Isn't It Incredible How God Works? (identity magazine)

"Hey, you want to buy a church?” That is the question, half-joking (half-not), that I asked my wife, Brittany. It was the day after Thanksgiving 2020, and we had loaded up the kids to eat some cheeseburgers and drive around to look at Christmas lights. As we were driving, we came across a church building with a “For Sale” sign posted in the front yard and my mind lit up with what could be. I called my pastor, Jason Lang, and asked him the very same question, “So, you want to buy a church?” And he emphatically and seriously replied, “Yes. I absolutely do!”

You know, it’s funny, when you think you have an original idea, and the more and more you tell people about it, you discover that maybe it’s not so original! In our case, as we planned to launch a second campus of Word of Life Church, so often we would get the response, “I have been praying about something like that for a long time.” Woah! You see, from my perspective, our launching of a campus was born sitting in my Volkswagen eating a Big Mac and dreaming about what could be with my wife. In reality, people in my church had been praying about what God would lead us to for years and years. We were speaking about our idea to launch another church campus with one of our former pastors who had served in the mid-90s, and his response was, “God is so good! We were praying and dreaming about that in 1995!” Isn’t it incredible how God works? Planting seeds and opening doors for the gospel to be proclaimed to people who desperately need to hear that they are loved, valued, and forgiven because of what Jesus has done for them!

I don’t want to give off the vibe that this has been an easy journey. Far from it, actually. I tell you what, though, when people and leaders come together in unity on a mission to share the gospel, incredible things can happen! One of our top priorities throughout this whole process of opening the new church campus has been spending time in prayer together as a launch team and as a church. Colossians 4:3 says, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…”. We have been praying and seeking the Lord for opportunities to make connections, make friends, and make the goodness of God’s love known in our community.

As I write this, Word of Life Church–New Prague Campus is seven weeks old! It has been an incredible journey to even get to this point and we give all the glory to God! There are a few ways that you can support us. First, please pray for us. Pray for us in your own personal prayers, ask your youth pastor to pray for us in youth group or small groups. Our desire is to keep meeting people and to provide a community for believers to be equipped to share the gospel or for not-yet believers to receive the salvation Jesus offers them. Second, consider joining us on mission for Jesus! New Prague is located 34 miles south of Minneapolis and would be a great place for you to plug in and worship and serve if you are going to college in the Twin Cities. This would be a great place to live. Word of Life Church is committed to equipping and sending young leaders into our community, country, and world on mission to share Jesus! Third, consider supporting us financially. The first few years of a young church are hard, period. If you or your family are interested in donating and helping us get on our feet, please visit: wordoflifemn.com.

NICK OLSON serves as campus pastor of Word of Life’s New Prague campus.