John Louk

Salem has faced some major issues. The Flood of 2008 was the worst disaster in Iowa's history and one of the ten worst in the nation. Our buildings, gathering space, furnishings, equipment, and base of operations were destroyed. The church office was also destroyed, including all the data, information, history, and filing therein. The staff changed radically with a new pastor and no associate pastor, discipleship director, or contemporary music director. The chaos interrupted many of the ongoing congregational ministries. The flood directly compromised many in our congregation. The flood displaced the Walk to Emmaus community after 133 walks at the Salem site. It has been a difficult, stressful year. But God is good! We created a timeline to help us remember what has happened during the past year and celebrate what has been accomplished. Many things have changed. But we are still the people of God, participating in God's mission to the world. Exciting things have happened and ...

On Monday, July 20, we signed the paperwork for the voluntary “buyout” in Cedar Rapids. Our Leadership Board decided to do this as the deadline was upon us and we needed to sign the paperwork if we ever wanted to be considered for the buyout. Salem is eligible for the voluntary property acquisition program ("buyout") as the Salem properties downtown are located within a flood-impacted neighborhood and our properties are determined to be "beyond reasonable repair," which is defined as a rehabilitation cost that exceeds 60% of the pre-flood assessed value of the property. We are able to back out of the buyout at any time up until closing. If we participate in the buyout, we will first need the approval of the district building and location committee, the approval of the Bishop and Cabinet, and the approval of our congregation (charge conference). If we participate in the buyout, it could take a year or longer to close on our downtown properties. The money is available...

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 NRSV Because we have been sharing space, thanks to the great kindness of our Kenwood Park UMC brothers and sisters, we have been assembling for one worship service on Sunday mornings. I have heard from a few people that, for them, our one service is either too traditional or it is too contemporary (yes, I have heard both!). Furthermore, the comments generally refer to the songs we sing or the style of the music. Perhaps it would be helpful to share my approach to worship. This is part of the doctoral dissertation I am working on, so I have done quite a bit of research in this area. A big question for me is, How did the ancient church worship? “Walking backwards into the future,” means looking to the early church as we move forward in the twenty-first century. About the middle of the second century, Justin Martyr wrote in his First Apology a description of the normal Su...

“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1 NRSV I said last month that we intended to step out in faith and try to buy a home even though our house in Des Moines has not sold and it would take about 45% of my income to pay for two homes. On June 13, the one-year anniversary of the flood crest, we moved to a home in Cedar Rapids. We moved not knowing whether we would qualify for another mortgage. Originally, it looked like we would be approved. We found out, however, that the debt-to-income ratio for two homes might be too much. My wife has a friend in Des Moines whose sister lived in Cedar Rapids (right across the street from the schools our kids attend). Her family bought an acreage outside of the city. They were getting ready to move there this summer. We visited them and discovered their home in Cedar Rapids was a great fit for our family. We told them we wanted to buy it, but we did not know if we would qualify for another loan. Furthermore, ...

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” Jeremiah 32:15 NRSV The prophet Jeremiah was in jail in a city under siege. The enemy army was invading Jerusalem. The end was in sight. Most of the people would be carried off into exile in Babylon. The nation had no future. The land had no value. There was no hope. At that moment Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel, came to Jeremiah in jail. He wanted Jeremiah to buy his field. The field was in Anathoth, a few miles outside of Jerusalem, where it had most likely already been overtaken. No wonder he wanted to sell it! What a bad investment. In the face of invasion buying land was foolish. But the Lord directed Jeremiah to buy his cousin’s field. It was an act that showed great hope in God for the future. That future hope, though, was made tangible in the present moment. Jeremiah bought land. I have been thinking about this story. Our home in Des Moines still has not sold. ...

This Sunday we will worship for the first time in our next temporary location, the Kenwood Park United Methodist Church. It is located at 175 34th St NE in Cedar Rapids. It's just a block south of where we've been for the last eight months. Also, we will gather for worship at a new time and in one service (instead of two). Beginning this Sunday we will worship at 9:30 am with children's and youth discipleship classes from 10:40 - 11:30 am. For more information you can check out Salem's blog here .

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NRSV We are moving to our third location in the last ten months since the flood destroyed our building downtown. We are very grateful for the hospitality we have received from the congregations of Lovely Lane and Echo Hill and now from Kenwood Park. For many of us it has been difficult losing our home. A United Methodist congregation without a building feels naked! Still, this time is a gift from God. Moreover, it is a gift that very few congregations receive. We get to begin again. In so doing we have the opportunity to think about what it truly means for us to be the Church. Here are some things to consider. Our 2008 Book of Discipline defines the local church: “The local church provides the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs. It is a community of true believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is the redemptive fellowship in which the Word of God is pr...