Posted: 5/9/07
Elk River's mayor tells NB folks her city was transformed through prayer and unity
 North Branch Mayor Gloria Karsky hosted a breakfast May 3, which was National Day of Prayer. Together with those in attendance, she prayed for her city, that it might come together in unity and prosper. |
By MaryHelen Swanson
In the hour that most people are just getting off to work, on May 3 several dozen North Branch people came together to pray as it was National Day of Prayer.
The breakfast event, held at the Legion Hall, was called together by NB Mayor Gloria Karsky.
But it was another mayor that inspired the group with her enthusiastic talk about her transformed city.
Stephanie Klinzing, mayor of Elk River, glowed as she told the story of the transformation of her city when the religious and business communities united to rescue their faltering town.
And, according to Mayor Klinzing, it worked.
She said, it was simply the accomplishment of people who love the Lord and want to do the best for their city.
It involved pastors breaking out of the walls and praying for societal changes, she said.
A movement called "Pray Elk River" emerged and it is about relationships and the bigger vision for Elk River in the future.
Klinzing said as the churches united, the Lord put his hand on the city.
Klinzing said one banker found that his work was not an obstacle to his faith, but that his work was his ministry.
The mayor said a lot of things about the movement seem foolish, but she declared that she's taken a path of being a fool for Jesus.
"People say, ‘how does it work for you?'"
"Well," Klinzing said, "it works very well."
The most important thing, she said, was that she asked God to bless her city.
I want to make sure peace reigns at council meetings, she added.
"Prayer is powerful in my life," she said, adding that she asked God to give her wisdom, so she can do the best for the city.
It is true, she told the group, government cannot dictate a religion.
But the faith of the people of her town through the unity that has come from the movement has significantly benefitted the city.
In her ninth term as mayor, Klinzing said she's always been open about her belief in Jesus.
The unity and body of Christ that we're experiencing in Elk River is phenomenal, she said.
The Lord is delighted to see us loving him and each other, she added.
So what's different now with the Pray Elk River movement alive and growing?
There's prosperity and growth, story after story, she said, there's new big businesses and new churches.
Klinzing said for a time Elk River had one of the highest teenage suicide numbers.
We went to prayer and today there are no teenage suicides ... we may have attempts, but the community can deal with these.
Klinzing said it is prosperous for a city to advance the kingdom of God.
She noted also that as the city transforms, the reason they do all of this is for the least of these.
"As we transform, we become a better people."
Isn't it good news to the poor to have their needs met? she asked.
Evidence of a transformed city is that systemic poverty will be eliminated, that needs will be met.
We haven't reached that yet in Elk River, she said, but we are moving forward.
It will be a great and marvelous day when all needs are met, she went on, and we'll get there.
Klinzing's prayer for North Branch was that this city would grab on to that vision.
She prayed that Mayor Karsky and the folks of NB would come together in unity.
Following Klinzing's inspirational talk, Mayor Karsky asked for prayer requests from the guests, and she noted that there is a prayer group that meets at noon on Thursdays at the NB Library.
Just show up, she said, no need to call anyone.
Karsky said, like Elk River, she wants to see NB's vision shaped by prayer. And she too hopes for peace in the council room.
The group concluded the breakfast by singing "Amazing Grace."
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