By Bernie Troje

    Sometimes we’re driven, sometimes we're led.  Pastor Sam Muntean would probably say he was led to found the Sand Lake Christian & Missionary Alliance Church: somewhat by the community; somewhat by the success and growth of the building fund and diverse congregation; but probably most, he would say, by the spirit, the Holy Spirit. 

    Thirteen people came to the first service.  Clarence and Gladys Davis, Glen and Evelyn Huntsley, and Patricia Smeltzer. The rest were relatives:  Wendell and Betty Murphy (Wendy’s parents), Pastor Sam, Wendy, their children Sam and Jeannie and Wendy’s two nieces, Melissa and Stacy.

    At 9:30 a.m., they would get all set up, have coffee, tea, snacks and fellowship.  At 10 a.m., the service would begin. After the service, there would be more coffee, tea, snacks and fellowship. People began coming from around the area because church was one place they could all get together and visit and share their week with one another.

    The Sand Lake Community Center supervisors agreed to “rent” the Community Center for $15 a week for five years and then the church had to make a decision about building a church.  Having church at the Community Center also helped the Community Center to start operating “in the black” for the first time.     

    Township interaction was good.  In fact, there was more involvement in the township.  Having church there made the community more aware of the center.

    When the church first started, the township asked Sam and Wendy to plan activities for the area. They started with hayrides.  Sam was partly responsible for the 4th of July Pie and Ice Cream Social getting started.  “I really like pie,” he chuckled.  The Pie and Ice Cream Social still takes place every 4th of July. 

    The church set a goal to build a church at the end of the five years.  Erick and Vi Carlson donated the property (the church now sits on) and Clayton Andrews donated another piece of property for a parsonage across County 4.  Erick told Sam that all his life he thought there should be a little community with a little church right where it is.

    By that time 25 to 30 people were attending. The congregation made a decision that when they had saved $10,000 they would begin building.  Their motto from the beginning was “Trust in the Lord from board to board.”    

    When they started, they had saved $18,000.  In 1990-91 they had blueprints, an excavated lot, a structure with floorboards and most of the interior.  They finished the original building debt free.

    One day during the building of the original part of the church, Treasurer Jack Houchins called Pastor Sam and asked, “Are we ready for sheet rock yet?” 

    Pastor Sam answered, “Yes, why?” 

    Jack answered, “Believe it or not a truck carrying a load of sheetrock spilled its load here in front of the corner store in Squaw Lake.  They are not going to reload the truck and are willing to sell the 14 foot sheets for $1.00 a sheet.  How many do we need?” 

    They bought 250 sheets. Jack’s son and a friend were there and loaded it up and brought it to the church. 

    As it turned out, the sheetrock truck was driving south on Highway 46. A car stopped in front of it to make a turn. The truck couldn’t get around the car and hit the pavement edge, lost control and spilled most of the load.

    At the end of the building project, there were about 40 sheets left. A local fellow needed some and they sold them to him for $2 a sheet.

    Pastor Sam: “Ever since we started building this church, whenever we needed someone to do a job, there’s always someone there to do it.” 

    The most important thing for him during the building of the church was that he didn’t want any one or anyone’s feelings to get hurt.  He said, “We are all brothers in Christ and are Christians.  It won’t do any good to get a church built and then not get along.”

    He and the guys who worked on the church building became closer than ever.  Even conflicts didn’t cause riffs.  Merle Forss had a strong work ethic.  Another worker talked a lot and didn’t work much.  Merle was digging a trench on the north wall. The worker came over and said he thought it was better to do it (his) way.  Merle never said a word, but handed him the shovel and went and had a cup of coffee.

    Bud Kitterman was in charge of the construction.  There were a few building mistakes made and Merle named them... “Bud’s mistake #1,” “Bud’s mistake #2,” etc.  One mistake in the paneling on the sanctuary ceiling Merle pointed out as “Bud’s Mistake,” but with good humor.  A few people still know where it is.

    Currently, between 60-70 people attend Sand Lake Alliance church in the summer with some Sundays over 100.  Attendance is much lower in the winter after the ‘snow birds’ leave. Attendance is usually in the 30’s.  Church is only cancelled if there is a blizzard or other hazardous weather.  Sam said, “We just don’t want elderly faithful trying to get to church and sliding off the road.”

    Pastor Sam asked visitors to put a pin on the United States map in the back of the fellowship hall showing where they come from.  Pins are all over the country.

    Though Pastor Sam never mentioned it, it’s well known that until 4 to 5 years ago, many months in the winter Sam went without his salary so the church could pay the bills.  When the summer people came back and the offering was up, he was paid back.

Before starting Sand Lake Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, while he was Pastoring Dora Lake Alliance he had gone to a conference. Some older pastors there suggested younger pastors purchase their own property as an investment for their future. Even though many churches provided a parsonage, upon retirement a pastor could be on the street with only a suitcase and no where to go. 

    At the time, Sam and Wendy were caring for her sister’s two children as well as their own two.  In Grand Rapids to get a muffler, they stopped at Arrowhead Properties and noticed an ad for 40 acres for sale on Big Sand Lake.  Stanley King owned 40 acres on the south side of the lake and 40 acres on Cedar Lake. 

