A Message From our Interim Pastor

    Living Faithfully Within God’s Story

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have read and reflected upon Bishop Hutterer’s letter to the congregations of the Grand Canyon Synod several times. As our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, her words remind us of a truth that transcends every generation and every earthly distinction: we are, first and foremost, God’s people.

I am grateful that the Bishop speaks to us not through the lens of politics or ideology, but through our shared identity in Christ. Her message calls us to remember that while generations come and go, the faithfulness of God endures. As she so beautifully writes, “Generations come and go. But God’s story continues—and we are invited to live faithfully within it.”

As you read the letter that follows, I invite you to do so not as Republicans or Democrats, but as disciples of Jesus Christ. Listen for the story God is writing in your life and in the life of His Church—a story of grace, hope, and salvation through His Son.

The gift of Jesus Christ is for each of us: for you, for me, and for all God’s people.

Together in Christ,

-Pastor Dan

Enough: Reflections from Campformation 2026

This summer, nearly 140 campers and leaders gathered for another unforgettable week of Campformation. Throughout the week, students unplugged from their everyday routines and stepped into a Christ-centered community where every day was filled with worship, Bible study, morning devotions, cabin discussions, games, campfires, team challenges, service, and plenty of laughter. Campers were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones by trying new activities, working together in teams, cheering one another on, and even discovering new opportunities to lead. By the end of the week, cabins had become little families, encouraging one another, praying together, and growing together as the Body of Christ.

This week, every person outwardly faced that gnawing, one, simple but powerful question:

"Am I enough?"

It is a question that is not limited to teenagers. Children ask it. Adults ask it. Parents, students, retirees, and even church leaders wrestle with it. We often measure ourselves by our accomplishments, appearance, abilities, or failures, wondering if we somehow fall short.

Throughout the week, campers explored one familiar Bible story from several different perspectives, the feeding of the five thousand. Each day focused on a different character: Jesus, the crowd, the boy with the loaves and fish, the disciples, and finally the baskets of leftovers. Together they discovered a beautiful truth: God doesn't wait until we are "enough" before He works through us. Instead, He meets us exactly where we are. We looked at how God multiplies surrendered things, when we are faithful to surrender what we think is insufficient or scarce. God magnifies our scarcity into overflowing abundance.

Again and again throughout Scripture, God begins with what seems insufficient. A boy's small lunch. A widow's little oil. Moses with his excuses. Gideon hiding in fear. God doesn't ask His people to begin with abundance; He asks them to trust Him. Then He provides more than enough.

One moment from camp captured this beautifully. During a morning devotion about Moses, one of our teaching leaders, who had designed this year’s theme, during a lesson flipped a page in her Bible and found a sticky note she had written years earlier. She had no memory of writing it, but on it was a reminder about Moses and at the bottom, a simple note: "Look at the boy with the fish and the loaves." Long before this year's camp theme was chosen, God had already been weaving the message together. It was a wonderful reminder that He is often preparing our hearts long before we recognize what He is doing.

As campers headed home, they carried more than memories of games, worship, and campfires. They left with the reminder that their identity isn't something they have to earn. As Genesis tells us, God looked at His creation and declared it "very good." Our worth begins with what God says about us, not what the world says about us, or even what we may tell ourselves.

Our prayer is that the lessons of Campformation continue long after summer ends, that every camper, leader, and family remembers this simple truth:

You are loved. You are chosen. And in Christ, you are enough.

Important Dates for 2026

·         Labor Day – September 7th

·         Veteran’s Day – November 11th

·         Thanksgiving & Friday after – November 26th & 27th

·         Christmas Day - December 25th

Meet S.A.M Kevin Jackson:

                           Serving with Faith, Music, and a Heart for People 

      At Mount Olive Lutheran Church, we are blessed by the many individuals

who answer God's call to serve. One such servant is Kevin Jackson, one of  our

Synod Authorized Minister (SAM) and Praise Band Director, who has faithfully

served our congregation since September 2012.

      Kevin’s faith journey began at a young age in Los Angeles, where he first stood

before a congregation as a five-year-old child reading Scripture. Soon after, he

attended Faith Lutheran Church and School in Inglewood, California, beginning a

lifelong relationship with the Lutheran faith. Throughout his life, God has revealed

himself through family, pastors, friends, and even strangers, shaping Kevin into the

servant leader he is today.

     Kevin has been serving Mount Olive since September 2012. When Pastor Craig announced retirement, Kevin answered the call to participate in the Synod Authorized Minister (SAM) program, helping to bridge the gap during a season of transition. His willingness to step forward exemplifies his servant’s heart and trust in God’s leading.

     When asked what excites him most about serving Mount Olive, Kevin points to the love, support, and guidance he receives from pastors and congregants alike. He is inspired daily to allow God to work through him in every possible way. His ministry is rooted in the Fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—and he strives to live those values each day.

     Music has always been an important part of Kevin’s life. Outside of ministry, he enjoys writing, producing, and performing music, as well as spending time with family, as he comes from a close-knit family of 7.  If he weren’t serving in ministry, chances are you would still find him sharing his gifts through song.

    Kevin’s greatest hope for Mount Olive is one of unity. He dreams of a congregation that bridges traditional and contemporary worship, welcomes younger generations, and continues to grow in faith and fellowship. To Kevin, community means coming together under a shared belief in Christ and extending that love beyond our church walls into the world around us.

     Those who know Kevin know that he is, in his own words, “a people person through and through.” He loves connecting with others, listening to their stories, and offering encouragement through prayer, conversation, and music. His heart for ministry is perhaps best summed up in his desire “to be guided by God to do that’s best for our church and our community.”

     Recently, the words of Matthew 6:33 have been especially meaningful to Kevin: “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” In a world filled with uncertainty and distractions, he is committed to keeping his focus on God’s promises and encouraging others to do the same.

     A few fun facts about Kevin: he’s an early bird who prefers tea over coffee, loves  Thanksgiving, and counts Santorini, Greece among his favorite places he has visited.

     Those who know Kevin may be surprised to learn of the powerful testimony he carries—a story of God's redemption and freedom from addiction that continues to inspire others. His favorite Bible passage remains Joshua 1, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." reminding us all to “Be Strong and Courageous.”

     Please join us in thanking Kevin Jackson for his faithful service, compassionate spirit, and unwavering commitment to Mount Olive Lutheran Church. We are grateful for the many ways he shares God’s love with our congregation and community, and we look forward to all that God has in store through his ministryin the years ahead