In the middle of all the conference preparation, I was also able to take part in several special ministry moments here in Norway, and I’m grateful that our church was involved in all of them.
We attended the LED conference as a church team. It gathered around 1,600 leaders from churches across Norway, with a strong focus on mission in every direction, from reaching a friend at school, to local outreach, to going to unreached people groups around the world. For us it was especially meaningful: last year we were introduced there as a “newborn” church, and this year we could share a little about what God has already done among us. It was deeply encouraging to feel the support of older churches and to be welcomed into the wider church family.
That same sense of unity continued locally through a joint service in Askim, where Christians from different churches gathered together. It’s a blessing to see a shared desire to make Jesus known in our town, not separately but together. One practical step flowing out of this is a town-wide festival planned for September. Several churches, including our Family Church, are preparing an open, welcoming event with family activities, food and fellowship, and a simple Gospel message. The goal is to create an easy “first step” space for friends who may not be ready to attend a Sunday service, but would gladly come to something warm, informal, and relational.
And on a smaller, very personal level, starting in February our church is also planning a simple monthly rhythm: one day each month we’ll open our homes and invite unchurched friends and acquaintances. We hope this will help us be more purposeful about reaching out, and more intentional about praying for the people we meet in everyday life who don’t know God yet.
