More than once, when pastor Bill Bohline has told the congregation at Hosanna Lutheran Church, ‘We believe the Lord has led you here,’ someone has cried.
It’s the general feeling of God’s presence that Pastor Bohline believes brings people to his congregation, and keeps them there. Bill started this church 30 years ago, which now counts 7,000 members and growing.
He says there are no magic tricks, just open Bibles and lots of prayer.
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Synopsis
Bill Bohline started this Lutheran Church in a Willow Creek-style in a then-faraway suburb of Minneapolis, MN. Over time the area, and the church have grown. And Bill’s learned plenty along the way. Here are my notes from the interview:
Lifelong Learning
Bill says that’s at the heart of the his development from a founding pastor to the overseer of a large enterprise. Reading, visiting, and exposing his mind to an array of knowledge is what, he says, has kept him in the game.
The Bigger the Church the Smaller the Governing Board
That means the latest iteration – to oversee the biggest church ever – is now a 7-member board. Bill says they’re elected by the church from a slate of very committed members, which, he says, is not uncommon.
Get Into Spiritual Direction
Or some other form of one-on-one mentoring/counseling. While Bill was not as intentional as he is today about seeking out these voices, he recommends it highly now.
About Bill Bohline
Pastor Bill Bohline started Hosanna! Lutheran Church by knocking on doors in January of 1980. The congregation was officially organized with 180 members. Today the average worship attendance during three services is over 4,500. As Lead Pastor, Bill has been instrumental in helping implement God’s vision for Hosanna! Bill holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. He has served on the Board of Directors for Lutheran Social Services, the Council for the Saint Paul Area Synod, and the Board of Directors for Fairview Ridges Hospital. Bill has been married to his wife Nancy, a cardiology nurse, for 40 years. They have two children. Bill enjoys reading, snorkeling, traveling, and spending time with friends at their lake home.
Books Bill Recommends
Simple Church – Sam Rainer
The Quest for the Radical Middle - Bill Jackson
The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person - E. Stanley Jones
Sponsors I Mentioned
Are you headed to the Wild Goose festival? Thousands of campers are headed to the beautiful hills of North Carolina June 21-24. Wild Goose is a festival at the intersection of justice, spirituality, and art. Some of this year’s guests are Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, and Shane Claiborne. ChurchNext is a proud sponsor – find out more atwildgoosefestival.org
