2025 Annual Report > Responding to the Spirit, Minnesota congregation serves neighbors with love, dignity and respect
Responding to the Spirit, Minnesota congregation serves neighbors with love, dignity and respect
PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH | BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA
Published on June 10, 2025
Love God. Love people.
These simple words shape the mission of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, Minnesota—guiding how the congregation listens to neighbors and responds to community needs.
“Prince of Peace has always striven to be creative in how it reaches out, open to the power of the Holy Spirit moving in the community and seeking ways to be innovative in bringing that to life,” says the Rev. Paul Dean, lead pastor.
A GAP PRINCE OF PEACE COULDN’T IGNORE: ACCESS TO EYE CARE
“We were hearing from optometrists, county social workers and others that people couldn’t get eye care or glasses,” shares Pastor Dean. Without adequate eye care, people often cannot get work or a driver’s license and may face problems in school.
As the congregation learned more about the community’s need for eye care, something unexpected happened—donations began to arrive. Retired optometrists sent hundreds of frames and lenses. A recently closed community eye clinic offered equipment.
“The Spirit started grabbing us by the hand and showing us where we needed to be,” says Pastor Dean.
WITH MIF, A CLINIC COMES INTO FOCUS
As the vision for an Eye Clinic took shape, the congregation needed a financial partner to help bring it to life. They chose the Mission Investment Fund (MIF). “It’s obvious,” says Pastor Dean, “that the Mission Investment Fund cares about Lutheran faith communities—like Prince of Peace—and the door is always open to have a conversation, which is really, really helpful.
“Teaming with MIF and the loan MIF provided made the clinic possible. MIF helped us say ‘yes’ to this and people are getting eye care. MIF gives lots of other churches the opportunity to say ‘yes,’ because with MIF we know we can make it happen.”
The Eye Clinic had an immediate impact soon after it opened in June 2025. A teacher noticed students were struggling and identified 35 children who could benefit from glasses. The clinic saw six students right away and quickly scheduled the rest.
“Teaming with MIF and the loan MIF provided made the clinic possible. MIF helped us say ‘yes’ to this and people are getting eye care. MIF gives lots of other churches the opportunity to say ‘yes,’ because with MIF we know we can make it happen.”
A CONTINUUM OF SERVICE
The Eye Clinic is part of a broader outreach ministry at Prince of Peace known as Mission Outpost. Spirit-led listening led to the Mission Outpost, which is volunteer-powered and grant-funded. It provides food and clothing, personal care and household items and dental services to people in need. In addition, it helps neighbors navigate multiple community and county resources.
“We call everyone a guest, not a client,” shares Mr. Eric Elton, executive director of ministries and director of outreach at Prince of Peace. For more than 20 years he has guided Mission Outpost, building a caring center of hope.
“Each guest is engaged with personally at least seven times by either volunteers, staff or both. Dignity and respect drive everything we do: food is date-checked; clothing is clean with working zippers and buttons. Our goal is to meet people where they’re at as much as we can,” Elton says.
Optometrists volunteer at the Eye Clinic and oversee exams and referrals; trained volunteers manage intake, logistics and hospitality. “We run with a minimum of 200 volunteers a week at Mission Outpost, and that increases with each clinic. Right now, we serve around 160 families a week,” shares Elton.
A COMMITMENT TO LONG-TERM MINISTRY
“We’re growing deep and not wide,” Pastor Dean explains, “because in my experience, when you try to do everything and be a food court for everyone, it doesn’t necessarily work. We want to be consistent. We don’t want to get into something and then shut it down.”
At Prince of Peace, that commitment shows in ministries that endure. The Dental Clinic has served around 8,000 patients since opening in 2014, and the congregation sustains long-standing global partnerships with companion partners in the Dominican Republic and Tanzania. For nearly two decades, they’ve walked hand-in-hand with their companions through mission trips, financial support and hands-on service.
Prince of Peace believes everyone has a story, and every story matters. For this congregation, helping the community means listening to needs and providing help.
“In loving God, we worship,” explains Pastor Dean. “In loving God, we serve. In loving God, we reach out to our younger generations to grow faith in them. And in loving God we can be in community with one another. And when we say all people, we mean all. It doesn’t matter where you are on your journey of faith and life. We are here for you.”
Love God. Love people.
To learn more please visit Prince of Peace Lutheran Church