Iowa, June 5-6

My travels during the summer take me to Bible Camps. I have visited camps in North Dakota and Montana and now Iowa: EWALU Bible Camp, to be exact, in Strawberry Point, IA.

EWALU. Now, your thinking, "That's a unique name." And it is. And no, it is not Greek or Hebrew, thus referring to something Biblical. It is purely Iowaneeze. It stands for Eastern ioWA LUtheran bible camp. Now you know.

It is a 600 acre camp (huge!), completely wooded (unlike most of Iowa), and provides a variety of outdoor experiences for campers. There are different villages spread throughout the camp that allow campers to sleep in wagons (see photo), teepees, army-like tents, and cabins. This kind of set-up certainly allows camps to be a part of God’s creation in an intimate way. My thanks to associate director Paul Little for giving me a tour of the camp and its facilities.

My thanks also to program director Jesse Klosterboer for inviting me to speak to the staff regarding the topics of vocation, call, discernment, and seminary study; it was my pleasure to do so (see photo). I appreciated the staff's interest in these topics and the interaction that took place during my presentation.

One special note about the staff is that they have an international presence this year. Two staff members were from Namibia and one is from Tanzania. These individuals are part of a program through Church-wide. So not only is the name of the camp unique, but this staff is, as well, and they are richer for it.

Montana, June 1-4

On June 1, after a wonderful lunch with synod staff and area church leaders in Great Falls, I made my way into and across the mountains to Kalispell and Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.

Now, those of you who have visited Glacier National Park or the area around Flathead Lake know what I mean when I say the scenery is breathtaking. And for those of you who have not visited, envision snowcapped mountains, forests of evergreens, mountain streams, glacial lakes, pristine country! But I have to tell you, there was something I found that came very close to outshining that beauty and that was the summer staff at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp.

I spent three days with this staff and was impressed. They are a mature, kind, talented, caring and fun group of individuals. They welcomed me into their midst and truly made me feel a part of them. I can’t express enough my gratitude for their graciousness toward me, and I tickle with delight when I think of the other guests, especially the children they will welcome in such a way this summer.

Again I had a formal opportunity to speak with the staff about vocation, call, discernment, seminary study and Luther seminary in particular. But I also had many individual conversations with staff members as well, two of whom have already applied to Luther Seminary and a number of others who are giving it serious consideration as they discern their vocational calling.

Though I would have loved to see this entire staff studying at seminary, I have no doubt that whatever they find themselves doing vocationally it will be to the glory of God, and that wherever they are, the church will be blessed because of it.

My sincere thanks to executive director, Rev. Gary Cockrell, camp director Brad Abbott, and program directors Brook and Eric Ells for this opportunity to be among them and the staff; it was a joy.

Montana, June 1st

Traveling to Montana was a wonderful way to begin the month of June. Though I learned that June is the wettest month in Montana, it did not interfere with any of my travels; actually it made the landscape all the more beautiful.

My first stop was in Great Falls. Associate to the Bishop of the Montana Synod, Jessica Crist sent out an invitation to area clergy inviting them to join me for lunch. The lunch was sponsored by the Western Mission Cluster of Seminaries (Luther Seminary and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary) in order to bring updates and greetings about each seminary, invite feedback about the seminaries, and encourage the raising up of leaders in the Montana synod. I was pleased to host such an event and truly enjoyed the formal and informal conversations with those who gathered.


Front row (left to right): Rev. Steve Nelson, Tamara Bull (AIM), Rev. Ted Hamann. Back row: Rev. Darius Larsen, Rev. Ken Waag, Rev. Jessica Crist, Bishop Rich Omland, Rev. Laurie Junling

My sincere thanks to Bishop Rich Omland, Jessica Crist, Tamera Bull, and the clergy who met with me that day for taking the time; and especially to Ted, for driving the distance. It was greatly appreciated. Thanks also for the care and thoughtfulness you conveyed about the work of Luther and Pacific seminaries; may our partnership continue to be strengthened. God’s blessings on your continued ministry. Be ardent, be faithful, be courageous in your work for the Lord.