Revelation 3:7-8

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.'"

March--Looking at the Record of an Old Sermon Text. It was 1925. The Zion Lutheran Church council had just begun keeping records in English. The first pastor of the Zion congregation, Pastor Jon Benson, Jr., had just left with his family for mission work in China. Letters started coming from China. There were also artifacts which came and would be sold by the women of the church with proceeds going to China mission. Little Zion Lutheran Church, the smallest and least viable of three Augustana Synod mission churches in Alabama, was not only hearing about mission, but was reaching out. Pastor Einar Oscar Leonard Johnson, Zion's second full-time pastor, was serving Silverhill in 1925 and also was mission pastor to St. Elmo for some Sunday services. Outreach begun by Pastor Benson to Sonora and St. Elmo in 1919, was definitely continuing! Then in this year of 1925, along with Pastor Johnson, the congregation formally called Ms Holm to work with the Bohemian people to form a Bohemian Sunday School in the Silverhill area. Mission support continued abroad to China, but also at home, donations given to the Deaconess Institute of Omaha and to St. Elmo's. The Zion women of the church were active especially, hosting a missions convention in August. At their December meeting, Pastor Osterberg (English) and Pastor Palm (Swedish) shared a message from Revelation 3 concerning the Church in Philadelphia. That's the text above. Do you see anything relating to missions?

March--Missions Then. The people of Zion had an early heart for missions. They saw Silverhill and their church as a place for mission to begin. Pastor Swanlund had visited Silverhill beginning in 1913 when there was a "mission field in Silverhill." He reorganized the Lord's "work and labored with great zeal." But what he and what J. E. Hedberg, H. F. H. Hartelius and J. J. Richard, the first Lutheran pastors visiting Silverhill, did, was to instill a heart for outreach for the Lord. The congregation understood that it was little, but it knew that the Lord had placed an open door before it, a door for bringing others to the Savior. That's history.

March--Now. This congregation was the starting point for a church that still remains in St. Elmo (non-denominational), for St. Paul's Lutheran (ELCA) in Mobile, for Grace Lutheran (ELCA) and Peace Lutheran (LCMC) in Gulf Shores, and for Trinity Lutheran (ELCA) in Daphne. That is, five churches have sprung from initial outreach from Silverhill. How can Zion be such a little church and have such big effects? It goes back to this text shared by two pastors back in 1925: "See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name." If only we can continue in the Lord's will in this attitude of faith and outreach to the unsaved.

March--Another Open Door on March 27 and 28. Doors to the Gospel were closed in Russia for 70 years and in areas dominated by the former Soviet Union for 40 years. Did you know there was concern about the Christians in the Soviet Union as early as the 20s at Zion Lutheran Church? It is right in minutes of the congregation. Did you know that Zion was involved with CARE packages for Czechoslovakia in the 40s? It is right in the church minutes relating to a Czech widow with children. The Lutheran church was suppressed and evangelism was prohibited in Eastern Europe after World War II. The church of Eastern Europe forgot how to reach out in mission to its people. It has not been so long ago since the fall of communism, has it? AFLC Pastor Don Richman, formally of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN, felt called to the church of Eastern Europe, to assist it in training and encouragement in again becoming evangelical, in teaching it how to become evangelical so that the unchurched might be saved. We are so fortunate to have Pastor Don with us in Silverhill for a workshop on missions March 27 and 28.

On Saturday we will have a morning workshop on why we should be interested in missions in 2004 and how we should understand missions in the context of this new century. We will break for a light lunch. On Saturday afternoon we will have a second workshop on understanding mission opportunities here and abroad. On Sunday morning Pastor Don will bring the morning message on finding the mission the Lord desires for each of us.

March--A Thanksgiving for Mission. We can be thankful as a congregation for the Lord using us as a small church for doing big things in His kingdom. We can be encouraged that the Lord of the Church has not only given us mission opportunities, but He has enabled us to be a "sending" church through our tithes, our gifts, and our offerings. As we prepare for Pastor Don and his Missions Seminar, think about how we should pray for him and for our missions at Zion.

The menu consisted of eggs, biscuits with sawmill grave, and a breakfast casserole, juice and coffee.

Our next breakfast will be March 9 at 7:10 AM with Jim Meredith, volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Unit, as guest speaker. All men in Baldwin County are invited to attend. Check our website www.LutheransInSilverhill.com for further information.

February 17, 2004

Dear Linda,

We are so thankful for your willingness to partner in support of our call to serving in Pakistan.

Currently, I am serving as the “Assistant to the General Director” of the World Mission Prayer League. My family and I have been in the Minneapolis area for nearly four years and are looking to return to Pakistan as soon as we can receive permissions. Our recent attempts to receive residential permissions have been denied.

