Kathy Weckwerth

Everyday Encouragement

Frank Lake Church in the Grove

The Wedding

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There is a hot spring breeze blowing through the big trees outside the living room.  As I look past the tops of those trees, I see my beloved little 1900’s church steeple and think about yesterday.  It was a milestone for us both.

Since I was a little four-year-old sitting next to Daddy in the church pew, I wanted only two things:  1) to be a pastor, and 2) to play the piano for church like the woman piano player at our Baptist church did each week, who sported the big beehive hairdo.

As the years of my life flew by, I started playing piano for church at age 12.  At age 14, I started teaching the children’s Bible study on Wednesday nights.  From there, I grew up and moved into a grown up job as a Director of Worship & Creative Arts.

One summer Sunday, my pastors were both gone and left me in charge to preach.  It was that day that I felt an inner peace and comfort for opening scripture and using my gifts, my stories, and Christ’s life to tie the lesson together and deliver to my congregation.

Time went by and I continued my worship leading, but eventually God stretched me and used me, delivering exactly what I needed, when I needed it.  I became a motivational speaker, founding and leading a ministry, and now have church services once a month at the little church that Dean and I moved to our grove five years ago.  I have a radio show, have written four books, and continue to push past the limits I put up for myself, and my denomination put up around me, when I was four.

Since I was 14, I have played the piano and sung for weddings.  I finally lost track about 10 years of the weddings I had been a part of, but while working in Elk River, my pastor Greg, was prolific at delivering messages for beautiful weddings.  I set out to become like him.

Although Frank Lake Covenant, now called The Church in the Grove, has housed three weddings, this fourth wedding was different because I was able to officiate the wedding at the little church.

The day was sunny and bright with a gentle breeze that waved the branches of the trees as though they were in awe of the celebration.  The bride and groom were so excited and their family filled the pews of the sweet old church.

Little children shouted and ran through the aisles, while dear old grandmas looked around at the surroundings and remembered their own childhood.

Friends came from near and far and laughter poured out of the windows and walls.

And when it came time for the welcome, message, vows, and final proclamation, I remembered my promise to my daddy, my old pastor, and myself.  I would honor them all, and above all honor God with the message He’s given me … to love others and be a light in the dark world.

It was an honor and a privilege to partner with my sweet building that currently hosts a picture on its wall of Luverne and Emma Sands, married at the little church in 1913.

Yesterday was a good day for the little church, the newlyweds … and for me … well, I just have one thing to say that I know would be important to the person who made the biggest difference in my life, my father.  Daddy … I did it.

Keeping Your Foothold On Shaky Ground

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I remember four years ago when our little 1900’s church was moved to the south grove at our farm.  It was a time of great excitement, deep joy, and happy anticipation.

As a few trees were cleared, grounds were measured, cement blocks were put into place and we awaited the arrival of the beautiful old building.

The land was flat and empty towards the main road, and nothing seemed to grow there.  Farmer Dean planted trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers to no avail.  Nothing worked for him.  Nothing would grow.

I often wondered why it was this way.  Dean explained to me that in the late 1800s  early 1900s, a family owned a big old house there.  (Where in the world did it go because I think I would have loved it!).  Apparently farmers push down buildings, barns, and outbuildings when they don’t have a need for them, or when they would rather have land for crops, or when the buildings are in disrepair.

Because of the old rubble everywhere, Dean didn’t think anything was taking root in the ground. He told me, “Where nothing would grow, we’ll plant a church.”  And so we did.

The trek from rural Murdock, MN took approximately 6.5 hours and was filled with a few mild scares, but nothing detrimental.  We followed along in our van behind the church for awhile, and then set out for home to prepare for the arrival.

Once the church arrived and was placed on its new foundation, we had a couple of months to wait until we could get the ground pushed back around the building and get some steps in at the front of the building.  Everything moved pretty slowly for me.

During this time, HGTV’s show, “Massive Moves” out of Canada had been following us (along with Jason Davis On the Road and PBS’ Postcards).  Two kind gents from England, full of life, laughter, and awesome accents were by our side for approximately three weeks straight.  We lived, ate, and breathed the preparation for the move, the going away service, and then the actual move.

These young camera men and producers returned from England six weeks later to film again.  Dean always fretted because we didn’t have much time to work on any of our restoration process, but nevertheless, they arrived and needed to finish their show.

As Dean and the crew climbed up an old rickety ladder into the back door of the church, I found out something about myself I didn’t know.  I was scared.  They kept saying, “Come on, let’s go.”  Impatient as the three of them were, it did nothing to encourage me along.

After a few steps up on the ladder rungs, I felt the ladder shimmying back and forth.  I was on shaky ground.  Not on ground at all, and I felt unsafe.

They kept shouting to hurry up.  I kept looking down, then up, and then I stopped.  I couldn’t be in the middle.  I had to have a safe foothold somewhere and it wasn’t on the ladder.

With each step, I shook … literally.

When I finally pressed on and made it into the church, I determined to live there until the steps arrived.  I could sleep in the pews, right?

But, alas, I had to return back down to the ground and on the shaky ladder I climbed and made it back down with the pressuring and cheering of the men.

