.  Love and God’s Peace, Catherine Adidivi, Mabel Tameklo, Breight, Hope Collius   Dear children of God, God’s Peace. We are sending blessing from Ghana confirmation camp held in Accra. It is good to keep faith and a clean conscience. We are remembering you and your families with much love and prayer. Confess your sins so that you can believe the gospel message and fight the good fight of faith. Perfect Adidivi, Vincent Adidivi, Perpetual Logosu, Prosper Tefeali, Ransford Atigouh   Dear brothers and sisters, God’s Peace. We are glad to write you this letter. We have heard a lot about you too, we would like to meet you all. And believe in God and never lose faith in Him. All your sins are forgiven and be preaching the Gospel to others that are around you. Do not lose faith in God and your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious blood. Amen. God’s Peace from Sarah, Blessing, Rose, Jerry, Samuel

Jim Frantti | The Voice of Zion September 2025 - The Sabbath Word 2 Article --   Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  – Micah 6:6-8  The prophet Micah lived at the same time as Isaiah. The book of Micah was written about seven centuries before the birth of Christ. It was a time in which many of the people had fallen away from God. Micah rebuked the people because of their idolatry, self-righteousness, and treatment of others. Yet, the Word of God was preached – a Word of rebuke but also of repentance and God’s goodness.  Through Micah, God reminded the people that He had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt and redeemed them from servitude. In reminding the people of this, the question was asked, “How can one become God’s own again?” Micah asked, can one offer burnt offerings, year-old calves, thousands of rams, or even rivers of oil? Finally he asked if God would be appeased if one offered his firstborn, his own child, as a sacrifice.  God Is Forgiving  The prophet makes it clear that humans cannot offer anything to appease God. After all, everything that we have comes to us as gifts of God; even our children are God’s creation and gifts. Micah reminds the people that God is forgiving and gracious. “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18,19).  This message of forgiveness is still the message of God’s kingdom today. In His kingdom, Jesus left the keys of the kingdom (John 20:21–23). Martin Luther wrote in his time that in God’s Christian Church “He daily and richly forgives me and all believers all our sins.” God brings a person into His kingdom through the hearing of His Word, a Word of forgiveness. He gives the power to remain believing through the message of the gospel. When a person is thus able to receive faith and to preserve faith through the message of forgiveness in the Name and Blood of Jesus, God’s Word becomes dear. God’s child wants to continue to endeavor in the hearing and believing of God’s Word and to be a doer of it.  Walk Humbly before God  Micah showed that God does not demand anything more from a person. He wrote that God has shown us what He requires: “To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.” Faith and God’s forgiving love bring this fruit of love: that a person loves God, His congregation, and all people. Faith brings forth the desire to do justly toward all people and to treat others with the same mercy that God has shown to us.  A child of God endeavors in the hearing and believing of God’s Word, accepting rebuke, instruction, and the teachings of God’s Word with the faith of a child. Thus, it is our desire to travel in faith with a humble heart. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5). A believer acknowledges, as Apostle Paul, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). We place our trust in God’s gracious care. By the power of the gospel, the child of God will one day reach the destination of heaven.

Eric Jurmu | The Voice of Zion September 2025 - Round the Table Article -- An entrepreneur organizes and runs a business, taking on above-normal financial risks. These decisions can have life-long consequences, not always good. While opportunities change over time, wholesome and ethical practices remain important considerations. Although business opportunities have changed and evolved over the years, wholesome and ethical business practices remain important considerations for the aspiring entrepreneur.  What might motivate a believer to start their own business? How does one’s faith shape the goals they set or the vision they hold for the business? How does a believer define success? What ethical challenges might a believer face or be tempted with as an entrepreneur? What encouragement can we find from God’s Word for someone who is setting out or is an established entrepreneur?  I presented these questions to believing business owners. It was comforting and encouraging to hear their answers. It is evident that God has worked in their hearts to keep priorities in the right order.  What to Consider When Starting a Business  Fear and trust God – He knows the heart and blesses accordingly. Work diligently, keeping faith and a good conscience. Always ask: Will this business or my decisions in it take away my hope of heaven? May God grant owners and employees a way through life with heaven as the goal. Do all in prayer – God blesses in His perfect timing. Even hardships are blessings that deepen our gratitude. With humility, pray: Thy will be done. As Paul writes: Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks (1 Thess. 5:17–18).  Remember, success in business or life never comes from our own goodness, but from God’s grace. As Jesus taught: He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:45).  When to Start a Business  Many start a business young, before life’s realities are fully in view. As circumstances change – marriage, children – it’s important to seek God’s guidance and adjust priorities. This can be hard if the business began from personal interest but now demands more time than it should.  One young father realized his business was taking so much time that he was neglecting his family. What began as a blessing was harming his marriage and children. Time must be balanced, keeping faith, family, and friends first.  What Kind of Business  An entrepreneur should ask: What type of business suits me as a believer? One owner prays for a tender conscience to warn him of paths with spiritual pitfalls. While some dangers are clear, others are murky – times when it’s wise to seek counsel from other believers and learn from how the Spirit has guided in the past.  Scripture allows freedom in life choices, yet not all things are beneficial for faith. As Paul writes: “I have the right to do anything” – but not everything is beneficial… No one should seek their own good, but the good of others (1 Cor. 10:23,24, NIV). Ask: What pleases God? Let His Word guide you through difficult decisions: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Ps. 119:105).  Challenges in Business  Business challenges vary, but a believer trusts that God sees all and aims for actions that reflect this. Ethical questions arise: What advertising is appropriate? Would I cheat on taxes to gain profit? Be tempted to overcharge? Am I paying fair wages that encourage employees?  In today’s economy, interaction with the unbelieving world is unavoidable and not to be feared. Yet, believers must stay alert to when the enemy of souls draws near through business ties. As Paul warns: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers… What fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14,15, NIV).  Dealing with Success  If a business prospers, it is God’s blessing – yet success can bring trials. As the hymn says: If God gives me times of gladness, shall I grieve if He gives seasons, too, of sadness? (SHZ 387:3).  One owner never intended for his business to grow so large, yet he now carries responsibility for many employees and investments. He asks: How would God want me to manage this? In this, he prays for humility and trusts God’s plan and help.  Blessings of Ownership  Owning a business can bring real benefits – freedom to come and go, independence in financial decisions, and flexibility to meet family needs. It can also allow more time and means to support God’s kingdom.  Yet earthly blessings are for this life only, not the life to come. As Proverbs 30:8,9 prays: Give me neither poverty nor riches… lest I be full and deny thee… or lest I be poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

The Voice of Zion September 2025 - Home & Family Articles -- In God’s kingdom, none of us walks alone. Each believer faces seasons of need – whether adjusting to a new congregation, carrying heavy trials, enduring medical struggles, or battling temptations of faith. At other times, we are given the opportunity to support and encourage one another. The writings that follow remind us that being a help often begins with small acts of love: a greeting, a visit, a listening ear, or a prayer. In noticing the needs of those around us and stepping forward in faith, we strengthen not only our neighbor, but also ourselves, as together we travel heavenward. Helping Others in Need  Rebecca Byman  The Bible teaches us to help one another and to also accept help in our time of need. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). All of us will find ourselves in need many times during our lives, as well as in a supporting role. Our mutual goal is to support all, to prevent the devil from using a trial to undermine anyone’s faith, and instead to foster love and encourage believing. With that goal in mind, it’s good to consider that God made us with various temperaments, strengths and weaknesses. None is better than the other, and all complement each other to accomplish God’s work.  We All Have Needs   At some time in our lives, we all have needs. We notice first the needs of close friends and family, and those of local congregants whose hardships we have been made aware of through diaconate work or simply word of mouth while we are visiting one another. Sometimes the needy one is close to someone in our congregation, but we’ve never met them. Sometimes, they are not part of God’s kingdom but known to the congregation in another way. And, sometimes, they are the person we are visiting, and prior to the visit they perhaps haven’t had the strength to ask for help.  Many Types of Needs  These needs can be temporal or spiritual, as well as visible and invisible. Any of us can find ourselves struggling with temporal afflictions: perhaps our health takes a turn for the worse. Maybe our finances cause intense stress. Addictions can try our faith. Grief may sap our joy. Without doubt, we all can confess that in our endeavor we have daily spiritual needs of the gospel.   