Very soon, we will begin construction of our ground floor fellowship, office, and classroom space! It seems hard to believe after so many years of planning and setbacks, but with God’s help we are at the point where we are ready to begin building!
While we have casually called this project the “new fellowship hall” for many years, Zion’s leadership has decided that the building should formally be referred to as the “Ministry Center.” Names matter because they subtly influence our view of things. While “fellowship” in the sense of community and camaraderie is important in a congregation, it is only one of the purposes that we plan for the new building to fulfill.
The real purpose of the new building is to facilitate ministry in our congregation and community. Our prayer is that this building will not only be a space for meals and informal gatherings but be a space for teaching and education of all kinds, small-group worship and prayer, team meetings and planning, counseling, visitation, family and congregation ministry, fellowship, community outreach, and more. The name ministry center more accurately captures all these purposes and reminds us that the purpose of a church is not simply to keep the doors open, but to do ministry in and among our community. Zion Lutheran Church is here not merely to preserve itself as an institution, but to be a beacon of the gospel in and around Mitchell, South Dakota. We exist to bring Christ and His Word to each other and to others, and to grow together in Him.
As I write this, I cannot tell you an exact start date, but I can tell you that you will be seeing it very soon. Please keep this project and our congregation in your personal and family prayers. Pray for safety for the workers, for “good and seasonable weather” for building, for God to bless us all with a spirit of generosity to contribute according to our ability, for peace and unity in our congregation, and above all, that He would use not only the building, but especially our lives and labor to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the lost world all around us.
You will likely be hearing a lot about this project in the coming months. We look forward to updating you as often as we can. If you have special gifts or talents that you think could help with the construction or preparation of the building, please talk to someone on our building committee. We’d love your suggestions and help.
Let’s get to work!
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