There’s a story being written … of a church
named Elevation North!
God birthed a vision for this ministry in the
hearts of a pastor and his wife in 2008.
Though walking through one of the most difficult
journeys of their lives, the call was loud and clear!
While working several jobs to support
themselves, the ministry embarked with the help of a few friends.
They met and prayed and worshipped … in some of
the most unlikely places:
Pastor Doug’s and Debbie’s living room … outdoor
parks and pavilions … their garage …
and as they grew, they packed up everything and
set up weekly on Sunday mornings at Clinton Falls Township Hall!
God sent more people, including a group of men
to come alongside Pastor in leadership and prayer.
Outgrowing the Hall, this body of Christ took a
leap of faith and moved the church
to a much larger building on the main street of
Medford.
The vision was clear: to reach whoever God sent through the doors
of the church!
The rent seemed huge: it increased from $40 per week to $1000 per
month! “Lord, help us!” was our cry!
And you know what? He definitely did! The gospel was being preached week after
week!
And lives were being changed!
After a year in that location, circumstances
brought us back to Owatonna,
and God again provided a place to rent and
worship that required another huge step of faith!
Could we do it?
No, never on our own! But we knew
God was leading us forward …
and soon we were moving to a place that was
everything we needed for this chapter and time.
A sanctuary – with chairs of our own; classrooms
with actual walls and doors!
We were put right on one of the main streets of
town in a great location,
and soon people we had never met came walking
through the doors of Elevation North!
We would welcome them with God’s love and ours,
and before leaving the church they would say,
“We’ve finally found a church home where we feel
Jesus … and are loved just as we are!”
And that was because God gave us a vision to
love people right where they are at –
but to also love them to their fullest potential
in Christ!
God sent us the lonely, the hurting, the needy,
the homeless …
and we loved them and helped them … and shared
Jesus with them!
We have seen miraculous transformations: many lost, now saved – many addicted, now
free!
It has been exciting to see God at work; what a
precious privilege to serve where God is at work –
and today marks our last Lord’s Day of worship
in this place as He continues to move us forward yet again!
For a short interim time we will be meeting and
worshipping at the local AmericInn,
while the building God has led us to purchase is
being changed into a place of worship to our Lord and King!
Finally, after all these months and years of
being moved from place to place,
God has seen fit to gift us with a location that
will be a place dedicated solely as HIS House:
Elevation North – for the glory of God!
With each passing year, God has fleshed out this
ministry to reach more and more people,
with many of you coming alongside us to help
serve as God enlarges our boundaries!
What does He have in store for us as we step
into this next place He has arranged for us?
Only God knows … but He is revealing new
territory as we follow Him obediently and boldly.
God is bringing together two ministries into
one:
Elevation North will hold English and Spanish
services each Sunday,
reaching more souls than ever before for God’s
Kingdom!
And WE get to be a part of God’s unfinished
business on this earth at this time and in this place!
Praise God … from Whom all blessings flow!!!
REMEMBER . .
. Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now to Him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to
His power that is at work
within us, to
Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
forever and ever! Amen!”
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
