News

Halvorson joins Metigoshe Ministries

By Scott Wagar

12/13/2011

Rev. Jonathan Halvorson has accepted a position with Metigoshe Ministries and will serve the ministry as its executive director.

Halvorson was born in Salinas, Calif., but moved with his family to Fergus Falls, Minn., where he graduated from high school.

He earned his bachelor’s degrees from Concordia College in 1998 where he majored in religion and philosophy. Halvorson attended seminary at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Ill., graduating in 2008 with a Master’s degree in divinity with emphasis in Environmental Ministry, and its Latino Ministry program.

Halvorson comes to Metigoshe Ministries from Augustana Lutheran Church and Pueblo de Dios (Community of God) in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he has served as its pastor for the past 3.5 years.

What made Halvorson decide to accept his position at Metigoshe Ministries is his love for Bible camp.

“I have grown up with Bible camp in my blood. My grandfather was on the board of directors for the Lake Vermillion Bible Camp (now Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry) in Cook, Minn. I grew up as a camper at Outlaw Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota and at Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria Minn., and during my college years I was a counselor at Luther Crest, too,” Halvorson said. “I believe that Bible camp is an important and integral part of faith formation, for both youth and adults. Camping and outdoor ministry offers a unique and powerful way of experiencing the Good News of our Christian faith and Metigoshe Ministries is at the forefront of outdoor ministry, both within the ELCA and beyond. Although I am new to Metigoshe, I have known about the strong programming and outstanding people connected to the camp for many years. Metigoshe has a very strong reputation within the camping and outdoor ministry communities and I am excited to join this Adventure Anchored in Christ.”

In his spare time, Halvorson and his wife, Laura, along with their two boys, Niklas who is four and a half years old, and Benjamin who will turn three in January, enjoy fishing, hiking, soccer, pheasant hunting, reading and playing guitar and cello.

Halvorson will start his position at Metigoshe Ministries on Jan. 9, 2012. However, the Halvorson family will be attending the Nights of Christmas event, which will take place Dec. 27-29, starting at 7 p.m. each evening.
Halvorson said that he is excited to begin his ministry at Lake Metigoshe.

“My family and I are very excited to be coming to Metigoshe Ministries and to Lake Metigoshe. We visited in late October, and had the chance to meet lots of warm and welcoming people at camp, on the lake and in Bottineau,” he said. “The Turtle Mountains are also an incredibly beautiful area. We are excited to be moving here and look forward to setting down roots with our family.”