    Pastor Sam and a logger friend looked at the Cedar Lake property and saw that at least one-third of the property was on high ground.  He offered $200 an acre.  King’s health was bad and he wanted to sell.  He asked Sam for $8,000 with $2,000 down.  Sam and Wendy made payments, but before the last few payments received a letter from King stating since they made all their payments on time, they should consider the next payment their final one.

    Wendy was teaching, and they had the four children in school. Since they owned the property they built a road and put in a mobile home.  Eight weeks later, they were still waiting for electricity and septic, but they hauled water, caught bass and had a fun summer.  They played Scrabble by candle light,  took baths and washed their hair in the lake.  It was one of the best experiences the family ever had. 

    Sam feels the Minnesota pioneer spirit, the do-it-yourself stuff is still here.  People help and they just do it.  Christian Missionary Alliance churches always had that spirit with their Indian missions and churches in logging communities.  Sam recounted, “The first CMA pastor in Dora Lake came out from Deer River on the Blood, Gut and Liver Line and walked into Dora Lake in the 1920’s and started that church.  We’re only about the fourth generation here.”

    Sam said, “The Lord pretty much still leads.  Wendy has a retirement plan, and we’re working to make sure the church will continue even after we’re gone.  We have a good board, responsible elders who can lead the church and hire a pastor.  We don’t plan on leaving, but it’s good to have plans in place.  The CMA will help provide pastors, if needed.”  (In 2010, Pastor Sam retired and Pastor Zach Ender is now pastoring the church.)

    Alliance guidelines are used for sermons and membership.  Sam went to an Alliance college.  Alliance churches support missions.  Pastor Sam believes we should go into the world and share our faith in God with people who never heard of Jesus Christ.  The CMA was one of the earliest churches to go into the mission field.  The Alliance was founded by a former Presbyterian minister but now is more inter-denominational.  “Alliance” itself means conglomeration of denominations.  Membership is required for church organizations.

    Sam feels the diversity is a strength.  He said, “I will not pastor a church that is judgmental and contentious and does not show the love of Christ.  If we show God’s love I will continue as long as the Lord leads.”

    The Alliance church is well suited for a low population area. There aren’t enough people to have individual denominations. 

    Before coming to Sand Lake, Sam mentioned he had the keys to churches of five or six different denominations. He was teaching Release Time Ministry including Alliance, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Baptist.  He said, “It was thrilling to be able to work together.  It was learning for them and learning for me.”

    Sam also pastored the Alliance church in Bena.  It was part Native American and part white and the church was a middle ground. 

    Sam feels diversity is the predominant characteristic of the congregation.  Other areas of diversity - people are here by choice to fish, camp, hike, and hunt.  Many come in the summer and they like being here.  Their contributions to the church are generous.  In our congregation, people genuinely like each other and love doing things together.  The church welcomes all.  Sam says he has even introduced people to their own neighbors.

    At a Thanksgiving service, Vi Carlson said she was thankful for the church.  “Before the church came here,” she said, “neighbors didn’t talk.  Now with the church, we all visit and see one another.”  Often Pastor Sam has to wait for people to leave after church before he locks up.  “We pray for one another and care for one another,” he added.  “Out of our prayers comes a concern to do something.” 

    At Easter and Christmas, the congregation takes over the service.  Pastor Sam shows up on those Sunday mornings and doesn’t know what is going to happen.  Elaine Rasmussen says this shows Sam’s faith in his congregation.  Everyone participates.  Children take the offering on Sundays.  Their only instruction is “just don’t miss anyone!”  Of course, every member of the congregation helps.  The offering plate only spilled once, and everyone helped pick it up.

    Members like Norma Forss contribute in other ways as well.  For years now, she has been providing cookies to go with the coffee and tea before and after the service.

    Though he’s been the only pastor here, he says it’s NOT his church.  It’s God’s.  He’s just here to serve Him. 

    Sam wasn’t sure about starting a church.  He took a walk and prayed about it and finally said, “Lord, you take care of the details and I’ll follow. Everything came together – the Community Center, land, building – it just happened.” 

    “Really good people do things here and don’t say anything.  It’s amazing how members of the congregation take things on and get things done,” he added.

There is a definite core set by faith and values.  But the bottom line is this church is Christ-centered.  The church shows the Lord changes lives for the better.

Pastor Sam concluded that he appreciates the area – the nature, beauty, sunrise, woods, and lake. He loves the activities and life here.  He mentioned a pair of eagles this summer and a deer that came in to the feeder.  All this and much more right outside the house.  It is away from the rat race.

Sam feels the Minnesota pioneer spirit, the do-it-yourself stuff is still here.  People help and they just do it.  Christian Missionary Alliance churches always had that spirit with their Indian missions and churches in logging communities.

When they started, they had saved $18,000.  In 1990-91 they had blueprints, an excavated lot, a structure with floorboards and most of the interior.  They finished the original building debt free.