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In the beginning, God created the universe. Then He stepped back and let things unfold as they would, without any further interference... These two sentences summarize in brief what we might call classical deism. On the basis of reason, deists are willing to admit that there is a God. But they deny that this God ever acts in a supernatural way. He simply set things in motion—established the laws of nature and the universe’s starting point—and then let them go, much as one might wind up an antique clock: the spring keeps unwinding, the gears keep turning, and the clock keeps ticking and tocking even after you step out of the room.
Deists disagree on whether this God has any real interest in humanity (and, consequently, whether we owe Him any real worship). But the portrait of God they paint seems to me one utterly remote and distant—a God either unable or unwilling to interfere in the created world. He does not interact or communicate with created beings like us. He performs no miracles. He does not answer prayers. He is simply too far off.
Such ideas stand in stark contrast to the God of Scripture. The Bible tells us that God remains intricately involved with the universe He has made. Yes, He created the world “in the beginning,” but He also continues to sustain it in the present by His power (Hebrews 1:3). He concerns Himself with every aspect of creation; for all things, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy, hold together in Him (Colossians 1:17). We can well imagine God—reversing His words in Jeremiah—challenging the deist: “Am I God far off and not also a God who is near?” (cf. Jeremiah 23:23).
No, God remains deeply involved with the running of the world, and with everything and everyone in it. As St. Paul has said, “He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27). But even though we believe this as Christians, we must confess we do not always act like we believe it. How often are we seized by fear and anxiety? How often do we “worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:25-34)? And yet our God is with us all the time—a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 56:1).
The Bible records miraculous examples of that everpresent help. Think of the parting of the Red Sea. The destruction of the idol Dagon. The resurrection of the widow’s son. The three men in the fiery furnace.
Such miracles reach a peak in the New Testament. For here the presence of God is powerfully revealed in Jesus Christ—God in the flesh. He turned water to wine, healed the sick, walked on the waves, raised the dead, and ultimately reconciled us to the Father through His own death and resurrection. “There were many other things that Jesus did,” St. John writes simply. “If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). But the signs which are recorded in Scripture assure us that our faith in Jesus is not misplaced; He really is the Son of God (John 20:31).
Failing to take seriously what God says in the Bible about Himself and His power leads to all sorts of problems. Some people, for example, think Jesus merely a wise teacher. And yet, the miracles He performed speak powerfully to His divinity—filling our emptiness with His divine abundance, as Rev. Jim Chimirri-Russell reminds us (page six). Other people are quite willing to believe that God can perform miracles, yet treat Him like a sort of wishing well. But God doesn’t work that way. Our second feature explores this tension—what it means to believe that God can do miracles but nevertheless doesn’t always give us the miracles we ask for (page nine).
These errors—treating Jesus merely as a good teacher and treating the Father like Santa Clause—are examples of a wider tendency to reduce God into an image of our own making. And yet, if we are to truly understand the nature of God and His power, we must approach Him on the basis of His own self-revelation—something Rev. Dr. William Mundt reminds us of in our third feature this issue (page twelve).
Our God is indeed a God of power. But we must never lose sight of the greatest miracle of all: that the Son of God willingly came to take our sins upon Himself and suffer in our place. Through His death, we are forgiven. Through His resurrection, we have new life. This is the miracle which gives all other miracles their meaning. It is the Gospel—and it is the most precious demonstration of the power of God.
Romans 1:16
“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”
The first and great enemy is scarcity. From the second that humanity fell into sin and the fall occurred, then scarcity began. Before that moment, there was no such thing as scarcity. No such thing as want. Things have changed so much since then that scarcity is now seen by us as a fact of the universe—when it wasn’t supposed to be. In the beginning, there was no scarcity. No want. There was no concept of there not being enough. Food was plentiful and easy to attain. There was no sickness, no disease, nor any concept of plants or animals having to defend themselves. What you wanted, you could have.
Then, the fall. Then, scarcity. Then, humanity found itself facing scarcity of every kind: of food, of health, of time, of all of it. Humanity came to understand that, from this point on, effort was going to govern how we lived. Effort—the sweat of our brow—was the way that we would stave off the scarcity. But there was still never going to be enough. The concept of “enough”—enough for everyone—just no longer existed .
