New Assembly of God pastor feels blessed to be called to Springfield

Dennis Michael Franklin is the new pastor of the local Assembly of God Church.  He and his wife, Linda Kay, feel blessed to be called to serve in Springfield. 

“At the age of 62, we decided to make a change in our lives,” said Pastor Mike, as he likes to be called.  “We had been talking about it for some time.” 

The Franklins took a short sabbatical and prayed that the Lord would find a place for them.

Their prayers and the prayers of their five-year-old grandson, Timmy, seem to have been answered.   “Our son called and asked what I had done to Timmy because every night in his prayers he asked God to move Grandpa and Grandma to Minnesota,” Pastor Mike recalled during a recent interview.

After 18 years at Pawhuska, Oklahoma, “We felt it was time to leave,” Pastor Mike explained. Pawhuska is a city in and the county seat of Oklahoma and the capital of the federally recognized Osage Nation.  Pawhuska was a growing city during the Osage oil boom of the 1910s and 1920s. The population grew to 6,414 by 1920, but as the oil boom declined and the Great Depression set in, the population declined. The steady decline continued through each census to the present 3,500. 

So the Franklins put their trust in God, and moved to Minnesota. They lived with their son and daughter-in-law and family in Coon Rapids the past four months. “We have really enjoyed the summer up here” in Minnesota, Pastor Mike commented.  

When they learned of the vacancy for a pastor at the local Assembly of God Church, they visited Springfield and found a church and community to their liking. 

As they drove across the country to Minnesota they became more impressed with the countryside with each and every passing mile. They felt very welcomed by a beautiful Minnesota sign as they approached the state line.

The Franklins were impressed with the farms and cities — and when they spoke at the local church, they fell in love with the people.  “The people have class and character,” said Kay.  “We didn’t expect to get a call so quickly” to serve the local church, said Pastor Mike. “That really touched our hearts. I feel so privileged to serve.”

During their first visit to Springfield they drove around the entire city and were impressed with what they saw. “There is not a bad part of town,” Pastor Mike noted.  “We were impressed with the parks in Springfield as well as in Sanborn. They are beautiful and well cared for.”