For the past several springs, we have been conducting a program called Spring Fling. Except for the years during COVID, we have been going into communities for a one to three-day VBS program since 2018. Each year, we have been going into different communities with different team members and serving a variety of people. Most of the time, we travel north near the end of March. However, due to Easter and people’s schedules, we found ourselves leaving much later this year, from April 15th to 17th. We served in three different communities: Gingolx, Laxgalts’ap, and Hazelton. Like most trips, communication and spreading the word were slow. So…I doubted God, a mistake I shouldn’t have made.

Day One: Gingolx

I advised our Spring Fling team, including volunteer missionary Karen Bergstreiser, missionary deacon Michael Gillingham, Pastor Joel Held, and volunteer missionary Luke Mayan, not to expect a large number of children. I also instructed them to have backup plans ‘B’ and ‘C’ ready in case no kids showed up. However, God demonstrated He was in control, and on the first day in Gingolx, we ended up with seventeen children!  We ran out of craft supplies and snacks, but our amazing team quickly adapted and found ways to make everything work. 

Day Two: Laxgalts’ap

The next day, we arrived in Laxgalts’ap, and the team joked with me about my doubting God, as I explained to them that it had been five years since a team had last visited this community. When we arrived, we found the church doors locked, so we had to wait at the government office until someone came to unlock them.

Although we saw children around the community, no one came when we first started our VBS. However, one girl eventually came in, and soon after, another three children followed. Before we knew it, there were twelve kids in total! This time, we had enough craft supplies and snacks for everyone.

Pastor Joel from Riverside, California, will be taking his church to this community.  He was able to tour the place where his team will stay, prepare meals, and see the church. 

Day Three: Hazelton

The next day, we traveled to Hazelton to support a group of adults attempting to engage with the youth in their community. So far, it has been a struggle. We tried to put on a BB gun shoot with one of the missionaries I know in the area. In the past, he has had good turnouts for these events, but unfortunately, no kids or youth showed up this time. However, we did spend time talking around the campfire with a retired missionary who served among indigenous people in camps close to the northern territories. We also discussed the possibility of organizing another youth event this summer when the team from Yuma is serving in Hazelton. 

We then headed over to Pastor Bart Metcalf’s church, who previously served as the BC missionary to LAMP. Bart conducts a time of gathering on Fridays, featuring music and Bible study. It was great to be with Bart and his congregation.

Since I have been conducting the Spring Fling trip, it accomplishes several purposes. First, it teaches the children about Jesus. Second, it helps the teams prepare their plans and details for their summer ministry, and the children to understand that we will be returning soon. Third, a benefit of these trips is the chance to meet and connect with people in the community. In both Gingolx and Laxgalts’ap, we met adults who wanted to know more about our work and how they could help. Both of these adults offered to help spread the word during the summer and plan to be there to support us. 

As always, I am humbled by God, and I am blessed to serve alongside so many wonderful people. It is also a blessing to serve year after year with volunteer missionaries who make the commitment to serve every summer. I look forward to the summer when all the teams gather to teach about Jesus in each of their communities.

On April 27 -30, I attended the Youth and Family conference at Camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, put on by the LCMS NW District. For the third time in a row, I got a cold before attending, yuck. The presenter was Deaconess Rhoda Schuler, ThD Professor Emerita, of Concordia University, St. Paul. Dr. Schuler did a wonderful job with her presentation on our baptismal identity and exploring interactive Scripture study methods. It was also nice to see so many young DCEs coming into our district. I was one of those old guys who went to bed at 10 pm instead of staying up to 1 am in the morning.

 Winter 2026 Newsletter

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 

For the twenty-some years I served as a DCE in two different parishes, I frequently would get asked questions about why youth engaged in games instead of just doing a Bible Study.”  While we incorporated Bible studies into nearly every youth night and Sunday morning, we recognized the importance of allowing time for kids to connect and decompress from their day first.

There have been studies over the years that have shown that groups of people who do an activity together, especially ones that are more challenging, activate certain chemicals in the brain that foster connections and trust among the individuals with whom they are with.  Often, groups will function better together. This is why you might have heard about the LAMP staff spending time together on a retreat in Phoenix as part of attending the Best Practices Ministry Conference. By inviting our spouses, we connected faces with names and strengthened our bonds, all while enjoying the warmth of the Phoenix sun. 

During the event, we attended BPM and were able to connect with some of our volunteers and other mission organizations at our table promoting LAMP. There were numerous engaging workshops and presentations in the main sessions. As usual, I hosted a meet-up for CMC graduates and current students at the Organ Stop in Mesa. I was able to meet three alumni for the first time, including Rev. Stephen Heimer, who is the Manager of the All Nations Ministry at the LCMS Office of National Mission. Pretty cool to see a CMC alumnus become part of the synodical office!

After my time with the staff at BMP, I visited some donors in the Tucson area before heading to Yuma to meet with the team preparing for the trip to Old Hazelton this summer. The former team leader will collaborate with a new team leader to help plan both the trip and the Vacation Bible School (VBS). Overall, my visits went very well, and I am looking forward to this summer. 

Spring Fling is just around the corner. Last year, due to my final year in seminary and the conflicting schedules of others, we weren’t able to organize a spring trip. However, this year we have a team of six ready to visit three communities.  With Easter being early, we have decided to schedule our trip for a bit later in April. We held a meeting for those interested in participating in the Spring Fling trip. Please pray that all the details come together smoothly.

 

Please pray for the LAMP First Nations communities as they wait for the snow to melt and for the days to become longer. As you worship God, I ask that you pray for guidance for all people–to listen deeply, embrace compassion, and seek understanding. Thank you for journeying with me as we work to foster the spirit of reconciliation.