This story reminds me of life lately.  The pressures of our peers.  The statements of the press.  The thrashing of the political arena.  None have felt safe.  No mere words that men or women spout off make me feel like I’ve landed on steady ground.

And just like being on the wobbly ladder, I remembered something:  I cannot trust the world, just as I couldn’t trust an old rickety ladder.  I cannot trust the words of mere mortals, their feelings and emotions, or their bending of truth.

“Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5

Instead, there is only One Source for solid ground.  God the Father.  God the Son.  God the Holy Spirit.

I will declare they are my firm foundation.  And right now, I’m tired of standing on a ladder and feeling wobbly.

[callout]Thank you, God, for being a solid foundation.  I’ll stand before you thanking and praising.[/callout]

“My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.”  Psalm 26:12

The Church for $1.00

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John 10:10b “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

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It was over one year ago that I sipped my iced tea and nestled into the big green chair. I had just finished a week-long fast and a time of diligent prayer to seek God for the future of our ministry, Best Life.

My friend, Kathleen Sogge, had called me so excited about the Bible verse that God had shared with her for Best Life….only it was the same scripture that He had given me weeks before, but in a different translation. She didn’t know that.

I had read it and questioned God by saying, “What does this mean? What does this have to do with Best Life Ministries?” I re-read it out loud, [callout]Isaiah 58:12 “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; You will be called Repairer of broken walls and Restorer of streets with dwellings.”[/callout]

For a few months before that day, God had been pressing into my spirit that it was time for a headquarters for the ministry. The Spirit had prompted me to drive the highway outside of our home and pray for revival…for the hearts of women to be drawn to Bible Study and deeper relationship with Christ. I didn’t question God, but continued to pray as I would drive. But where would we meet?

My husband, Farmer Dean, and I began our search. Throughout our small hometown of Benson we looked and found nothing. We went to the neighboring towns and couldn’t afford anything. And I knew this one thing for sure: I was to pray for an entry way, a room large enough for women to sit and listen to teaching, and an office. I was to remain faithful. I continued my prayer.

Dean and I met with the town board that owned the old schoolhouse across the road from us, but when we got into the building, I felt God tell me “No, My vision is too big for the building.”

Over the next couple of weeks, two of our farmer-grandpa-neighbors called us. They felt God prompting them that we were to look for an old church. What!? Where could we possibly find an old church? Dean and I talked about it at 8:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night while driving home from town. Where was there an old church? How could we ever afford it?

At 8:30 on Wednesday morning, 12 hours later, my husband called me from town. He was elated….and somewhat in shock. “You’ll never believe what’s on the cover of the paper today!” “What?” I asked. “A church from 1900, for sale on Craigslist,” he answered. “How much?” I asked. “$1.00,” he exclaimed. “WHAT!!!” I shouted.

I threw on my sandals, jumped in my car and drove like the wind to get there. If it was like many of the old churches that I had loved throughout the years, it would be tiny and have the sanctuary part, but that would be it. After all, pastors from the early 1900’s would study at their home libraries.

I’ll never forget it as long as I’m alive. The day was bright and sunny, the sky a rich blue with beautiful painted white fluffy clouds streaked across the skyline where the steeple stood, high above the old church. I stopped. I waited. I looked up at God and said, “You are amazing.” Some little birds called back and forth, while the breeze swept my hair across my face. I pulled open the big white doors and stepped inside the entry way.

The rich aromas of years gone by filled my nostrils. I took in a deep breath and looked at the tall ceiling with the ornate tin, glanced across the sanctuary at the old oak pews, the piano, the organ and the colored glass windows.

Next, I stepped to the side of the sanctuary in an extra area that could be my office, and I said to God, “This is it. I’m home.” I remember telling the kind man that was showing me the church, “I want it. When do you want your dollar?”

I didn’t even stop to think about the cost of moving it; the details of anything….I just knew…it was God’s hand moving.

[callout]There are times in life when we’re on what I like to call “The Moving Sidewalk Syndrome.” God has you in one of those places where you can’t stop, you can’t get off, and you just ride the ride. This was it now! [/callout]

When Farmer Dean arrived later that afternoon, he looked at me and said, “Oh, my goodness, Kathy….this is exactly what you prayed for!” But, you know the real truth? This was bigger and better than anything I could have ever imagined!

As we walked out the front doors and turned to look at this big beautiful church, I looked down at the large gray stones that were holding it up. They were the church’s original foundation. Those rocks were laid in 1900 and had stood the years of time. And God gently, ever so quietly, brought back to my memory the verse…. “….your people will raise up the age-old foundations.”

At the end of this month, my people are raising up the church and it will be moved the twenty-one miles to our grove, where it will continue to serve in ministry, after sitting empty for the past 32 years.

For God’s timing….we are elated. That a church would sit empty for 32 years, and God would prompt me to look for a headquarters, and would prompt the board to sell the church for $1.00 at this time, plus prompt two sweet neighbors to call us, without knowing what the other suggested, and to have it be better than anything we ever hoped or dreamed….is our God. The Great I Am. The Great and Mighty, Everlasting God.

