May 2024 Newsletter

Hello! Summer is nearly here, or at least that's what my lawn is telling me....

We have a few exciting updates to share with you, some Mission Builders events happening this year, and a big project kicking off next year!

In this newsletter:
-Mission Builders 2x2
-Lutherwood Oregon 2025
-Update from Metigoshe
-Summer virtual gathering

Earlier this month we announced Mission Builders 2x2!
This is an opportunity for Mission Builders to participate in mini projects when they can't participate in large scale projects. These projects are intended to be able to be completed by 2 or 3 Mission Builders in 4-6 weeks maximum. They are still intended to be projects with a start and finish, so that Mission Builders can plan their schedule around it and anticipate and end date.

To kick off this project we have two pilot sites: Camp Metigoshe and Flathead Bible Camp. Camp Metigoshe will be starting in June and are building a pole barn for a new garage for the Camp. Flathead is installing half log benches in their outdoor auditorium this August. We are thrilled to announce that there has already been enough interest expressed in these projects that they will both be taking off!

We will be sending out and posting updates as we work on these projects this summer!

Camp Lutherwood in Oregon is ready to start construction June of 2025!

This is a full new build retreat center, we will be working on Phase I of the image above.

We will be looking for Mission Builders to support this project, keep an ear out as we near the fall for official start dates and sign ups!

An update on Metigoshe from Jon Halvorson:

“How can it already be five years?!” Do you have any friends or even family who you sometimes find yourself asking that question with? That’s the reaction I had when Josiah asked me to put together an update on our expanded conference and retreat center at Metigoshe Ministries. The world was a different place in the fall of 2019 when the last of the RVs pulled away from our beautiful permanent camper park that was installed as a part of the expansion. None of us had any idea of the upheaval that a global pandemic would unleash on us all just a few months later.

In the months to come we would hire a local contractor who – along with some Metigoshe volunteers and even a couple of regional Mission Builders who returned to pitch in – was moving us along toward a springtime 2020 dedication when the world came to a stop. To be fair, a small (VERY small, to be clear!) silver lining that came out of COVID was our ability to move slowly and take care of a lot of detail finish work without worrying about timelines. 

We were finally able to host a dedication and celebration of our new space at the beginning of August in 2020, and we were thrilled to have a number of Mission Builders present to celebrate with us! In addition to our Western North Dakota interim bishop, Rev. David Zellmer (who was a Camp Metigoshe camper in the 1960s), Terry Thiel spoke on behalf of the Mission Builders

As with any large construction project, there have been a few learning curves and an unexpected issue here and there to deal with. In our case the HVAC system has been the primary culprit, but in the past half-year we’re finally getting it to a place where it looks like it will start showing us the geothermal benefits that we’ve been expecting to see.

Another unexpected bright spot in the midst of the pandemic was the blossoming of our relationship with the Minot Air Force Base chaplaincy group. Metigoshe happened to be right at the limit of where base personnel were allowed to travel for nearly a year. And so, a retreating relationship that had just started to develop prior to COVID really took off, and we were happy to host over 20 retreat groups from the base alone over a two-year timeframe.

Of course, it was difficult to try and “launch” our new retreat center during this time. We have had to re-visit and rebuild our marketing and outreach plans for building on our existing retreat group base. Thankfully, 2023 finally saw us really see usage in this new space take off – and 2024 and beyond are shaping up to follow suit. Our retreat income from 2023 reached a record level for Metigoshe with our usage numbers close behind, and we are now starting to get regular inquiries and bookings for larger conference hosting groups – both within the church and from other non-profit and community groups.

In and amongst all of the joys and struggles of our journey to build – and then move in to – our new conference and retreat center, it is important to remember the Mission Builders mission: “Together, We Build!” We are so thankful for the wonderful construction and oversight provided by the Mission Builders throughout our capital campaign, and in particular on this large project piece. But even more importantly, we are thankful for the relationships that have been built and nurtured! Not only those relationships between Mission Builders and Metigoshe Ministries people, but also the relationships that were nurtured between Metigoshe people through the mission and ministry of Mission Builders. Thank you!

Finally, we are going to have a summer virtual gathering on July 10th. This will be a "Lutheran Hour" on zoom and all are welcome. We will be sending out a zoom link on July 3rd.

Thank you all for supporting Mission Builders, we have exciting projects coming up, we hope to see you soon!