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The Elk River Story

7 July 2007 No Comment

Rick Heeren, in The Elk River Story, writes, “Ed Silvoso called me in late 1999 and said that he felt that there were four cities in the USA where Harvest Evangelism was already working which would be so successful in their implementation of prayer evangelism that they would detonate other cities to follow their example. He said that one of those four cities would be Elk River, Minnesota. The leadership team of Pray Elk River agreed that Elk River should become a detonator city.Rick continues, “Early in 2000, the Midwest Regional team of Harvest Evangelism began working with them to accelerate the implementation of prayer evangelism in that city. The results were so positive that by early 2001 we were repeatedly asked to tell the Elk River story to other groups of pastors and leaders. After one of those presentations I felt that the Lord was urging me to work with these leaders to write The Elk River Story.”

The book, entitled, The Elk River Story, was published in February, 2004, by Transformational Publications, a division of Harvest Evangelism, Inc.

In one of his two chapters in the book, Greg Pagh, senior pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Otsego, MN, and a member of the leadership team of Pray Elk River, wrote the following,

“Two key passages of scripture have guided the movement of the Spirit called Pray Elk River. The first is Jesus’ ‘high priestly prayer’ in John 17. The second is Jesus’ instructions to the seventy-two in Luke 10. The first provides the theological framework for God’s call to greater unity in the church. The second provides a practical model for the implementation through what has become known as Prayer Evangelism.”

One of the key indicators of the success of the Elk River prototype, and a component of the detonation process, has been Riverview Community Bank. This bank, founded in March, 2003, has accumulated $100 million in deposits in 28 months, making it one of the fasted growing start-up banks in the history of the State of Minnesota. During this period 100 people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord during banking hours. Additionally, 70 people have been healed when they received prayer at the bank. The New York Times wrote a ten-page article about this bank in their Sunday Magazine published on October 31, 2004. As a result of this article television news teams from all over the world have been coming to Elk River to document the marketplace ministry happening at the bank, and the spiritual climate change that is taking place in the city.

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To view the first 26 pages of the E-book for The Elk River Story, right click here and choose Open or Save. The E-book is an EXE file and will run on any computer with the Windows operating system. We hope to have the complete E-book available for purchase online soon.

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PRAISE FOR “THE ELK RIVER STORY”

Let’s all keep our eyes on Elk River, Minnesota. Rick Heeren’s The Elk River Story is an exciting, revealing, faith-building account of how church and workplace leaders together can tap into God’s power for social transformation.
- C. Peter Wagner, Chancellor, Colorado Springs, Colorado (Wagner Leadership Institute)

The Elk River Story is a contemporary narrative that had to be written and MUST BE READ! God wants to transform whole regions, nations, and event continents. But for this to happen, cities and towns have to be reached first. This is the great challenge and encouragement of The Elk River Story. Read, learn, and picture the transformation of your own hometown and nation.
- Roger Mitchell (Passion, London, England; Co-leader of Target Europe)

The spiritual transformation of a city or region in the United States is no longer just a theory. It is happening in the Elk River, Minnesota. Reading these reports will encourage and strengthen the effort of the rapidly growing numbers of men and women across America, and around the world, who are believing spiritual transformation will occur in their communities. After reading The Elk River Story, I‘m more convinced than ever that when the spiritual leadership in a geographic region is represented by more than the pastors, the church will become the powerful presence Jesus said it should be. These testimonies are from pastors, prayer intercessors, business people, and even the city’s mayor. This is a story of the Body of Christ working together to create a culture of transformation. It is the church being God’s redemptive community and changing the spiritual climate of a city. This story gives us new hope for the transformation of our nation.
- John Isaacs, San Jose, California (Senior Pastor, South Bay Covenant Church, President, Pray The Bay)

