The Presbytery of
the Northern Plains is a bit of a pioneer region. It is said
that to serve the Lord in North Dakota, especially in the Northwest
corner, is to be crazy or a really dynamic part of the “frozen
chosen.” To do missions well, congregations cooperate
and join with others because of distance and to provide support.
The member congregations of the ministry team “Making
Life Work” did just that in the past year. They pooled
their resources and developed a talk show called “Making
Life Work” that airs twice a week on radio station KHRT.
The ministry team has included the area pastors, local resource
persons, and laypersons who have had experience responding to
life problems with biblical answers. This program received a
$6,000 mission grant from the presbytery to go further with
the vision.
The ministry includes First Presbyterian of Minot; churches
in Ryder, Westhope, Towner, and Rugby; and congregations of
other denominations. It has been a success in every way. The
station reports that teachers, classrooms, businesses, and many
individuals listen to the program. It has caused a local revival
in a Christ-centered approach to life. In the fall of 2006,
“Making Life Work” was broadcast on the local television
channel, bringing a focus to the city of Minot about the viability
of the Christian message. The host of the broadcast has been
the Rev. Dr. Bob Edwards, a counseling psychologist and pastor
of the Minot church, who is joined by the staff for youth and
adults: Steve Oster, Mark Frueh, and Marv Wierenga. The most
exciting part of this ministry exposure has been that the broadcast
of biblical answers has not only gone out on television and
Christian radio, but also on secular rock and country stations.
The ministry team in the corner of the Dakotas is excited about
what can happen when God is given the glory.
The presbytery’s 64 churches have 7,102 members.
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