And, of course, all who have left faith or have never found themselves in God’s kingdom have a great need of repentance and the forgiving gospel.  Who Can See Our Needs?  Do our escorts see our needs? Many needs are not public knowledge. For example, most people tend to keep their financial situation private. Or, addiction comes with stigma attached, and it may seem prudent to hide it from the public. Maybe our relationships are in distress, but we feel we can figure it out on our own. Certainly our spiritual battles can be invisible. We fall prey to the devil’s sermon to not discuss our confusion with others, lest people judge us.   Others can’t help us if they don’t know of our needs. We must humble ourselves and heed God’s instruction to ask for help in our time of need. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).  Pride, Humility and Personality  Perhaps most people struggle to ask for help. Our God-given temperaments can dictate whether we immediately cry for help or stoically suffer in silence. Different people seek different types of support. We read about someone’s journey through their trial on an online social network platform. Here, an afflicted person may receive love and encouragement from a vast population of caring people. Someone else, on the other hand, who doesn’t like being the center of attention, will request privacy. That doesn’t mean they prefer no help, however.   Also, there are those who don’t know they need help. Some mental illnesses cause the afflicted one to reject help that they feel they do not need. In addition to mental health needs, many with spiritual needs do not see themselves as in need of care.  Why Do We Care for Our Neighbor?  Jesus’s command is to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:39). Our neighbors are all people we encounter in our lives.  In God’s kingdom our neighbors are special. Our goal is to encourage each other in times of need, lest the devil find a vulnerable spot to attack and gain a foothold. We are taught to be our brother’s keeper, not just to admonish him when we see his error, but also to strengthen his faith in his time of trial, as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ tired arms during a battle (Exod. 17:12,13). The tempter can come from any angle.  Perhaps we feel jealousy and fixate on why there is such an enormous outpouring of love for certain people and not others? Or, we fail to notice someone who is yearning for friends and becomes bitter when, week after week, so few acknowledge them at services until they eventually stop coming. Definitely in our own time of trial, we may doubt and ask why God has allowed this to happen to us. Sometimes we fail to do as God has asked, instead thinking someone else will help. Or, in our pride, we struggle to ask for help as God instructed. These things are part of our battle and it is important to again and again renew our love for one another and humble our own pride and ask for help, God’s grace, for ourselves from our believing escorts. We need each other to reach our goal of heaven.  How Can I Help?  All of us have some type of God given gift to offer. Not all of us are capable of laboring over various acts of service for another. Some of us are impressive listeners who may relieve someone’s burden because they feel heard. For others, it feels natural to give gifts. Our personalities cause us to prefer to show care to another in a certain way. Likewise, we may appreciate one type of help for ourselves over another. In the case that we feel helpless – with no gift to give, or because our would-be recipient is not interested in physical gifts, we are fortunate to all have a gift from the heavenly Father: prayer.  Whatever strengths and weaknesses we find in ourselves, let’s share with each other freely and heed the wisdom in Proverbs 11:25, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” In this way we both bolster our own strength, as well as our neighbors’, and together we help each other get to heaven.   Help for the Struggle  Lance Clarke  A medical struggle can be one of the heaviest crosses a child of God endures in life. And whether it starts as a mental or a physical condition, these tend to intersect with time. Coming from a quadriplegic who has carried a medical issue for twenty years, I know firsthand the burdens that come with physical disabilities. This condition does not just affect me personally, but all my loved ones are affected by it too.  The best way to make a medical struggle into the best-case scenario possible is to avoid thinking of it as a burden or as something that makes your loved one’s lives’ harder. There are also many joys and blessings that come with a medical struggle.  After my car accident, I did not know how I would have the mental fortitude to live the rest of my life in a wheelchair. I prayed constantly to our heavenly Father for strength and guidance. God answered my prayers by sending me brothers and sisters in faith to lift my spirits. People came to my arms with love and compassion. I did not know it at the time, but the support from my fellow travelers in faith took me from a dark place and breathed life back into me.  Believers picked me up and brought me to where I could hear the Word of God or join social events. When I say that they picked me up, I literally mean that they physically lifted me out of my wheelchair and put me into the passenger seat. During the transfer, my buddies would give me a whisker rub on my cheek and say that I was the luckiest man in the world to be tickled by their whiskers. Laughter would ensue and the feeling that I was a burden was quickly extinguished. Some of those rides are my fondest memories. We visited about life and what mattered most, keeping faith number one and preaching the gospel to each other.  As the years rolled by, friends came and went, but there was always a believing friend or relative in my life ready to help me out. There is one brother in faith who I had a special kinship with. We talk on the phone on a consistent basis, and I often think I’d not be a child of God if not for him. He knows me inside and out and during the roughest moments in my life, God always gave him words to guide me back to the flock.  When I was stuck in bed with a pressure sore for over a year and literally going out of my mind with cabin fever, the devil quickly made himself at home in my mind. I went down rabbit holes researching the Bible to justify the sin that was on my conscience. My dear friend in faith listened to me and pointed out how the devil was leading me to misinterpret the Bible. He reminded me that I needed to understand faith like a little child, with humility and trust. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:15).. We would get into arguments and deep discussions, but we always washed our sins away by preaching the forgiveness of sins to each other.  There is a piece of Scripture that has brought me comfort over the years and answers any questions that I might have: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5,6, NIV).  If you or a loved one are currently going through a medical struggle or facing an obstacle, remember these words of wisdom, “Good days give happiness, bad days give experience, and the worst days give lessons.”   Welcome Others  Guy Shulda  Moving to a new congregation can be exciting but also a struggle. Some may wonder, am I going to fit in, will I make friends?   After Emily and I got married, we moved from Cokato, Minn., to my home congregation of Longview, Wash. We were excited to start our life together in Longview, but we had doubts and questions. I was very nervous my wife Emily would not find a group of friends and would not have others to talk to.   My doubts were quickly subdued after a few weeks. Many of the women at church were welcoming and invited Emily to their homes and to do some activities with them. I was filled with joy to see a smile on my wife’s face, to see her with new friends and to see her active with the congregation.   This was a good lesson for me. I’ve often thought after this experience about the times I’ve seen a new face at church, perhaps a Finnish kid visiting for the summer, and have not said “Hi” or invited them to go do something. These small acts of kindness can make a world of difference in someone’s walk of faith. You can build a lasting friendship with someone just by that small action.   We all have heard the Golden Rule and try to live by these words: “And as ye would that men should do to you do as ye would also” (Luke 6:31). Yet, so many times we see a new face at Sunday services but do not have the strength to go and introduce ourselves.   Remember the times you were in a new place with no one to talk to? Maybe an individual came up and talked to you. That individual might have felt hesitant, but God gave them just enough strength to extend a hand and say “Hi.” You probably remember that person and may have become good friends with them.  These are examples for us to remember when we see that person who doesn’t have anyone to talk to or a new member of the congregation. Find the strength to go visit with them. And, if you are a person new to a congregation, sign up for shifts and duties at church. This can be a great way to meet other members of the congregation. It feels good to help out. The Bible teaches us that there is joy in the work. “In the same way let your light before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). These are all lessons that I have learned since I moved back to Longview with Emily. There were many good reminders to be a brother’s keeper.  New couples have moved to Longview in past months. Often I think of our experience and am reminded to invite them over. I try to make it a point to go visit with them to help them feel welcome.   Discussion Questions  What are some simple ways we can notice and welcome someone new in our congregation?   Why is it sometimes difficult for people to ask for help, and how can we gently encourage openness?   How can trials – such as medical struggles, grief, or financial difficulties – become opportunities for strengthening faith?   What role does humility play in both giving and receiving help?   How can prayer serve as a gift of help, even when we feel we have little else to offer?   Reflect on a time when someone’s support made a lasting difference in your life. What can we learn from those experiences for how we support others?

The Voice of Zion September 2025 - Editorial -- We live in a culture that prizes control. We’re told we can design the life we want, chart our path, and shape who we want to be however we please. From daily decisions to long-term goals, it’s easy to fall into the mindset: “If I work hard enough and plan carefully enough, I can make life go my way.”  But what happens when it doesn’t?  The illusion of total self-determination eventually breaks. A relationship falters. An illness arrives. A plan fails. We realize that not everything bends to our will – and that can feel disorienting. Yet for the believer, this truth can be freeing. We’re not in control of everything – and we’re not supposed to be.  Many things in life are beyond our control. We do not choose the day of our birth or the day of our death. We cannot prevent every sorrow or orchestrate every success. Part of living in faith is learning to make peace with this reality: that God is God, and we are not – God is in control, and we are in His care. Scripture gives us comfort in this mystery: “In thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:16). Our days are not random; they are known to Him before we live them. This doesn’t mean that our choices and actions don’t matter. Rather, it means we live under the watchful care of a Father whose wisdom is higher than ours. In that knowledge, we can release our need to control and rest in His providence.  Still, this doesn’t mean we’re powerless. Scripture encourages us to live wisely and faithfully in the responsibilities given to us: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Eccl. 9:10). Martin Luther agreed. In matters of daily life – what he called civil righteousness  – we do have freedom. We choose how to treat others, how to spend our time, what to say or remain silent about. In The Bondage of the Will , he writes, “In external things which pertain to this life, a person is free and has the power to choose… to labor or not, to speak or to keep silence.” And these choices matter. Whether we do what is the right choice or a poor choice or even a fall into sin, our actions can leave a lasting mark on our earthly lives and the lives of others.  God has also given humankind remarkable knowledge and skill – not in opposition to faith, but as part of His ongoing care for creation. Luther affirmed that God works through means: through builders, farmers, teachers, doctors and public servants to serve and protect. “God gives every good thing,” he said, “but not just by waving His hand. He uses instruments, people, and means to do it.” We benefit daily from gifts He gives through others.   As stewards of our lives and others’ wellbeing, we are called to make informed, humble and loving choices. While we are free to weigh advice and act according to conscience, rejecting sound guidance out of pride or the assumption we know better can become a form of self-reliance that turns us away from trusting God. Scripture warns, “Be not wise in thine own eyes” (Pro. 3:7). Living under God’s care means recognizing that our choices carry responsibility and consequence – and also that God’s mercy meets us wherever we fall short.  But what about spiritual things – like choosing God, repenting, and believing?  Here, Lutheran teaching draws a clear distinction. In spiritual matters, we are not free. Without faith we are spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), unable to turn toward God on our own. Jesus says plainly: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44).  This can be hard to accept, especially in a world that celebrates self-made success. But in reality, it’s a source of deep comfort. Our salvation does not depend on our strength or effort. It depends entirely on God’s grace.  Faith is not our decision – it is God’s gift. The heart that believes has been awakened by the Spirit. And once awakened, our will is renewed. We begin to want what is good. We desire to live according to God’s Word.  So we do what we can. We make plans, live honestly, and speak truth in love. And then we let go – entrusting the unknown to God, who sees all, knows all, and loves us still.  Faith doesn’t mean we never struggle. But it gives us a place to rest when our limits come into view. In God’s hands, even what we don’t control is not out of control. Even what we don’t choose is not random. And even when we feel weak, His grace remains strong.

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion September 2025 - News & Notes Article -- September often carries with it memories of change. Where I grew up, in Saskatchewan, it meant the shift from the growing season to the harvest, and from harvest to preparing for the next season.  In our congregations, September brings the return of Sunday School, and in many families the beginning of another school year after a summer away. As I write, the last camp bus is leaving the LLC Office for Stony Lake Camp, marking the close of another busy camp season. In this moment, my heart echoes the words of the songwriter in prayer for our children:  “Dearest Jesus, help Thy children as Thine own e’er to remain,  so that none would fall to journey on the broad and sinful way.  Thou hast promised to be ever with Thy blessed children here.  On the way to school, oh, bless us, may Thy Word to us be dear.  Be Thou also our protection as we wander, as we play;  bless our nights, and guide our duties ev’ry moment of the day.” – SHZ 444  September also brings many activities: the Content Creators Workshop for publications, Ministers and Wives Camp, Fall Youth Days, and more. The life of God’s children is always one of preparation – preparation for our final departure to our Heavenly home. May God bless these moments of fellowship so that they strengthen our faith and encourage us in the endeavor.  Updates on LLC Activities  Pastoral  The 2026 Minister and Wives Camp is held at Prairie Shores Camp in Saskatchewan September 19–21. This camp gives the opportunity for servants of the Word and their wives to discuss this mutual calling as well as topics that relate to the duty that each has been called to serve in.  We thank the Heavenly Father for giving willing hearts to those who served at camps throughout the summer. We see how God has placed the gifts needed to fulfill the duties of camp directors, teachers and preachers at each of our camps.  Global Mission Work  During the summer months, we experience the busy camp season in North America, including Confirmation schools. This summer, confirmation schools were held in Sierra Leone (June, July) and Ghana (August). Additional camps and teachers’ workshops have been held on recent trips. God has blessed these events. At a recent camp for congregation leaders in Kenya, they spoke of their joy to meet others in person. Before the camp, they had known each other only from WhatsApp communication groups.  Facilities  The Silver Springs Camp Board presented a pavilion concept plan to Minnesota congregations in Fall 2024. Congregations provided feedback, which the board is now using to develop a firm proposal. Additional information will be shared at the Minnesota boards’ meeting on October 6.  Hasscib Lake support area congregations hosted Midsummer Services at Hasscib Lake Camp on August 15-16, 2025. Approximately 1,000 people attended this festive service weekend.  The 2025 camp season is winding down. Events were held at Kamp Kipa, Hasscib Lake, Silver Springs, and Stony Lake. The camp boards extend heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers who made this season possible.  Volunteer service remains the backbone of camps and many other events. We encourage congregations to continue fostering ways for members to serve. This year, filling kitchen worker shifts was occasionally a challenge; added focus on this area would be especially helpful. Communications  We’re hearing questions on many fronts about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in editing, production, and other creative work. What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts with us as we continue to thoughtfully discuss how such tools might be used in appropriate ways.  A new Hearken  update is now available for Android users. Check the app to make sure you are using the latest version, version 2.5. The main change ensures ongoing compatibility with the Android operating system, along with a few smaller fixes.  Do you have ideas for Hearken  content – or skills in video production or audio program creation? We’d love to hear from you as we look ahead to creating new content. Currently we are planning for Christmas programming.  Thanksgiving on Hearken : We’re planning a special Thanksgiving program for Hearken  this November. Send us your favorite Thanksgiving recipe along with an audio recording about where it came from and the memories tied to it. Please contact Ruth at rdelacey@llchurch.org with any questions.  At its July 3 meeting, the LLC Board appointed Phil Jurmu as Publications Director, head of the Publications Department, effective early September. This department is currently called the Communications Department. The name change will take effect in September. Matthew Keranen, who served as Communications Director, will serve as editor and content curator. Our current editor, Sandra Pylvainen, will take on a role as project editor, focusing mainly on fiction and other book projects.  Our annual planning for next year’s periodicals is underway. These plans will be discussed by the staff, at Content Creators Workshops and on LLC Board committees. Your prayers and support for this work are always welcome!

