Blessings Church | Pastor Mark & Teresa Olson
“Prayer is not preparation for the battle; prayer is the battle.”
— Oswald Chambers
On their first Sunday at Blessings Church in Litchfield, pastors Mark and Teresa Olson announced they would begin a Wednesday night prayer service.
They had no idea if anyone would come. Every single person did. “We had 100% attendance,” Mark said. “All 12 people showed up. I’ve never been in a church where 100% came to the prayer service.”
Looking back, the Olsons see that small prayer gathering as the beginning of a transformation that would ripple through every part of the church and community.
When Mark and Teresa arrived in Litchfield in 2020, they were not planning another major ministry transition. After serving 31 years at Mount Olivet (now Bethel’s Rock) in Apple Valley, the couple had relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. Believing they were entering their final chapter of ministry, they helped revitalize a church during COVID.
Then came an unexpected phone call from longtime friend, Carl Lindelien. “Mark, what are you doing in the desert when we need you in Minnesota?”
Not long afterward, while visiting in Minnesota, the Olsons attended Prayer and Fasting Retreat, where Superintendent Mark Dean asked if they would preach in Litchfield. “I told him, ‘I’ll preach there, but I’m not trying out,’” Mark recalled with a laugh.
Still, something about the church immediately connected with them. Through prayer, Mark and Teresa sensed a genuine hunger for God and a willingness to step into something new. That willingness became the foundation for everything. “We believe church prayer drives everything,” Mark said.
As the church leaned into prayer, new life emerged. A worship team grew from Teresa leading alone to eight people on stage. Small groups launched. Celebrate Recovery and young adult ministry began meeting weekly. New families started attending and several people entered ministry training through MNSOM.
The transformation reached beyond the church walls as well. After a conversation with a local businessman about disc golf, the church opened its seven-acre property for a public disc golf course funded by the community. Today, people regularly visit the property throughout the week, creating opportunities for relationships and ministry.
“I’ve connected with about 20 different people through disc golf,” Mark shared. “Six have gotten saved and are attending church.”
Baptisms continue to increase, and Mark recently shared his testimony of healing after a battle with cancer. “We have seen God move powerfully,” he said. “If you prayed for me, thank you. Tell people you prayed for someone who was healed of cancer. My last appointment, the doctor said there is no cancer.”
For Mark, the lesson from the last five years remains simple: “Pray and obey. There is no other way.”
