Can the church still be relevant here in Sortland, Norway? Pastor Kenneth believes so. The key is forming connections where people are and meeting their most painful needs.
The Lonely City
“We spoke to some of the leaders in the municipalities, the mayors and representatives, and we asked them, What are the real needs in the community? One area that really stuck out as a major need was loneliness.”
In Sortland, Norway, loneliness is a key challenge among both the elderly and the young. About one-third of the teenagers here say they feel lonely.
“So this is why we started thinking, What can we as a church do to contribute and meet that need?”
“We’re trying and failing, seeing what works and doesn’t work, and through that we’re learning.”
“They don’t necessarily know the name of God and who He is, but a lot of people do believe there is a god. So belief in God is quite typical, at the same time as traditional church is seen as problematic in regard to the core cultural values.”
“This region was one of the key areas for Adventism in Norway. We had areas here with the highest density of Adventists in all of Norway, and now our churches are very much dying.”
Similar to many places around the world, the church has lost its foothold, struggling to be known as an integral part of the community. Can the church still be relevant here in Sortland? Pastor Kenneth believes so. The key is forming connections where people are and meeting their most painful needs.
“The family structure is something that is also under attack in this region. A lot of unstable family relationships. So we had a family retreat recently. We wanted to place a focus on families spending time together. That was the overall goal. Strengthening family bonds.”
Over the six days of the retreat, the eight families focused on spending wholesome time together. Organized activities like crafts and games provided opportunities for bonding--and a lot of laughter and smiles!
“It was very positive, very encouraging. They were so grateful because these families were families that couldn’t afford vacations themselves. This was part of it also; we were offering them a vacation experience. They were so grateful for that experience and friendships building over the week we spent together. It was a very encouraging time.”
“It has been quite touching how God has been opening doors we did not expect. When they see we as a church wanting the best for the community they’ve given us access to where we can be quite bold and open about faith. It’s received quite well. This is not something we’ve been doing but it’s seeing how God is working in the lives and hearts of people and opening doors that seem very closed.”
Please pray for church members in Sortland, Norway. Pray that God uses them to overcome the challenges of loneliness, broken families, and skepticism in the community, and that through this, people can come to know Jesus personally.
This quarter, a portion of your 13th Sabbath Offering will help build a center of influence for Pastor Kenneth and church members to host programs and events geared toward the community. The offering will also help construct an Urban Center of Influence in Cyprus and establish a church in Serbia. Please consider how you can support these projects through prayer and by giving to this offering!
