Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support for the Bible School this summer.  We rejoice in the answers to prayer that we have experienced this past month.  Among these include:

• God’s provision of the new music director.  Mr. Andrew Hanson was interviewed by the Board of Trustees and extended a call to serve as music director for our schools, a call which he officially began serving on August 1st.  Mr. Hanson has previously taught 6 years of vocal music at St. Francis High School and for the past 7 years has also served as Director of Music at Grace Free Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, MN.  Mr. Hanson, a graduate of St. Olaf College, is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting at St. Cloud State University.  He is excited to serve the Lord in this ministry at our schools.
• God’s opening doors for the Word in the summer team ministries.  Continue to pray for them as they complete their ministry on August 8th and return for debriefing and sharing about their summer on August 9th.  (Some of their testimonies will be shared here soon.)

Please continue to pray with us for the following:

• For more new and returning students.  We are currently near capacity for men students in the men’s dorm.  We would especially love to have more women students.  It has been a great encouragement to see more applications come in over the last couple weeks!
• Students as they pray about coming to AFLBS in the fall; for God’s provision for them and other concerns they might have about leaving home to attend Bible school. That their pastors, parents and friends would be supportive and encourage them in coming to Bible school.
• For the three to four students who have indicated their intention to enroll in the third-year Ministry Training Institute (MTI).
• As we plan for Fall Campus Days, October 17-19, 2008. We encourage all high school students to send in their application early for this great weekend. Pastor Eric Westlake will be our evening speaker.
• For our new Women’s Resident Head, Christina Berge, and new Men’s Resident Head, Adam Osier (and his new bride, the former Women’s Resident Head, Courtney Jacobi) as they prepare for their new roles at AFLBS.
• The upcoming Golf Scramble to be held August 11th. Last year’s Golf Scramble raised nearly $4000 in scholarships for AFLBS students who face financial hardship. Thank you for your support and gifts!

One student last year wrote, “Thank you for your generous gift of a $200 scholarship to help me continue my studies here at AFLBS. My time here has been a blessing to me. I have grown a lot while I have been here. I have matured and been changed by the things that I have experienced and learned. Thank you for encouraging me with your gift.”

Another student wrote, “Thank you so much for the generous gift you gave me to help pay for my time at AFLBS. It is such a blessing, and I pray that it would be put to good use as I study God’s Word and grow closer to Him. Studying the Bible these last two years has been amazing. I have learned so much and grown so much in my faith.

     We invite you to come be a part of the Golf Scramble August 11th or send a gift for the scholarship fund to help students in the coming year.  We praise God for the gifts given and progress made on reducing the debt on Heritage Hall. The debt has been reduced this past year from $400,000 to just under $200,000. We praise God for the way He provides. For more information click on Heritage 400.

     Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, through their Giving Plus program,  will supplement $1 for every $2 donated by members up to a $300 maximum supplement to each organization. Donations can be for any amount up to $600 (or more). Members can make multiple donations (i.e. monthly, quarterly, etc.) to the same organization in a given year and have the supplemental dollars provided when the paperwork is received and processed, however the donations will only be supplemented up to the $300 maximum supplement. Forms for gifts to AFLBS are available here.
     Thrivent Financial is also helping us with a new and easier way for students and their parents to pay school bills. Simply Giving® is an automated giving program designed to help you conveniently and consistently contribute to a Lutheran institution or to pay tuition at a Lutheran school, such as AFLBS. Through Simply Giving®, your gifts or tuition payments are made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account or credit card. You determine the frequency of your automatic gift—weekly, semi-monthly or monthly—the option is yours. Your gift or payment is deposited into the recipient's bank account on the same day it is withdrawn from your account—at no cost to you or the recipient.

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of the Bible school!

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of the Bible school.
It is a joy to us whenever you respond!  Warmest greetings to you from all the faculty, staff, students and board.

Please continue to pray with us for the following:

• The Board of Trustees as they consider and interview applicants for Music Director that God’s will would be done in calling a new music director. 
• Please continue to pray for the eight summer ministry teams. Thirty-four AFLBS students were sent out May 31st to share the gospel with children, youth and adults as representative of the Bible school and AFLC Home Missions.  Team members will serve 10 weeks around the US, ending on August 9.  We welcome your prayers.  (see team photos and schedules)
• Students as they pray about coming to AFLBS in the fall; for God’s provision for them and other concerns they might have about leaving home to attend Bible school. That their pastors, parents and friends would be supportive and encourage them in coming to Bible school.
• For the three to four students who have indicated their intention to enroll in the third-year Ministry Training Institute (MTI).
• As we plan for Fall Campus Days, October 17-19, 2008. We encourage all high school students to send in their application early for this great weekend. Pastor Eric Westlake will be our evening speaker.
• For our new Women’s Resident Head, Christina Berge, and new Men’s Resident Head, Adam Osier (and his new bride, the former Women’s Resident Head, Courtney Jacobi) as they prepare for their new roles at AFLBS.
• The upcoming Golf Scramble to be held August 11th. Last year’s Golf Scramble raised nearly $4000 in scholarships for AFLBS students who face financial hardship. Thank you for your support and gifts!