What makes the works of our Lord, Jesus Christ, when He appears on the scene, so miraculous is that they address and defeat the concept of scarcity. What makes them so miraculous is that the scarcity which had governed the human race since the fall was now met with the abundance of paradise.
When people encounter Christ, they see, even if just for a moment, what it must have been like in the garden.
When Jesus shows His mastery over the elements of this earth, He is showing the people what it is like to live in the presence of God, where needs are actually met, questions answered, and there truly is enough.
Consider the first miracle of our Lord at the wedding at Cana in Galilee. What is the problem the people were encountering? They have no more wine. There is not enough wine for their needs. This is the very definition of scarcity. There is a want, a desire, but no way to meet that desire. When Jesus addresses the situation, He doesn’t call into existence a new creation. Instead, He shows the people at the wedding what it is like to want something and be able to actually have it. He shows them, in other words, what it means to not run out of things.
We have been so accustomed to the concept of scarcity that we act as though running out of something is absolutely going to happen. No matter how much wine you have for your wedding, you can and will inevitably run out. If the party goes on for long enough, then you will, by definition, run out of wine. There is not enough wine you can buy to make sure that you will always have enough. You can have enough wine for one gathering, but it will not be enough for every possible future gathering. You will have to buy more or make more—and that will take work.
And yet, when the water becomes wine, it does so without any labour or effort on the part of the people who are at the wedding. The guests, the host, the happy
couple… none of them had to expend any work, sweat, or labour to get that wine. The scarcity of that moment is defeated by the abundance of Christ.
The feeding of the 5,000 works in a similar fashion. In the Gospel of John, when there is a big crowd surrounding Jesus and they are clearly hungry, the discussion that Jesus has with Philip is not just about hunger but also about work. Philip, as with the rest of us, has tied food to effort—a reality we all experience since the curse; by the sweat of our brows will we eat our bread (Genesis 3:19). And so, when faced with such a massive crowd, the concern from Philip was this: not just how much money it will take but how much work it will take to feed everyone. “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite” (John 6:7 NIV). The problem isn’t that bread doesn’t exist but rather that both there isn’t enough—and there isn’t enough time to make enough money to buy it.
When Jesus has the people sit down and begins to feed them from one boy’s lunch, He separates the food from the work. The people who are there are free to eat without working, fulfilling the promise from the book of Isaiah: “He who has no money: come, buy and eat!” (55:1). It is so foreign to our understanding of the universe to contemplate the abundance of God in the way that it was supposed to be: that food would be completely disconnected from effort. But this is what we see in the miracles of Christ.
The greatest of all of Jesus’ miracles is certainly the raising of the dead. This is something that defies not just the natural order but the very governing principles of how we function as human beings—the life we live with a ticking clock in the background all the time. The concept of the eternal runs head-on with the finite nature of the world in which we live. Life and death teach us that it hurts to lose those whom we love. And to go on without them is a difficult thing, for it puts the desire for eternity
"When Jesus shows His mastery over the elements of this earth, He is showing the people what it is like to live in the presence of God, where needs are actually met, questions answered, and there truly is enough.""THE MARRIAGE AT CANA," detail. The Workshop of Frans Francken II, before 1637.
within our hearts while leaving it eternally outside of our reach. The great scarcity is simply this: you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
Of all the things that there is not enough of, time is the first and foremost. All other scarcity hinges upon this one. You could work more, buy more, do more—except that there is literally never enough time. The grief felt by Jairus and his family over the death of his daughter is simply this: they had run out of time—time itself was scarce, and they had run out of it.
Once time runs out, you can’t buy more. No additional work, no additional effort can produce more of it. The eternity at the beginning of everything situated Adam and Eve in a space where time did not run out, a concept that we both can’t imagine and yet seem to be built for. None of us live a life where we behave as though the people around us are on the way out. We get desperately, hopelessly attached to one another as though eternity was a guarantee. And all the while, time keeps running out.
When Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, though he had been dead already for four days, He undoes the greatest scarcity of all. He makes more time where there was none left. Can you imagine a world where time wasn’t running out? Where you would always have enough time—enough time for all of it? Where you could spend all the time you could want with those you love, where you would finally have time to get to everything you wanted? A world where the hard stop of time was itself removed? That’s what the world was supposed to be in God’s original design. When Jesus raises people from the dead, He shows what it means to live in a universe the way God had intended—where we are not governed by things running out but simply live in a universe where there is actually enough.
