Jeremy L. Berg

Last week was exhilarating, meaningful, and exhausting for this Happy Sower! Here’s a brief recap and urgent invitation.

This summer I shared my guiding image for my life (Imago Vita), my aspiration to be a “Happy Sower” using my spiritual passion and creative gifts to scatter faith, hope and love wherever I find an open door. More recently, that’s involved being a gospeling troubadour traveling about singing my three chords and the truth. Check out this exciting past week of impact.

Wednesday I played at a fundraiser to a crowd of 100+ with hometown legend, Scotty B, where I capped off my set with “Me and Bobby McGee.” At the end of the song, I sped up my strumming, got a little Janis Joplin-like crazy, and started repeating, “Me and Scotty B.” Good times. A darling lady came up to me before the show and said, “I love starting my day by listening to your podcast; you have such a warm and comforting voice, and beautiful perspectives.” Wow! I didn’t know anyone was listening!

Thursday I returned to campus and kicked off two courses I’m teaching at the University of Northwestern. I got to share my testimony and hopefully light a spark in the hearts of 70 college students as we begin our 8-week journey into the essentials of Christian Thinking and Living.

Friday I played my oldies set at a monthly birthday celebration at Lake Minnetonka Shores to another 50 or so. The restaurant was buzzing with excitement, people singing along, and one very exuberant employee dancing about the room. Apparently, I filled the shoes of a lederhosen-wearing accordion player who usually plays these birthdays but recently had to retire. A hush came over the crowd when I shared my faith and sang “Hold Me Jesus.” I saw a few tears.

Sunday morning I brought Abby and Peter along to Lake Minnetonka Shores (Presbyterian Homes) to do my Gospel Songs concert at their two services to 100+. Pastor John Cordova at LMS is doing great ministry there and has two packed Sunday services these days. Unlike many nursing hope chapel services, Pastor John is committed to teaching the Bible and preaching the gospel. We’re becoming fast friends and he is letting me give him a Sunday off every couple months. Peter was a champ playing along at the grand piano, and Abby stole the show singing next to me, taking a solo on “In the Garden.” Peter said his cheek was sore from all the cheek squeezing old ladies greeting us at the door as they left with full hearts and “Please come back soon!” Keri and Isaak came to cheer us on.

Then Sunday evening we came together at our regular MainStreet gathering where we sang songs, taught our children the Bible, discussed another “Juicy Topic”, confessed our sins — individually and nationally — and ended/began the week at the Lord’s Table together.

Friends, 14 years ago MainStreet was founded on the vision of being a church that doesn’t focus its main energy on the Sunday service, but rather goes out into the everyday spaces all week long, i.e., on Main Street, to shine the light of Christ wherever God has us (see Acts 17:17). MainStreet feels small when you just measure our Sunday attendance, but this past week this Happy Sower was privileged to go out and scatter Kingdom Seed and Gospel Hope to some 350 people! (That’s not counting the 200 people listening to my podcast episodes, or 200+ subscribers to my blog.)

Invitation: For me to continue these outreaches and for MainStreet to continue its impact in 2025, we are trusting God for a handful of new donors to support our mission and help provide me a modest salary. Please consider joining our team here. The need has never been greater, while the impact has never been broader!

Grace and peace,

A Happy Sower