By Tom Shanklin

Thanks for your prayers for our outreach to Mahnomen, Minnesota on Sept. 23-25. Many lives were touched, God’s people were encouraged, and souls came into the Kingdom of God.

Five area churches cooperated with the event, contributing labor, love, and finances. Approximately 150 people attended during the afternoon, and we were able to pray with 15-20 for salvation, and several others for healing.

But numbers do not give an adequate picture of the event. Walls came down and connections were made between people—church members and non-church members, Native people and non-native people, youth and adults. A spirit of Christian love and unity prevailed as God’s people from different backgrounds worked together for the greatest cause on earth—reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For Pastor Kurt and Debbie Svendsgaard of Healing Waters Church of Mahnomen, it was a booster shot for their work in that town. But for the rest of us, there was a great blessing, too. We were able to see God in action, touching lives, and we were able to sow good healthy Gospel seed into the ground and to see a harvest.

This outreach could serve as a model for churches and ministries that have a heart to reach the lost and to build the Kingdom of God in their areas. It was fun, entertaining, and refreshing, but at the same time some serious kingdom business took place. It’s a good lesson for all of us that the work of God can be accomplished in a fun, jovial, and positive family atmosphere.

First, the children from Mahnomen and the surrounding area came together and sang and worshipped as their parents and other adults looked on. Then I preached a message from John 3:16 to the kids and shared my testimony. I encouraged them to follow the Lord all the days of their life and to not turn away because of temptation or peer pressure. Then the children were given gifts and prizes and began to enjoy an afternoon of fun, games, fire truck rides, and hayrides.

Meanwhile, the music festival began, featuring Gospel singers and musicians from the area. The adults in attendance enjoyed the music and sat around visiting and enjoying a beautiful fall day in northern Minnesota. Then there was a very nice catered barbecue meal which everyone enjoyed. But before the meal, I had another chance to minister the Gospel to young and old. A fairly good sized crowd had gathered by then, as parents were arriving to share in the meal and to pick up their children.

I preached from John 3 again, telling the people, “You Must Be Born Again.” I talked about the substitution that took place on the cross when Jesus “bore our sins in his own body on the tree.” Three people raised their hands indicating they wanted to receive Christ and several came forward for prayer for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. I sensed that the Gospel message also brought a refreshing to the Christians in attendance. We all need to be reminded from time to time about the great work that God has done in sending His Son to die for our sins at Calvary, giving us forgiveness and a new life.