Aaron Anderson | 2025 LLC Summer Services – Youth Presentation The Meaning of Love What comes to your mind when you hear the word “love?” It is a profound and multifaceted term, yet in today’s world, its meaning has been tragically distorted. Many equate love with infatuation or sexual gratification, believing that when these feelings fade, love ends. Such misunderstandings often lead to fleeting relationships in the world. In English, “love” encompasses various meanings, reflecting a range of emotions and bonds. Martin Luther, in What Luther Says distinguishes between “divine love” and “human love.” His writings emphasize love for God and neighbor, asserting, “Self-love is always sinful as long as it stays in itself; it is not good unless it is out of itself in God, that is, unless my inclination to have my own way and my love for myself are dead, and I seek nothing but to have the will of God alone done in me, ready for death, for life, and for every form my Potter wants to give me” (What Luther Says, pg. 828). Modern culture promotes “self-love” as prioritizing oneself above others. Once one has received sufficient “self-love,” then one can focus on helping others. Yet as sinful beings, we never feel satisfied. If Luther were alive today, witnessing the self-obsession on social media and the endless streams of self-promotion, he might marvel that God has not yet ended this world. Paul’s words to Timothy remain strikingly relevant: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” (2 Tim. 3:2, NIV). In the original language of the New Testament, the Greek language, two words are used for love: Agape  (ἀγάπη): Selfless, unconditional, sacrificial love. Used extensively (e.g., John 3:16; 1 Cor. 13) for God’s love for humanity, Christian love for others, and the ideal of divine love. Phileo  (φιλέω): Brotherly, affectionate love, emphasizing friendship or emotional warmth. Used in John 21:15–17; John 16:27 and elsewhere. There are two more words in Greek that mean love which, notably, are not used in the New Testament: Eros  (ἔρως): Romantic or passionate love. Storge  (στοργή): Familial love. Not used directly as a noun, but its negative form (astorgos) appears in Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3 to critique the absence of natural affection. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians describes love: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Cor. 13:4–7, NIV).             Notice the absence of physical attraction—*agape* is a selfless, divine love. Noah Webster’s original dictionary defines love as:   An affection of the mind excited by beauty and worth of any kind...love between the sexes is a compound affection, consisting of esteem, benevolence, and animal desire... The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs from just views of his attributes or excellencies of character, which afford the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute ingredients in this affection, and a fear of offending him is its inseparable effect. Courtship; to woo; to solicit union in marriage.             A modern Webster’s definition of love: “A romantic attachment or relationship.” This definition is most associated with courtship today.             In modern times we are married because we have “fallen in love” with our spouse. Which married couple here would say, “We were married because I needed someone to help with house chores.” Or, “we were married so I could live on his or her income.”             Unable to imagine life without our spouse, we jump headlong into marriage. God instills in each of us this feeling and desire to become “one flesh.” I remember well this feeling in those early days of our courtship.             I was so full of amazement, joy, and happiness that I remember thinking, “I wish I could give a great, big, bear-hug to this entire world!” Yet this feeling did not come from lust of the flesh. I felt it was a pure gift from God himself. It was a feeling so strong, that it completely and utterly turned my world “upside down!”             “Falling in love,” however, was not always the explicit reason for marriage in antiquity where marriages were often arranged by the couple’s parents. We can read about the very first arranged marriage:   “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. But for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:18,20–25).   God arranged this union and love followed.             Because arranged marriages were the norm throughout the Bible extraordinarily little is written about the topic of courtship. Did this mean that newly engaged and married couples did not experience an affection towards each other because their spouse was chosen for them? Not so!             We can recall the tender scene from the Old Testament when Isaac and Rebekah’s arranged marriage grew into love:  “ And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death” (Gen. 24:63–67). Rebekah, a believer, chosen by God through Abraham’s servant (v. 2–4), brought faith and love to their bond. Abraham trusted God’s guidance (Prov. 3:5–7). What is the Purpose of Courtship? Proverbs 18:22 says “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.” And as we read earlier in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” We clearly see how the purpose of courtship is marriage. I even found an article online not written by a believer that explained: “Courtship is a relationship between a man and a woman in which they seek to determine if it is God’s will for them to marry each other.” ( https://www.traditionalcatechism.com ) I was heartened that there are yet those in unbelief who hold the traditional view of courtship. At 1996 Summer Services a presentation on courtship explained that Christian courtship should begin with the prayer that God would grant His blessing. It should begin only with the purpose and hope of a lasting marriage. Christian courtship is such a serious matter that we should avoid foolish matchmaking, and excessive teasing. Courtship – A Unique Love Story Every courtship is a unique love story. It often begins with infatuation, a natural feeling that can even arise toward unbelievers. God’s kingdom has always instructed that to act on these feelings is not correct. A sin of the first world was marriage with unbelievers (Gen. 6:12). This is still a sin and will always be a sin, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14). Sometimes it has been asked, “how do you know that this believer is not going to lead that unbeliever into the kingdom, if they begin courting?” One is not led by the light of the Holy Spirit through sin. One may repent, but that is a different matter. We do not consider courtship as mission work. Consider the following true stories. An Infatuation with an Unbeliever A believing boy in high school heard through his unbelieving classmates that a certain girl wanted to go out with him. In the past, he had not really noticed this girl, but now after hearing this bit of surprising news, he began to notice her. He saw that she was attractive, respectable, a bit shy, and good natured. He never heard bad stories or gossip about her from others. Soon, the boy found himself walking next to her between periods. A friendship grew and soon it became more than just a friendship. It was turning into an infatuation. There was one problem. She did not share the same faith. She was not a believer. The boy’s flesh burned with a desire to date her. However, he didn’t dare, for his conscience warned against such action. The prayer in the boy’s heart to be preserved as a believer rose to the Heavenly Father. He remembered the instruction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14). Confessing his faith in conversation to her felt impossible, so finally he wrote a letter to the girl. He explained the reason he could not date her was because of his faith. He said he felt a love towards her undying soul that was greater than this temporal infatuation, and he hoped that she could one day believe the gospel and repent. The boy received a letter back from the girl. She stated that when she first read his letter she felt very sad and cried. Then she became angry. She felt accused of being a bad person. The believing boy and the unbelieving girl’s friendship did not completely end, but it stayed as just a casual friendship for the remainder of high school. Through the power of God, the boy was preserved from the temptation of being disobedient to the teachings of God’s Kingdom in that instance. That boy is now a grandpa, and he still has the prayer in his heart that his former classmate could one day receive the grace to believe her unbelief forgiven. “Courtship is for Marriage” Two young believers sensed a growing attraction between them and began courting. The young woman came from an unbelieving home, having repented years earlier while still in middle school. Now, at the wise age of 19, she was firm in her resolve not to marry until at least age 25. The brother of the young man courting her overheard her comment about waiting until 25 years old to get married and gently responded, “But don’t you know that courtship is for marriage?” Now, ten years later, they are preparing to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. God has richly blessed their marriage, sustaining them through both trials and joyful times. A Summer to Remember A young believing man went “Eurailing” with his friend one summer. The trip happened to take place during a time in the young man’s life when he felt hard-pressed to pause from his work and studies. He had a definite career-path in mind, and it was going to involve much time, energy, and devotion to attain it. His friend suggested the trip, and the pull toward travel and adventure won over reason and logic. After time spent in lower Europe, they traveled to Finland to attend summer services. The young man was eager to return home after Summer Services to continue his work and studies, but on a whim decided to extend his ticket. This would afford him the opportunity to attend the Reisjarvi Opisto services and then to travel back home on the same flight as his friend. During that extended time, the young man met an extremely outgoing and pretty young lady who, at one point, had stated “I will never marry an American!” That was 27 years ago already. In our 26 years of