We had a city, a cool name and matching domain, along with biblical references that helped us see the vision-but what about the people? Would there be a nucleus of people to help us begin this work? Once the word got out through publications like the North American Mission prayer notes, people started to contact me. We took these as very positive words of confirmation that we were on the right track. We searched for a domain in which to establish a website and found Amazing! Scriptures like Ezekiel 47 and John 7 spoke of the river flowing from the temple, bringing life wherever it goes, and from the hearts of believers will flow rivers of living water. Why don’t we call it “The River-A Church of the Lutheran Brethren”? We shared the idea and all responses were positive. What would we call this new church? During those weeks of deep sorrow, we had been comforted by images from the Psalms, especially the image of a river flowing from the mountains, bringing healing and hope. People in that beautiful Alberta city needed Jesus-a living relationship with the very personal, living Savior who gives hope when life is darkest. Every day, families are thrown into chaos without the support system that had blessed us so tenderly. Every day, people slip away to a Christ-less eternity. I had been painfully reminded that life can be so fleeting. The way that people reached out to care for us was humbling. The outpouring of support for our family from our community and across the CLB family was amazing. Complications related to diabetes arose, and she slipped away into glory. She had been working at a Bible Camp near Vancouver and was soon coming home after a fruitful summer. Our 26-year-old daughter, Annelise, died suddenly. The first of September would be the start date to begin visiting Red Deer, with more than coffee and doughnuts in mind. The letter of call arrived and the plan was created. Anticipation filled the room during that meeting. The motion to plant a church in Red Deer, Alberta was approved and subsequently was brought to the Annual Meeting of the CLBC in March. The CLBC Board of Directors, meeting in January 2016, broke into a lively discussion when this proposal came to the floor. A committee had been formed to look into the possibility of such an outreach. But now the ongoing stress of overseeing the dynamics of such a school, coupled with the growing desire to be back in parish ministry, were tools God was using to prepare me for a new call.ĭuring that same time, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren Canada was also sensing a call from God to plant a church in western Canada. It had been a fruitful and fulfilling ministry as we mentored hundreds of students and staff in their Christian walk. “When would that happen?” After 15 years as the president of Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, I was sensing that a time of transition was ahead. At a quick glance, it is underserved there are 40 churches and, given a very generous average of 300 adherents each, that means there are 88,000 people in Red Deer yet to be reached with the Gospel and connected to a vibrant community of faith. It has a large college with more than 4000 students in university programs and 32,000 sessional students enrolled in apprenticeships or continuing education programs. It is a “hub city,” servicing the needs of more than 200,000 people in central Alberta.

It is located on Highway Number 2 about 90 miles from Calgary, Edmonton, and Camrose all cities where Lutheran Brethren congregations are located. “Why Red Deer?” It is the city we just pass through on the way to other places. “Why Red Deer? When would that happen?” she would ask. “Wouldn’t this be a great place to plant a church?” I caught myself asking my wife that question many times over the last two or three years, when we would stop for coffee on our way through Red Deer, Alberta.

Deer river bible church