The time is NOW for doing all we can to make an eternal difference in the lives of people still needing to be reached for Christ!  We are living in exciting times!!!"

Sunday at 10:00 AM - Gloria speaking

Twin Lakes Christian

18912 Twin Lakes Rd NW

Elk River, MN 55330

For more information, please call the church at: 763-241-1111

In preparation for Mother's Day, I just wanted to share an article I wrote for the newsletter that I feel is so timely.  It is my heart's prayer that you will be ministered unto and be filled with hope for what lies before you!  He is enough, Mom!  Come to the Living Well!

Gloria

Greetings from Iowa! "Great is thy faithfulness"…that scripture keeps running through my mind. 

Larry and I are so thankful for God's protection as we traveled all last week from New Orleans in treacherous spring storms for close to 1300 miles. 

We kept pushing ahead and behind and around the storm fronts and God protected us from the high winds, some up to 80 miles per hour, baseball size hail and walls of blinding rain.  I had no problem trying to pray, it came naturally - ha! I also love the verse, "…and He shall give His angles charge over thee."

We thank God for nearly 50 years of His protection over us.

We had an awesome last Sunday of ministry in Louisiana at first A/G of Greater New Orleans in Metairie, LA.  As always, it was wonderful to be back with a pastor, friend and mentor Rev. Dan Flanagan and his wonderful staff. The altar was filled with those rededicating their lives to Christ, and those making a first time commitment.  Altar calls like this, especially for our last service in Louisiana, sent us down the road rejoicing about what God did (not us…we just deliver the message and got to enjoy seeing the results)!

From there we packed up and headed down the long, long road, over 1300 miles to beautiful Kalona, Iowa.  It's a little Mennonite, Amish community nestled among the rolling green hills.  It poured a wall of rain all the way until we pulled into the Kalona Mennonite church parking lot.  The pouring rain dropped down to a drizzle for about an hour. We quickly unloaded the car off of the car trailer, parked the motorhome, plugged in electricity, water, etc. and Larry had literally just stepped up into the motorhome and the skies broke loose again for several hours.  I rejoiced, "God, you are so good to even stop the rain for a few needed moments to get done what we need to." 

We are also rejoicing over the much needed rain through all the states that we traveled through.  We woke up on Sunday morning to beautiful sunshine, multi-colored tulips bursting with pride, birds chirping, and little bunnies and squirrels playing in the plush green grass surrounding the church. How refreshing and entertaining!

The real refreshing came when we were so honored to sing and minister at the Kalona Mennonite church to a nearly packed sanctuary.  We sang, and Larry preached, followed by a sweet altar call with many responding to receive Christ for the first time as well as many rededications.  What a precious pastor, Pastor Scott Swartzendruber and his lovely wife. Talk about sweet-spirited and a heart of love for God and to see souls saved and changed!  And that's exactly what happened at the altar.

Pastor Scott said, "Thank you!  We so appreciate your ministry.  God answered so many prayers.  The fruits of this weekend will be experienced for years, and into eternity as well! You've blessed us! Again, many thanks and prayers as you continue to help many people come to a new birth experience in Christ!"

We are now heading to Fairbank, IA where I will speak at a women's spring luncheon on Thursday and we will minister on Sunday morning at the Fairbank Lutheran church with Pastor Scott and Nancy Jans.  We are excited to see them again; they are wonderful friends and partners. Speaking of being excited…we will pull into our home in Sisseton, Monday May 4^th after a long four month tour.  We are excited to be home, even though we will turn around and be leaving for 4 days again. The feeling of pulling into our driveway is one we cherish!

We were honored to see so many wonderful friends and part for this tour, whether it was just for a few moments or a few hours. Those partners and friends, with their prayers and support have kept us on the road to reach the lost.

Michael & Lachel Dreyer with their adventurous boys!  (Paola, KS)

Gary & Carolyn Rowden  (Longview, TX)

Dave & Georgiea  (Paola, KS)

"I met the Lundstroms 36 years ago in April of 1979.  They were in my hometown of Hannibal, MO for a week-long crusade.  As a result I became a Christian.  I was privileged to travel with the Lundstroms for a few years as Road Manager in the 1990s.  It was great seeing you all again and attending your service in Kalona, IA.  The music and preaching brought back a lot of fantastic memories."

David Day

Hannibal, MO

There are so many others, and we wish we could have gotten all their photos.  We just got too busy visiting that we forgot to take pictures - but you all know who you are.

Here's our schedule for the next month in case you are in the area, or know someone in the area!

