Minn. Pastor Embarks on 1,500 Mile Midwinter Snowmobile Fundraising Trip for Church
After giving a sermon on "Ordinary Risk" on Sunday, Minnesota pastor Brad Shannon embarked on a 1,500 mile snowmobile fundraising trip.
Shannon, who pastors at New Life Covenant Church in Twig, Minn., boarded his Ski Doo Renegade Back Country snowmobile and headed into the snow to launch his international trek to Churchill, Manitoba.
As a young adult, Shannon went on a three-week plane, train and car trip with his father that he said served as the inspiration for his snowmobile adventure.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Adventure has always been in my blood," he told The Duluthe News Tribute. "There's just something about going to places that you couldn't get to without it."
His wife Brooke, and his three children, who are all under the age of 10, will accompany Shannon for his three-week long trip via their suburban. However, they are unable to track him the entire way due to the lack of road for the last 300 miles of the trip. The family intends to stay with individuals from other churches and at church camps along their way.
Church member Walt Cressman said that he believed Brooke "is braver than [her husband] is."
"She's the one driving three kids across the wilderness in the middle of winter," he added.
The 100 person church is currently in the midst of trying to raise funds for new building work. With annual budget of $130,000, church members have stepped up to contribute $400,000 of their own funds, which will be matched by a loan from the national Covenant denomination.
The church is also relying on "in-kind donations" and "sweat equity" as it prepares to kick off construction in May that will replace the cramped building — one that suffers not only from small classrooms but also from a lack of bathrooms on the main level.
The church's new site will be across the street, with five of the seven-and-half acres donated to Covenant. Cressman said the space would serve more as a community center with space for volleyball and half-court basketball.
According to Shannon, one the reasons behind his trip was to "invite the broader community into what God's doing in Twig."
"We have donations from California; we have donations from the East Coast," he said. "We have donations from Catholics and Lutherans and Baptists and Methodists and Presbyterians. It's a beautiful picture of the kingdom of God."
The pastor added that despite the weather and scope of the trip, he expects it to be an experience in which God will be actively involved.
"Our little church has taken a big step of faith, or a risk, because they want to impact the community," Shannon said. "It just goes on and on and on about why it can't happen. But when you take that risk, God is always faithful."
Individuals interested in donating to New Life Covenant Church or following Shannon's adventures can learn more at newfrontierexpedition.com.
