As a newly Called global church worker, making connections with pastors to come and visit their congregations can be challenging. I know from experience as a parish pastor there are plenty of agencies and groups – all good organizations, to be sure – hoping to get word of their work and invitations to support it out to congregants around the country. So I know when I contact a pastor and/or parish I don’t have an existing relationship with, or a recognizable link to in some way, it’s going to be harder to establish initial contact and begin talking about a possible visit.
For that reason those personal connections are invaluable, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s a colleague I can reference or who will put in a good word for me. Sometimes it’s connections through former parishioners now in a new congregation. And sometimes it’s even family connections.
So it is that Gena and I are off to Ogden, Utah to visit with the congregation her paternal grandparents were members of for decades before their passing, and where her aunt is still a member. We’re grateful for them connecting us with St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ogden, where Pastor Christ provided a quick invitation to come and visit.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to share with this community – and if you can create a connection for us with your congregation, small group, LWML group or other interested folks, don’t hesitate to let me know!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 