Beautifully Woven

Lindsay comes on to share about the unexpected difficult turn her health took back in 2020. She shares about life for her and her husband Mike before health complications and how her health changed what their “normal” looked like. 

Lindsay shares about God’s comfort and faithfulness to her during the whole journey. She also talks about navigating this journey with a spouse, and how they have gotten creative in how to keep Lindsay involved when she can’t leave the house. 

She shares that God had put things in place for the needs that they would have before they even knew what was coming. We never know what each day will bring but we can be comforted by our God who does and promises to never leave us or forsake us. 

https://clbforge.org/podcasts

WMCLB website:wmclb.org 

Jennie shares about God’s faithfulness to her through breast cancer. We talk about diagnosis and treatment. God gave her a special word of encouragement even before her medical journey truly began.

She shares what encouraged her along the way, things like music ministered to her. She also talks about what was hard, like the loneliness that she felt. 

Many of us aren’t sure what to do when someone in our lives is walking through cancer and we talk about how those around us can help and be a support through the process. 

God is still good when things are hard, and the hardships in our lives point us to Jesus.

WMCLB Website: wmclb.org 

Amy is a mother of five grown children. She is also a grandma, which she loves so much. Amy’s children are serving in various ways through their vocations. She is also the mother of  Ellie, who has gone on to do missionary work in Chad, Africa, through the CLB with her husband, Matthias. 

We talk about encouraging our children to serve in church; it’s something we get to do. Even though it may be hard sometimes, Amy shares that after serving her and her kids were left encouraged and with stories of God at work. 

We talk about letting our children go and trusting God’s work. We may desire to keep them living close to us. But ultimately, we want them to love Jesus and go where He calls. Amy shares about her wrestling through some of that journey, and God walking with her.

It’s God’s hand at work through it all in our children. We talk about the importance of praying over our kids and giving them to Jesus. 

WMCLB Website: wmclb.org

Heather, Daniel, and Karen sit down with Mark Nienow and Michael Edwards, this time with more light-hearted conversation. 

Michael and Mark talk about how their friendship formed during this process of being the nominees for this election. They talk about ministry, churches, and their wonderful wives who are both Piano teachers! 

We hear about some of the things they love to do. Mark shares about the Great Race that he will be doing this summer. Michael shares about his findings now that he is a Grandparent! 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

http://www.greatrace.com/

https://clbforge.org/podcasts

https://www.wmclb.org

Daniel Stenberg, Heather Knutson, and Karen Stenberg had the privilege of interviewing the CLB presidential candidates this spring. You will find the questions that were asked in the interview below, as well as the time stamps for when they were asked. We hope this helps you as you get to know the candidates and informs you about important issues. 

Intro Questions:

1. (3:22) What do you believe is uniquely beautiful about the Church of the Lutheran Brethren? How can we better live into that reality moving forward?
1. (7:12) What are our greatest challenges and needs? How do you plan to address them?

1. (13:21) Can you share any examples of how you’ve successfully led your church to something new or through a season of change?

1. (19:17) How, in your time of ministry, have you dealt with conflict? How will you help us work through synodical and church conflict in healthy ways?

Synodical Questions:

1. (24:07) What is your understanding of the main purpose, role and calling of the synodical president?

1. (26:26) In a few words, how would you describe your particular gifts, personality traits and motivations to serve in this role?

1. (30:00) How will you engage with the current leadership in our Synod?

1. (32:35) What is your view on church planting?

1. (35:45) From your perspective, what is the purpose of the Council of Directors?

Political Questions:

1. (39:50) How do you view the role of CLB President when it comes to speaking into the political tensions of our world today? 

Missional Questions:

1. (47:20) What should the CLBA and its member churches do to call and equip more pastors, church planters and missionaries?

1. (57:30) Discipleship has been a point of emphasis for a number of years now in the CLB. How do you define discipleship and what is the role of the synod in the process?

Theological Questions:

1. (1:01:38) What are your theological convictions regarding the related issues of women’s ordination and women in leadership in our congregations? Explain your rationale.

1. (1:07:27) What, if any, denominational oversight should there be in regards to women in ministry and how much of that should be left to individual congregations?

1. (1:11:18) How do you express your eschatological viewpoint?

Closing Questions:

1. (1:14:27) In What ways would you work to connect and build relationships with pastors, elders and churches across the CLB

1. (1:18:25) How does the gospel make a difference in your life and ministry today?

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or find us here: https://clbforge.org/podcasts

Daniel Stenberg, Heather Knutson, and Karen Stenberg had the privilege of interviewing the CLB presidential candidates this spring. You will find the questions that were asked in the interview below, as well as the time stamps for when they were asked. We hope this helps you as you get to know the candidates and informs you about important issues. 