You don’t need to just imagine it. Through His own death and resurrection, Jesus welcomes us into that universe of enough. Wiping away our sin, wiping away the curse, He gives us instead new life. His life. Life that truly lasts to eternity.
What are the miracles of our Lord then? Simply put, they are ways in which God gives us glimpses of a world with the curse undone—a world where needs can be met and the love of God is manifest. What would it mean to live in such a paradise? Simply this: living in a world where things don’t run out, and where there is enough for all.
"When Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, though he had been dead already for four days, He undoes the greatest scarcity of all...
"THE RAISING OF LAZARUS," detail. Rembrandt, c. 1630.
...He makes more time where there was none left."Rev. Jim Chimirri-Russell is pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Regina, Saskatchewan.
When I was three years old, I nearly died when a physician misdiagnosed a case of appendicitis. Later, when a second doctor examined me and found me deathly ill, I was rushed several hours away to the city for emergency treatment. The situation was so serious that the doctors there didn’t have time to make a more careful determination of the problem, instead opting for emergency exploratory surgery. A long scar from an inch above my navel down to my groin is a palpable reminder of how close to death I came.
My parents were not churchgoers at the time. But amidst the fear and sorrow of the situation, they turned back to God in prayer. They prayed that I might be saved.
And—during the months of recovery and complications that followed—they prayed for my continued healing.
That the surgeons were able to find and correct the problem in time was truly an answer to prayer. But it wasn’t just an answer to that prayer. Yes, I was made well—but God did more than that. As St. Paul writes, God is “able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). My parents prayed that I would get well. But He further used that opportunity to bring them and my family into the Church. If I hadn’t faced that health scare as a child, it is unlikely that I would be a member of the Church today.
We know of course that God is capable of doing great and incredible things; Scripture is full of these stories. And
there are many passages in the Bible which encourage us to pray for miracles of our own: “The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick” (James 5:15). “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20). “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
And so, in faith we lay our own prayers before God, asking Him for help in things both small and big. Sometimes we get the answer we want. This happens pretty regularly for little things—like finding our misplaced keys. Sometimes it’s for big things—like getting a new job. At other times, it seems almost miraculous—like the full recovery of family member injured in an accident.
Sometimes, though, we do not get what we ask for. Sometimes we pray—and pray earnestly—without it seeming to do anything. We might pray for a terminally ill friend, for example. And yet our friend dies. Is it our fault? Did we not pray hard enough—believe hard enough?
Certainly, some preachers of the so-called “prosperity Gospel” want us to believe so. They say that if we just pray the right prayer, if we just “name it and claim it,” if we just “sow a seed” (that is, send in a big cheque to the right ministry), then God will bless us with everything we ask.
Most of us can see through that kind of charlatanism. Sending a television evangelist your money isn’t going to buy God’s favour; He isn’t a wishing well, giving you whatever you want just because you throw in a coin. Nor can you earn a positive answer simply by “praying harder” or “believing harder”—as if faith was a matter of our own works.
But if it isn’t a lack of faith that results in unanswered prayers, what is it? We can start to have deeper doubts. Isn’t God listening to us? Doesn’t He care? You can end up feeling, as the hymnwriter suggests, “that God hath cast thee off unheard” and that others who seem to lack nothing “must surely be of God preferred” (LSB 750:5).
These are doubts that many of us face at some point in our lives. But just because we do not always receive what we pray for is not proof that either our faith or God are somehow lacking. God is indeed able, as we read earlier, “to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). But the “more” in this sentence doesn’t always mean more of what we expect. Sometimes it means His answer to our prayer will be entirely different than what we wanted.
We pray for a sick friend to be saved and yet she dies. We assume as a result that God has not listened to our prayers. But sometimes God chooses to save our friend not by healing her but by welcoming her home to Himself—by delivering her from the sorrows of this world into the bliss of heaven. “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart,” Isaiah writes. “Devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace” (Isaiah 57:1-2). A miracle has indeed taken place. It’s just not the one we asked for.
That knowledge doesn’t take away our own sense of loss, of course. But it is a reminder that God can answer our prayers in ways that are truly good even when they are different than what we hoped.
