Sharing the Light
In October the Minnetonka Church hosted a booth for the second year at the annual Minnetonka Fire Department Open House. Since the public regularly parks in the church lot and fields during city events, the goal was to be a positive presence in the community by giving free flashlights and hot drinks.
In 90 minutes, the church gave away 300 flashlights imprinted with the church’s name and website, many to children who had received one last year and told their friends, “This church gives these flashlights away every year.” This is triple the amount of flashlights distributed last year.
Church members also served hot chocolate with whipped cream to an estimated 400 people. Youth pastor Vanessa Pujic said, “It’s so exciting to know we are now an expected presence at community events.”
Pujic added that the Minnetonka Church plans to distribute 500 flashlights next year as well as offer additional services to open house attendees. The church also hopes to explore the possibility of participating in other community gatherings in the West Metro area during the coming year.
Lead Like Jesus Seminar
The church also hosted its first two-day Lead Like Jesus seminar in October, teaching its eight participants to extend and maximize their influence by showing them how to lead like Jesus. An internationally recognized organization with trained facilitators, Lead Like Jesus, emphasizes that we are all leaders anytime we seek to influence the thinking, behavior or development of people in our personal or professional lives. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to make sure our hearts, heads, hands and habits are in line with the Holy Spirit.
Senior pastor Jason Salyers said he and co-facilitators Harry Lehew and Ken Dedeker (who both attend Minnetonka Church) “hold a mutual dream to see leaders in our church develop themselves into leaders like Jesus was and is.”
During the seminar participants were encouraged through activities, videos and discussions to think about why they lead and how what they think and do affect their ability to influence others.
Three of the eight attendees were staff members from another Christian church in Wisconsin. As a result of spending the two days together, youth pastor Vanessa Pujic said valuable relationships were forged between the leaders of both churches. “I believe God orchestrated this connection being made between our two congregations,” expressed Pujic.
According to attendee David Land, the seminar enabled him to “lay out my purpose, thoughts, actions and habits in harmony with Jesus. The seminar also emphasized how to keep God central in my life by abiding in his unconditional love and helped me understand how to develop my personal mission statement and values, as well as set clear goals.” Land said he was inspired by the stories of the other attendees, especially those from Wisconsin.
Pastor Salyers said Minnetonka Church is already looking at calendar dates to host the seminar again.
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Michelle Lashier Rosas is communication director for the Minnetonka Church.
