A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.
–John 13:34-35
Sharon and I were stunned by this news. The murder of Ben took place on New Years Eve. We arrived in Windom, Minnesota on January 3rd. This is the second murder at Phat Pheasant Pub in Windom. Time to close it down! My goodness! Lord have mercy! Two murders!
My hometown is in shock over the murder of Benjamin Matter, known as Ben. This senseless act of horror has devastated the family and so many others back home. I also was in shock that the murderer was not being held with no bond, he is a flight risk and a threat to the community! My goodness! Please keep this matter in your prayers. More Here
If you’d like to support Ben’s family, click here.
Help this family if you can. Your prayers and support mean so much.
We met one of Ben’s relatives where we stayed in Windom. We were able to share the love of JESUS with her. Comfort, love, and understanding. We need more unity in the body of Christ. We need to come together as one body to help a hurting America. There is power in numbers for JESUS CHRIST! No walls, all one body.
More notes from our visit…..
Sharon and I just returned from Minnesota late yesterday. I was blessed to officiate the funeral service for my dear friend Dr. Mike Fisher. I miss him so very much. We talked on the phone almost every day. Mike was a true friend that I could talk with about the good, the bad and the ugly of this world. Everyone needs a friend like Mike. We did not always agree, but we agreed to disagree. There is not enough of that in this world we live in. I miss my talks with Mike; it hurts so much right now. I want to thank Mike’s precious son, Michael, for allowing me to officiate the service for my buddy!
Sharon and I were blessed to minister in Windom. Sharon and I are made one by God. I love my hometown! It is where my Christian foundation was built. The American Lutheran Church is where I attended Sunday School starting at age 5! Glory! I carry those Biblical principles with me to this day! My upbringing with my mom and dad and the ALC made me a preacher! It took some years, but God had me in radio for 42 years for a reason, and then I became a Pastor in 2009. Then the Lord formed FGGAM 12 years ago! More Glory!
I was blessed to team with Pastor Sarah Larsen Tade of ALC, pianist Dustin Stevens, and singer and guitar musician Lynn Stoneking. I love these folks. I love how they share the love of Jesus. I also want to thank Joel LaCanne of LaCanne’s funeral home, who provides such wonderful love and care for the Windom area, as does his wife Shannon. Pastor Sarah, Dustin, Lynn, Joel, and Shannon shine the light of JESUS so brightly over southwestern Minnesota and beyond! UNITY! We also want to thank the staff at the AmericInn in Windom for their tremendous hospitality! Glory!
One of the topics I preached a bit on in Mike’s service was a call for unity in the body of Christ. The unity of the love for JESUS! Oh, my! We have work to do for JESUS. Sharon and I enjoyed are time in Windom. It was a short stay, but precious. We ministered all over Windom, Worthington and in Sioux Falls, SD and Denver. God gave us so much energy to share JESUS with so many in just a few days! Only GOD! We love sharing JESUS in the airports and on the plane! Glory! We covered a lot of ground! We are very tired, but we have the love of JESUS with us! So much happened four days! We love you all.
As I preach on unity, let me share these articles on denominations. I have a meeting with Dr. Claude Cone coming up this month talking about UNITY and other urgent matters for Pastors. This man of God is 89 and still preaching. I learn much from Dr. Cone. This topic of unity is vital time in America. Church membership is declining. I have written about this so much, my fingers and soul hurt……just 4% of Americans have a Biblical Worldview, according to Barna Research.
If you do not know, FGGAM is a non-denominational ministry founded by God. God named our ministry that we are to take care for Him. We are 12 years young. Glory! Thank You Lord! We are small, but made mighty by God Almighty! Glory!
From Whitehorse in 2011:
Denominations appear to have fallen on difficult times. Theological controversies over core Christian beliefs have weakened some denominations. Others have succumbed to classic liberalism. A handful of denominations have reaffirmed their commitment to theological orthodoxy, but even many once-growing conservative denominations have experienced difficult days. All in all, membership in 23 of the 25 largest Christian denominations is declining (the exceptions being the Assemblies of God and the Church of God).
We hear increasingly that we’re entering a post-denominational world. More Here
Recently LifeWay researcher, Ed Stetzer, wrote an interesting post on the value of denominations. Known for his theologically-informed insight as well as research analysis, Stetzer offers some interesting statistics and evaluation on this question. (See Do Denominations Matter? by Ed Stetzer)
Let us read what Ed Stetzer has to say about denominations NOW in his Dec. 27th, 2024 message Here