Are we wrong then to pray for healing for our sick friends? By no means! St. Paul encourages us: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). But as we pray, we must remember to make the words of Jesus our own: “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Whatever need we face, whatever concern we have, we do right to “take it to the Lord in prayer,” as the old hymn goes (LSB 770). But we also make room in our prayers to recognize that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). We don’t know what is best for us. “We do not know what to pray for as we ought,” St. Paul writes (Romans 8:26). That is why we need the Holy Spirit to come alongside us and pray on our behalf.
This is also why we pray “in Jesus’ name.” We can fall into the habit of saying these words by rote.
"If it isn’t a lack of faith that that results in unanswered prayers, what is it? We can start to have deeper doubts. Isn’t
But they aren’t just a formulaic way to end our prayers. When we say these words, we are recognizing that it is only because of Jesus that our prayers are presented to God at all (Romans 8:34). And if it is through Jesus that they are to be presented, then what we pray for must also be in keeping with His will. And we just don’t always understand the mysteries of that will. Sometimes God answers our prayers in ways that confuse us. Sometimes He answers in ways that anger us. And yes, sometimes, if our prayers run contrary to His will, He simply answers: “No:” “You ask and do not receive,” St. James cautions us, “because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).
But sometimes the answer is a straightforward, glorious yes. When our prayers align with the will of God, when what we hope for is what God brings about, then we can and should give thanks to Him with all gratefulness—whether the request is a small one (finding our lost keys, for example) or something inexplicable in human terms (the healing of a terminally ill friend, for example). Our God is indeed a God of miracles. He still works them today, and it is not wrong to pray for one.
In fact, we are continuously surrounded by miracles, though we do not recognize them. Every morning that you awake is a miracle; you might just have easily died in the night. Every day that you have enough to eat is a miracle; famine might just have easily denied you your daily bread. Every time that you recover from a cold is a miracle; you might just have easily succumbed to disease.
And in the Church we are surrounded by even greater miracles than these. Everyday, the Church witnesses the miracle of the dead brought back to life, as sinners are converted through the hearing of God’s Word. Everyday, the Holy Spirit comes to claim and indwell children who are baptized into the name of God. Everyday, Christians find forgiveness from sins as they repent and seek mercy from God the Father. Everyday, God imbues earthly bread and wine with the presence of Christ’s very real body and blood.
These are miracles that we take for granted. But they are miracles nonetheless! They are moments when God reaches down to us in power and touches our lives in tangible ways.
Importantly, they also all point us back to Jesus Christ and His sacrifice upon the cross. For it is here, in the death of Christ for sinners, that we see the ultimate proof of God’s love and goodness towards us (Romans 5:8). It is in Jesus, crucified and risen again, that we truly understand God’s good and gracious will for us.
When our prayers are not answered in the way we hope, when we doubt that God is even listening to our prayers or that He cares for us, we must look back to Christ. For in Him we see the greatest miracle of all. We see His divine power, yes—God incarnate dying and rising again—but we also see His love. And it is this love which comforts us and encourages us when our prayers are answered in ways other than we hoped.
There are no fruitless prayers. Everything asked for in faith is heard by God. And ultimately, He will give us more than we ask or dream. He will give us heaven. He will give us Himself—and that is the ultimate answer to all our prayers. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him,” we read. “That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
So be it, Lord. Amen.
"When our prayers are not answered in the way we hope, when we doubt that God is even listening to our prayers or that He cares for us, we must look back to Christ."Mathew Block is editor of The Canadian Lutheran and communications manager for the International Lutheran Council. Photo by Diane Kuhl on LCC Stock Photos. by William Mundt
Misunderstandings about God’s nature and methods are common when personal perspectives outweigh biblical ones. Looking around, we consider ourselves better than most, and so conclude that God will appreciate our effort. We think, in other words, that if you believe that God exists and try your best, that’s good enough. Alternately, for those who do not think of God as an over-indulgent grandpa who shrugs off bad behaviour (and attitudes), there is another possibility: that we think of God as too remote, too disinterested to be bothered with.
Work your way through all 1,146 pages of Stephen Charnock’s 1853 two-volume work, Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God, and you still won’t get a complete picture of who God is and what He does for us. The mystery of the Trinity remains just that: a mystery. The Bible declares but does not fully explain the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Faced with a doctrine too great for sinful minds to grasp, the fall-back position is often a distortion of the doctrine of God—an emphasis on one Person, with the others subordinated (a “unitarian” rather than trinitarian understanding, as the theologian Daniel L. Migliore has explained).
This unitarian misunderstanding of God can take different forms. Those who focus only on the Creator can end up with a God of “manifest destiny,” like those early North American settlers who wrote “In God We Trust” on their money. Such people can end up with little awareness of sin and the need for forgiveness, reconciliation, repentance, and transformation. Those who focus on Jesus only, meanwhile, can construct a personal Redeemer limited to the peace and love He founded. For them, faith can become sentimentality and individualism, with little concern for social justice and the rest of the world. Finally, those who focus only on the Spirit can over-emphasize the place of miracles, healings, tongues, and other signs or special gifts. And if such wonders are not present in your own life, then you may begin to doubt that you are saved or really know God at all. In short, when we downplay the trinitarian nature of God, we can end up worshipping and following a god that really is too small.
The English theologian, J. B. Phillips, once declared in a book title: Your God Is Too Small. He wanted to provoke discussion and contemplation on God’s nature. He felt that modern people viewed the Almighty as merely a local or personal God who was just there to serve them by answering prayers about mundane things like food, jobs, and romance. Similarly, the Old Testament Jews had to learn that their God was not a tribal deity but instead the God of gods and Lord of lords—the supreme one and only. Phillips sought to explain that too many in his day had also not found a God big enough for modern needs, big enough to command respect and admiration.
Believers ought not fall into the trap of emphasizing one or some attributes of God while neglecting or relegating to obsolescence others. In the old days one used to see this in silly questions like: “If God is so powerful, can He make a rock so heavy He cannot lift it?” The fallacy is in assuming one attribute of God is greater than another. The question is therefore illogical and impossible—even improper.
Times may have changed but the temptation to emphasize one aspect of God over another has not. Today we hear less about God lifting rocks and more about an overestimated view of His love. Since God is love, people argue, surely He accepts and embraces everyone, regardless of lifestyle choices. Whatever society—or Scripture—might call sin, therefore, is irrelevant since all will be saved, even without coming to a knowledge of Christ. Jesus’ contribution is thus reduced to showing us that relating to everyone just the way they are—“after all, God made them that way”—is the loving thing to do. In this view, God’s love is magnified while we ignore His justice and holiness, the attributes which led Him to declare: “The soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20). Apparently, the Heavenly Father is simply supposed to ignore misbehaviour and bad judgment.
And it’s not just our view of the Father that can end up minimized. We should also ask: “Is your Jesus too small?” Travelling the highways of the American Midwest and listening to the radio, one hears some interesting preaching. The thrust of one message that struck me was this: “We know that Jesus is now confined to heaven and sits in a room—like
"The mystery of the Trinity remains just that: a mystery."
a chapel or prayer cell—where He prays for us.” That’s it. Christ is made the eternal message boy to the Father, who expects us to come to Him first.
We have all learned the importance of praying in Jesus’ name, but I doubt any of us heard that this is all the Son of God does. If Jesus is just there to serve us, then how do we serve Him? Is prayer just a means to get God to do what we want? Is His death and resurrection just an example for us to follow? Is He truly less than the Father—His deity in some way restricted by His humanity? Old Testament believers often limited God to the role of a national deity by being unable to imagine the fullness of His goodness; modern ones can fail to appreciate that in Christ the fullness of the deity dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is more than a moral model, more than an encouraging comforter. When our Jesus is too small, the Gospel gets a lot shorter; we end up omitting all the references to Jesus confronting sin, casting out demons, and so on.
Confining Jesus to heaven brings with it major problems. If He is stuck up there, then He cannot be present where two or three are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20), nor can He be present in the Sacrament of the Altar, except as mere remembrance. David Scaer deals with such concerns in his dogmatics text on Christology, taking great care to describe clearly the Lutheran distinctions that allow us to maintain what Martin Luther so simply summarized: “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil” (Small Catechism). Scaer explains that we can never fully explain or understand the nature of the personal union (God and Man) in Jesus. But summarized briefly, this doctrine teaches us that first, because Jesus has two natures, human and divine, all attributes apply to the whole person. And second, Christ’s divine attributes are shared with His human side without restriction. This means that Jesus can be present among us in the Lord’s supper and where two are three are gathered since His human body is not limited to His place at the right of the Father; it can instead share in the attributes— like omnipresence—of His divine nature.
