Uncategorized

Tanzania Mission Team 2026 – Week 1

July 13, 2026 by Nina Sveinson Leave a Comment

Greetings from Tanzania!

We arrived safely in Iringa town, our home base, after more than 36 hours of uneventful travel. Friday was spent catching up on some much-needed sleep and taking a walking tour of the Iringa town market.

Saturday was education day. We visited the University of Iringa, where we toured the campus and learned about Iringa Hope, an affiliate ministry that focuses on micro-loans for farmers.

Next, we were off to Ipalama Secondary School. A very long and rolling drive over beautiful landscapes, very similar to the road that leads to our village. When we arrived, we were greeted by the student body with singing and dancing. We learned about the school, the importance of education, and the hopes and dreams the students and staff have for the future.

On Sunday, we attended the English service at the cathedral in Iringa. The pastor that preached had recently returned from completing two years of studies at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. The message focused on the importance of everyone pulling together in this world towards Jesus. The service started almost 90 minutes late and was more than 75 minutes long.

Later that day, we climbed a couple of massive boulders overlooking the town of Iringa. The views were absolutely beautiful!

Today, we visited the Isimila archaeological site, where we saw handmade tools believed to be 200,000-300,000 years old. We also had some free time to do a little shopping in town.

Tomorrow we will learn about the ministries of the Iringa Diocese, visit Huruma Orphanage and spend time at Neema Crafts, a ministry for developmentally challenged adults. Then, on Wednesday, we will travel to our partner village.

Our days have been full and meaningful. God is showing us so much, and there is so much for us to learn about our brothers and sisters in Tanzania.

Communication will likely be limited once we are in the village due to the lack of technology in the African bush, but we will do our best to share another update next Monday.

Peace,

Team Tanzania 2026

Announcing Trail Church!

August 19, 2025 by Holly Welch

Sometimes the most meaningful spiritual moments happen far from sanctuaries and outside of church walls. Oftentimes I experience the Sacred on a shaded path, with the sound of leaves whispering overhead, the crunch of dirt beneath my boots, and the steady rhythm of conversation and silence shared in good company.

Trail Church is an invitation to journey together and experience the mini-miracles of nature as a community. From the glint of dew on a wildflower to the gentle call of a songbird, these small wonders can stir the soul and remind us of God’s presence in our everyday world. Walking side by side allows us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect not only with the beauty around us but with one another.

On Saturday, August 23 at 9:00 AM, you’re invited to join us for Trail Church at Lebanon Hills’ Jensen Lake Trailhead (1350 Carriage Hills Drive, Eagan, MN). We’ll begin with a short devotional, then walk an easy 45-minute trail at a casual, conversational pace. Along the way, there will be opportunities to reflect, connect, think, wonder, and engage one another in meaningful dialogue. After the hike, we’ll enjoy snacks and time for a bit more connection.

Trail Church is a POP-up ministry for everyone—families, children, friends, solo walkers, and people from all spiritual or religious backgrounds. Whether you’re seeking fresh air, fresh perspective, or simply a place to belong, you’ll find a warm welcome here. Come as you are, bring your curiosity, and expect to notice the sacred in the small things: a shaft of sunlight, the kindness of a companion, the quiet joy of moving together in harmony. Let’s walk. Let’s listen. Let’s discover the Holy that waits for us along the trail.

– Peace,

Pastor Rory Philstrom

Exciting Growth at Prince of Peace: A Conversation with Pastor Paul Dean & Kienan Mick

May 22, 2025 by Nina Sveinson

We had the opportunity to sit down with Pastor Paul Dean and Finance Director Kienan Mick to reflect on the incredible growth we’ve experienced over the past two years. They also shared a glimpse into the exciting opportunities and developments on the horizon for Prince of Peace.

2025 Capital Campaign Feasibility Study

January 8, 2025 by Nina Sveinson

As we begin the new year, we are excited to explore the possibility of launching a capital campaign to enhance and improve our building.

To ensure this campaign reflects the needs and priorities of our congregation, we are starting the process of gathering input from you. With the support of GSB Consultants, we are conducting a feasibility study to help us determine which projects are most meaningful and achievable for our church community, and we need your participation. This feasibility study aligns with our ongoing strategic planning process, both part of a broader effort to advance Prince of Peace.

The leadership team at Prince of Peace has identified several potential capital projects, which are outlined in the Capital Campaign Feasibility Study 2025 Prospectus document found below. These projects include essential updates to maintain our building, as well as initiatives designed to expand our reach and impact through ministry.

We invite you to review the prospectus and then share your feedback by completing the congregational survey. Your input will play a crucial role in helping us decide whether to move forward with a capital campaign and which projects we should prioritize. The survey will close on Sunday, January 26.

Additionally, on Sunday, January 26, one of our GSB Consultants will be at Prince of Peace to lead a listening session where we can hear directly from you about which projects you are most excited about and why. An invitation and RSVP email with the details will be sent in the coming week. All are welcome to attend.

We encourage you to share your feedback through the congregational survey and listening session to help shape the church’s future direction. Thank you for joining us in this important process as we seek God’s guidance for 2025 and beyond.

Please click the buttons below to access the documents for this project.

Prospectus: Capital Campaign Feasibility Study

Congregational Survey: Capital Campaign Feasibility Study

Strategic Plan: General Process Overview

December 12, 2024 by Nina Sveinson

Below is an outline of the process and timeline for our strategic planning initiative. This document is fluid but gives individuals an idea of the timeframe for this process.

Part 1: Formation and Listening (September and October, 2024)

Strategy Task Force is built.
Strategy calendar is built for guiding process.
Congregational survey is deployed, results collated and curated and shared with Strategy Team and other core stakeholders.
FaithX Neighborhood Insights Report is obtained and debrief held between the Strategy Team, GSB consultant and Mary Frances of FaithX.
Neighborhood Survey Teams are deployed to engage local neighbors and businesses.
Digital assessment of Prince of Peace’s digital presence made using EVOKE Engagement Experts with a report out of findings.

Part 2: Identity Reflection (November and December 2024)

Identity Advance is held (usually in-person, day-long retreat) to review and reground current (or build whole cloth new) mission, vision and values statements and to perform a congregational SWOTT or SOAR analysis with leaders. Strategic priorities will begin to emerge at this retreat as well.
Identity pieces – mission, vision and values – are built or revised as needed through several working group sessions.

Part 3: Strategy Design and Deployment (January and February 2025)

A Strategy Advance is held, and strategic priorities are identified as an outgrowth of the Listening work and the Identity work. Champions are identified to lead initiatives, and some basic team design and empowerment is begun.
Task Forces finish building their teams.
Strategic Initiative Teams take strategic initiatives, and then design goals for each initiative, and actions to support execution of the goals. All of these are married to timelines and accountable parties.

All of that work is curated into two documents:

A tracking spreadsheet that allows for easy updating of each task force’s work, for insight into progress and for accountability.
A forward-facing document that will be professionally designed that attractively communicates the identity pieces and the strategic planning pieces. The document will come in several formats for page display as attachment to digital communications, a bleed out version for professional printing and a version for internal printing and use.

Part 4: Execution (March 2025 and Beyond… )

Various communication strategies are used to communicate strategic initiatives to the congregation and larger community.
Task Forces begin to work at their particular initiatives.
Coaching Support meeting held with Nathan at month 4.
Coaching Support meeting held with Nathan at month 12.