Pastor Rolf Nestingen was born January 24, 1950 in Williston, North Dakota. As a "preacher's kid," he lived most of his young years in Jamestown, North Dakota before moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he attended junior high and senior high school, graduating from Patrick Henry Senior 
High School. Throughout high school and college he was a football player and a member of the wrestling team.
He received his BA in Classics/History from Augsburg College in Minneapolis in 1972; a Master of Divinity from Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, in 1976; and a Masters degree in Biblical Studies from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia in 1977. Since his ordination in 1977, he has served congregations in Keene, North Dakota; Harmony, Minnesota, Minot, North Dakota, and now Grace Lutheran.
Past and present, he continues to be actively involved in God's plan that allows him to be the best servant he can be.
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Where does Jesus live?” This was the question a 2nd Grade Sunday School teacher put to her students, obviously expecting one or the other to say, “In my heart!” So imagine the teacher’s surprise when a little boy in the back of the room blurted out, “Jesus lives in our bathroom!” “In your bathroom,” the teacher wondered, “Really…what makes you think that?” “Because,” the boy explained, “every Sunday morning, when we’re getting ready for church, my Dad goes and bangs on the bathroom door, and hollers ‘Good Lord, are you still in there?!’”
In a more serious vein, where do you suppose Jesus lives…I mean, really lives? We have a hint in the words of Jesus himself, from the 18th chapter of Matthew, the 20th verse, where Jesus proclaims, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Now when I started my ministry, some 30-odd years ago, in the wilds of Western ND, it was not uncommon on a Sunday morning to take those words quite literally. There were many times when I understandably conducted services for a faithful few. Now these many years later however, let me state unequivocally, it shouldn’t be so here at Grace.
Yet there have been several occasions this summer, at this service or that, when this has almost literally been the case. I even observe some, who, though they participate in every other way, and are very vocal about their views, nevertheless rarely, if ever attend worship. I wonder how long any other organization would consider such a person an active member, or take seriously such a member who never attended any of the meetings??
We are a worshipping community. You should want to be here, if not every week, at least as often as possible. Why? Because this is where Jesus lives, in the midst of us, as we gather, two or three strong, as we worship together. And just so you don’t think I’m ‘preaching to the choir’, scolding those who actually are in attendance rather than those who are not, let me state, I cherish the core of our congregation who faithfully participate on a regular basis. And you know who you are. Yet at the same time we cannot continue to provide specific worship opportunities for a mere handful of people.
Please keep this in mind as we approach the fall. After all, we wouldn’t want to start to experience a ‘summer slump’ all year round. Let’s rally together, both literally and figuratively, to build up the body of Christ, to find life where Jesus lives. Join us, for instance, and bring a neighbor or friend to Taste of Grace, slated for Sunday, August 29, beginning at 10:00 A.M. at the Owen Park Bandshell. It’ll be fun and fulfilling for the whole family, even the whole family of God!
Roger Flaten, an active Lutheran layman in our community, recently gave me a devotional he’d compiled back in 1966. In the introduction there was a story about a little girl who was forever playing and even taking a few meals at her friend’s house next door. Those meals always ended with devotions and prayer. Finally one day the woman of the house asked the little girl, “Do you have devotions and prayer at your house?” “Oh, no,” the little girl replied, “God doesn’t live at my house like He does here at yours!”
So I guess the question still remains, not just for that little girl, but for all of us: “Where do you suppose God lives?” And I’ll only add, if you want to know the answer, come to church, and find out…..
Sincerely in Christ,
Pastor Rolf
On October 28, 2007, Pastor Nestingen celebrated his Thirtieth Anniversary of Ordination and Tenth Anniversary of his ministry at Grace Lutheran Church. Bishop Duane Pederson and Pastor David Irgens celebrated a candlelight vesper service that evening. His brother, Dr. James Nestingen gave the message. Following the service a Norwegian dinner and celebration was held in the church parlors. Over four hundred people participated in an evening filled with joy and humor. The congregations of Keene, Harmony, and Minot shared many wonderful pictures and memories from Pastor Nestingen's ministry in those areas. Some members even made the long journey here to Grace in order to participate in the event. All of Rolf and Sandy's daughter's, including some grandchildren, also made the journey, surprising their parents by walking down the main church aisle during the morning worship service. Below are just a few pictures from this grand event. Congratulations to Pastor Nestingen. Here is a link to WQOW that has a brief video of the big event.
