Pastor

One of the great things about "52 People" project is this... you look at people more and the story of their lives. It's not that I never looked at people before... It's just that I look at them and wonder what their story is. Sometimes you get to know the story and other times you “judge” a book by its cover. Never the less, I found myself this last weekend in another story of a life from Norway. Pastor Bent is a Lutheran Pastor who I met in Portland at a church retreat. Although I am not Lutheran, our conversation was joined together in that we both are seeking to share Jesus and his story to our community and our culture better than we have been doing. I was set back as He told me, over lunch that European churches are in massive decline, that most pastors will not meet their parishioners until they are in need of a burial. He further explained that the largest church in Switzerland has on record 7000 members... of which only 8 attend a regular weekly services. EIGHT! Pastor Bent, is fighting what looks like a losing battle. However, he has a secret weapon... Hope. He traveled all the way to America to attend a “church innovations” seminar along with several other Norwegian Pastors because he has been called to Pastor. He has been called to share a message of reconciliation to an un-reconciled world; that the righteous came for the unrighteous. Pastor Bent stood with his comrades and sang for us, in his native tongue, a song which translated, “Even if the people are no more, and the mountains crumble, God is still God.” As I listened to these men and women singing, I was taken to a place of hope. It was a small glimpse of heaven. God is God. His name is everywhere, He is working everywhere, His story is everywhere. Men and women I did not know spoke of the same hope that I know and hold close. I may never see Bent this side of heaven. I know he loves God, he loves the church, he loves his grandchildren that are very close to the age of my own children. To Pastor Bent, My the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make His face shine down upon you and give you peace. Johno~