It is possible to see the spiritual climate over a city be changed, even in the Western world! The Elk River Story is a series of faith inspiring testimonies from the people who have been and are in the midst of a process of transforming their city. They come from all walks of life, but are united in the desire to see Christ lifted up in all areas of the life of Elk River. This book will encourage other city reachers and even inspire others to embrace a new vision to touch their cities for Christ.
- Dr. Reidar Paulsen (Senior Pastor Christ Church, Bergen, Norway, Co-leader of the Pastoral Network in Bergen, called Pray Bergen)

This book comes at the right time. We need to hear what God is doing – bringing unity to a city in order to bring salvation. This is a great book and I can identify with the process in this city. We are seeing some of the same results in Bergen, Norway. We had a vision to see our city changed and God gave us the strategy of prayer evangelism. The Elk River Story is encouraging because they are ahead of us in the process and are showing us that we are on the right track. I love to see the people of God moving forward to let whole cities and nations see the glory of God.
- Noralv Askeland (Senior Pastor, Christian Fellowship, Bergen, Norway, Co-leader of the Pastoral Network in Bergen, called Pray Bergen)

This book edited by Rich Heeren is a must-read for all those who desire to see transformation happen in their cities and/or nations. If you have watched the Transformations videos, and you would like it to happen in your city and nation, this book has captured and outlined the step-by-step process of transformation using prayer evangelism as the strategy.
- King Flores, Las Pinas City, Manila, Philippines (Pastor for Body Ministry, BF Homes Bible Church)

In The Elk River Story we are given a practical demonstration of God the Father responding to the prayer of Jesus for the unity of his disciples, “that the world may know you have sent me” (John 17). Here is tremendous encouragement for those of us who have a burden for restoration of the Kingdom of God in our communities, but have yet to see the realization of this in practice. It appears that no facet of city or social life remains untouched as we read account after account of transformation in place after place, beginning with the House of the Lord. Through this story our Father in Heaven once again reveals his compassion for every member of society, bar none
- Gordon Shewan, Aberdeen, Scotland (Senior Pastor, All Nations Christian Fellowship)

The call to reach the whole of our cities for Christ’s Kingdom has grown stronger in the last decade. It is now at an all time high. Every city has its own DNA, but it is wonderful to have documented the story of Elk River. This justifies the pioneer call of those God raised up with the city reaching message and articulated that. I believe many will be encouraged to press in for their city by reading the story of Elk River. It is also a tribute to the tenacity of Rick and Rachel Heeren who have believed the message for their area. I commend them and the story to you believing you will all be encouraged by the story they have edited and helped to put together.
- David Brown, Sunderland, England (Pastor & City Reacher)

This is an amazing collection of stories of humble servants who have said No to ego and Yes to the call of Christ-crucified and risen. I long for this type of unity to come to the community I’m serving. The Elk River Story is nothing other than a fresh release of the Holy Spirit enabling surrendered leaders from many walks of life the privilege of knowing and being known, loving and being loved, serving and being served, celebrating and being celebrated. I believe Christ is smiling on Elk River.
- Blair Anderson, Ramsey, Minnesota (Senior Pastor, Lord of Life Church)

If your heart’s desire is to see the church unified for kingdom advancement spurred by pastors, business people, intercessors, city officials and educators who love and trust one another, I commend to you the principles you will find in The Elk River Story. I know you will find encouragement and the call of God to see your city reached for Christ.
- Randy Discher, Andover, Minnesota (Senior Pastor, Constance Evangelical Free Church)

The Elk River Story is more than a story. It is a move of God. As a pastor in the suburbs south of Elk River, God used this story as a catalyst to move the churches in our area. Two pastors, a businessman/prayer intercessor and a governmental leader in the Spring of 2001 shared how God was at work in Elk River. Their simple testimonies helped to develop a similar story that the Spirit is writing in the far western suburbs of Minneapolis. I thank God for Rick Heeren and his wife, Rachel, who have given their lives to assist the many stories the Spirit is creating throughout the Twin Cities.
- Dr. Kevin D. Meyer, Medina, Minnesota (Senior Associate Pastor, Woodridge Church)

