Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion March 2025 - News & Notes Article --
For many years, hundreds of guests have arrived at the Phoenix church for LLC Winter Services. The believers have come to the hearing of God’s Word for the strengthening of faith and to experience mutual fellowship among God’s children. On behalf of the LLC and the host congregations in Arizona, a joyful welcome to all.
I want to also encourage congregations to consider sending your board members to the Board Members Workshop on April 26, 2025 that will be held at the Monticello Laestadian Lutheran Church. The motto for this workshop is “Remember the Sabbath Day and Keep It Holy.”
Update on LLC Activities
Facilities
LLC Board again discussed the state of our camp centers, recognizing the need for upkeep of well-used facilities. As part of this effort, they approved renovation expenditures for the west dorm at Stony Lake Camp. The committee expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm and dedication of camp boards in maintaining these centers.
The Board continued to discuss what components or attributes are important for a sustainable camp center operation. There can be many operational variations from one center to the next, but to sustain any center an adequate regional population is needed to provide workers, participate in camp activities and provide resources for overall operations. The board has prayerfully considered the future sustainability of our Hasscib Lake Camp and agreed to begin discussion with the HLC support area congregations and consider the future of this camp center, including the possibility of selling it at some point in time.
Education
Camps will be beginning soon. Each spring there is a heightened level of anticipation and excitement. This year we anticipate approximately 3,500 camp attendees.
The Sunday School Education Seminar held at the Monticello church on February 8, 2025, was attended in person by 50 participants and 20 participants online. The focus of the seminar was to provide support for fully recognizing students and their personal circumstances, examining the structure and routine of a classroom and adjusting content for different age groups. God blessed the time the participants had together.
Pastoral
We continue to witness God’s blessing in sending workers to serve in His congregations. We want to remember newly called servants of the Word and their wives who support the work:
– Bryce Pirness and his wife, Emily, along with Bruce Simonson and his wife, Nikki, who have been called to serve in Outlook, Sask.
– Matthew Byman and his wife, Carly, as well as Joey Jurvakainen and his wife, Allison, who have been called to serve in Menahga, Minn.
– Nick Johnson and his wife, Julie, who have been called to serve in Alaska.
In a recent Ministers Webinar, we discussed the topic of weddings and the minister’s role in supporting the couple. With this webinar we were able to visit about the sanctity of marriage and the practical responsibilities of a minister in preparing for a wedding.
The annual Minister’s Camp is scheduled for April 4–6, 2025. We hope that congregations would support and encourage their ministers to attend this camp as they are able.
Planning for 2026 Services and Events has begun. We approach this planning with prayerful hearts that God would bless His work.
Communication
A new version of Hearken for Android devices was recently published in the Google Play Store. This version features an updated audio player, which should remedy troubles some Android users previously had when using Hearken. If you use Hearken on an Android device, make sure you have the latest version, which is 2.1.
We are working with the company that developed Hearken to implement and upgrade other features of the app as well. We will publish more information on these upgrades as they are completed.
It is time for young people who are interested in studying at an opisto in Finland to apply for an LLC opisto scholarship! Applications can be found on the LLC website and are due May 15. We are currently accepting applications for the 2026–27 opisto year.
Again this year we plan to publish the LLC Telephone and Address Directory. If you would like to add your information or if your existing information has changed since the previous directory was published, please update your information online at www.llchurch.org/change-of-address.
For several years, we have held a Content Creators Workshop in September at Stony Lake Camp. In addition, we held an online Content Creators Workshop last April. This January we held a Youth Content Creators Day Camp at the LLC office, and we intend to hold another online Content Creators Workshop online on April 26. Watch for more information on that in the near future. These workshops, both in-person and online have proved to be a valuable place to meet with those who contribute to our publications and support them in gaining skills and experience in their craft. We encourage local areas and congregations to consider arranging Content Creators Workshops locally as well. We can assist in planning and conducting the workshop as needed.
Our annual Easter magazine, Easter Messenger, will come from the printers soon and be sent to all Voice of Zion subscribers. It will also be published digitally on Hearken. We invite you to enjoy the seasonal content and the timeless message of Easter’s joy that it brings.