April 30^th: Spring Fling Fairbank, IA

Thursday at 1:00 PM

Women's Spring Fling at the Assisted Living Community Room in Fairbank, IA.

For more information, please call: 319-635-2325.

May 3^rd: Fairbank, IA

Sunday at 9:00 AM

Lord of the Harvest Lutheran Church, 120 E. Main, Fairbank, IA 50629.

For more information, please call: 319-635-2325.

May 10th: Elk River, MN

Sunday at 10:00 AM - Gloria speaking

Twin Lakes Christian

18912 Twin Lakes Rd NW

Elk River, MN 55330

For more information, please call the church at: 763-241-1111

Greetings from Mississippi!  We are definitely experiencing "April showers"….along with spring storms.  In fact, my storm weather alert on my phone continually beeps.  I grab it in hopes and praying that it isn't alerting about a tornado.  We are surrounded by dozens of campers, RV's and motorhomes in this RV Park filled with towering pines.  So---I wouldn't know where to run!  HA! 

Literally, an alert just beeped again and I was relieved to see it was flash flooding rather than a tornado.  It seems like we were always caught in the middle of the transitions of seasons but God is good and has "kept" us.

We have had three awesome weeks of services in Louisiana and Mississippi thus far.  Easter Sunday we ministered in Bayou Vista, LA, where the altar was packed with people of all ages responding to the Easter message of hope to all who will receive! Pastor Randy & Diane Plessala joyfully announced, "We have been praying for a spiritual breakthrough and God gave it to us!"

One young couple, Cameron and Jordan Carter, who attended the Easter service and are expecting their first baby at any moment…they are so precious.  After they prayed and were given follow up materials, I asked them if they had ever made a commitment to Jesus.  She responded, "This is my first time."  When I asked him he shook his head no in response.  

His eyes then filled with tears and said, "I really needed this.  I really needed to come back to God…and this was the right time."

From there, we drove to Picayune, MS.  It was so great being back with Pastor Darrell and Sharon Worley at Christian Life Assembly of God where we ministered Sunday through Tuesday.  We have been coming to this church every two years since the mid-80's and they have been faithfully supporting the Larry Lundstrom Ministries on a monthly basis.  Pastor Darrell shared with his congregation on Sunday, "We support the Lundstroms because you offer our church ministry to family and to the hurting….a ministry which we seldom get.  We just want to continue to send you to reach the lost and hurting families." 

Thanks Christian Life Assembly for sending us for over 20 years!

In the three days of ministry here in Picayune, we "stuffed it" full of every ministry opportunity we could. 

 Sunday morning at 8:30, we ministered at Sun Roamers Campground at their beautiful Chapel in the Pines pastored by Dale and June Clabaugh. 

They are both in their 80's but you would think they were in their 50's with their energy, motivation and gift of evangelism. 

Then we rushed five miles to Christian Life Assembly in Picayune and ministered at the Sunday morning and evening services. 

It was fun to see 3 generations that came to church (Anneice Burke, Debbie Ulmer, Nicki Ulmer)!

Monday we were able to minister at the chapel service for Teen Challenge---that was not a "challenge" for us----it was a delight! 

Following we did a hospital visit to a pastor friend who recently experienced a stroke.  Tuesday we enjoyed the opportunity to sing and speak at a prayer breakfast where we encouraged believers to step up and get involved in outreaches to reach the lost.  On Tuesday evening, I (Gloria) had the privilege to minister at a Single Mom's Night out where I shared hope and encouragement to single moms.  Being a parent is such an important job - and single moms definitely need all the hope and help they can get.  It was a joy to be with them.

We leave tomorrow for New Orleans where we will be ministering this coming Sunday at First Assembly of God in Greater New Orleans (located in Metairie, LA) with Pastor Dan Flanagan.  If you are in the area, we would love for you to come and join us!

First Assembly of God of Greater New Orleans

2001 Transcontinental Drive

Metairie, LA  70001

Service Time 10:00 AM

Here's our schedule for the next month in case you are in the area, or know someone in the area!

April 26^th: Kalona, IA

Sunday at 9:30 AM

Kalona Mennonite Church, 902 6th Street, Kalona, IA 52247.

For more information, please call the church at: 319-656-2736.

April 30^th: Spring Fling Fairbank, IA

Thursday at 1:00 PM

Women's Spring Fling at the Assisted Living in Fairbank, IA.

May 3^rd: Fairbank, IA

Sunday at 9:00 AM

Lord of the Harvest Lutheran Church, 120 E. Main, Fairbank, IA 50629.

For more information, please call the church at: 319-635-2879.

