Memorable Weekend For Students

The Lighthouse was transformed this past weekend to accomodate 180 plus Pine City High School students at the 2009 Senior Prom. Reports are that the kids had a great time and it is much due to so many who helped.

A huge thank you to Jim France, Loreal Lindstrom and Keith Bloom who helped with arrangements and transformation of the building.

Thank you to Tim Adams, Howie Bloomquist, Curt and Theresa Cummings, Gary and Sharon Miller, Lola Nisley and Julie Severson who cleaned up and washed many, many dishes.

And thank you to Keith Bloom, Jim France, Charlie Odenwald, Steve Roubinek and Jon Marty who took down and set up for Sunday morning worship.

It is a fun event for Pine City EFC to host. Thank you to all who helped! Below are some faces you may recognize.

District Blitz 2009

Below is a picture of the students who attended a great weekend in Duluth at Districts. They left on Friday afternoon around 4:00 pm. A huge thank you to Jack and Becky Allen and Mindy Otis for going with the group this year. We appreciate you guys so much!

District Blitz '09

North Central EFC Student Comference

Be in prayer for our students traveling to Duluth this weekend (leaving Friday 3:15 pm) for Districts. We have twenty kids going and three leaders. They're in for a great time with speaker Sean McDowell who seeks to reach the heart and minds of youth. Sean is author of "Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World" which reminds students to realize that truth should be the guiding principle for what we believe, and as a result, how we live our lives. "Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. If Christian teens desire to live as vibrant disciples for Jesus Christ they must learn what it means to love God with their passions, their innermost being, and to think critically with their minds." -McDowell

Students will be led in worship by popular Christian singing group of four brothers, Remedy Drive.

Glenn Olson, Director of Student Ministries, North Central District, is asking for everyone to pray specifically for this weekend. Below are the requests he sent out via email to all district churches. Please partner with others and pray.

1. Pray for God’s message given through speaker, Sean McDowell
2. Pray for the worship led by Remedy Drive
3. Pray for the offering project that will go to building a well in the Congo through EFCA ReachGlobal – goal is $4500.
4. Pray for the seminar leaders as they teach, equip, and train students in various areas of their lives.
5. Pray for the youth leaders to have great wisdom and discernment as they interact with students about a variety of topics.
6. Pray for the set up and smooth running of all aspects (rally lights, sound, video, registration, seminars, housing, etc.)
7. Pray for the Prayer Army as they prepare their hearts and intercede for others during the rally.
8. Pray for great unity, small group times, everyone living the example of Christ to Duluth
9. Pray for the conference leadership team


Thank you for your prayers for these students and leaders.

Glenn Olson
Director of Student Ministries,
North Central District

Where is Darren?

I am in Chicago enjoying The Gospel Coalition National Conference. There are about 3500 people here. Today, Tim Keller, John Piper and Mark Driscoll spoke. All three were very very good!! I have been able to renew friendships with many people I have not seen for years. The singing has been engaging - older songs to contemporary sounds.

Each sermon is about an hour. Driscoll went an hour and half - he had a 40 point sermon!

If you would like to watch the conference live you can at www.christianity.com.

Pastor Darren

Paper Drive
Fundraiser for Pregnancy Resource Center

Grace Baptist Church is sponsoring a "paper drive" in the Pine City Pamida parking lot on Friday, April 24, 4:00-7:00 pm and on Saturday, April 25, 8:00 am-4:00 pm. All funds raised will go to the Pregnancy Resource Center. Bring the following types of paper to be recycled: paper grocery bags, corrugated boxes, junk mail, newspapers, folding cartons, paper egg cartons, telephone books, catalogs, magazines and cereal boxes.

Oh, Boy! It's A Mess!

Just a reminder about highway clean up. Meet at the Lighthouse at 5:00 pm, TONIGHT, Tuesday, April 21.

Pine City Community Rally

All voices from age 10 to age 100, need to be heard as we work together to create a collective vision for the Pine City area community. Anyone and everyone who wants to play a part in Pine City’s future and help create a vision to increase Pine City’s health & prosperity is welcome to attend and share their thoughts. Come Sunday, May 3 to the Pine City Armory for a FREE lunch at 11:30 am. The rally will begin at 12:30 and conclude by 2:30 pm. On-site childcare is provided. Door prizes given away!

Spring Spruce Up


Highway Clean Up... It’s that time of year again and our church is responsible to keep a portion of the freeway between Pine City and Beroun clean. All men, women, and kids (at least 10 years old) are needed on Tuesday, April 21 at 5:00 pm. We will meet at the Lighthouse and drive the vans to the area. Thanks, everyone!

Being Hands and Feet

Serving at Union Gospel Mission was a blessing and an experience that we all enjoyed last Friday. Thirty-eight youth and chaperones traveled to downtown Minneapolis where we visited Little Earth, a Native American housing development to hand out invitations to an Easter celebration to be held that afternoon.

After handing out the invitations, we carried supplies and costumes, and set up for the celebration. When it was time, our students greeted the children as they got off the bus and then we all enjoyed a turkey dinner together. After dinner we divided into three groups, one group put on a Passion Play, another group did crafts, and the third group did an egg hunt and games outside.

We enjoyed the children for the afternoon, and hopefully planted seeds, by reenacting the Easter story. Our coordinators said, they never would have attempted to put on such a celebration if we hadn't committed to serving that day. She encouraged all of us, to serve where we are planted, in our own homes and communities. They were very thankful for our willingness to be God's hands and feet on Good Friday. Many youth want to go back and do it again!

The Union Gospel Mission was founded in 1902 in St. Paul, it has responded to the needs of the homeless and hopeless in the Twin Cites Metro area for more than 100 years. It is a Christian service agency that works to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs of the economically disadvantaged, men, women and children.

Below are just a few pictures of the day.

Chris Johnson, Frontline Events Coordinator

The Economy. Your Money. Real Answers.
Town Hall For Hope with Dave Ramsey

Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for a nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event!
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is hosting this Live Nationwide Simulcast on April 23 at 7:00 pm. This one-time national event is called Town Hall for Hope. The economy is causing a lot of fear among Americans and with that in mind Dave Ramsey addresses the nation live, speaking briefly about the history of the American economy and providing biblically based answers to the real financial issues facing the average American family.He will then take questions from live audiences gathered all around the country. Don’t miss this special night!

Frontline Service Opportunity
@ Union Gospel Mission


Service opportunity this Friday, April 10, leaving at 8:30 am, returning at 5:00 pm. We will be putting on an Easter celebration for Native American and Spanish families at the Oliver Ministry Center in Arden Hills. Don’t miss this time of outreach and the chance to show the love of Christ! Labor for your neighbor!

Also, Frontline Folk... Registration money for Districts due tonight!

Golf Tournament Set

Men. Women. Students. Don’t miss this event! We're planning a fund-raiser for the Pine City Pregnancy Resource Center... so shine up those golf clubs and practice your swing for this fun event! Circle the calendar for June 8 at Bulrush Golf Club in Rush City, an 18-hole golf course.
The Format: 4 man scramble, Tee-off is set for 12 noon, $50 entry fee per person which includes green fee, cart and support of the ministry. Sign up by calling the church office @ 629.2584.

Girl's Great Getaways

Ladies, a Card-Making Class planned just for you at The Pine City Scrapbooking Co., Friday, April 17 at 6:30 pm. This will be a great Friday night getaway! Learn some card-making tips and fresh ideas! All ladies, all ages.


Spare. Strike. Score.

You’ll hear the above familiar words at Ladies Bowling Night, Friday, May 8 at 6:30 pm. We’ll meet at church at 6:15 pm and carpool down to Chucker’s Bowl in Rush City. This will be a night full of fun, laughter and maybe a little friendly competition! For more info contact Chris Johnson.

The Newlyweds....
5o Years Ago!

Don & Millie Johnson

April 2, 1959

Don and Millie Johnson have reached a very special milestone in their life. Tomorrow they will be married for 50 years! We wanted to share this with you in honor of two very special people who are an example of love and Christ-likeness. They are a testimony of God's love in a relationship. Their faithfulness and love for one another is evident to all. Don and Millie have brought joy to our lives in this church body and to everyone around them. They are loved so very much.

We hope your day, Don and Millie, is filled with more wonderful memories. Our prayer is that it will be very special and that it will be a day that Don is feeling better and has more strength and stamina.

If you'd like to send an anniversary greeting to Don and Millie their address is: 3100 85th Ave. #127, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443