I’d like to share with you a little of my spiritual journey and my call to ministry. It may help to explain my recent pursuit of ordination in the Covenant.
I was raised in a Christian home. My solid Lutheran heritage played an important part in my childhood identity. My grandparents were Swedish immigrants. When they settled in America they were part of a group responsible for establishing Swedlanda Evangelical Lutheran Church.
As a young child I was involved in the children’s ministry at the Evangelical Free Church in my hometown. Through the influence of Godly neighbors from that church I came to know Jesus as my Savior.
During my high school years I was very involved with Youth for Christ. Following college, many of my Youth for Christ mentors helped build my ministry skills and challenged me to pursue a call to ministry, side by side with them, in full time evangelism of youth.
Following graduate school, Mark and I moved to Bemidji. We began attending the Covenant Church and both felt like we had found HOME. While studying about our denomination, in preparation for my ordination, I understood why we felt “AT HOME” in the Covenant. My Augustana Lutheran roots, my exposure to the Free Church movement and my experience in evangelism all find significance in our Covenant historical roots.
During the past 20 years I have served the Bemidji Covenant Church through planning and leading worship. I also serve as Chaplin at Oak Hills Christian College, where I have the opportunity to disciple and mentor young people as they develop as worship leaders.
As a young woman beginning her ministry in the 70’s, I never imagined that 33 years later I would have this opportunity to become ordained. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to continue to follow my call.
Pastor Holly