In this episode, Bishop Craig is joined by several adult leaders from across the synod who led groups of youth, young adults, and adult leaders to the recent National Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. They share the joys and challenges of leading a group to a gathering like this that brings together thousands of people from across the church. They also share their hopes for how this experience might have a lasting and positive impact on the ministry and mission God is calling them into in their local congregations and communities.

The National Youth Gathering is held every three years. More information on the gathering can be found at - https://www.elca.church/gathering-live

More information on the WND Synod's annual LYO Gathering can be found at - https://www.wndsynod.org/lyo-synod-youth-gathering-of-wnd

Bishop Craig is joined in this episode by...

Pr. Derek Harkins, Faith Lutheran Church, Bismarck
Pr. Martha HarriSon, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck
Gracia Johnson, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck
Pr. Colin Neuharth, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Wis
Kortni Plorin, Zion Lutheran Church, Minot
Melissa Ramshead, First Lutheran Church, Minot

Bishop was invited to be part of a group to travel to the Holy Land in June 2024. He offers this reflection as he continues to process all he experienced during the pilgrimage visit to our companion church, the Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

Bishop Craig also wrote a blog about this reflection. You can find that here - https://bishopcraig.net/2024/07/30/holy-land-2024-a-post-pilgrimage-reflection/

Pr. Russ' story begins in Tennessee and wanders around Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Texas before bringing him to the prairies of North Dakota. In this episode, Pr. Russ shares a bit of his story and his gratitude for his unexpected encounters with the people and places of the Western North Dakota Synod.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake, ND

Bishop Craig is joined by Deacon Beth Anderson on this episode. They explore Deacon Beth's vocational journey before her time serving on the Western North Dakota Synod staff and the next places God is calling her in service to the church beyond the synod staff. Enjoy!

Centered Growth Coaching & Spiritual Direction

The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly was held on August 8-12, 2022 in Columbus, OH.
There were 13 voting members from our synod participating. We have a chance to hear from several of them in this episode of Unexpected Surprises.

The WND Synod Voting members were Vickie Benzmiller from Augustana Lutheran in Underwood; Rosa Berg from Christ Lutheran in Minot; Bruce Carlson, Synod Vice-President from Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva; Crystal Engel from Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck; Reinhard & Cherlynne Hauck from the Dunn County Parish in Dunn Center; Trent Hunskor from Christ Lutheran Church in Minot; Leah Johnson from First Lutheran Church in Rugby; Paul Kadrmas from Heart River Lutheran Church in Mandan; the Rev. Christina Martin from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Bismarck; Bishop Craig Schweitzer; the Rev. Beth Walch from Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck; the Rev. Sue Lynn White from Oak Valley Lutheran Church in Velva; and the Rev. Mary Wiggins from the Scranton Area Lutheran Parish in Scranton.

Visit the Churchwide Assembly website - https://www.elca.org/churchwideassembly

Click here to visit the WND Synod's recap of Churchwide Assembly.

Unexpected Surprises is made possible through a mission grant from the WND Synod Mission Endowment Fund. More information on all of our synod's endowment funds is available here - http://wndsynod.org/endowment-funds

Anne & Willie Langdji join Bishop Craig in this episode. Anne and Willie have served a variety of countries in West Africa for many years. They continue to be one of the central points of contact for the ministry we share with our global companion synod in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic.

The Langdjis share with us the multi-facets of their ministry across West Africa and specifically as it relates to the ELCA's bilateral relationship with the many Lutheran churches God is working through across the region.

Unexpected Surprises is made possible through a mission grant from the WND Synod Mission Endowment Fund. More information on all of our synod's endowment funds is available here - http://wndsynod.org/endowment-funds

Bishop Craig is joined by the Rev. Randy Emgarten on this episode of Unexpected Surprises.

Pr. Randy serves as pastor of St. Olaf and Our Savior's Lutheran Churches in the central region of our synod. He shares his deep love for the people and holy place of the North Dakota prairie that God has called him to serve for more than two decades. Find out why God's people in this place are so special to Pr. Randy and the ministry he leads.

Unexpected Surprises is made possible through a mission grant from the WND Synod Mission Endowment Fund. More information on all of our synod's endowment funds is available here - http://wndsynod.org/endowment-funds/

In this episode of Unexpected Surprises, Bishop Craig and Deacon Terri Endres discuss Portico and the many ways it serves the leaders of our church, her journey toward ordained ministry in the church from a vocation in medicine, her love of all things Green Bay Packers, and a few of the things she has heard recently that give hope for the future of the church.

Find out more about Portico Benefits Services here - https://porticobenefits.org/

Find out more about Deacon Terri here - http://wndsynod.org/synod-staff/

Unexpected Surprises is made possible through a mission grant from the WND Synod Mission Endowment Fund. More information on all of our synod's endowment funds is available here - http://wndsynod.org/endowment-funds/