Honoring Nick Kinn

The Bible tells us to give honor to whom honor is due. Yesterday was the 70th birthday of the minister most responsible for helping me become a successful soul-winner. Therefore, I’ve written this tribute to him.

Alex Nicholas Kinn Jr. was born on August 21, 1951, and grew up just west of Minneapolis. Like myself, he went through confirmation at a Lutheran church that didn't teach the necessity to be born again. Following high school and a brief college stint, Nick was drafted into the U. S. Army and got stationed in Germany. After his discharge, Nick returned to Minnesota and continued being an alcoholic. One night, he caused a drunk driving accident that almost killed six people.

Meanwhile, a few Christians had reached out to Nick with the gospel. Two of them happened while he was in the military. Another person had slid a tract underneath his door. A turning point occurred 45 years ago today. After Nick had been out celebrating his 25th birthday, he got down on his knees at 2:00 a.m. and said, “Jesus, if you’re real, I’m tired of being a drunk. Come into my heart.” His life hasn’t been the same since.

Nick immediately started witnessing but didn’t lead anyone to the Lord until almost three years later. While hosting an Amway meeting in his house, Nick had an altar call. One woman came forward to give her life to Christ. After attending various churches, Nick started going to Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park. In 1986, he was asked to take charge of their evangelism ministry. Two years later, Nick left his job at the post office to become a full-time pastor. As he often says now, “I used to be a mailman, but now I’m a messenger.”

I first attended Living Word in 1991. Back then, Pastor Nick also led outreaches called “All-Church Evangelism.” Wednesday night services were canceled once a month during the summer. That was to encourage more congregation members to share their faith. I participated in a few of those but didn’t pray with anyone until three years after my conversion. By that time, I committed myself to evangelize with Living Word every Monday night. Soon I became a team leader and started training other people how to win souls. 

My faithfulness to Living Word’s evangelism ministry resulted in various blessings. Since Nick and I are about the same size, he frequently gave me clothes he no longer needed. One night after returning from an outreach, Pastor Nick asked if anyone wanted prayer. I mentioned my starting a sales job with a meat company that day and needed to make money. Nick suddenly took up an offering for me. I received $68 in cash. That sales job wouldn’t work out for me. Eventually, the Lord led me to go into full-time ministry.

For over a decade, I mostly traveled along the east coast as a missionary. During which, I had little contact with Pastor Nick. Then one night in a Minneapolis suburb, I walked into a bus station. Nick happened to be evangelizing there along with another man I knew named Tom. Nick gave me some of his “Have You Heard the Good News” tracts. Tom then handed me $20. That inspired me to resume regular outreaches with Living Word during return visits to the Twin Cities area. I still enjoy listening to Nick’s teachings before we hit the streets.

I appreciate Nick Kinn’s continued commitment to the Great Commission and also his sense of humor. Often we experience bouts of holy laughter while looking at each other. With the help of other laborers involved with Living Word’s evangelism ministry, over 1.6 million salvations have occurred. Pastor Nick has (so far) ministered in 28 countries and 35 states. May the Lord give him many more years to give the devil a black eye.

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you” - 1 Thessalonians 5:12

How Do You See Yourself?

Once while attending a conference at a church in Florida, various slides were put up on the overhead screens including the one pictured here. I immediately thought of Proverbs 28:1, which says “...the righteous are bold as a lion.” Another verse in Proverbs (chapter 23 verse 7) says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

How do you see yourself? Do you picture yourself as “more than a conqueror” (Romans 8:37) or like a grasshopper as the Israelites did outside the Promised Land? Too many Christians think of themselves as the latter. That’s why they don't receive all the blessings God has.for them.

Recently I saw a Facebook meme comparing one well-known TV pastor to the Apostle Paul calling himself “wretched” as if it’s wrong for Christians to make positive declarations over themselves. Joel 3:10 commands, “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” Paul’s comment in Romans chapter 7 needs to be read in context. The apostle wrote about his fleshly struggles but then mentions the solution: “Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (verses 24-25). He goes on to say in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Putting yourself down is not being humble. It degrades what God created you to be. Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” I heard one minister define humility as “knowing who you are in Christ…and knowing who you are without Christ.”

So the next time you look in the mirror, don’t recite that “Wayne’s World” mantra, “We’re not worthy.” See yourself as the Lord sees you…as a winner!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13

More Than a Survivor

Yours truly with Sunday

One of the most popular programs on TV is CBS’s “Survivor.” This reality show features a group of contestants marooned in an isolated location where they must provide for themselves and compete in challenges to avoid elimination. Derived from a Swedish series called “Expedition Robinson”, the U. S. version of “Survivor” debuted in 2000 and quickly became a ratings success. Until recently I never watched an entire episode but now have a passing interest in it. 

Sunday Burgquest and her husband Jeff oversee the Family Support Ministry at Living Word Christian Center, the church I attend when in the Minneapolis area. Sunday is currently one of eight surviving contestants for Season 33 of “Survivor.” This past Wednesday a group of us gathered in the fellowship hall to watch the latest episode. The sound was turned down during commercial breaks so Sunday and Jeff could share behind-the-scenes stuff. They were cautious not to reveal information that could disqualify Sunday from eventually winning the top prize of $1 million. 

In the meantime, Sunday is using her newfound fame by selling “Survivor” T-shirts to raise money for an upcoming youth missions trip to Mexico. This reminded me of another minister I know who appeared on a popular reality program. In 2010, Dave Vaughan from Wales was the runner-up on the U. K.’s “Big Brother.” Dave shared with me how the experience gave him more ministry opportunities. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

Unlike most games where only one person becomes a “sole survivor”, everyone can be “more than conquerors” in Christ (Romans 8:37). In the spiritual realm, man has a common enemy named Satan. Living a victorious Christian life involves walking in love and sometimes doing things that won’t make sense to nonbelievers. Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Christians don’t need to sing the old Gloria Gaynor song “I Will Survive.” God wants us more than just merely existing. We can put on His armor and be the overcomers He destined us to be.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” - 1 John 5:4-5