May 10th: Elk River, MN

Sunday at 10:00 AM - Gloria speaking

Twin Lakes Christian

18912 Twin Lakes Rd NW

Elk River, MN 55330

For more information, please call the church at: 763-241-1111

It's Holy Week and we are excited for God to touch lives this weekend as many remember the importance of Good Friday and Easter. God is alive! Here is Larry's Easter message from the newsletter:

This time of year, I can't help but recall one of the many tours Gloria and I hosted to the Holy Land. We had visited the Garden Tomb, walked through the streets of the Old City and a group of 80 plus guests were now ready to view the site of a Muslim mosque. As part of the customary tour, a guide met us and shared with us what she wanted us to hear about Allah, her god. Finishing her short informative lecture, she opened up the tour to questions. Our group was stunned and quiet yet without hesitancy, Gloria raised her hand. "Yes?" the guide asked as she pointed to Gloria who then proceeded to ask, "When you are sick and hurting or you are going through troubles and trials…when you pray does your god hear and answer your prayers?"

Like a bolt of lightning she jumped up from her place sitting on the ground and in a panicked voice she exploded, "Oh no! We serve a very busy, busy god. We just hope that someday he will hear us."

To that Gloria gleefully and joyfully responded, "Our God hears us when we pray and He does and has answered many of our prayers."

To which she quickly announced, "It's time for me to go," and off she went. This Easter, as I remember this interchange and experience, I am just so grateful that I KNOW that "My God is alive!"

A few moments ago, I was reading an account of President Abraham Lincoln. In 1887, 22 years after his assassination, his coffin was exhumed and opened because there were constant rumors that his body was not in the grave. To quench the rumors and to prove without a shadow of doubt that the body was there, they took these drastic steps and found…indeed it was. However, the rumors continued so fourteen years later, they exhumed the coffin once again. Both times, witnesses were present to testify that President Lincoln was still in the grave.

Likewise, three days after the death of Jesus Christ, some rumors began to spread throughout the land of Israel. Only this time, there were not witnesses present who could say they had seen his body still in the grave… To the contrary, many witnesses claimed to see Him "out of the grave" and had mentioned even talking to Him after His resurrection.

As great of a President as Abraham Lincoln was, there were witnesses to prove that he did not transcend over death and the grave but he was surely still in the grave. If one of our presidents or leaders in government were to call out to President Lincoln for help, there would be no response. If a scientist were to call out to Einstein for help today, there would be empty silence. If someone were to call out to Mohammed or Buddha or Ghandi today, there would be no help. Here is the GEM of this story, if you and I call out to Jesus, there is instant access to the very King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His Kingdom power is made available to us…power to change lives for an eternity. Why? Because HE LIVES!

"I am the Living One. I died, but look-I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave." Revelation 1:18

May you enjoy the observance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday this weekend with your loved ones.

Here's our schedule for the next month in case you are in the area, or know someone in the area!

April 5th - Bayou Vista, LA at Promise Land Fellowship

April 12th - Picayune, MS at Christian Life A/G

April 14th - Picayune, MS/ ministering at Prayer Breakfast & Single Mom's Support Group

April 19th - Metairie, LA at First A/G of Greater New Orleans

April 26th - Kalona, IA at Kalona Mennonite Church

For more information on the services, view our Calendar/Events page here: http://www.larrylundstromministries.org/Ministry-Events

Greetings from Florida! We are in our last few days of enjoying this nice and warm climate.  Next week at this time we will be in Louisiana.  We are anxious to get back into full-time services and believing God for great decisions for Christ. 

Today, I am very grateful for the scripture verse that says, "Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good!", and also the scripture, "He will give his angels charge over thee." Yesterday, during our devotions it came to prayer time, and as usual we were praying over the family, friends and partners. We specifically prayed for protection and guidance. Little did I know that just a few moments later we would be faced with an opportunity to believe what we had prayed. 

