Minn: Pentecostal congregation, pastors go on boat ride
By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher
There’s hardly a day that goes by without deacons at Spiritual Life Church, gathering and exalting God for His unending love for mankind, and offering prayers for world leaders, nations as well as church growth.
But on Monday (Labor Day), there was neither singing nor dancing for the tongue-speaking congregation on the church’s premises. Rather, congregants assembled in Wayzata, west of Minneapolis, for a different type of fellowship-a luncheon cruise on board the Al & Alma’s.
At noon, Minnesota time, close to 50 members of SLC who had pre-registered for the sail weeks ahead, set off on Lake Minnetonka-the biggest lake within the Twin Cities Metro area-for a three-hour boat ride.
Minnesota itself boasts of some 10,000 lakes. Lake Minnetonka, which means “big lake” in the Dakota Language, ranks as the ninth largest in the state, according to kmfiswriting.com.
The Al & Alma’s crew members were quite accommodating throughout the ride that lasted about three hours to and fro. Riders were treated to beautiful music, delicious cuisines, backed by appetizers and desserts without a restriction.
A friendly and energetic female crew member, dressed in the form of a cheering squad leader, was often spotted running back and forth aboard the two-storey boat while serving both meals and soft drinks. SLC Deacon John later joined in to help.
Charges for riders were quite reasonable, considering the meals and good time spent over the water. In all, couples were probably the ones who got the best of the deal for such a big national holiday as Memorial Day.
Cruising began from Wayzata’s Brew Works off Lake Street and extended as far as the shores of Excelsior, another boating community here but also historical in itself and known to be the final resting place for many U.S. soldiers that died in World War I & II, plus other foreign wars.
During the sail, riders had the opportunity to view beautiful sceneries along the banks of the lake including tiny islands-some inhabited only by birds, turtles and other animals.
Along the riverbanks, riders also saw mansions of all architectural designs and sizes-some owned by Minnesota’s richest families. This was a great chance for many, especially for the average person who can’t get there on foot, or by car.
A huge gray-like mansion owned by a millionaire, sitting on several acres of land at the mouth of the lake came into view: it’s on sale for about US $15m to $16m, said the boat captain.
Almost opposite it across Lake Minnetonka, is another mansion, linked to the beach via an underground turner, and pricier than the first.
Spiritual Life Church is perhaps one of few churches in the state known for organizing this type of leisure event for members which is meant to keep them rejuvenated and avoid burn-out.
For instance, prior to the COVID epidemic, the bulk of the church’s congregation flew into Florida, then got on a cruise for Rome, Italy, where they visited Christian historical sites before heading back to the United States.
In the US itself, the church organizes annual tours, including a cranberry festival in Wisconsin, for the members and their families.
In 2018, SLC founders Dr. Judy and Dr. Joseph Fornara took some congregants on a long bus ride to Branson, Missouri, where they spent a weekend at one of the city’s best hotels, dining and watching a debuted Christian movie on the crossing of the Red Sea.
On their way to Branson, they stopped over for a night at Independence, Missouri, toured the giant President Harry Truman’s National Library. They also visited the early home of the Trumans, located across the street from the Truman Library.
The following year, they again traveled to Williamstown, Kentucky and toured the replica of Noah’s Ark, an event characterized by oral narrations of the history behind the Ark based on Biblical accounts.
Last year, the two theological professors and senior pastors again led their members on a tour of old military forts and sites of some of America’s past bloodiest battles during the civil wars such as Valley Forge and Gettysburg, both in Pennsylvania.
As riders stepped off the boat Monday, a female congregant of SLC who now lives out of state but joined the ride, thanked Dr. Judy and Dr. Joe for arranging this event.
“That’s why I love Spiritual Life Church because you people are always looking for ways to keep us happy,” said the woman who had been ordained chaplain a few years ago by CLMO (a Christian branch of SLC), before she moved out of state.
Editor’s Note: All photographs by editor, publisher; Follow us on Facebook & Twitter @GlobalEkklesia1