For all, like myself, who want to do God’s will and be part of what God is doing today and see the power of God manifested in their life, church and community, this collection of current testimonies and vision given in The Elk River Story will fan the flame and stir up the zeal needed to finish the race set before you. Rich Heeren is an emerging author who has a gift to encourage the church to accomplish the mission of evangelism given to it. This book is a testimony that the prayer of Jesus in John 17 for Christ centered unity can happen city wide. A must-read in staying abreast with the current revival.
- Steve Thompson, Bemidji, Minnesota (Senior Pastor, Mount Zion Church)

It is my joy and privilege to encourage everyone to experience the amazing story of what God is doing through prayer evangelism in the city of Elk River, Minnesota. The Elk River Story is a compilation of events and experiences written by various pastors and leaders of the community who share the profound workings of God as the y are happening in their city. It is truly a work of His grace and something to be desired by every pastor and leader for their communities. Rick and Rachel Heeren have carefully documented every step of this renewal which will capture your imagination and faith and bring the reader to a new hunger and hope for revival in their own cities. After pasturing for 36 years in the Shell Lake area, I am excited to see the beginnings of similar manifestations here of the kind of revival which is now happening in Elk River. This book will bring new hope to your vision.
- Virgil Amundson, Shell Lake, Wisconsin (Senior Pastor, Shell Lake Full Gospel Church)

God has been waiting for a long time for us to retake the cities of the world for Christ Jesus! This can only be done as we follow the pattern of blessing that Jesus commands! I was challenged and stretched by this book because I have known the power of both a blessing and of a curse. I choose in Jesus to walk the way of the blessing and purpose to recommend this biblical model to you who really want Jesus to be Lord of you city!
- John Mehrens, Granby, Missouri (Senior Pastor, Granby Christian Church)

The true grit of The Elk River Story is the play-by-play reality of how the kingdom of God is advanced in a city when obedient men and women take care out of the “church box.” When determined people buy into God’s idea of evangelism, every facet of society is impacted. A must-read for culture changers.
- Dr. Phil Nordin, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (International Association of Ministries)

The Elk River Story is a practical, deeply inspiring model of what God will set in motion when there is genuine love, unity, prayer and bold practical ministry action steps taken by dedicated community leaders. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being powerfully communicated and demonstrated daily through local marketplace networks and far beyond. Read these pages carefully and hear what the Lord would have you do as an agent of transformation in your city.
- Jarry Cole, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Senior Pastor, RiverCity Outreach)

The Elk River Story is a great book! I am particularly drawn to the idea that the church is supposed to be a resource to our public officials. The idea that there should be separation between church and state is a lie from the devil. Ask the Police Chief in Elk River how he caught the drug dealers in his city-he caught them when the church prayed. Ask the Superintendent of Schools how he got a referendum passed to refurbish the schools-the referendum passed when the church prayed. Yes, we have to stop listening to the lie. Like the Riverview Bank in Otsego, our institutions need to be centered on the phrase-In God We Trust!
- Larry Ihle, Farmington, Minnesota (Business Owner and CEO, Dexterity dental Arts)

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Table Of Contents
The Elk River Story

FORWARD BY ED SILVOSO……………………….15

Chapter 1……………………………………………..17
Preface by Rick Heeren

Chapter 2……………………………………………..23
Conceived in the Marketplace by K.C. Foster

Chapter 3……………………………………………..29
Birthed by Pastors by Pastor Paul Salfrank

Chapter 4……………………………………………..32
Married to the Land by Pastor Paul Salfrank

Chapter 5……………………………………………..35
The importance of Intercession by Ken and Carrie Beaudry

Chapter 6……………………………………………..46
Scriptural Foundations by Pastor Greg Pagh

Chapter 7……………………………………………..55
The Power of Unified Prayer by Pastor Greg Pagh

Chapter 8……………………………………………..60
A Charismatic Perspective by Pastor Bob Pullar

Chapter 9……………………………………………..64
A New Pastor’s Perspective by Pastor Percy Kallevig