Recreated, Reshaped, Restored

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P1000128Repurposing is something that today’s society promotes and applauds.  Every time I turn around, friends of mine are reconnecting with items from long ago, and repainting, recreating, reshaping, and repurposing them for a new use … a new life. 

Such is the life of Frank Lake Covenant Church in the Grove.  It has been moved and repurposed for a new life … a new use. 

The challenge for Farmer Dean and me has been to make things fit.  Days of old brings the challenges of no storage, no closets, and thinking minimalistic.  The congregation didn’t have to think about storing lots of books and Bibles, or stacking tons of dishes and kitchen gizmos, or even having closets that could hide the communion trays and cups. 

Instead, Frank Lake stands ready to welcome you, with a very “innocent” feel … just the bare necessities.  And although I love that, it can make it a bit challenging to find a place to store the big coffee pot and the small one.   Or where to put all of the cups or extra paper towels is continually a mystery to my mind. 

On this cold Monday night, as the wind is whipping outside the windows and the light from the parking lot is dimly shining off of the table, I sat and drank my yummy flavored coffee out of one of those “where do I store this?” cups, and began to dream and plan, to recreate, reshape, and repurpose what was in front of me. 

When we bought Frank Lake Church it had a sweet little cupboard in the corner.  It wasn’t my favorite wood or color, but it served the purpose of storage.  But what I really needed was a nice island that would host the coffee and morning treats for Bible Study.  I told Deano I needed the top and bottom of this cupboard to be separated and reconstructed.   It was time to get my favorite painter (my hubby, Farmer Dean) over to get to work.  Farmer Dean arrived with all of his painting paraphernalia and began to make the very old piece transform before my eyes, so that it looked so much better.  My favorite shade of brown red was soon covering the tired little cupboard and matching perfectly to the old tiles on the floors of the church that are of the same coloring.  Hurrah! 

The cupboard is now sitting, boldly facing the table where my Bible study ladies read, share, and learn about God’s love for us, and how to live this life with Jesus by our side.  

After we’re done with our study, the cupboard serves as the host for delectable treats and piping hot coffee, that always seems to soothe our tired souls on these dreary winter days. 

Along with this cupboard, we have repurposed an old table and chairs purchased at the thrift store for $129.00 for the 7 piece set, some old rugs with frayed edges from a grandma that had them in the 1940’s, a corner cupboard that stores our Bibles, an old desk that is from 1945, many old doors taken out of old houses, and a lovely old sink and tin cabinet from early 1900’s that is currently holding its proud place amongst the 1950’s stove that we’re planning on using to bake up a lovely egg dish some cold March morning. 

Repurposing.  It’s a funny sounding word isn’t it?  And yet, many words that have “re” serving as a prefix for that word mean “to do over, to do again.” 

We’re taking something that once was, something that served somehow, somewhere on Planet Earth, and we’re reinvesting it to use in the immediate here and now of today. 

[callout]God is like that.  He is a Restorer.  He is a Redeemer.  God is the Ultimate Repurposer.  He takes what we once were, in all of our sin and sadness, our worn out colors and frayed edges, and He comes in and covers us with the blood of His Son, Jesus, with a fresh coat of Christ-paint, and He changes us.[/callout]  He transforms us.   We are renewed, refreshed, restored.  We are reborn.  We are made new.  

Things are looking better as the weeks are passing by.  They’re coming together one piece, one paint brush stroke at a time.  And as Farmer Dean is restoring and repurposing, I continue to be amazed at how God’s mercies are new every day.  God’s purpose for us is to change us, grow us, and use us for His glory … the Original Repurposing. 

Praise God!

About Kathy

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[styled_image size=”medium” align=”left” link=”#” icon=”zoom” lightbox=”no” alt=”Welcome to Kathy Weckwerth’s site”]https://kathyweckwerth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/speaker.jpg[/styled_image]Kathy is the Founder & Executive Director of Best Life Ministries, an author, a speaker, and a worship leader. Her passion is to encourage women everywhere that in their day-in-day-out world, God meets them and loves them.

Why Contact Kathy Weckwerth to speak or lead worship at your event? After a violent attack on Kathy’s middle daughter, she took a step back and evaluated her life. No longer did it seem her calling was only to lead worship on Sundays, but instead she asked God for help to pursue something that would redirect, uplift, and encourage the hearts of women everywhere so that they would have a deeper love for God, a stronger desire to be their best, and a journey that allowed them to embrace freedom in Christ.

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Kathy’s Blog

Read encouraging thoughts about the everyday life in the grove, with Kathy, her family, her staff and her church, as she learns Life-Lessons.

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About Kathy

Claim the life promised in John 10:10b: “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

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Book Kathy

With a heart for today’s women, and a love for encouraging, Kathy delivers inspiration to help women in their everyday walk.

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[quote cite=”Pastor Ralph Gustafson, Vice President Constituent Relations, Bethel University”]“Kathy created and leads a ministry for women known as Best Life. She is a woman of integrity, humility, creativity, and Christ-like character. I highly recommend her and encourage you to consider using her to minister to the women of your church and community.”
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