You have been asking me many times during the last few weeks (months?): How is it going at the South Campus? I have heard this question so often that I figured it is about time to start a regular “south corner” in our newsletter to keep all of you updated and informed about how it is going at the South Campus.

So how is it going?

I give you the same answer I have given many times before: It’s not going fast enough! And there you have a very good example of an excited pastor’s impatience. Yes, I am very excited about what I am doing. I just LOVE it! And yes, I am also not blessed with a lot of patience. I want a campus in South Lyon with people reaching out to the unchurched with all kinds of cool activities - of course with about 2000 people worshipping every week. And I want it NOW! ☺ I know very well that something like that can’t happen within the first four months. And the number 2000 may be completely out of reach. But …, who knows, …

But let’s start at the beginning. Our official “birth date” of the South Campus Ministry was November 4th, 2007 when we – All Saints Lutheran Church – voted to launch an additional campus to reach out to people without any church background. That was four months ago. Not a very long time, but to me it does seem long (impatience, remember?).

This is what’s been happening during these four months:

We got into contact with Holy Family and met some very nice people who will hopefully be involved in our new ministry as soon as we have a place and regular activities going on. On the 4th Sunday of Advent we had our first worship service in a basement which was a great experience. (Reminded me a little bit of the first Christians who came to the US. They didn’t have church buildings either. And pioneers: that’s what we are as well – sort of.)

I was surprised that we got 17 people together, what was a little more than we had at our Hartland Campus at the 7:00 p.m. worship service that day. (I know, the South and the North Campus are not supposed to be in competition with each other, but I must confess: it felt good.)

The bad news is that we are not worshiping on a regular basis yet. Hopefully this will change soon.

We have also been looking for ministry space from the very beginning. There was a horse farm involved, a nice property with Quonset huts - which looked really cool, and storefronts. The most recent locations we are looking at are the movie theater in downtown South Lyon, an Italian restaurant, and a Bistro. I am really curious what God has in store for us. I hope that we know more by the time you have this newsletter on your computer or in your hand.

Meanwhile the Big Questions in South Lyon got started: every first Wednesday of the month at the Gallery Café in downtown South Lyon. Although it has been a little frustrating for me because the first time I could not make it because I had the stomach flu. But God provided a substitute host and so the Big Questions did happen. The second time the weather was so bad that I could not make it down there (and neither could anybody else). Whatever: we will try again the first Wednesday in March!

We have also been busy getting into contact with community leaders in South Lyon to get connected with Active Faith, the South Lyon Herald (did you see the nice newspaper article on the bulletin board in the narthex?), the Chamber of Commerce, the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the city council of South Lyon. Again an opportunity to meet some very nice people.

From the very beginning people have been kicking around ideas about a name for our South Campus. Although there were some very good ones – especially from our youth – THE name was not among them, as you can see. The South Campus is still called South Campus. Once more your “south pastor” must prove patient and trust in the Holy Spirit that the right name will show up at the right time.

Actually, now as I see all this printed: there has been a lot going on in our South Campus Ministry! And this has only been possible because it is not only the south pastor laboring in this corner of God’s vineyard. Many people stood up and helped. Thank you for all the support and encouragement! I also want to thank the many of you who have offered their help. Be sure: we will need it!

Our most recent and most important task is to find ministry space. As I told you before, we are currently looking at some places in downtown South Lyon. The biggest challenge is to find something in a good location and something that we can afford. Please keep praying that we find the right place soon. And in this case the “soon” does not have to do with your south pastor’s impatience. The experience of mission developers shows that it is crucial to find a location soon. An additional campus needs an address. Our South Campus needs a place to be.

But I trust in the Holy Spirit that she will show us the way. We only need to keep our eyes open and we must not forget to listen to God’s voice in all of this.

Go South!

Pr. Pamela