{"id":15,"date":"2015-01-14T16:26:51","date_gmt":"2015-01-14T22:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aflc.org\/women\/?page_id=15"},"modified":"2026-05-28T14:45:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T19:45:42","slug":"presidents-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.aflc.org\/women\/presidents-page\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidents Page"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div>

WMF
\nPRESIDENT<\/p><\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

From President Karen Pederson<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Consider the Lilies<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Consider the lilies, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. Matthew 6: 28\"<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Praise the Lord, you mountains and all the hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds. Let them Praise the Name of the Lord. Psalm 148:9-10\"<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the fields be jubilant and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy, they will sing before the Lord. Psalm 96:11-13\"<\/em><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
God's creation is singing praise to the Creator as the grass turns green and buds on trees coming into bloom, in the colorful flowers bursting forth and the baby animals jumping for joy. Everything seems to come alive in the spring when the sun warms us up and the land.<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
I just finished May's Bible study on I Believe God is my Creator. We started with what we believe in the Apostles Creed when we state; \"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth and we got to be reminded of Luther's Catechism stating that; I believe that God has created me and all that exists,\" plus reviewing from Psalm 139 how much God, the omniscient, all knowing God, knows me from being formed to knowing all my days and knowing all I do. Oh how known and cared for I am by my God, even on my sad and bad days, nothing happens to me that He doesn't already know and has promised to be there with me!!!<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Our study group was struck by being reminded that God knows the sad or bad things that come our way. We also read Joyce's continued teaching in the back: teaching us that if I feel lonely, I'm not believing that God is with me or ever have days that seem pointless, then I can cling to Ephesians 2:10, which tells us that God created me in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. The lesson was such a good reminder through Scripture of the God I believe in and if my thoughts go wrong, we pray, \"Help my unbelief!\" Thanks, Joyce Erickson, for the lessons.<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
This WMF E-News has Constitutional information and Bylaws<\/a> changes that our 2nd Vice President Liz McCarlson has diligently worked to compile.  We are so grateful for Liz's detailed work for the national WMF. Find the changes and updates to our document HERE<\/strong><\/a>.  These changes will be addressed at our National WMF Day during the business meeting on June 10, held at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. <\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Be sure to register for WMF Day, for the WMF luncheon and on Thursday the 11th for our WMF Mission Breakfast.  We're looking forward to seeing you there as we enjoy being under the teaching of God's Word and fellowshipping together.  Another special thanks to Linda Fugleberg, our Communications Secretary, who has organized all our events, speakers and people for our special WMF Day. The day wouldn't go as smoothly as it does without our Linda!<\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Register for WMF on the AFLC conference page<\/a><\/strong> by May 31. We hope to see you there!<\/div>\n

 <\/p><\/div>

The Purpose of a Bible College Education<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

This WMF E-News edition features our Free Lutheran Bible College which has been part of our church body for over 60 years!! When I look over our WMF board members from the past 60 years, most of them are graduates of AFLBS now named Free Lutheran Bible College.  Our 1<\/span>st<\/span> Vice President, Jenna Lee, is a 2005 graduate and shares in this edition about her time at AFLBS. When I look at my church, I see graduates teaching Sunday School, teaching preschool, serving as deacons, trustees, leading music in the service and serving in the kitchen. When I’ve been at the Annual Conference, many members of our various boards are graduates and many of the pastors I see serving churches are graduates of our schools. The Lord has answered our founders’ prayers to bring students to our Bible School and to become our servant pastors! <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

When I was asked at a high school reunion about my degree being used, I said my first degree from the Bible College isn’t making me money but it’s being used every day as I parent, use the Scripture I’ve learned daily to remember and share with others in my Sunday School Class and Bible Studies and just living for Jesus. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

In this edition of our WMF E-News we’re going to hear from two FLBC students, Moriah Coyle and JoJo <\/span>Rieschl, and see life at our FLBC in photos. <\/span>This edition also has an article from Schierkolk’s in serving in Jerez Mexico with photos and maybe a hint for our quilters!<\/span><\/p>\n

How’s your WMF Bible study doing? In March we looked at my Abba, daddy Father God and how good He is, how much He loves me and as a loving Father disciplines me. I peeked at April since it’s a part two and saw summing the study up was the hymn, “Children of the Heavenly Father”: <\/span>Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh, His the loving purpose solely to preserve then pure and holy<\/span><\/i>.  What a perfect, good Father we have! Enjoy completing the study with fellow ladies of the WMF.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

When you’re reading this, I’m wondering if there’s a spring WMF Rally in your area to join in fellowship and sit like Mary, learning from God’s Word? <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Also, in this WMF E-News edition there will be information on registering for our National WMF Day during the Annual Conference which will be held in Moorhead MN.  Our WMF Board has a full day of singing, learning, listening, praying and time for catching up with missionary news and visiting with friends from around the country! Plus, the WMF Mission breakfast will feature Shelby Greven, who has spent time in Brazil. Join us also for Thursday’s Mission Festival Service. If I don’t see you at a spring rally, I hope to see you at National WMF Day June 10!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/div>

A Song of Praise<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

The new year reminds me of the New Song of Praise<\/strong> that God puts in my mouth! I so enjoy and am blessed by the photo verses Jenn Thorson, our Executive Secretary, posts on Instagram and Facebook. Be sure to find and like them so you can keep getting them each day and share them so others can see and be blessed and challenged by them!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The January Bible Study, I Believe: What is Saving Faith was so clear. Jesus is saying, I Am <\/span>The <\/span>Way <\/span>The <\/span>Truth and <\/span>The<\/span> Life no one comes to the Father but through ME.  The Way, not a way,<\/em> as is said out in the world. Joyce's lesson showed it clearly and challenged me in how I can explain it in my conversations.  I am looking forward to studying February's lesson, addressing the struggle with belief. If you haven’t ordered the book yet, you can start anytime! Order HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This WMF E-News edition we have an article from Jill Toms from Glyndon, MN, who is taking her four teenagers on the Journey Missions trip to Brazil in February.  She said the trip is about inviting them into what God is already doing around the world and helping them understand that they have place in His greater story. Read her article HERE<\/a><\/strong>. While you are reading this, they are likely experiencing missions with our missionaries in Brazil!<\/span><\/p>\n

Spring District Rallies are being planned, and we would love to know about yours so we can share it.<\/span>  If you would like to use any board member to help you plan or speak, contact us. We would love to come share the vision of WMF with your area women's group.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our National WMF wants to make you aware of our missionaries that we financially support and pray for:<\/span><\/p>\n