"A New Song" June 2026
“JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD”
Dear Friend in Ministry:
From the writings of Pastor Salem:
Of all the texts I have preached on throughout my 75 years in the ministry, none has meant more to me than the Twenty-Third Psalm. Each time I return to it, I discover something new—something beautiful that brings comfort to the heart and blessing to the soul. I would like to share a few thoughts with you from this beloved Psalm:
v HE PROVIDES FOR ME. “I shall not want.” vs. 1. Originally, this meant “lack”— that is, I may not receive everything I desire, but I will never lack what I truly need. A little girl in a Sunday School class once said it so simply and beautifully: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I’ve got all I want.” (Jeremiah 33:3).
v HE LEADS ME. “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” vs. 2. Jesus knows the way—I will never be lost or forsaken. The Good Shepherd loves me too much for that to happen. (Colossians 3:3; Proverbs 3:5,6).
v HE SAVES MY SOUL. “He restoreth my soul.” vs. 3. The most precious thing I had—my soul—was on its way to hell. But the Good Shepherd shed His blood on the cross and redeemed me! (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22).
v HE GUIDES MY STEPS. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.” vs. 3. My natural inclination is to go astray, but the Good Shepherd lovingly corrects and directs my steps so that I walk in the paths of righteousness. Do I ever appreciate that! (I Peter 5:7).
v HE WILL NEVER FORSAKE ME. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” vs. 4. You know what? I am not afraid to die—and do you know why? Because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is with me every step of the way. Instead of fear, there is even a sense of anticipation. (II Corinthians 5:8).
v HE GIVES ME VICTORY OVER MY ENEMIES. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” vs. 5. Jesus told us the world would hate us—it hated the Master, and it will not love His servants. But He always gives us victory. As the Psalmist said, “When they came upon me to eat my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” (Psalm 27:2).
v HE REFRESHES ME. “He anointest my head.” vs. 5. He is talking about the strength and help God gives us every day, and even more, He provides extra strength when we need it! (Isaiah 40:31). St. Paul said the same thing in Philippians 4:13. How wonderful!
v HE ABUNDANTLY SUPPLIES. “My cup runneth over.” vs. 5. God gives far more than we deserve. As for me, I know I deserve nothing, so I marvel at His grace and goodness in every blessing He gives. (Psalm 84:11).
v HE BLESSES ME ALL OF MY LIFE. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” vs. 6. At 97 years of age I could still testify that God’s blessings continued to come in abundance—by the bushel (I was raised on the farm). You simply cannot outgive God. (Luke 6:38).
v HE TAKES ME TO HEAVEN. “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” vs. 6. Be sure Jesus is your Shepherd by receiving Him into your heart and life. Then you can be certain of this: we die so that we may live forever! Isn’t that wonderful? And it is all possible because of Jesus, the Good Shepherd! (John 14:1-6).
Isn’t Jesus wonderful? Aren’t you thankful to know Him and to have Him in your life?
As we continue this work together, I encourage you to pray earnestly and give faithfully as the Lord leads. Thank you, each one, for being a vital part of the team that carries the Good News to so many! May God richly bless you.
