A Shoutout to New Journey—and a Call to Invite
Below is a recently shared newsletter article from the former bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, which features both Ron and Connie Schwartau—and includes a kind mention of New Journey as their winter church home.
The article encourages all of us to stay connected to a faith community, especially when traveling or relocating. As you spend time in your summer congregations, consider sharing about New Journey and inviting others to find a church home wherever life takes them.
Planting for the Future
By Jon Anderson, former bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod
One of my favorite garden plants is garlic. You have to harvest it early and then keep the biggest bulbs to plant for the next year. This conversation made me think about a variety of ways we can join God in planting faith, hope, and love.
That early planting for the future came to mind when I heard from a couple of folks I know who have found a place to connect with others and follow Jesus. Ron and Connie Schwartau are from Southwestern Minnesota, but they are also quite excited about their church home in the Phoenix, Arizona area, where they participate during the winter, New Journey Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills, near Phoenix. I know they would invite you to check them out if you are visiting or down for a few months.
I share this story to encourage all of you all to invite people who head south in winter or who are moving to a new area to seek a living and local community of faith that will support you as you follow Jesus. Soon you will be blessing young adults and sending them to new jobs, trade schools, serve in the military, colleges and university. Speak out about how good it was to find a new community of faith when you left home in the different seasons of your life.
Nothing beats a one-on-one conversation so that you can be curious and encouraging to loved ones, friends, and people who have been walking with you in your community of faith. I also love to see sending blessings in public worship, small groups, or classes so the community can say goodbye, and so that the people moving can have your blessing to find a new place to gather to hear the Good News and celebrate the sacraments.
If you have someone who can share their testimony about looking for and finding a new community of faith where you live or where you go in the winter, you can encourage people to be curious and coach them through your stories.