Merritt’s illustrious pastoral career began in Falun, WI

One of the best-known pastors in the midwest stepped down from his position as senior pastor at the mega-church Eagle Brook in White Bear Lake, MN last Sunday.

A large crowd packed the church that boasts of a membership of 25,000 as Pastor Bob Merritt said his final goodbyes after 28 years at Eagle Brook.

First Baptist Church of Falun spoke with pride about Bob Merritt, who once pastored the Falun church.

It was his first church and he left a positive impression on parishioners, who have a St. Paul Pioneer Press article hung up at the church and who don’t pass on the opportunity to tell others they recall Pastor Merritt as a young pastor in Falun.

The Monday Star Tribune from Minneapolis carried a story of Merritt saying goodbye to the packed crowd at Eagle Brook.

Pastor Merritt told them, “I deeply love this church. Outside of my family, leading this church has been the greatest honor of my life.”

He reflected on the growth of a church that was called First Baptist Church in White Bear Lake in 1991. “What you and I are witnessing right now, is nothing short of a miracle from God.” He added, Many weekends I end up in tears by what happens here. God continues to bless us and he’s changing lives every week.”

Despite the fact he has been senior pastor, Merritt said, “The most important name in this church is the name of Jesus, who has promised that he will build his church.”

Teaching Pastor Jason Strand will officially become the new senior pastor to replace Merritt.

Currently, Eagle Brook has nine campuses from Wayzata to Woodbury to Rochester. Sunday Merritt’s emotional talk was broadcast from the main church near Lino Lakes. The church has a staff of over 300 and over 20,000 people watch Eagle Brook services online.

Bob Merritt officially retired on March 1, his 63rd birthday. At the time he indicated he would need a matter of months for his “head to clear and soul restore” as he waits for, “God to show me what’s next.

Thailand trip canceled; Coronavirus the culprit

Retired Baptist Pastor Roger Inouye’s latest trip to Thailand has been canceled because of the world-wide scare known as the coronavirus.

Originally there were six people plus Inouye preparing to make the trip to Thailand. Some of them dropped out earlier because of the national health scare that has seen the spread of the virus from China to Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan.

U.S. officials recently announced two schools in Oregon and Washington were linked to the coronavirus and were shutting down for several days to undergo a thorough cleaning.

Inouye, the former pastor at Grace Baptist Church of Grantsburg, has been to Thailand five times to teach English at a mission school called Santisuk English School.

Even as others dropped out Inouye was still planning on making the trip, until recently when travel was discouraged. “Because of the virus, hardly anybody is traveling overseas,” said Inouye. As a result, a lot of flights to Asian counties are being canceled.

Even as he voiced disappointment over the canceled trip, Inouye perked up when he said, “We’re going to meet after Easter and so how things are and hopefully re-schedule the trip.”

He added, “I’m disappointed, but my family is relieved.

At Sanitisuk, a highly-rated school, Inouye helps teach English. “This is the only school allowed to use Biblical stories as part of the curriculum.”

The government keeps a tight watch on schools teaching religion and Inouye says, “We can take

questions (from the students), but we can’t sit in class and tell them how they can become a Christian.”

The School Sanitisuk school “has grown incredibly” he said, adding there are six schools around the original school in Bangkok. Each school teaches English and each also serves as a church.