Our visa request was denied because of the unstable atmosphere for Americans working in the region of the Pakistani/Afghanistan border. However, to the north and east in the capital city of Peshawar, we are looking at a new position where we might receive those permissions.

A bit of background, Pakistan is a closed country and missionaries have to enter as professionals, as proselytizing is a death sentence. In fact, the largest unreached tribal people group in the world lives in that region (Pushtun's or Pathan's). A rich history of mission work is centered on the Pushtun’s. In fact, we have a video that we would be glad to send you that would help you understand and pray for them. Pray for the Pushtun's of Pakistan and Afghanistan, as there are 25 million of them and few are saved. They are worth every effort to witness God’s love to them.

My academic background is an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in "Third World Development" and my graduate work is in "Water Resource Management". Therefore, I desire to work as a "Hydrologist" and share the hope of the gospel to nationals, as we improve their quality of life. My wife Bev is an RN, and she and I served at Christian Hospital-Tank previously, where we were just refused return visas.

It is our desire that we might communicate directly with those who feel led to pray for us. Please have them feel free to contact me directly!

Blessings to you and your congregation for the gospels sake.

~ David Silverstein

Valentines Day Banquet

Friends and family, young and old, gathered at Zion Lutheran Church for an evening of fun and good Christian fellowship on Valentine's Day, Saturday, Feb. 14.

A buffet table of barbecue sandwiches, salads, chips, and desserts was followed by a pro- gram of games and music. The evening was enjoyed by all.

Scout Sunday

President Pete Midgarden presents a plaque to Austin Gibbs on Scout Sunday in recognition of his promotion to Eagle Scout

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

FEBRUARY 3, 2004

The regular meeting of the Zion Lutheran Church met in the Parish-Hall at 7pm on February 3, 2004. Those present were Vera Avera, Pete Midgarden, Charlie Canning, Darlene Tasso, Ernie Burnett, Linda Gibbs and Loreli Walker.

Pastor Johnson opened with a devotional from Jeremiah 1:4 and prayer. The Secretaries report was presented, corrected and approved. The Treasurers report was presented and approved.

PASTORS REPORT:




1. Commemorative coin, with the possible cost of $500. This will be considered as a promotional advertisement, with payment coming from the Thrivent Fund.
   
   
2. Suggestions for grants:
   
   
   a- Amateur night
   b-Education for Seniors
   c-Pictorial Directory
   d-Sing along
   e-Musical Group presentation several times a year. AFLC from Thrivent has funds for this. The organist, Mike, may be a good contact for this.
   
   
3. Barna Research concluded that having someone to answer the telephone at the church during the week was a big plus in church growth. The Council discussed the possibility of trying to set up a volunteer phone answering group within the church.No decision was reached.
   
   
4. Debbie Owen would like to work on the website, possibly the web master
   
   
5. Focus for Lent, door offering for special needs in Baldwin County. The motion was made by Ernie Burnett and seconded by Charlie Canning that the money be used for Baldwin County organizations. The motion carried. The council will decide at the next meeting on amounts and specific groups.
   
   
6. Reporting on the Men’s 7-10, it is very successful and Mayor Greene will speak at the next meeting.
   
   
7. The Womens group meets on Tuesdays, last week they moved the old kitchen into the new.
   
   
8. Evangelism-Jim Rasmussen- from Home Mission would like to share with us, possibly in May. Don Richman, who is involved with helping churches in Eastern Europe, could possibly visit with us also.
   
   
9. The Challenge of Elder Ministry--Church inventory is a way to find out the needs of the churches Elderly. www.elderministry.com

OLD BUSINESS:

Nominations were open to elect a secretary of the council, Charlie Canning nominated Loreli Walker, Ernie Burnett seconded, Nominations were closed. Motion carried. Nominations were open to elect a president of the council. Linda Gibbs nominated Pete Midgarden, Charlie Canning seconded, nominations were closed, motion carried. Installation of officers will be Sunday, February 8, 2004. A long term planning committee was discussed. Linda Gibbs will come up with a list along with Pastor Johnson and will have a statement of intent ready for the next meeting. Ernie Burnett will start working on the 100th Anniversary of the church.

NEW BUSINESS:

There is a need for a Church Historian. How should we keep accurate records. Pete agreed to look into the matter of how we should record history on a continuing bases and will have something to talk about at the next meeting.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.

Submitted this day by Loreli Walker, recording sec.

Council members for 2004:

Pete Midgarden, President, Vera Avera, Ernest Burnett, Charlie Canning, Linda Gibbs, Loreli Walker, Secretary, Darlene Tasso, Treasurer .

All members of Zion are invited and encouraged to attend council meetings.