Others make Jesus too small by rejecting as old-fashioned the idea that He had to suffer and die for our sins to reconcile us to God. Culver Nelson, for example, argued that “the old notion that God must beat the living daylights out of His own kid in order to be able to forgive us of our sins merely portrays the Divine as an abusive parent, and that’s absolutely irrelevant to the thought of modern people, and it should be.” Instead, progressive Christianity argues that the real reason Jesus died is because He wanted to do away with the bloody sacrificial system—that, and He became the victim of powerful priests.
At most, Jesus’ death symbolizes God’s victory over evil. For folks like these, traditional preaching is just—in the words of David M. Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy—“a distraction from the very real need of seeking forgiveness from our fellow human beings.” Instead of focusing on sin and forgiveness from God, we are told to prioritize relationships with our neighbours. “After all,” the argument goes, “it is often easier to kneel at the altar over and over again than to knock on a neighbour’s door and seek practical resolution to a misunderstanding.”
The best response to such thinking is that penned under inspiration by the Apostle Paul: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Of course, no discussion of the Trinity would be complete without also asking, “Is your Holy Spirit too small?” That is, do you see the Spirit merely as a force—like gravity, perhaps, but in a good sense—or the byproduct of the combined faith of all believers? The LCMS theologian, Lorenz Wunderlich, addressed prevailing ignorance about the Spirit in his book, The Half-Known God. The Bible identifies the Spirit as a Person, with traits and duties that distinguish Him from the Father and the Son. He energizes as “He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith” (Small Catechism). He is the Comforter, the enabling teacher and guide Jesus promised to send (John 14:26). Having called us to faith, the Spirit assures us that we are God’s children, “bearing witness with our spirit” (Romans 8:16), and He gives us gifts and talents by which we serve Christ and His Kingdom and work together with other believers.
We have one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and our God is not too small. But while some theologians focus intently—perhaps too intently—on the sovereignty and majesty of God, the Lutheran tradition is careful to also emphasize the grace of God, the love of God, and the mercy of God. For these are the sources of justification by grace through faith, on account of Christ’s sacrificial suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead. Hence our constant message: Because He lives, we will live too (John 14:19).
Yes, the Trinity is tricky. But may the Apostle Paul’s prayer be ours for one another: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
WORLD – The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is pleased to announce the reception of two church bodies in Ethiopia and Sri Lanka as observer members. The Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC) and the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) were officially accepted during a meeting of the ILC’s Board of Directors on May 9, 2023.
“It is a joy to welcome the Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church as members in the International Lutheran Council,” said ILC General Secretary Timothy Quill. “I look forward to growing in our new relationship, as we unite together in proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“We are a confessional church which wants to keep our Lutheran heritage,” noted EELC President Mussie Alazar Niamen on his church’s decision to apply for membership. “We are looking to have a strong relationship with other confessional Lutheran churches in the ILC, so that we can be encouraged to continue as a confessional Lutheran church in Ethiopia.”
The EELC has more than 27,500 members in 120 congregations and 30 mission stations throughout Ethiopia. The church operates a seminary in Asella and plans to open another seminary in Addis Ababa. The EELC also operates schools, clinics, and child development projects. The church was established in 1921 through the mission work of Swedish Lutherans. It enjoys relationships with several ILC member churches, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, the Mission Province in Sweden, and the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland.
The same meeting which welcomed the EELC also saw the International Lutheran Council welcome the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church back into membership.
“The Sri Lankan church has a long history of membership in the ILC, which lapsed in recent years as the church attempted to restructure itself,” noted General Secretary Quill. “It is a joy to welcome the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church back into the ILC and to renew our friendship.”
The CELC has applied for full membership in the ILC but votes on full membership can only be taken during ILC World Conferences (the next of which is scheduled for 2025). In the meantime, the CELC has been accepted as an observer member.
“We praise God He gave a wonderful opportunity to renew our relationship for the glory of God,” said CELC Bishop Arumanayagam Arulchelvan. “We had a good relationship previously under the name of the Lanka Lutheran Church, and our participants from Sri Lanka have been enriched by the international theological conferences organized by the ILC.”
