Many of you know Dawn Lundgren, who leads our prayer ministry. Dawn and John have four adult children and nine (going on 10) grandchildren. Dawn was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and grew up in St. Cloud, Minn., Wyckoff, N.J., and Elmhurst, Ill. In this week’s post, Dawn describes how she got involved in prayer ministry, who has influenced her, and who some of her favorite authors are.
When I began seminary, I wasn’t sure what direction my degree would take me. While I was a student at Bethel Seminary, I was pursuing a master’s of divinity with a marriage and family therapy concentration. I was also doing prayer ministry through a wonderful ministry at North Heights Lutheran Church called All Things New. When I had completed two years of a three-year degree, and all of the marriage and family coursework, during a time of prayer, I felt the Lord saying, I sent you to seminary for your heart and you are letting it be about your head. From that season of prayer, I transferred to a tiny seminary called the Master’s Institute and finished my M.Div. there.
How did prayer ministry become such a big part of your life?
I’ve always been drawn to prayer, but when I was introduced to listening/healing prayer about 15 years ago, I found that not only was it a way of praying where the Lord could get at my inner being and bring insight and healing, but it was also a way I wanted to pray with others.
Who have some of your spiritual mentors been?
I have been richly blessed with “official” and “unofficial” mentors. Primarily they have been people of prayer—like Nancy Bergstrom. I could give you a list of easily two dozen mentors over my lifetime of people I paid attention to and learned so much from—including my husband, John. And, I’m sure I could double that list if I were to name the authors or speakers who have spurred me on to grow deeper in love with the Lord.
And about those authors:
Sometimes I just fall in love with an author! When I really connect and learn from a particular author, I tend to read just about everything they write. I have been majorly influenced by some of the obvious ones (because they are so, so good!) like C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, George MacDonald. More contemporary authors—Eugene Peterson (wait and see if I ever preach a sermon and I don’t quote him!), Frederick Buechner, Wendell Berry, Marva Dawn, Walter Brueggemann, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, Miroslav Volf, Leanne Payne, Dallas Willard, Philip Yancey.
How do you pray for your children and grandchildren?
I pray for them in lots of ways. Sometimes I just pray what they express a need for, other times I pray what I sense is a need. Sometimes I choose a passage of Scripture or a few words and pray into those over a period of time. I am more drawn to pray for them in big category ways than for particular lists—but I do both.
What passages of scripture do you find especially comforting in prayer?
Psalms. I pray the psalms often for all kinds of people and situations. And for myself.