marriage there has been much joy, happiness, and celebration. But there have been heavy trials, defeats by the enemy of souls, and tears. We both carry our corrupt portion but through our life together God has still blessed our marriage. We pray for his continual blessing. Practical Considerations of Courtship and Marriage  “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith” (1 Tim. 5:8). When a couple is smitten by “the love bug,” often one cannot think of anything else other than wanting to one day marry this special person God has suddenly introduced into their life. It is therefore good to be reminded that Marriage brings with it many responsibilities, and one needs to be able to provide for his or her family. The emotional and financial demands are very real and can at times be exceptionally heavy. It is important to be prepared for this. This includes among other things maturity, responsibility, some type of livelihood, and perhaps training and education. God certainly gives all things to us; but it is possible, through our own neglect, to bring on some of our own burdens. It is prudent and wise to plan with some degree of preparation. Above all, we want to make these plans while trusting in our Heavenly Father: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes:fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:5–7). Conduct in Courtship How should a believer act during courtship? I wondered how young, courting couples would answer this type of question in today’s day and age and so I asked different couples who were courting or had recently courted, “What words of advice would you give to newly courting or married couples?” “It’s a special time in your life, and God gave you this special person just for you. Keep communication key. Even if the courtship does not work out in the end, they were meant to be in your life at that moment as it was God’s intention all along. So, don’t feel like it was a mistake. The same goes for those newlyweds who may still have doubts on if it was the right person you married; God wouldn’t have let the marriage happen if He didn’t intend for you to marry your spouse. Trust that His plan is the perfect one!” “From the beginning set boundaries. Go to youth discussions together (courtship discussions are very helpful). Attraction deepens as the relationship grows, and the couple becomes closer. The physical draw between the couple is natural, it’s God’s gift for procreation but He has intended sex for marriage. Sometimes, even hugging can come from a lustful standpoint. So, we must remember to be very open communicators. Remind each other of the boundaries, and approach each other with a believing heart. The gospel is the glue that keeps you together.” “Especially at the beginning of a courtship I think it’s important to talk about faith and make sure you believe the same. I would also encourage couples to freely use the gospel. It can be hard or even scary to ask for your sins forgiven, but it always makes you feel so free after. Discussing matters with each other helps you feel a lot closer and builds a relationship where faith is the foundation.” “Be able to share the gospel with one another, and discuss about matters you may struggle with. Tell each other everything; don’t hold secrets from the other.” Scriptural Advice In Scripture, we can plainly read about the fruits of a believer as they relate to courtship. Paul instructs in his second letter to Timothy to “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22). To the Thessalonians he says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before” (1 Thess. 4:3–6, NIV). Our present culture has bred a hedonistic or pleasure-seeking society. The standard of living is high, disposable income is high, and the human imagination has a huge playground. Sensuality and ways of exciting and pleasing the flesh have sunk to almost unbelievable depths of filth and corruption. In our society there exists an unbridled fascination with sex and sexuality. This is even more pronounced with the continual advancement of technology. The devil lets no opportunity go to waste, and he has certainly perverted God’s gift of sexuality through these advancements of technology. Age-honored attitudes in which marriage was understood to be the correct and proper institution for a sexual relationship have yielded to utter immorality in the guise of personal freedom and individual choice. Believing courtship should not take on the manner, behavior, or even communication of this world. Using our phones to send provocative messages and images only serves to feed the flesh and subvert that which is good to that which does not edify our faith. As believers, we must be straightforward and frank in our discussions when we consider this matter. Fornication, which is sexual relations before marriage, and adultery, which is sexual relations outside of marriage, are sin along with all the fleshly acts associated with them. It is important that we not be deceived into permissiveness and leniency; “make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:14). Therefore, beloved brothers and sisters, it is important to court within a group setting as much as possible. Proverbs 6:27 asks “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” It is also important that when it is decided that an official courtship begins, that this would not be hidden from the congregation. Courtship is a joyous matter and the congregation of God rejoices with you and prays also on your behalf. Another worldly custom which we have seen with increasing alarm appear among God's children is the young age at which children, yes children, begin to show more than a shy and distant attraction to one another. It is quite common for worldly kids to begin dating, to use the common term, as young teenagers. Social media has certainly intensified this phenomena. This “dating” is often only used to satisfy the lusts of the flesh, as we have alluded to already; the intention is far from finding a marriage partner. Even if someone at an early age, believer or not, would indicate future marriage intentions as the motivation for starting such a relationship, early teens are far too young, far too immature, far too irresponsible to realistically consider marriage. They do not have the practical tools or experience, the emotional maturity, or psychological development – in other words, one is totally unprepared to deal with such a commitment and relationship. “To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccl. 3:1). Paul writes, “And be not conformed to this world” (Rom 12:2). Do not put yourself in the way of temptation, nor grieve your parents and the elders. Dear child of God, in courtship, as in everyday life, when offenses and sins come, put them away under the blood of Christ! Do you remember how the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus who was caught in the very serious sin of adultery? The Bible doesn’t say that He wrote down their specific sins pressing on their consciences, but what He did write caused them to be convicted by their own consciences. Those sins gave them so much shame that not one dared to throw the first stone. But did they stick around to find out how they could be freed from their sins? No, rather scripture says that they left, one by one. The woman was left alone with Jesus, and our Lord and Master himself forgave her sins with this instruction to “go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). Yes, even that sin of adultery was forgiven. God’s word says, “There is no new thing under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9), and these types of serious matters which take one out of God’s Kingdom must be put away under the blood of Christ. If a couple falls in sin together, the only way to care for those wounds of conscience together is to seek out a trusted, sealed vessel in God’s Kingdom. Those matters can then be washed away by the gospel and new promises made to court in purity as children of God. Again, dear child of God, I want to emphasize how courtship is a serious but joyful matter! As we have already stated, it should begin with an earnest prayer to our dear Heavenly Father. I still remember my prayer after my wife and I figured out that we “liked” each other. I was looking for a visible sign, much like Abraham’s servant wished to see a sign from God as to which woman would be the right one for Isaac, and I remembering praying that “Dear God, if this is the right one for me, let the sun be shining brightly when I wake up, and not overcast with clouds!” I woke up the following morning and lo, and behold, the sunshine was streaming through the windows! I could see the tree branches swaying and birds were joyfully chirping. But then I fell back to sleep and when I woke up again, it was cloudy. So, just a tiny bit of doubt crept in at that moment. Court Openly in God’s Congregation God and His congregation, especially the home congregation of which you are members, wishes this time of your life to be blessed and happy! It is only the enemy of souls that wishes otherwise and wants you to fall into the temptation of impurity. Therefore, keep your courtship and relationship out in the open. If you are quite young and you both are keenly aware of your feelings for each other, but have some years to wait, do not try to keep this hidden! It only serves to protect you and your relationship in purity when you can be open with your family and friends and the congregation. Members and elders of the congregation want nothing more than to see two young believers court each other in the midst of His congregation. We are all sinners and need to help each other on the way. No one, no parent, no preacher, no Sunday school teacher is above the other. We all struggle and need to lift each other up! So share the gospel frequently! Pray for one another and for the blessing of God and of His congregation! God wishes to remind you even now to “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth” (Eccl. 12:1). Dear young and old here this evening, believe even now on the faithful promises of God that all your latest doubts, shortcomings, failings, and sins are all forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious atoning blood. This gospel is truly “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth!” (Rom. 1:16).

