A few years ago, David Fortin was living the dream. He and his wife Carmel Froemke had two great children, Lydia and Avery. David loved his vocation as a teacher, he loved living in Dilworth, and he loved participating in the life of the church. “Honestly,” said David, “Dilworth Lutheran drew us in because we found a way to use our skills and gifts at church. We became active at Dilworth Lutheran because we found lots of ways to participate: call committees, youth committees, Wednesday School activities, Confirmation classes, etc. That is a great thing!”

While David loved being a teacher, he felt a call from God to do something more—something where he could live out his faith in more direct ways. “I was looking for something with more overt spiritual ties, more quiet ways that I might live my faith, in places that fit me. Instead of just talking about my faith, I wanted to demonstrate it for others. I think the church is anywhere people are.”

Through participating in the life of the church, David’s faith led him to make major career move. Leaving his teaching life behind, David started working at a local non-profit, Presentation Partners in Housing. As a Housing Stability Specialist, David’s job now is to walk alongside those who are chronically homeless, help them navigate housing, and help them find the resources they need to be independent. Through helping people find housing, David’s faith has deepened and grown.

“I have found that God is there for me, in helping others. If we allow God, God works through us in the mundane, where every gesture, and every word is important. Through my interaction I want them to know that God loves them. There is nothing more important than that!”

While major career moves are scary, God is doing great things through David. And we are grateful that David is sharing the love of God found at Dilworth Lutheran with our neighbors in need!

Many of you know Larry Scott for his love of sports and all those articles he wrote as the Sport Information Director of MSUM (Moorhead State University of Minnesota) for 40 years! It was the perfect job given his love of sports, writing, and communication skills. “My hobby became my job,” he said. “And as great as that was, it was not everything. It was part of it, but there were some missing pieces. I was fulfilled professionally, but still seeking spiritually. I was always in search of a church that fit me.”

As Larry ventured out into the world, he initially thought bigger was better. Then he attended Dilworth Lutheran. “Jim would greet me at the door with a cup of coffee,” Larry said with a smile, “and folks were so welcoming and engaging.” Larry enjoys the good messages, the choir, and the traditional service with hymns he knows and loves to sing. “Church has enriched my life,” he said. “When I was young ‘I had to go’ to church, now ‘I get to go’ to church! It gives me substance and hope. It reminds me that small acts of kindness can give hope, and how we talk to others is important, like encouraging and giving comfort.”

Growing up, Larry went to church with his mom at Calvary Lutheran in Alexandria. “My mom’s faith and prayer life helped shape who I am. My dad worked as manager of Land O Lakes in Alexandria, and I continue to live by his example. He showed me that you can do something good without calling attention to yourself.” To honor his dad, he goes to the Dorothy Day House on a weekly basis to drop off a gallon of milk announcing, “The milk man’s here!” “And then I think to myself, ‘that’s for you dad.’”

Larry’s easy going, affable, and social nature make him a joy to be around. He still has coffee every day with family, staff, and students at the Dragon Café. After 40 years his workplace also feels like home, and he carries a wealth of knowledge and sports trivia that young people love. We’re so blessed to have you in our lives, Larry, and that you also made your home here at Dilworth Lutheran Church!!

When Dilworth Lutheran Church opened up after the pandemic, there was a large celebration. It was Lorna Kennedy’s 90th birthday party! For the past 70 years, Lorna had called Dilworth home. And, on this day, after a long time apart, the church came together to celebrate someone who gave so much to the church.

For Lorna, it was a homecoming. “For as long as I remember, Dilworth Lutheran was a place where I feel I belong. I feel comfortable and safe here.” Like many others, Lorna was so happy to be together again. “People stuck around to visit. We were home again.”

For Lorna, Dilworth Lutheran has always been a special place. When she was a young mother, she faced a crisis in her marriage and was divorced. As a mother of six young boys, this was a difficult position to be in. Dilworth Lutheran, however, provided her with support. “I made lifelong friends at church. All of us young mothers became so close, our families almost became interchangeable.” The church helped raise her boys in the faith—she still remembers by name the woman who taught all her boys in Sunday School. Dilworth was not simply a church, but it was home. “It is so much a part of me I wouldn’t know what to do without it.”

And Dilworth Lutheran Church wouldn’t know what to do without the leadership, kindness, and love of Lorna Kennedy. When we celebrated her 90th birthday, we celebrated someone who has made a real difference in the life of our church.

In 1 Corinthians, St. Paul tells us that while church is one body, it has many parts. Some people serve by preaching, others by teaching Sunday School; some serve by leading music, others by keeping the lights on. Some, like Perry Kleven, serve the church at Dilworth Lutheran in all kinds of ways: when he is not gracing the church with his trumpet or making pancakes between services, he is working behind the scenes, making sure that our electrical systems and IT services are running properly.

As the service manager for Bergstrom Electric, Perry has had the opportunity to live and work in many different towns. For Perry, the community of Dilworth felt different. “When we came to Dilworth, we knew we had found a place we wanted to call home, so we bought a house and we visited Dilworth Lutheran Church.”

They immediately fell in the love with the church. “It was easy liking the church! Our core group of friends had children our age, our interests were the same and they were members here. What made it special for me were the Pastors. Their sermons, the interest and care in the members, the warmth we felt as we entered, made it easy to make Dilworth Lutheran Church our home church.”

Over the years, Perry has found Dilworth to be a great place to serve. “I was fortunate to help start the Men’s Pancake Club which brought many wonderful relationships through faith, fun and many blessings. I enjoy supporting all the Committees in our church—what a great place.”

Perry finds that using his gifts at Dilworth Lutheran has been a great blessing in his life. “By serving, I have found that in the giving I have also received. As I work for the church, I have also received many gifts of faith and friendship.”

And through Perry’s service, we have received many gifts. As St. Paul reminds us, we are all one body with many different gifts. Each one of us can serve the whole by doing our part. And through Perry’s music, talents, and pancakes, we have all been blessed.

Bonnie Miller is a spunky, fun-loving, devoted member of Dilworth Lutheran Church. She is married with two children and two grandchildren. A retired cardiac pacemaker nurse, she now loves singing in the choir, playing the French horn in the Red River Valley Veteran’s Band, and, most of all, taking care of her grandchildren.

As a child, Bonnie attended an Episcopal Church, but was more active in the Lutheran Church with their youth activities. “I loved being a part of both churches. It reminded me that while we may have differences, we are all one.”

When a job opportunity brought Bonnie and her husband Greg to the FM Area, they checked out many churches. “After we visited a lot of places, we loved the warm, welcoming feeling of Dilworth Lutheran Church. The Pastor was gentle and compassionate, and the sermons were what we needed to hear. The church made such a difference for our young family. We wanted to raise our children in a faith-based environment and Dilworth Lutheran provided it. And, as a bonus, they even had a choir!”

Through their time here, Bonnie and Greg have faced many trials. Along with her faith and family, the love and care from her Dilworth congregation has given her the strength to carry on to serve others as they have served her. “Dilworth has been a great church home. The messages continue to speak to me wherever I’m at and they help carry my faith outside of the church, to work and life. The longer we have been here, the more my faith grows. I find myself praying more and getting deeper into the Bible.”

The church continues to inspire and provide love and support to Bonnie. “What I love most is the way so many people get involved. People love this church, and they continue to inspire me to become more involved. There is something here for everyone.”