AFLC Evangelism and Discipleship

06/07/2026

Are we coming to a church near you? We'd love to have you join us for an in-person conversation and prayer about God's call to share Christ with our neighbor. Contact us at [email protected] for more details about our church visits in June and July:

June 14 — Hope Lutheran in Enderlin, ND
June 28 — Abiding Savior in Sioux Falls, SD
July 5 — Peace Lutheran in St. Francis, KS
July 12 — Lutheran Church of Hope, Loveland, CO
July 19 — Faith Lutheran in Fairbury, NE and Abiding Word in Deshler, NE

06/04/2026

"I really enjoying the study manual. I like being able to look up all the different Bible verses, discussing their meanings and how they match up with so many other verses." —Charlotte H.

"The manual is good in the sense that it really facilitates two main things. First, it promotes a deeper learning into the subject matter discussed, especially when it’s directed by our pastor. Second, it is interactive learning within our group. I personally have enjoyed using the manual, especially with our group, and the extensive knowledge of Pastor in leading. The manual shows clearly what we are going to be looking at in preparation for that Sunday’s lesson. This has been good." —Hoagie C.

"I feel like I am going back through some things from confirmation which I probably didn't pay as much attention to at that age. I do love how it has emphasized grace, mercy, and love." —Karla M.

At both Rekindle the Fire and the 2026 AFLC Annual Conference, we are offering a sale on our Discipleship Manual! Get one or more copies for $7 each while supplies last.

06/03/2026

"Pastor Nelson encouraged us to be praying for our neighbors and co-workers. My husband and I invited three sets of neighbors over for a meal a few days after the seminar ended!" –Margie Lee

"It’s woefully easy in the course of the endless demands of parish ministry, to be almost entirely insular, focused inward upon the needs of the existing congregation—caring for the sheep who already belong to the flock. So I found it gratifying to be challenged, in a warm, gracious, firm but gentle way, to look outward and be thinking and praying intentionally about how our congregation (and each of us as individuals and families) can be involved in the commission to reach people who are outside of the Kingdom of Grace, and who need the light of Christ and the liberation that He alone can provide." —Pastor Dana Coyle

"For many congregations, and Alsace Lutheran is a good example, strong evangelistic efforts were once not needed to get people in the pews. They opened the door and people came in. Because of that there was often little interest in evangelistic efforts. The AFLC and other Christian denominations must be retaught how to reach people in the 21st century with the pure proclamation of the gospel. We can’t disciple those we can’t reach and the two things must go together. The history of the AFLC teaches us what can happen in a season of refreshing." —Pastor Terry Culler

Testimonials like these from participants in AFLC Evangelism & Discipleship's workshops remind us why this ministry is important and fruitful in our association. To partner in AED's mission to encourage, equip, and assist the congregations and pastors of the AFLC in making and equipping disciples who make and equip disciples, you can donate on their website:

aflc.org/evangelism/donate

06/01/2026

Rekindle the Fire 2026 is happening June 9, a week from tomorrow! Please register ASAP to make sure we have enough dinner for all our guests. 🙂 We're so excited to hear from Pastor Tom Parrish as he leads us in exploring this year's theme: "Loving Your Neighbor to Christ." Learn more and register on our website here:

https://www.aflc.org/evangelism/rtf2026/

05/21/2026

Rekindle the Fire is just a few weeks away! Please register by June 1 so we can have accurate numbers for our catered dinner. 🍽 Register at aflc.org/evangelism/rtf2026.

05/19/2026

Each month, we host an online prayer meeting—an opportunity call on our powerful God together, to share one another's burdens, to celebrate how He has been at work, to remember we're not alone in our struggles, and to be inspired by how other believers and congregations are serving their communities.

Anyone is invited to join us for this meeting! Just sign up for our emails here:

https://bit.ly/prayer-meeting-email-signup

05/17/2026

05/16/2026

Over the next several months, our director, Pastor Randy Nelson, will be traveling across the U.S. to visit, encourage, and share with AFLC congregations about God's invitation to join Him in His mission. If you're interested in attending or hosting a speaking event (e.g. Sunday school, sermon, workshop), reach out to your local AFLC church or to us at [email protected]. Pastor Randy would love to stop somewhere near you!

05/09/2026

"My wife and I have stumbled upon a wonderful way to spread the Gospel using Sports Cards. It all began with a simple gesture on Sunday mornings when we started giving packs of cards to the children sitting in front of us in church. Their parents always had plenty to keep them occupied, but as the sermon approached, the kids would get restless. One Sunday, I asked their mother if I could give them a pack of cards to look at before the sermon, and with her approval, the idea was born.

Initially, we only gave out sports cards, but as more children in the church showed interest, we decided to include what we now call our witness cards. These cards include a plan of Salvation, a prayer of Salvation card, a Bible Character card, and a card with a verse on one side and our organization's name on the other. Once we had developed these witness cards, we started including them in the packs. The concept is simple: we combine 12 sports cards with 3 witness cards to create a complete pack.

The reason is that if I were to offer you one of the witness cards on its own, you might accept it once, but if I offer you the same card on another day, chances are you will decline. However, when we wrap those three witness cards in a pack of twelve sports cards, people eagerly accept and even ask for a pack every time it's offered. For over a year now, we have been running this ministry. To date, we have given away over 117,000 sports cards, which translates into 8,868 packs, containing a total of 23,238 witness cards. Where these witness cards end up, I cannot say—God did not lead me to keep track of them, but only to distribute them.

Currently, we have twenty-two different organizations requesting and using the cards we produce. These organizations range from churches and community groups to homeschool organizations, rehab centers, and even private businesses. We've even received a request to provide packs for a couple of businesses to distribute at parades.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our journey. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to reach out at Sports Card Ministry, 612-619-0289, [email protected]."

—Tim Watts

05/09/2026