In our Savior’s love,
Pastor Salem
In Loving Memory of…
AMELIA (AMY) KEES, my dear friend, by SHANNA GAGLIARDI, MN, $25
BARBARA JEAN, my dear mother, by JOHN WULF, SD, $125
BENJAMIN E. WOOLERY, my dad, by BARBARA CUMMINS, MO, $20
BETTY BARTLETTE, by ROBERT J. BARTLETTE, CA-MB, $100
CANDACE HECKER, by DAVID STOCKIE, MT, $25
CAROLIN A. COUGHENOUR, by MICHAEL COUGHENOUR, PA, $30
CHRISTINA SILL, my wife, by ARTHUR SILL, MI, $25
DAVID WERMAGER, by HIS FAMILY, IA, $200
DEBORAH PRESZLER, my loving wife, by RONALD PRESZLER, ID, $100
DEBRA STEGMAN, my loving wife in heaven with our Lord & Savior, by THADDEUS STEGMAN, MI, $100
DEREK C. VALENTINE, my beloved son of 32 years, by JEFFREY DEREK VALENTINE, FL, $20
DEWAYNE SONDROL, by VIRGINIA SONDROL, MN, $50
DORA RUBY LEDBETTER GILLIAM SMUTEK, our precious mother, by RICHARD GILLIAM, MI, $100
DOROTHY STRONG, my mom, and CORY TOMLINSON, my son, by DONNA ROLAND, NE, $100
DR. DANA MARSH, by TONY DECRESCENTIS, NY, $35
DWIGHT, my husband, remembering his 100th Birthday, and DANIEL, my grandson, by ELIZABETH KLINE, IN, $150
EWALD ULMER, by LUVERL J. THOMSEN, SD, $100
GAIL ANNIS, my wife, by JOHN ANNIS, IL, $20
GENE J. HENNESSEY, my husband, by DARLENE HENNESSEY, MN, $50
GEORGE and TODD SETZKE, by KATHLEEN and CHRISTY SETZKE, WI, $100
GLADYS, my mother, on Mother’s Day, by RON BOWEN, IA, $70
GLENN ZABEL, my husband, by TRUDY ZABEL and DARRELL, our son, MN, $50
HEATH ALLEN, my beloved son, by MAMA MARY, IA, $59
HOWARD, my husband, by MARIA E. FEDDEN, WY, $50
J. PATRICK WICKHAM, my beloved husband, by PATRICIA A. WICKHAM, IL, $300
JEFF BRAUNSTEIN, by BRUCE CARMICHAEL, OR, $100
JERRI and LORI HECKLER, infant twin sisters, by ANONYMOUS, $5
JULIA BLOEM, my mom, by EDISON BLOEM, SJO, $100
LEE KLINGBERG, by JUDITH KLINGBERG, MN, $500
LENNY, my much loved brother, by BARBARA ARENS, ND, $100
LOIS ELLIOTT, my sister, by NORMA J. BAIRD, MN, $100
LOUIS CAPLOVITZ, my husband, GENEVA SHANNON, my mother, and ETTA MAY AMIS, my aunt, by PHYLISS CAPLOVITZ, WA, $25
LUCILLE & KEVIN WOODSON, by JERRY & ELIZABETH BROWN, MO, $20
MAMA & LARY, by NANCY KAY WHEELER, FL, $10
MARIA PIRES, by CARLOS PIRES, MA, $50
MARSHA SOVAK, my loving wife, by EUGENE SOVAK, PA, $100
MARY ANN, my wife, and DAVID, my brother, by DAN ISBELL, AR, $100
MICK KASER, my husband, by JENNY KASER, WY, $75
MONTE PULLMAN, our son, by DENNIS PULLMAN, SD, $100
MY WONDERFUL MOM, HUSBAND, DAUGHTER and SISTER, by LAMOYLE AMAN, SD, $40
NANCY JO LARSON, by EDWARD CUNANAN, CA, $100
NINA H. DOUBERLY, by PAUL D. DOUBERLY, FL, $300
NORMAN & BETTY PENTILA, my parents, by KEVIN PENTILA, MN, $300
PASTOR SALEM:
ALFRED ZUEHLKE, IA, $100
DEREK EDWARDS, AZ, $10
MICHAEL CROUCHER, MN, $50
P. LELAND SKOG, WI, $500
RAY & NANCY JEFFERS, NC, $20
RAY, my husband and STEPHANIE, my sister, by GERI EGGERT, MO, $1,000
RICK QUINCEY, my brother, by KATHY ESSEM, SD, $25
RICK, HP & DIANNE FAMILIES, by GLENN DAVIS, SD, $300
ROBERT & MARIA BETZ, GEORGE & MARY BETZ, PABLO & MARIA BARRANTES, JEREMY HULSHOFF and PASTOR SALEM, by DEBBIE BETZ, PA, $200
ROBERT (BOB) OLSEN, my brother, by SUE HAYES, MO, $50
SAMUEL & TINA GRIFFITHS, our son & daughter, by WILLIAM & MARIA GRIFFITHS, SD, $200
SANDY HASSLER, my wife, by KENNETH HASSLER, ND, $100
SELVA J., my wife, by ROBERT F. NICKELS, FL, $200
SOLVEIG CAROLINE, my wife, by BOBBY NORBY, MN, $126
THOMAS GIBBS, my husband, by JAYNE GIBBS, WI, $25
VIC TROST, Happy Heavenly Birthday, by PAULETTE, SD, $100
WILLIAM MARFELL, by BEN & LORA MARFELL, MN, $850
WILLIAM V. BURKE, my husband, by RENNAE BURKE, ND, $30