One student last year wrote, “Thank you for your generous gift of a $200 scholarship to help me continue my studies here at AFLBS. My time here has been a blessing to me. I have grown a lot while I have been here. I have matured and been changed by the things that I have experienced and learned. Thank you for encouraging me with your gift.”

Another student wrote, “Thank you so much for the generous gift you gave me to help pay for my time at AFLBS. It is such a blessing, and I pray that it would be put to good use as I study God’s Word and grow closer to Him. Studying the Bible these last two years has been amazing. I have learned so much and grown so much in my faith.

     We invite you to come be a part of the Golf Scramble August 11th or send a gift for the scholarship fund to help students in the coming year.  We praise God for the gifts given and progress made on reducing the debt on Heritage Hall. The debt has been reduced this past year from $400,000 to just under $200,000. We praise God for the way He provides. For more information click on Heritage 400.

     Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, through their Giving Plus program,  will supplement $1 for every $2 donated by members up to a $300 maximum supplement to each organization. Donations can be for any amount up to $600 (or more). Members can make multiple donations (i.e. monthly, quarterly, etc.) to the same organization in a given year and have the supplemental dollars provided when the paperwork is received and processed, however the donations will only be supplemented up to the $300 maximum supplement. Forms for gifts to AFLBS are available here.
     Thrivent Financial is also helping us with a new and easier way for students and their parents to pay school bills. Simply Giving® is an automated giving program designed to help you conveniently and consistently contribute to a Lutheran institution or to pay tuition at a Lutheran school, such as AFLBS. Through Simply Giving®, your gifts or tuition payments are made through a pre-authorized withdrawal from your bank account or credit card. You determine the frequency of your automatic gift—weekly, semi-monthly or monthly—the option is yours. Your gift or payment is deposited into the recipient's bank account on the same day it is withdrawn from your account—at no cost to you or the recipient.

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of the Bible school!

• Continue to pray for all of our 2008 graduates as they seek God's direction for their future.
• Pray that God will guide and provide for the students He wants to be at AFLBS in the fall.
• Continue to pray for each of the students as they seek to know and do God's will.
• Continue to pray for the students in summer team ministry as well as those serving in their homes and foreign missions.

• Pray that God would guide and direct the board in the calling of a new faculty member as Music Director.

*To request a prayer guide including the names of AFLBS and AFLTS students, staff, faculty, and AFLC missionaries, contact the Bible School office.

We praise the Lord for the many opportunities God gave us during the month of April to share the Gospel in word and song with many individuals and congregations.  During spring break, April 4th-20th, the Concert Choir shared concerts in Fargo, Minot, Stanley, and Williston, ND; Kalispell, MT; Lake Stevens, Arlington, and Kirkland, WA; Astoria and Eugene, OR; Loveland, CO; Laurel, NE and Sioux Falls, SD.  Pastor Joel Rolf, AFLBS Dean, traveled with the choir and shared a message at each of these concerts.  Many students shared what a blessing it was not only to share the concerts, but also the warm fellowship times they had in the host homes each evening!  Thank you to all of you who shared your hospitality!  It was also a joy to see students looking for opportunities to share Jesus with others wherever we stopped along the way! 

During the same spring break, the new Mission Field Study Class taught by Pastor Richard Gunderson, and assisted by Pastor Connely Dyrud, spent two weeks working with the Home Mission congregation in Mesa, AZ doing outreach and another group went to Nogales, AZ and Mexico for more ministry opportunities and personally sharing the gospel.  Each of the students spoke positively about the experiences! 

The last weekend of April, the Women’s Chorale and Men’s Quartet shared concerts in Cloquet and Duluth, MN and Ontanogan and Ishpeming, MI.  Again it was a great joy to proclaim the riches of God’s grace in Christ!  Thank you for your faithful prayer support.  It is humbling and encouraging to see and hear how God used these means to draw people to Himself!  Several also expressed new interest in coming to AFLBS as students!

There are only a few classes left now and students are preparing for final exams May 13th-15th.  The Spring Concert of the Concert Choir, Women’s Chorale and Instrumental Wind Ensemble will be Friday, May 16th at 8PM.  If you are within driving distance, we invite you to come!  The Graduation service will be Saturday, May 17th at 1PM. 

• Continue to pray for all the graduates as they seek God’s direction for their future.
• Pray that God will guide and provide for the students He wants to be at AFLBS next fall.
• Continue to pray for each of the students as they seek to know and do God’s will.
• Continue to pray for the students preparing for summer team ministry.  Eight teams will be trained May 27th-30th.
• Thank you for your continued prayer for the entire faculty, staff and students here, for all of the ministry of God’s Word here on campus, and for the various outreach ministries associated with the Bible School.

To request a prayer guide including the names of AFLBS and seminary students, staff, faculty, and AFLC missionaries, contact our Bible School office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .