The End is Near

This will be my final weekly message to you good folks at Redeemer in White Bear Lake. It has been a busy 14 months. We have accomplished some important tasks and there is yet more work to be done. That is how life is. I’ve been asking people to give us an evaluation on how we have done so far in this interim period.

People sometimes ask me if I like doing intentional interim ministry. Truth…I do like interim ministry. It offers a new challenge every year (or so), I get to meet new disciples with new gifts and dreams, and I really feel connected to the larger church. Doing interim is like planting trees. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time … is now. When I was young I planted many trees on the farm. I watched them grow until I went off to college. Now, years later, I occasionally pass by the old farm and see that those trees are now 20 to 30 feet high. Interim is like planting trees that I may not see grow, but I’m confident that the Holy Spirit will keep those trees growing strong.

These words are attributed to Ernest Campbell, the Senior Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City from 1968-1976:

To be young is to study in schools 

we did not build. 

To be mature is to build schools 

in which we will not study.

To be young is to sit under trees 

we did not plant. 

To be mature is to plant trees 

under which we will not sit.

To be young is to dance to music 

we did not write. 

To be mature is to write music 

to which we will not dance.

To be young is to worship in churches 

we did not build. 

To be mature is to build churches 

in which we will not worship.

May God continue to bless us all, as we continue to plant and build for God’s amazing future!

Thanks for this ministry that we have shared!

I have been truly blessed by your presence in my life during this interim time.

Blessings and peace!

Pastor Mike Peterson