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A bold collaboration

Posted: October 5, 2015

By Sue Sprang EAST LANSING – At a time in when intolerance seems to be the norm, it’s refreshing to come across an example that dispels that notion. In this […]

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Bringing others to Jesus, part 2

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By Sue Sprang SYNOD – Part one of this three-part article on Living Water Ministries looked at this year’s on-site (Stony Lake, New Era) summer camp. Here, in part two, […]

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Ringing and singing into the future

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By Sue Sprang MIDLAND – “It only takes a spark to get a fire going” says the first line of an old church camp song – and Trinity Lutheran Church, […]

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Top Ten Marks of a Missional Congregation

Posted: September 28, 2015

By David E. Sprang 1) Always Listening – to God, each other and the community. Creates space and hospitality for others to tell their story 2) Mentors and Trains Leaders […]

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Bringing others to Jesus, Part 1

Posted: September 22, 2015

By Sue Sprang SYNOD – In this three-part series, we’ll take a look at Living Water Ministries. Part 1 will be a look back on summer camp 2015. Part 2 […]

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A Grand Rapids church chooses people over historic space

Posted: August 30, 2015

Eight years ago, a Grand Rapids congregation left its stately but deteriorating church for a plain, empty building in a tough part of town. Today, the risk has paid off […]

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Speed for need

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By Sue Sprang AUBURN – Two “Mitten Synod” pastors “revved it up” on July 24 as they participated in the annual Faster Pastor race at the Tri-City Motor Speedway in […]

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A call for community engagement

Posted: August 17, 2015

By Sue Sprang From the writer: Generally, reporters don’t write in first person, so writing this article was a real challenge. I once served as associate in ministry for education […]

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Food backpacks help kids learn

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By Sue Sprang GLADWIN/BEAVERTON – First it was a mobile food pantry, beginning in 2012 and feeding over 200 families once or twice a month. Then came “Backpack Buddies,” a […]

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What It Takes to Revitalize the Mainline

Posted: July 26, 2015

By Bishop Bruce Ough and Rev. Susan Nienaber It is possible to revitalize our mainline congregations and denominational structures. And it is happening all around us, in spite of the […]

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