By Naomi Meints ’25 from an interview with Pastor Greg Isaacson

I recently interviewed Pastor Greg Isaacson of Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, Minnesota, about his current congregation and their involvement with the Nourishing Vocation Project. We reflected the ways the Vocare concepts have helped congregants focus on what vocation means to them, as well as values like outreach and collaboration. We particularly talked about the unique collaboration between Trinity Lutheran and other churches in the area, and what that says about understanding and working towards a common goal. 

Many churches have had to adapt to different issues that come with running a church in the modern day, especially for rural churches. We discussed the problems one has to work through in ministry at the moment, like how to discuss important issues across congregations, how to attract young congregants, and adapting to digital ministry post-pandemic. Trinity Lutheran is a smaller, more rural church that has recently joined with other churches in the area to share resources and build each other’s congregations up. This includes other Lutheran churches as well as churches of different denominations, including local Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Pastor Greg detailed the ups and downs of collaborating with other churches. In addition to helping each other by sharing leadership and ministry resources, some of the collaborative projects include creating choirs and handbell groups, among other ways to support each other in performances and worship. 

The coalition of churches have also helped each other support community outreach.

They have also held large events that help people come together in personal ways. For example, Pastor Greg mentioned a discernment retreat that was quite impactful for the spiritual renewal of participants. Another event that I found personally inspirational was a mass baptism that happened in the area. There was an open call that invited all people of different backgrounds who wanted to be baptized to a local beach. Eighteen people were baptized that day, and Pastor Greg talked about the event with much joy, as a successful way the community came together in faith. The coalition of churches have also helped each other support community outreach. Pastor Greg shared many examples of how they engaged with the community outside of the churches, including coming together to raise resources for and volunteer with local homeless shelters.

When talking about working with other churches, Pastor Greg said “We found other ways that we could share resources. And it happened pretty organically, it wasn’t forced. It just kind of happened. And if we have any issues we have this idea that, as long as you come to the table, we can talk about anything and work to resolve any concerns we have.” 

We found other ways that we could share resources. And it happened pretty organically, it wasn’t forced. It just kind of happened. And if we have any issues we have this idea that, as long as you come to the table, we can talk about anything and work to resolve any concerns we have.

Pastor Greg Isaacson

The congregation has also had time to discuss things deeply with each other and reflect on identity. Pastor Greg emphasized the ways that the Vocare resources have helped his congregation dig deep and understand their own values, and really focus on what vocation means. On vocation, he said: “I think it opened up conversations to talk about faith in everyday practice. I think it really brought to their attention the ways that faith informs how they run their business, or how they do the work that they’re called to do, or how they perform those different relationships they have, you know, like mother, father, employer, those kinds of things. And so the resources allowed them to kind of touch deeper into that. I do think that some people think of church and faith as just a Sunday morning thing, and I think Vocare empowered them to think of it as more of an everyday thing, and take that Sunday into your week and actually practice it, or find ways to practice it. I think that was, for the people here, a unique way to look at it.”

I loved hearing from Pastor Greg about his own congregation and how they have collaborated with others. We reflected on what vocation means to them, and what someone’s vocation means when we discuss outreach and understanding. The unique collaboration allowed us to discuss the modern challenges and triumphs of leading a church in the present day. If you’re curious to hear more about this church and other thriving congregations, sign up for the 2024 Conference for Worship, Theology, and the Arts: Nourishing Vocation happening at St. Olaf College July 29-31!