I had decided to make a quick run to a grocery store about a block away.  To get there I would have to cross four lanes of traffic.  As I stood on the sidewalk, I could see that the stop lights were red, so there were no cars either way for about a block.  I started across the road and was in the second lane going into the third lane when, it seemed like out of nowhere, cars came rushing.  Concerned at their speed and that I was caught between the second and third lanes with no median; I decided to make a quick dash across to the other side.  Unexpectedly, I tripped on a little reflector that they have on the road to designate the 

yellow lines. It only sticks up about a half an inch but my shoe caught it and I thought, "Oh no, I'm going to fall…" but I kept charging forward…but with the momentum, my head was out way ahead of my feet. I fell onto the road face-down, my glasses went flying, but I could see the cars were about a half a block away, then 40 feet, and I couldn't get up.  The thought hit me, "It's like they say, if you can read the license plates, your too close - ha!" When I saw those cars coming toward me I knew that at any second I was going to be hit and ran over because I couldn't get up.  I saw a miracle in how God stopped those two lanes of traffic at 8-10 feet away from me. I knew with the speed that they were going that "His angels were watching over me".  Drivers stopped and came out of their cars to see if I was okay. They helped me get up and, thank the Lord, all I had was a cut up knee, hands and a sore body. Again, I just realized how fragile life is and how when we pray and we believe, truly His angels watch over us.  It was a reminder of the importance of prayer over our families and ourselves each day. 

Please rest assured that I am okay, just a little "dinged up".  When I think of all the close calls we've had over nearly 50 years on the road, I'm sure the angels are ready for a vacation - ha!

Easter is coming quickly, and many are honoring a season of Lent. It's our prayer that not only during this season, but always, we would be cultivating a lifestyle of godliness. I told Larry the other day, "For Lent we should give up our complacency about seeing people without Christ dying and going to Hell." We need to ask God to open our eyes and care for those that we meet every day and see the necessity of leading people to Christ.  

We will be in Louisiana for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday - here's our schedule for the next month in case you are in the area, or know someone in the area!

March 29th - Gulfport, MS at Extended Hands A/G

April 5th - Bayou Vista, LA at Promise Land Fellowship

April 12th - Picayune, MS at Christian Life A/G

April 14th - Picayune, MS/ ministering at Prayer Breakfast & Single Mom's Support Group

April 19th - Metairie, LA at First A/G of Greater New Orleans

April 26th - Kalona, IA at Kalona Mennonite Church

For more information on the services, view our Calendar/Events page here: http://www.larrylundstromministries.org/Ministry-Events

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and each year it awakens thoughts of cupids, cards, candy and candlelight dinners.  On that day, the "pressure" is on to express love in a tangible way that makes our significant other's heart dance with romanticism. 

Have you heard the story behind the Taj Mahal in India?  It's quite the symbol and memorial of love.

Emperor Shah Jahan, in the seventeenth century, ordered the construction of the magnificent building, as a memorial to his wife.  They were married in 1612, and she died in childbirth in 1631.

The devoted husband immediately ordered the construction of a towering edifice on the bank of the Jumna river, as a memorial.  The Taj Mahal, commenced in 1632, was 22 years in construction, and, at one point, involved 20,000 workers daily.

For over 325 years, the imposing structure has intrigued people who have been moved by its sheer beauty and the story of the love which prompted its construction.

You read that and say, "What love!" - or do you say, "What?...that's love?"  Imagine 22 years of construction to prove to the world his love for his wife.  Most of us would be thrilled if our significant other would spend 1 hour tackling that "To-Do" that's been on the list for way too long.

I am glad that the love Larry and I share goes deeper than a memorial or a 22 year construction job.  Buildings deteriorate and, in time, the Taj Mahal will be in ruin and only a beautiful memory. Earth's greatest testimony to love, however, is more enduring and not subject to decay.  The Bible describes that testimony or demonstration of undying love in these words: "We know what real love is from Christ's example in dying for us." (1 John 3:16)  What love!

Our love is built first on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  It was God who truly brought us together.  But, we have to work at our love and commitment. It doesn't "just happen."  We feel that next to God, our greatest investment is in our marriage and relationship.  Then that love flows into the relationship we have with our children.  Without love, marriages, homes and families crumble.  Without love, church bodies split.  Without love, communities are simply a group of people living a mundane life or an endless rat race, fighting to get ahead.  I like what Smily Blanton put in his books years ago.  Life really does boil down to love or perish:

Without love, hope perishes.

Without love, dreams and creativity perish.

Without love, family and churches perish.

Without love, friendships perish.

Without love, the desire to go on living can perish.

To love and to be loved is the bedrock of our existence.

Do you tell those you love, "I love you?"  Do they hear those words and understand how much you treasure them?  As we grow older, we realize more than ever the value of those three powerful words.  They may know that you love them, but they need to hear the words!  Those words speak of acceptance, love and security.  Appreciate those you love…there is no guarantee as to how long we'll have each other. Life is fragile, but love is eternal! Let love reign in your hearts and homes!

Happy Valentine's Day,

Greetings from Florida! Sounds nice - doesn't it…yes, it is.  I'll take this weather over the Midwest weather any January day - ha!