WILLIAM, my beloved husband, by CHRISTINE KIRKLAND, NY, $50
Any Memorials after 5/11/2026 will be listed in the July New Song
In Honor of…
ANN MICHAEL, my sister-in-law, wishing her a Happy Birthday, by MARILYN MICHAEL, NE, $200
ANNE, my wife, by JOHN S. BATTAGLIOLA, NJ, $25
CHRIS RAMIEZ, Happy Birthday, by PAULETTE, SD, $100
DAD, by MARJORIE FELLENDORF, NY, $15
DANIEL CAFFEJIAN, by SAMANTHA CLARK, NV, $20
EDNA BLYTHE YOUDERIAN BURR, my mother who showed me who God is, by LAURA HAZELL, MO, $25
EVA STEPHANIE BATEZ WASHINGTON, CHRISTOPHER WULF, CARLOS SANTIAGO, LIZBETH COULTER, KELLY MATSUI, EUGENE MATSUDA and MICHAEL VALACH, by TERRY WASHINGTON, IL, $20
HARRIET, DEAN, LUANN and JOEL, by CASEY WRIGHT, NE, $20
HEAVENLY FATHER, JESUS CHRIST & HOLY SPIRIT, by MISS MARY, IA, $195
IRIS HUTCHINSON, celebrating 79 blessed years thanks to our glorious Lord, MT, $100
JAY and NORA NOVAK, my grandchildren, by DIANNE DREW, SD, $1,000
JEFF & KERRI YEXLEY, celebrating our 19th wedding Anniversary, SD, $50
JERI K. HANSON, Chaplin, by DEANNA HANSON, MN, $50
JESUS CHRIST – MY LORD & SAVIOR, by SHANNA GAGLIARDI, MN, $25
KARRAH, our sweet daughter, celebrating her Birthday, by MOM & DAD, MT, $100
LLOYD & CAROL KUSLER, my parents, by ELIZABETH OLIVIERI, SD, $100
MY HOME, PUMPKIN HILL, by MICHAEL ROADAMLE, IN, $100
MY MOM, celebrating her Birthday, by BRENDA SHORT, KS, $25
MY MOTHER, by DOLORES GONZALVES, NV, $400
OUR GODLY MOTHERS, by RONALD & ANN ROBERTS, WY, $100
TWO NEW CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, by JONI & DAN, NE, $180
WESLEY L. FRITZ, by CARLENE FRITZ, TX, $100
Any Dedications after 5/11/2026 will be listed in the July New Song
60 Minute Services
JUNE 07 “THE SUSTAINING GOD” --- MATTHEW 6:25-34
JUNE 14 “THE SAINTLY CAPTIVE” --- DANIEL 6:16-23
JUNE 21 “PSALM NINETY-EIGHT” --- PSALM 98:1-9
JUNE 28 “THE KING IS COMING” --- ZECHARIAH 14:4-7
30 Minute Services
JUNE 07 “THE SUSTAINING GOD” --- MATTHEW 6:25-34
JUNE 14 “THE SAINTLY CAPTIVE” --- DANIEL 6:16-23
JUNE 21 “PSALM NINETY-EIGHT” --- PSALM 98:1-9
JUNE 28 “THE KING IS COMING” --- ZECHARIAH 14:4-7
A CELL PHONE DISCOUNT
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” — Matthew 13:22
Many years ago, my son Michael and I ate at a remarkable restaurant just outside Jerusalem, in a town called Abu Ghosh. It was owned by a Lebanese man named Jawdat Ibrahium. The place was beautiful; the food was outstanding -- so good I wished I had more than one stomach!
But what made it truly unique was this: the restaurant offered a 50-percent discount to anyone willing to turn off their cell phone. The owner believed smartphones take away from enjoying a meal and the company around you. And he was right.
How often do we try to talk with someone who has one eye on us and the other on their phone? It’s almost impossible to connect. And then I began to wonder—when I talk to God, read His Word, or try to meditate, do I really give Him my full attention?
Sometimes I catch myself reading the Bible, but my mind is somewhere else. I see the words, but I miss the message. I’m distracted. And that’s not new. God told Isaiah long ago that people would hear but not understand, see but not perceive (Isaiah 6:9). In other words, they would be present—but not really listening.
Dear friend, God deserves better than that. When we come to Him for worship, guidance, or fellowship, He deserves our full attention. Ibrahium had it right—shut the blessed thing off and listen to your Host.
As Clara H. Scott wrote:
“Open my eyes that I might see…
Open my ears, that I may hear…”