Petri Hotari | 2025 LLC Summer Services – Congregation Evening Sparrow Hath Found an House Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.” (Ps. 84:3,4) I find myself marveling over God’s Word that I’ve read many times. The psalmist describes God’s kingdom as a home for sparrows and swallows, but when have I considered the difference between them? Swallows have wings built for speedy and graceful flight. Sparrows are smaller, with shorter wings and stout bodies, often seen hopping on the ground. Are swallows like the youth of Zion? Sparrows surely depict mothers and fathers who desire to raise their young in a believing home and in the security and care of the home congregation. Just like God has created many different birds He has given those that dwell in His house different phases and lots in life. It is above all a spiritual house; with altars, places of worship, where the whole family of God both young and old can all dwell and hold on to the simple instructions of God’s Word, serving each other and blessing each other with the gospel. It is a blessed place, one where all sing praises to the one Lord and God. God Has Ordained At the foundation of the family of God is the security of the unchanging word of God. God created humans in His image and as male and female. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). From the rib of man God created woman and He then ordained marriage. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Also: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:9). God ordained marriage between man and woman as a lifelong covenant. The dual purpose of marriage is for man and woman to be helpmates one to another and for accepting all the children that God blesses into the family. Yet here amid God’s kingdom are families who are not given children. God also blesses their obedience of faith. The psalmist writes: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Ps. 127:3). The Bible also gives many examples how God opens the womb and gives the gift of children. This was seen already at the time of the Old Testament patriarchs. “And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach” (Gen. 30:22,23). Receiving a spouse is a blessing from God. Families receiving the gift of children is also a blessing from God: all things are from His hands. Do we always see it this way? Can we accept and be content in what God gives? Do we join with the songwriter, “What God ordains is ever good?” (SHZ 382). We see how the world around us moves farther away from these teachings of the Word of God. Yet God’s children cling to these unchanging instructions and trust in God. This brings peace to the heart. Courtship and Marriage It is a joy to all in God’s house to notice when believing youth begin courtship. For the “swallows” in Zion who are seeking for a spouse often the simple instruction of faith is given to pray to the heavenly Father that He would bless with a believing spouse. The purpose of courtship is for believing youth in soberness of faith to get to know each other, to find out if the foundation is the same, especially on matters of faith. In the unity of faith God can give believing young the gift of love towards each other that begins to flourish and grow. Courtship is not like the dating of this world that often emphasizes freedom of the flesh. This kind of lighthearted approach to courtship can lead to the dangers of sin and adultery. Courtship doesn’t always lead to the gift of marriage. Again, simple instructions and encouragement are offered to young dealing with these kinds of situations. “Pray! Allow God to lead and guide in these and all matters.” Faith teaches that it is God who gives all gifts, also the gift of a spouse; a special believer to walk in the obedience of faith together with - as one. God’s Word clearly warns against seeking for a spouse outside of God’s Kingdom. This was one of the signs of wickedness recorded during the times of Noah before God said: “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” (Gen. 6:7) Paul in his letter clearly states, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” (2Cor. 6) The enemy of souls works hard to try for a different outcome than the instructions of God’s Word. Connections with youth from the world can lead to temptations and danger, often manifested by a pull in the wrong direction and away from the “sparrow’s house.” Satan tempts the youth with all the attractions of this world and we live in a time where the worldly connections come through devices right to the believing home. Satan also once tempted Jesus, yet Jesus was victorious. Jesus gave the youth, and all of us, a good example how to battle; turn to God’s Word. Often, I recall my mother quoting from the first psalm during my time of youth, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sittest in the seat of the scornful.” In our world today the walking, standing, sitting with those not in faith extends to a virtual world. God gives strength to His own in battle wherever the battle front is. May those connections in the virtual world also be other “swallows” from the house of God! In God’s house there is a company of angels; the many aunts, uncles, parents, godparents, grandparents and elders who can notice the youth in their endeavour of faith and encourage and offer the care of the gospel to them. Believing youth who battle against the pull of the world and temptations of the flesh can shine like candles in a dark place. This can draw youth from the world to ask for the reason of their peace and joy. God can call those from the darkness of this world into His house. Instructions have always been for youth to not immediately begin courtship and marriage with those who have recently repented from the world. The new child of God, like a swallow with newly given wings, is given a time to “learn how to fly,” that is, become rooted and grounded in faith; to be drawn into the love and care of the congregation and to experience everyday life in believing homes. This is important! When is the right time to begin courtship for someone who has repented from the world? There is no timetable, rather the Holy Spirit guides and the right time is manifest when young receive a blessing with joy from their home Zion. If faith does not become the most important matter in their life, it will be a relief to have heeded the warnings received from home Zion against beginning courtship. The spirit that dwells in the house of God is unerring! Obedience of the Heart When two believing young are about to be married, we recall the simple prayer often given by the servant in the home congregation: “God thou who hast established marriage, bless this covenant. Grant this couple one-mindedness and love and make their home a Christian home.” There is much depth and instruction to these simple prayers that come from Zion. One-mindedness or unity of faith is the foundation of the believing home. The home is not intended to be a place where either the husband or wife dominates or a place of a dominant and tight spirit, rather a place where temporal differences are valued and discussed openly. Paul in letter to the Ephesians instructed wives and husbands to serve each other. Wives are to submit themselves to their husbands and husbands are called to a higher goal of loving their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. One-mindedness is when both husbands and wives obediently pull in the same direction, making decisions of life in humbleness, unity and in obedience to faith. In believing homes these are connected closely, obedience of faith and obedience of the heart. An obedient heart desires to heed the teachings of God’s Word and the instructions of the Holy Spirit that speaks in the congregation. Even difficult decisions made in often weak faith and obedience of the heart do not cause division in the home but instead obedience brings peace and draws family closer together. This is the work of the spirit of God. Obedience of the heart brings the family a desire to teach children about faith in the home. This duty of fathers and mothers extends beyond the home so that it is seen as a priority to bring the family to the home Zion to be taught, to be in the hearing of God’s Word, participate in camps, partake in the sacraments and support the work of the kingdom in its many forms. God has blessed Zion today with many opportunities for teaching and fellowship but this does not diminish the importance of families gathering in their homes to read from Christian publications, quieting to hear an online devotion or to sing the songs of Zion together. God’s Word gives many examples of obedience. Some familiar ones from Mary and Joseph who in obedience to the law brought Baby Jesus to the temple to be circumcised, then after forty days to be presented to the Lord as part of the Old-Testament sacrificial worship service. Later they brought Jesus as a 12-year-old boy to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover. These are examples of how believing families go to where services are arranged. We recall Moses’ instructions on the wilderness journey, “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou lies down, and when thou rises up” (Deut. 6:7). The writer to the Hebrews reminds: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb.10:25). This duty to exhort or remind to gather, to go to services doesn’t leave anyone behind, rather all in God’s house can help teach and reach out to bring others to service events and camps. The children of Zion need the teaching and instruction that comes from the gifts of the members that dwell there. This includes from those members who haven’t been given a spouse or children. Jesus gave this example when some came to mention that his family was seeking for him: “And he answered them saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on him with sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and my mother” (Mark 3:33–35). The house of God is a spiritual house where all gifts are needed and obedience to serve with these gifts is needed for the support of the whole family of God. Obedience of the heart of faith connects the home to the family of God. It gives strength to fight the flesh that always desires to draw back and is drawn towards sin. When one draws back, one becomes vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy of souls and the pull of the world. When personal plans and aspirations become all-important, this can