We've been here in Florida for nearly three weeks. We've nestled in to making booking calls, catching up on mail, preparing messages, and making phone calls to many of our ministry partners who are facing life and death situations, illnesses, broken hearts and relationships.  It's been a blessed time of being able to minister into their lives.

2014 was a great and full year and for the first time in 49 years, we came off our tour in November exhilarated and thrilled, but exhausted!  With that in mind, and our age, we listened to that inner voice urging us to designate this time to "be still and know that He is God".  The New American Standard bible says, "To relax, and let go, or to cease striving."  This is both my and your invitation to lay down our cares and seek Him and bask in His presence. Larry and I needed this quiet time to "recharge" our spiritual and physical batteries. We have more or less hid away to spend time in prayer and reading and sermon preparation. We have been blessed to be able to attend some incredible churches with powerful messages from some of God's great messengers.  We have been able to use this time to gain clarity and focus for this year and see how God opened up doors with connections and ministry opportunities for the rest of this year. We are being refreshed and filled so we will be ready to hit the road up and running again for the rest of 2015 - Praise the Lord for His divine timing and guidance!

As you know by the news, this life is not going to be easier or better, but isn't it encouraging knowing that God is faithful and greater than any of our problems?  All He asks of us is to tuck up close to Him, let His arms wrap around us as they shield and protect us from the storms of this world.  If we do that, not only will be make it through, but we will walk this life in victory and with a peace that passes all understanding.

Maybe you're reading this today and have been fighting the storms of life - maybe you too need to "Be still and know" that He is God (Psalm 46:10). I just read this poem entitled "True Rest".  Let me share it with you.  Maybe you too need to decide to pull away from the demands of life, snuggle up into God's word, be still and hear His voice speak to your heart, and then you will experience true rest.

True Rest

My dear child, I know you're weary 

With nothing left to give. 
You've worked long and hard 
Now you feel frayed and worn.

Come with Me to a quiet place 
Away from all the noise and busyness. 
Let Me wrap My arms around you, 
Enfold you in My love.

Let Me whisper peace to your heart's storm, 
Soothe your troubled brow. 
Listen to the love song 
I composed just for you.

In Me is true contentment. 
In Me you will find what you long for. 
Come with Me to a quiet place 
And receive rest, strength, and peace.

May you feel God's peace upon you this day. May it give you joy and laughter and good health!

Happy New Year - 2015!

Seems like I just get to the end of 2014 - and I feel like I'm on top of a monster roller coaster getting ready to descend on this New Year…ready or not! Ha!

Larry and I were so delighted to be able to spend Christmas with all of our family that live in Nashville, TN. They treated us like royalty and spoiled us with lots of fun, events and laughter. Of course…lots of delicious food and treats. 

Until three Christmases ago, they all fought blizzards, snow and icy roads and frigid temps to come home, and then they approached us and said, "It's much easier to bring you and Dad here to Nashville for Christmas with all of our work schedules." We thought about it and so yes, this is our third Tennessee Christmas in Nashville, and we love it!

After a full year "on the road", and coming home in November/December exhausted, we love looking forward to this new tradition. It gives us something to really look forward to after a long tour on the road. The first day we spent in the recording studio preparing for a new CD to come out at early summer to celebrate our upcoming 50^th wedding and ministry together anniversary, which will be in October.

Part of the vacation we stayed at LaShawn and Liam's and then moved over to be LaDawn's with her and near our two grandchildren.  It was also so much fun spending a lot of time with Donovan. Just being with him…is entertainment. We had a beautiful Christmas Eve at LaShawn's and Christmas Day dinner there. The highlight of the vacation was when LaShawn hosted a music night at her home.  LaDawn brought over her drum kit, LaShawn on her piano, and Larry on a big upright dog-house bass. It was just like the old days, "The Larry Lundstrom Family."  We were a bit rusty, but we sure had fun and made great memories.

We flew back to South Dakota on December 29^th and have been busy preparing to leave January 8^th for Florida (I know, I know…someone has to suffer in warm, sunshine climate - ha!). 

We are excited to spend time in preparation for this coming year. We've been busy booking and it's going to be a wonderful year for evangelism! We are anxious to share the simple Gospel story and the privilege of giving the free gift of salvation to all who wish to receive it. Jesus says in Revelations 22, "Behold, I come quickly…" We believe that quickly is coming soon, and we anxiously want to have a part in seeing people's lives changed by the power of God.

We pray that you too will look forward with anticipation in 2015 to draw closer to Christ than ever before - we need Him now more than ever!  God bless!

Gloria