My Statement of Faith

I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the only inspired, authoritative Word of God, and are completely truthful and without error. I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that man, created in the image of God, sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and that those who reach moral responsibility become sinners in thought, word, and deed.

I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

I believe that the true Church is composed of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.

Me with my mom, Evelyn Mehlhaff

I was raised in a Christian home by parents who loved and served God. My daddy, who was in so many ways a picture image of his Heavenly Father, went home to Him on January 21, 2007. I miss him! I spent my childhood attending Assembly of God churches (just two - the change came after a move to a different city). At nineteen I met Dave Swedberg at a singles event at Edina Baptist. After our marriage in 1983, and simultaneous move to a new state, we joined an Evangelical Free Church. Since relocating to Warroad, MN in 1986, we have belonged to a Bible Church.

I came to a personal faith in Jesus Christ at the young age of four, which spared me much grief during my teen and adult years. I can still remember the exact moment at which I realized that I had saddened a perfect God -- but that He had sent Jesus, His only Son, to pay for the sins I had already committed. I confessed to Him that I was "bad" - a sinner, and I needed Him to forgive me and help me live His way for the rest of my life. This was, by far, the most important and life-changing decision I have ever made.

Since then, I have grown to love God more and more. I talk to Him all the time: I get up breathing His name and fall into bed each night doing the same. I kick through each day, like a dolphin, having a splashin' good time, but surfacing for air often, through prayer. God keeps me going!

And lest you think I have it all together, no such fantasy! I am a work in progress -- just ask my husband, my kids or my staff! Yet, in all of my imperfections, I am loved perfectly by a perfect God Who has forgiven me completely for all my offenses toward Him and Who refuses to quit working on me. I am so blessed!

My prayer is that you, too, may come into a deeply personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He passionately loves you and He proved it by dying for you. He extends to you a one-on-one, living, and vital relationship. His arms are open to you right now as He invites you to accept Him as your Savior and Lord.