Bishop Arulchelvan further noted the value of associating with the ILC, saying that “becoming associated with an institution like yours which follows confessional teachings” is
“helpful for churches like us as we grow in correct teachings.”
Rev. Roger James, the ILC’s Assistant to the General Secretary, also welcomed the news of the CELC’s acceptance into the ILC. “The CELC is a small church that has had many struggles, enduring decades of ethnic insurgency, the massive tsunami of 2004, and most recently economic collapse and political turmoil,” he noted. “The Lord has been with them through them all. What joy that they are a part of the ILC and know they have Lutheran brothers and sisters all over the world.” Rev. James has a close relationship with the Sri Lankan church, having served as a missionary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Sri Lanka from 2013-2018.
The CELC has approximately 800 members in 14 congregations. It is the successor to the former Lanka Lutheran Church, which traces its history back to 1958 when a missionary from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod arrived in the country. The church continues its close relationship with the LCMS. ILC News
USA – The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod (LCMS) has reelected Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison to another term as president.
President Harrison was first elected as president of the LCMS in 2010, and his fifth term runs from 2023-2026. He was reelected with 52.32 percent of the votes cast (2,616 votes).
“The office is not a right, but a trust, ever bestowed upon sinners,” President Harrison reflected in his candidate statement prior to the election. “I love that in the LCMS, it’s all about Jesus… Every congregation, every pastor, every teacher, every worker, every school, every institution exists for this Gospel of free forgiveness for all.”
The LCMS holds elections for president electronically in advance of its synodical convention. The election
SOUTH AFRICA – The Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA) held its synodical convention May 2527, during which time the church elected a new bishop: Rev. Helmut Paul. The installation service took place on May 27 in Lüneburg, South Africa, with retiring Bishop Dieter Reinstorf officiating.
Prior to his election, Bishop Paul served the FELSISA as Deputy Bishop. He was ordained on September 17, 2011 in Wittenberg, South Africa, by Bishop Reinstorf. He currently serves as pastor of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran in Durban.
Bishop Paul studied ancient languages at the University of Pretoria. He then studied theology at the Lutherische Theologische Hochschule in Oberursel, Germany, during which time he also served as an exchange student at Concordia
Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He was also among the first class of graduates from the International Lutheran Council’s Lutheran Leadership Development Program in 2022.
Bishop Paul succeeds Rev. Dr. Dieter Reinstorf, who became bishop of the FELSISA in 2010. He reached the age of retirement on May 31, 2023. During his tenure, Bishop Reinstorf also served on the ILC’s Board of Directors as the World Region representative for Africa.
The synodical convention also saw the election of other officers for the FELSISA’s Synodical Council, including Rev. Kurt Schnackenberg of Johannesburg as Deputy Bishop; Rev. Martin R. Paul (Pretoria); Lutz Böhmer (Newcastle); and Rupert Uhlmann (Wartburg).
ILC News (with notes from a FELSISA report)
began on June 17, and the results of the election were announced by the LCMS on June 21. The LCMS synodical convention was scheduled for July 29 to August 3.
Other candidates who had stood for election were Rev. Dr. Patrick T. Ferry, Rev. Benjamin T. Ball, Rev. Richard L. Snow, and Rev. Peter K. Lange. They received 31.86 percent, 6.82 percent, 6.36 percent, and 2.64 percent of the vote respectively.
In addition to serving as president of the LCMS, President Harrison is also a member of the board of directors for the International Lutheran Council.
CANADA – Missouri North: The History of Lutheran Church–Canada is now available for purchase through Amazon for just $10.
The book was initially unveiled at Lutheran Church–Canada’s 2022 Synod Convention, with delegates each receiving a free copy to take home. The new listing on Amazon is the first opportunity for the general public to purchase additional copies.
Missouri North was initially conceived by noted Canadian Lutheran historian, Rev. Dr. Norman Threinen, and LCC President Emeritus Edwin Lehman, the Canadian church’s first president following autonomy.
The first section of the book sees Dr. Threinen trace the origins of LCC from its earliest days up to 1988 when the church became autonomous. Then LCC’s first three presidents—Dr. Lehman, Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan, and Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee—continue the story, tracing the development of the synod during their tenures in office. Rev. Dr. David Somers, meanwhile, discusses the
history of French-language ministry in Canada. LCC’s current president, Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher, provides a foreward to the work.
