New Life Lutheran Church is familiar with what it feels like to be homeless. The congregation bounced from place to place before moving into its own building about 12 years ago.
So the Minot church didn't hesitate to open its doors and share space this month after learning that the new congregation at Living Word Lutheran Church needed a place to establish its ministry base. Living Word members come from a background in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America while New Life is affiliated with American Association of Lutheran Churches.
"Just the fact that a Lutheran church would take another Lutheran church under their wing, I think, is kind of a neat thing," said Rod Wilson, member of Living Word. "We are fairly close, theologically speaking, and figure there's plenty of room in the world for bringing people to Christ."
When Living Word organized in March, it held meetings in the Carnegie Center.
"We outgrew the space," Wilson said. "We started talking to churches and most of them were receptive."
Living Word took up an offer from First Presbyterian Church, which allowed the Lutherans to use its sanctuary during its off hours on Sunday afternoons. While the building could accommodate events of the two churches when they doubled up, fitting all the vehicles into the parking lot presented a problem.
A member at Living Word who was familiar with New Life Lutheran suggested that church building as an option. When Living Word contacted New Life, they were told, "We were waiting for you to call us. As a matter of fact, we were thinking of calling you," Wilson said.
With its spacious parking, New Life agreed to give Living Word the sanctuary for 9 a.m. Sunday services and a lower-level fellowship hall for socializing afterward. New Life uses the fellowship hall before its 10:30 a.m. service, held in the sanctuary after the Living Word service.
A committee of five members from each New Life and Living Word meets regularly to arrange the building's schedule around each congregation's plans for the month. The churches have discussed ways that they can share ministry. New Life has invited Living Word's youth to its North Plains Bible Camp near Garrison this summer. It is letting Living Word set up a tent on the grounds for a church picnic and may take up Living Word's invitation to use the tent for a picnic of its own.
New Life organized in 1990, originally holding its services in the Minot Seventh-day Adventist Church. It later moved to Grace Church, then to the Comfort Inn and eventually to Northwest Bible College. In 1995, New Life began constructing its own church home, largely with member labor. The congregation moved in during July 1998. Average attendance on Sundays is about 40 people.
Geremy Olson, lay pastor at New Life, said his church not only understands what it's like to be without a home but it also knows about hurting.
"This is a way to give somebody a safe place to worship and to promote healing and, in a sense, give them new life through a new church," Olson said. "It's definitely an honor and a blessing for us, too."
Living Word was organized in March by former ELCA members who were dissatisfied with the church's direction and wanted to retain theological traditions. Living Word's services draw from 70 to 100 people. About 150 people attended a charter service and baptism May 16. Attendees have come from around the Minot region, from Sherwood to Velva.
Although concerns about theology have led some people to leave the ELCA over the past several months, the Western North Dakota Synod reports only two churches have voted to leave First Lutheran in Washburn and Peace Lutheran in Hazen.
Wilson said Living Word is considering affiliations with either the Lutheran Church in Ministry for Christ or the North American Synod being created by Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform).
Living Word also is preparing to start its children's and youth programs this fall. It already is establishing its mission work with a project for Haiti. The new church also expects to call a pastor this summer.
