Page 13 - Glory & Grace Issue 12: Witnesses

PAGE 13
ministries that endure
In 2024, KOG will celebrate 40 years of ministry. As things in the church and in the world change, some ministries continue on, even outliving the people who started them. As 2 Timothy 1:5 reminds us, the faith that lived first in our ancestors, now lives in us. Here are some saints whose witness continues in our congregation’s life together.
Baptismal Gifts:
Faith Chest Construction
More than 20 years ago, a former KOG Youth Director (Heather Oberdeck Kistner) started the practice of gifting a handmade, wooden Faith Chest to each person at their Baptism. Max was one of the first builders of these “made with love” projects.
Donald “Max” Maxwell (1951-2020)
The Learning Life: Construction
Using some of the gifted pews for the new worship space in 1986, Don constructed two movable teaching lecterns to be used wherever they helped to facilitate learning. We still use these podiums today! One is in the Fireside Room and the other is in the Music Rehearsal Room. Don also designed the Faith Chests (and built some of the first ones) described above.
Don Bjertness (1931-2015)
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Pop Tab collection site
After Cheryl’s granddaughter (Maci-Lynn) swallowed a button battery during a family vacation to Rapid City, their family was served by a Ronald McDonald House. In appreciation of this housing and with thanks to God for Maci’s healing, Cheryl and her granddaughters invited KOG to begin collecting Pop Tabs to benefit RMHC. We still collect and donate Pop Tabs today!
Cheryl Jones (1957-2021)