MN North District E-News

PRAYER LIST

CALL UPDATE

Please Update Your Records

Our mailing address has changed. Please use the mailing address below:

Minnesota North District - LCMS

7264 Fairview Rd

Baxter, MN 56425

Online Contributions

Congregations can now submit their commitment payments and contribute to various District mission funds directly at our website. Explore these new options by clicking the link below:

ONLINE GIVING

“Numbers Never Rose from the Dead”

We love numbers. We want to know how many people attended an event, how much money is in the bank, and the exact cost before making a purchase. The LORD loved to highlight numbers as He worked in the world: 5,000 men were fed with five loaves and two fish, Jesus chose 12 apostles, He created the universe in 7 days, and 3,000 were baptized after Pentecost.

Yet numbers can be quite fickle. As Christians, we need to be wise, because any number can give us hope or plunge us into debilitating fear. I’ve realized my own tendency to quote statistics (vacancies, budgets, attendance records, etc.) more than the Bible when visiting congregations. An over-focus on numbers can cause us to lose sight of the soul-care needs of our families, congregations, and communities.

No matter how you slice it, the numbers in the LCMS are challenging: 600 congregations currently in the call process, more than 700 congregations being served by part-time pastors, worship attendance down 32% since 2014, only 58 seminary graduates in 2026, and 53 congregations without a called pastor in the Minnesota North District. These figures do not include struggling budgets, dwindling attendance, declining Sunday School participation, deferred building maintenance, or rising ministry costs.

We are called to evaluate these numbers with “Christ goggles.” Numbers never rose from the dead (Luke 24:5). Numbers did not shed their blood for us (1 John 1:7). Numbers cannot forgive sins (John 20:19–23). The Lord knows the number of people in the world, yet He still knows each of us by name (Isaiah 43:1). He knows the number of our sins, but on account of Christ, He remembers them no more (Jeremiah 31:34).

These challenges are overwhelming at times, which leads us back to our Savior. We are beginning to consider faithful and creative ways to partner with other congregations, circuits teaming up to help, and an increased role of laity in administrative tasks to assure that our pastors are teaching the pure Gospel and correctly administering the Sacraments.

Over the next few months, I will share some reflections on these numbers as I complete my visits to all the congregations by the end of August.

In Christ (I Timothy 6:12)

Rev. Brady Finnern

More from the Minnesota North District

Rev. Noah Burmester

Installed at Peace In Christ, Hermantown

June 28, 2026

Pictured are: Back: Rev. Tom Brinkley, Rev. David Schoessow, Rev. Troy Peperkorn, Rev. Tim Ludwig, Rev. Nick Sinatra; Middle: Rev. John Bonk, Rev. Anders Davidson, Rev. Marty Mably, Rev. Matthew Kohl; Front: Rev. Robert Franck, Rev. Noah Burmester, Rev. Caleb Weight.

Rev. William Moeller, Jr.

Installed at Trinity, Twin Valley

June 14, 2026

Pictured are: Rev. Matthew Meyer, Rev. Caleb Worral, Rev. Steve Bohler, Rev. William Moeller, Rev. Dr. Larry Harvala, Rev. Jeff Lytle and Rev. Doug Thompson.

Rev. Donald Bruce Installed at

St. Paul, Hinckley & St. John, Kroschel

May 3, 2026

Pictured are: Rev. John Thomson, Rev. Bruce Timm, Rev. Donald Bruce, Rev. Loren Vogler, Rev. Brad Vogt, and Rev. Tony Cloose.

Immanuel, Fergus Falls celebrated the dedication of their new addition on June 7th. Pastor Gary Rehborg was the guest preacher. He was the most recent vacancy pastor for Immanuel. We also had a new sound system installed donated by a former member. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

Picture: Pastor Ratcliffe & Pastor Rehborg. The ladies provided special vocal and instrumental pieces for the day.

Happening around Minnesota

Information from Around the LCMS

MINNESOTA NORTH DISTRICT | mnnlcms.org