Intro Questions:

1. (4:17) What do you believe is uniquely beautiful about the Church of the Lutheran Brethren? How can we better live into that reality moving forward?
1. (11:11) What are our greatest challenges and needs? How do you plan to address them?

1. (14:24) Can you share any examples of how you’ve successfully led your church to something new or through a season of change?

1. (18:26) How, in your time of ministry, have you dealt with conflict? How will you help us work through synodical and church conflict in healthy ways?

Synodical Questions:

1. (21:00) What is your understanding of the main purpose, role and calling of the synodical president?

1. (25:34) How will you engage with the current leadership in our Synod?

1. (26:42) What is your view on church planting?

1. (28:55) From your perspective, what is the purpose of the Council of Directors?

Political Questions:

1. (30:24) How do you view the role of CLB President when it comes to speaking into the political tensions of our world today? 

1. (42:12) MICHAEL – On your church’s website it is noted: WE ARE DETERMINED TO RECLAIM OUR COMMUNITY, STATE, AND NATION FOR CHRIST – How does this sync up with our pastoral understanding of our call to live as dual residents in our temporary homeland in the UC and our ultimate homeland of heaven?

Missional Questions:

1. (47:43) What should the CLBA and its member churches do to call and equip more pastors, church planters and missionaries?

1. (57:05) Discipleship has been a point of emphasis for a number of years now in the CLB. How do you define discipleship and what is the role of the synod in the process?

Theological Questions:

1. (59:17) What are your theological convictions regarding the related issues of women’s ordination and women in leadership in our congregations? Explain your rationale.

1. (1:04:09) What, if any, denominational oversight should there be in regards to women in ministry and how much of that should be left to individual congregations?

1. (1:06:29) How do you express your eschatological viewpoint?

Closing Questions:

1. (1:07:46) In What ways would you work to connect and build relationships with pastors, elders and churches across the CLB

1. (1:10:18) How does the gospel make a difference in your life and ministry today?

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or find us here: https://clbforge.org/podcasts

This past summer Good Shepherd in Fergus Falls took their youth group to serve the church, The River in Red Deer, AB. Heather and Karen talk to Micaila and Isla about their trip. 

Isla and Micaila were a part of the group that went from Fergus to serve. The girls share about how impactful the trip was for them. The church in Red Deer is made up of a very diverse congregation, with many of them immigrating to Canada from other countries. They share their stories of being welcomed into others' homes and experience that hospitality. 

The girls talk about what they did there and how it helped shape their understanding of mission. 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or here:

https://clbforge.org/podcasts

WMCLB Resources:

https://www.wmclb.org

Christine took a trip to Japan with a group through the CLB. Listen to Christine talk about what they were up to there. She talks about some cultural experiences on this trip, as well as how Japan influenced her love of making pottery when she was younger. 

They visited many CLB Churches. Christine shares what is encouraging and what is hard. She also shares what the common thread is among the churches that are thriving in Japan. No matter how difficult the soil, God is at work all around us! 

As a reminder, we still have our Autumn Blessing Campaign running. You can find it here: https://www.wmclb.org/fall-giving-opportunity.html

To see what else is coming up through the CLB, check it out here: https://clba.org

Josiah took his youth group from Bethel(Fergus Falls) this past summer on a short-term mission to do ministry in partnership with Rock of Ages in Seattle.

Hear how the youth team served the city alongside the church. Josiah and Paul talk about homeless ministry and how the Union Gospel Mission tackles that. It is a complicated issue. The Union Gospel Mission is doing a wonderful job of loving this community well and giving them the hope of the gospel.  

Josiah and Paul share the impact this trip had on the kids, leaders, and church. As well as takeaways and where to look for ways to bring the hope of the gospel to people, whatever your context is. 

Please reach out if you are interested in being a part of a mission like this! I will put you in contact with Paul and Josiah! 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or also find us here:https://clbforge.org/podcasts

Rock of Ages Church: https://therocklbc.org

Union Gospel Mission Seattle: https://www.ugm.org/?utm_medium=search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=google-branded-ad&utm_content=google-branded&source=L24ZZAC01Z

Women’s Ministry website: wmclb.org

In this special episode, Heather interviews Karen about her big life change that happened this past summer.

Karen and Daniel moved with their boys from Bergenfield, NJ, to Everett, WA, where Daniel took a new call as Pastor to Hope Church at Silverlake.

Karen talks about their epic road trip, leaving a church they have loved for a new call to a new church on the other side of the country.

We talk about the struggle of processing when you are called, and how to say goodbye well. God is at work in it all.