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,
A clever merchant had a brainstorm. Standing in front of his shop he noticed that the store on one side of his building had put up a gigantic banner which simply read “Prices Slashed!” On the other side was a store with signs plastered all over their windows reading “Clearance Sale!” So going into his back room the merchant found a bucket of paint and some canvas, and tacked up a sign over his own storefront which simply read “Main Entrance.”
Sometimes I imagine that the Christian church needs to adapt something of the same technique. While those all around us are slashing prices, so to speak, and clearing out merchandise, we need to hold the line for folks, to provide a place where they can discover real, authentic and genuine life in Jesus Christ. After all, wasn’t it Jesus himself who promised in the Gospel of John to give us life, and to give it to us abundantly?
On one occasion I was discussing Holy Baptism with my brother, and the tendency of certain pastors to be stingy with this Sacrament. His response was as follows: “If a salesman had a product like this, the kind of item that sells itself… if people came to a salesman in the same way as they come to pastors, asking for this thing to be done for their children, he would be considered the greatest success in the world.”
What’s true of Holy Baptism, of course, might also be true of the Gospel as well. Why are we so unwilling to share what the world so desperately wants and needs, some Good News for a change? It’s critical now more than ever that we re-commit ourselves in this Centennial Year at Grace to reaching out not just in principle, but in practice. Have you actually invited, or brought someone to church, or to another of our activities? If not, why not? And if so, then perhaps you’ve discovered what it means to say that ‘the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’
Have you heard the old saying, to the effect that “the trouble with people nowadays is that they don’t know what they want out of life, but they’re willing to work day and night to get it”?
In the midst of another Lenten season, let’s promise to give someone else a reason for living.
It all starts with the basic ingredients of God’s Word, a bucket of paint, a piece of canvas and a sign over our door…“Main Entrance.”
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.