also lead to one drawing back. Is this one of the signs of our time? Surely the enemy of souls knows when to use even healthy hobbies as a tool to soak up important family time or time away from the home congregation. His goal is to create in the heart a desire to sacrifice time with the family of God for the “home idols” that are of this world. This can happen between spouses or to both spouses or any member of the family because we all carry the corrupt flesh and blood that is so closely aligned to this world. Signs of this can emerge when there is a lack of time to gather as family in the home, especially around matters of faith; leading to a lack of time to gather with the home congregation. A falling away can result, bringing with it more concerning signs and worldly behavior. For example, a husband and wife striving to attain personal goals and pursuits of this world with increasing priority, finding less time for duties of home and family, can start to become more closely tempted by the world’s ways and sins such as family planning and birth control seem like the solution. The amount of time spent consuming the media of this world or closely following organized sports can start to increase. Oh, how important it is to be travelling closely connected with the family of God, from where help is found for the life of faith, for we live in perilous times (2 Tim. 3:1). God’s Word gives many examples of the importance of traveling with a heart that is obedient. King Saul, who was disobedient, was given this rebuke from God’s prophet: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Sam. 15:22,23). We recall how Jacob’s family, including his dear wife Rebecca, took and hid “home idols” when fleeing Laban’s house. But then later it is recorded, “Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem (Gen. 35:2–4). Whether the family is one single traveler, spouses without children, or a father and mother with many children, always timely is the instruction to hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit that draws the children of God together. It reminds that personal temporal goals and pursuits are not that important. Obedience of the heart that is led by the Holy Spirit helps to counterbalance personal aspirations with the need to travel together with the children of God in faith. In fact, it gives a yearning to do so. The song writer well depicts this connection and yearning: “I yearn to travel with them, this congregation blest, my heart for each rejoicing when one is called to rest; I yearn to share their burdens, when grief and illness weigh, to bear the water basin and wash all sin away” (SHZ 204:4). Life of Service The writer to Ecclesiastes writes: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” (Eccl. 3:1,2). God, who gives the gift of life, can bless into the home many children. For fathers, and especially mothers, life becomes a life of service to the family. In the busyness of the home, often there is no time left over for personal goals or hobbies. Weariness can come to the “sparrows” tending the nest, feeding the young. In the moments of adversity, the care of the gospel is often needed to strengthen the desire to share in the mutual responsibility in the home. Fathers that take a second wind to help the mothers who often work double shifts in the home may be rewarded by seeing newfound joy and energy. The help of fathers means so much to the home. This same effect is seen in double to both parents when angels from the home Zion come in with sleeves rolled up to help! This sharing of a life of service naturally extends to the older children and into God’s house where aunts and uncles also provide support. God does not forget his children and provides strength day by day. The time to raise young is a season that God gives which comes with many blessings that may not always be seen. In hindsight, this season is so fleeting. Into this busyness of family life there is a need to provide spiritual sowing into the home by both mothers and fathers. Fathers as the head of the family are exhorted to take a leadership role to ensure God’s Word is read and discussed at home. Often it feels that the flesh and blood must be dragged along in fulfilling this important sowing work and many lackings and weaknesses are often felt. Encouragement is needed; the duty being very important. The psalmist encourages: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5). Traditions should be set into the home for reading God’s Word and singing the songs of Zion. These traditions will become the dearest and richest enduring memories of family life. Jesus reminded clearly of this when Mary was at his feet to hear His words while Martha was going about with much serving: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41,42). We are living perilous times and young couples may find themselves going through times of great temporal and spiritual trials. In their struggles, the home life can become neglected and as the song writer describes: “With selfishness and hurry, how blinded we become. We scarcely even notice our dear one’s needs at home.” Yet God does not ever forget His own and can send those from home Zion to help the struggling families. Continuing the verse: “But then we pray, dear Father. and share our stress and burden within the care of Christ” (SHZ 420:3). Also from another familiar verse: “Zion will carry you in peace and friendship true, in charity” (SHZ 252:3). All in the family of God are given a life of service; elder couples to the young couples and the young to the old. Do we notice in our congregations if there are young couples who are in difficult straits, perhaps even struggling with the simple instructions in how to live in the house of God? Do we need to reach out to them, go visit them or invite them to our homes? These are good questions to ask in the house of God, and He sends help from Zion. The Holy Spirit gives the whole family of God the mind to serve each other and help the struggling young families also. Then there are the youth, the graceful flying swallows. They need families to open their homes for events like haps. These joyous occasions of fellowship also need to find moments for God’s Word and songs of Zion: also bringing to the joy and busyness a feeling of peace and festive moments for the life of faith. This is often what the youth need the most. The enemy of souls tries to trap and entice the whole family of God but especially the young. Hosting the youth further adds to the life of service for families but it is a very important addition. This presents an opportunity for the youth, singles, aunts, uncles and others in the house of God to reciprocate and help the hosting families. We are reminded of the importance of opening our homes for the youth especially during a time of loss, when the enemy is able to deceive youth to leave the one saving-faith. In these moments the whole family of God feel great depths of loss and sorrow. The enemy does not just target the youth but all of those in the house of God. But God helps in battle and His children turn to him with unceasing prayers on behalf of the loved ones who have lost the way. Prayers and preaching to the lost ones are part of the life of service of the family of God: “I shall continue preaching to you, my child, each day till dirt and dust have covered my aged head of gray” (SHZ 583:4). Blessing of Family The gift of family brings many blessings. Family members share a common sense of belonging and purpose. Bonds of family can be strengthened during family traditions and events and the cherished memories they create. Family is a place to turn to for guidance and help during a time of adversity; where, by sharing, joys can be multiplied, and sorrows are divided. The busyness of family brings a richness to life. There is less room for selfishness and idle time, perhaps helping spare from many temptations and snares of this world. These are but a few of the many blessings of family. At the core of family is the gift of love that joins and creates a desire for family to travel through life together. The songwriter writes: “We need each other, Father, an open, warm embrace, the parents’ life experience, the children’s trusting gaze. We meet with disappointments, surprises, and enjoyment, here traveling side by side (SHZ 420:2). In addition to these blessings, the gift of faith in a believing family brings with it a deeper spiritual love. This love is the first fruit of faith (Gal. 5:22). This further strengthens family with the most important bonds, spiritual bonds. This importance is especially felt when a family member has been deceived by the enemy and forsakes the gift of faith and spiritual bonds of family are broken. There remains great love of the believing family towards the prodigal sons and daughters but there is also a great gulf which separates us when spiritual bonds are lost. For it is the spiritual bond of love that compels spouses and family to forgive each other’s failings and wrongs with the gospel of the blood of Christ. It has been said that the most important piece of furniture in the believing home is the throne of grace, the gospel of the forgiveness of sins; for it sustains spiritual life and spiritual bonds of peace and joy. The grace of God that dwells in the believing home also is a “home teacher” that teaches how to live by faith. As Paul writes: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for the that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11–13). Oh, there is reason to thank God for the gift of our believing family and all the blessings it brings! Care for the life of faith in the home is closely tied to the life in the congregation of God. It has a richness and abundance of blessings that cannot be fully known. Families of God are blessed with so many gifts and events that bring peace and spiritual food to the soul. Some of these are: congregation gatherings, services, gathering for the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion and larger festive services. The spirit of God that is shed on our hearts opens eyes of faith to see travel companions as such dear friends of the heart, whether they are young, the newly repented, elders or those who we have only met briefly over the years at services. It is like the elder believers and the many newly converted believers together in the early Christian church. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). These words, “one heart,” “one soul,” and “all things common,” speak of the blessings of the spiritual family of God that can only be seen and known when one has been given the gift to be in the family of God. Its beauty is only seen from the inside. For sure family brings differences and uniqueness in character; many different gifts are needed in the family and in the congregation. Many faults and failings exist also among the family members. The endeavor of faith in marriage or in family is not a bed of roses. At the same time the enemy can paint a rosy picture of the world outside the life of the families of God’s Kingdom. The Old Testament traveler Asaph, openly describes his feelings: “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Ps. 73:3). He then compared his lot as a child of God: “When I thought to know this it was too painful for me” (v.16). Then, finally remembering the blessings: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end” (v.17). Asaph was lifted up and given to remember the most important blessing of being in the family of God: “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever (v.25,26). The blessing and strength of the family of God is in the shared gospel, as Paul writes to the Colossians: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Col. 3:13). For those in the family of God, the power of the gospel turns envy of the life in the world to an appreciation and yearning for the life in the house of God instead! The Old Testament prophet Zechariah wrote about this: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof” (Zech. 8:2–5). Oh, what a precious picture of being at home in the family of God, where all of any age carry the gospel staff! Protection from the World We recall Jacob’s distress upon hearing the news of his brother Esau coming with 400 men. He prayed to God: “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children” (Gen. 32:11). We remember the encounter when Esau embraced his brother and then as it is recorded: “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children with God hath graciously given thy servant” (Gen. 33:5). This example reminds of how God protects His children and families in this world and in times of fear and worry. In another example we recall how, when Jesus was a baby boy, the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream: “Arise, take the young child and his mother, and flee unto Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (Matt 2:13). In distress and trials of life it is good to remember to put our trust in God: He never forgets His own, as Isaiah writes: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isa. 49:16). God also leads and guides His whole spiritual house and He never slumbers. A clear example of this is from the wilderness journey: “The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” (Exod. 13:21). The Holy Spirit has always and will always guide the family of God. We remember how generations ago the believers experienced how the Holy Spirit guided in teaching that the television was not for the believing home. Believers, generations afterwards, have marveled at the protection this has given the believing home, and we still hold to this teaching, continuing to experience how obedience protects us from evil. We have to recognize that the enemy is never idle and today the television can be concealed in the palm of a hand. The decision of the believers not to participate in Halloween was similarly led and guided by the spirit in the house of God. We also remember already from the Old Testament, the children of God decided to forsake the practice of adorning themselves with makeup and earrings. God’s children still cling to these instructions today and living in obedience to all these things continues to bring blessings and protection we cannot fully appreciate or know! The winds of this world blow all the more into believing homes today, yet we are assured that the swallow still has a home and a sparrow a nest in the kingdom of God. God has seen even our time all beforehand and provided protections which will be made known in time. As we read in the Shepherd’s psalm: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Moreover, the Good Shepherd has promised to be with his own “even unto the end of the world.” Above all it is the staff of the gospel, the forgiveness of sins, that uplifts the weak hands and strengthens the feeble knees of the member in God’s house. It gives strength day by day to travel towards the heavenly home, the home where earthly storms cannot reach; where the whole family of God with all former saints will have reunion together and sing praises to the lamb of God eternally.   Discussion Questions What support do the young and young couples need in the time we live? What are the timely issues that should be visited about? What traditions in the home are important to pass on? Blessings of time and prosperity can provide opportunity for healthy hobbies for believing families. In what ways might these pursuits bring worry and be timely topics to openly discuss? Discuss fellowship between the young and old: what are the benefits? How can we encourage believer to engage in this type of fellowship? How should we support our youth? Do we see the youth gatherings such as haps as important? In what ways do they offer a time to quieten around matters of faith and songs of Zion? Are families in Zion more lonely? Is there a need to draw near, to encourage more fellowship? How has God’s Spirit led and guided in your life and protected you? Are the decisions the believers made in the past been always easy to follow? Having followed them, what have they brought you and your loved ones? When larger services are arranged is it your habit to attend in person? Can some struggle to attend? If so how can we encourage and help? What do you plan in your home Zion for those unable to attend? What will it be like in heaven one day for the whole family of God?

Larissa Wuollet  |  The Shepherd’s Voice  August/September 2025 - Home and Family Article –   Psalm 1 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers” (NIV).    Like most people, I’ve found myself where a believer should not be – in the seat of judgement or scorn. To scorn or judge is a type of mocking.    It’s easy to start thinking we would do better if we were in someone else’s shoes; it’s important to remember we all make mistakes that others could judge and criticize, too.    I need to be mindful of the voices I surround myself with – particularly with what I consume on social media. What we see and listen to can influence our thinking and views of those around us. These messages can plant seeds of doubt about matters of faith.     When I am troubled by criticisms that I hear, I talk with my husband, friends and family quickly, rather than let the thoughts stew. Then I find peace, because sometimes God provides a straight answer through conversations or a sermon. Other times the answer is that I don’t need to understand every detail, and I can trust the voice of the Holy Spirit with that issue.    God will give you the help you need to remain a child of God, and even when we don’t have answers, we have the gospel to lean on.    Things to visit about: When a neighbor has trouble of some sort, is it easier to talk about them or to go talk to them, to offer help? Does negative talk help or hurt the one who is troubled? How can I be more approachable for one who is struggling? What sort of conversations are we having at my table? Are we tearing down or building up?

Kathy Waaraniemi | The Voice of Zion August 2025 - LLC Summer Services Article -- Opening Service It had been many years since my husband Keith and I had driven to Saskatchewan from our home in Minnesota. It was lovely to see God’s creation work on the prairies once again: the green fields as far as the eye could see, the brilliant yellow canola crops, the rolling hills, and the endless sky. But even more beautiful than the nature surrounding us was to once again see the believers from Canada and all the friends in faith who had come to the services from across the North American continent and the globe.  Jim Jurmu, LLC Board Chairman, Monticello, Minnesota Jurmu opened the services with prayer and thanksgiving, asking that God’s Word would go forth wherever listeners are gathered. He read from Luke 12:31–32, reminding us that our Father knows our needs and calls us to seek His kingdom. Life brings distractions and fears, but God turns our thoughts to eternity. Like Peter, we too can cry, “Lord, save me.” Jesus comforts: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Jari Warwaruk, Pastor of the Saskatchewan Congregations Warwaruk welcomed attendees on behalf of the Saskatoon, Outlook, and Dunblane congregations. He reflected on the motto: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), reminding us that Jesus didn’t come to settle earthly matters, but to do His Father’s work in love. We’ve come for rest from the turmoil of the world, he said. Here we can turn off the noise and be reminded of the peace in God’s kingdom. “What a beautiful place we’ve come to.” Adrian Pirness, LLC Mission Work Director, Elk River, Minnesota Pirness shared greetings from believers in Ghana, Togo, Ecuador, Pakistan, and other mission areas. “Many around the world are thankful for these services,” he said, reflecting on the messages he received through global WhatsApp groups. “With all the happenings in the world, it is good to be close to the Good Shepherd.” Tero Lehtola, from the Dalarna, Sweden, Congregation Tero Lehtola brought greetings from the SFC and believers in Sweden and Norway, speaking from Psalm 48:10. He reminded us that spreading God’s Word is not just for preachers—ordinary believers have led others to repentance by simply confessing faith. We don’t need beautiful words, for the power is in the gospel, he said. “Services strengthen faith and call to those outside the kingdom—Jesus died for your sins.” Ilmari Korhonen from the Ylöjärvi, Finland, Congregation Ilmari Korhonen shared greetings from the SRK and believers in Finland, reading from Psalm 30:12. All our temporal good is from God, but to carry His peace is a heavenly gift, he said. Seeing our heavenly inheritance gives us reason for thanksgiving. He warmly called to children of believing homes who have left: “You are called here. The Father is ready to run to you.” He closed with comfort about the heaven God has prepared for those who love Him.