Man Killed in Weekend Fire Was Well-Known Pastor

A memorial fund has been set up to help assist the family of Jeff Sorvik

NORMANA TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The man killed in a house fire this past Saturday in rural Normana Township has been identified as 52–year–old Jeffrey Sorvik.

Sorvik was a well–known pastor and helped plant many evangelical free churches across the Northland, including Anchor Point Community Church in Lakeside and North Bay Church in Superior. His work led him to the Evangelical Free Church of America, where he was in charge of starting up churches across the country.

Those who knew Sorvik described him as a compassionate person, who loved and cared for all people.

“When I started seeing some of the responses to what happened Saturday they were coming from all over of relationships he made and established,” said Glenn Johnson, pastor of North Bay Community Church. “People who recognized his heart and his love and were responding with true grief.”

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A memorial fund has been set up by Anchor Point Community Church to assist the Sorvik family.

• Gifts for the Sorvik family may be made to the “Sorvik Family Fund” (c/o North Shore Bank of Commerce, Woodland Branch, 17 E Calvary Road, Duluth, MN 55803).
• All offers of help/support/donations should be made through the Anchor Point Staff Team.

A memorial service for Sorvik is scheduled for Thursday, February 9 at 1 p.m. at Duluth Vineyard Church (1533 W. Arrowhead Rd., Duluth, MN, 55811).

Anchor Point Community Church released the following statement regarding the loss of the church’s founder:

The Evangelical Free Church of America (AFCA) also released a statement, reading in part:

In Romans 12:15, Paul writes that we are to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Today, I write to you with a heavy heart.

On Saturday, Jeff Sorvik, church multiplication catalyst for the EFCA, tragically perished in a fire at his home in Duluth, Minn. His son, Josh, and daughter-in-law, Chelsea, were able to escape from the house. Jeff’s wife, Michele, was not home at the time of the fire. Please pray with us for the loss of a life, a home, Michele’s work studio, and an apartment for Josh and Chelsea.

We pray that the outpouring of support and love we feel for Jeff and his family will endure in the days ahead. Jeff was a great friend, colleague and member of our ReachNational team. The grief we feel is immeasurable.