Stories

Stories from God’s Harvest: Dave Hugare

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers into His harvest field” (Luke 10:2).

We have been praying Luke 10:2 every day, asking the Lord of the Harvest for more workers. And God is answering those prayers by calling women and men into ministry.

Dave Hugare is the Lead Pastor of Lakeview Covenant Church in Duluth, MN, and he helps lead the regular meeting of Covenant pastors in the Twin Ports. He wanted to find a practical way for the churches to work together for church planting.

Dave said, “I asked the Lake Superior District churches for us all to pitch in money every year to get church planting going here—not only in Duluth and Superior but even in other areas in the Northland and in the arrowhead. I told them if they have any questions, they can ask me or the Conference. I will follow up with everyone and keep the ball rolling. The response was very positive.”

When churches give financially to church planting, it creates ownership and expectation. Starting new churches is part of reaching the “Judea and Samaria” of the Great Commission (Acts 1:8) and is the responsibility of every believer and church. Expectation is grown when practical steps are taken—like giving to a shared church planting fund. Prayer grows, potential planters are identified and believers begin to see the lost people all around them who need the hope of Jesus.

Just like global missions, every church is invited to be part of church planting. A church can be big, small, rural, urban, suburban or even a network of house churches. We are thankful for Pastor Dave, and we hope more districts will take similar steps for more churches to reach more people.