Rev. Mark Lobitz served as editor for the project, with assistance by Mathew Block. Alex Steinke provided layout and design.
An errata notice has also been prepared for the original edition
of the book which was distributed during the 2022 synodical convention. You can download a copy of the notice here to print and enclose in your copy of the book: https://www. lutheranchurchcanada.ca/wp-content/ uploads/sites/11/2023/06/ErrataNotice_Missouri-North-2022.pdf.
ONLINE – Lutheran Church–Canada held its Annual General Meeting online on June 29, 2023. The meeting saw Arnold Drung, chairman of LCC’s Board of Directors, give a report on behalf of the board. It also saw the reception of LCC’s audited financial statements and the auditor’s report for the fiscal period ending January 31, 2023.
A notice in advance of the meeting was sent out to convention delegates via email. An announcement was also included in LCC’s InfoDigest electronic newsletter.
The docket (with related reports) from the meeting is available to download at www.lutheranchurchcanada. ca/who-we-are/leadership/ board-of-directors/.
For the summer of 2023, the internship focuses on inspiring young people to consider their gifts and how they might be used in service of God’s people. Potential applicants were invited to share their ideas on how they might get involved in church work on a national level.
Born in the United Kingdom to an Indian family of Punjabi Christians, and coming from a remote congregation in Atlantic Canada, Joseph is eager to explore ways to serve LCC’s domestic mission and ministry opportunities, especially in the context of isolated congregations and language ministries.
CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (LLL-C) have teamed up again to offer a paid, part-time internship opportunity for the third summer in a row. Lisa Jackson, LLL-C’s Managing Director, and Alex Steinke, LCC Director of Communications, are thrilled to announce the intern for the summer of 2023: Joseph Behl.
Joseph Behl holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in International Business, with minors in both French and German, from Dalhousie University. He also holds a Certificate in Intercultural Communication. Joseph is a member of St. Andrew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he serves as treasurer for the congregation. Joseph was recently accepted into the Master of Divinity program at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontairo) where he will begin classes in the fall.
Joseph will receive mentorship from both organizations, with opportunities to come together for group discussions, brainstorming, and to workshop ideas and projects in a collaborative environment. Initial discussion surrounding potential projects for the summer and areas of work took place during preliminary interviews, where it was decided that Joseph’s talents, and especially his knowledge and passion for languages, make him an asset to LCC and LLLC’s French ministry work. Joseph will work primarily with LLL-C this summer supporting work in a variety of areas, including French-language resources, as well as on LCC French Ministry media projects.
ONLINE –
During its June 13 meeting, Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) Commission on Theology and Church Relations recommended a new list of resources for LCC members on bioethics, as well as one on civil obedience.
The new life materials come in response to Synodical Resolution 22.2.04b, which called on the President’s Ministry Council (PMC) to provide “relevant materials pertaining to the intersection between biomedical ethics, technology, and theology.” The PMC requested the CTCR’s assistance in identifying resources.
You can find the list of resources at www.lutheranchurchcanada. ca/who-we-are/what-we-believe/ social-issues/.
Pastors, deacons, and congregations are encouraged to make use of the resources in Bible classes, circuit winkels, and so forth. While LCC’s CTCR has recommended these resources as generally helpful for LCC members in terms of guidance on biomedical and life issues, it should be remembered that they are ultimately prepared by and hosted by external agencies. Readers should particularly note the distinction between Lutheran and non-Lutheran sources in the list, and exercise discernment accordingly.
In response to a request from LCC’s Board of Directors, the CTCR
also reviewed a LCMS CTCR document entitled “Civil Obedience and Disobedience.” Following their meeting, LCC’s CTCR issued a statement recommending the document for study in Canada, while also noting the historical context which surrounded its creation in the 1960s. Their statement concludes: “The CTCR of LCC commends this document for study and consideration when difficulties arise concerning our life in the tension between the realms of faith and civil life, of God’s kingdom of the right hand and His kingdom of the left hand.”
Read the full statement here: www.canadianlutheran.ca/ctcrstatement-on-civil-obedience-anddisobedience/.
SURREY, B.C. – Dcn. Tingyu Wilch was commissioned on March 12 as the Director of Parish Services (DPS) at Faith Lutheran Church in Surrey, where she had been serving as a volunteer in youth, children’s, and missions ministries since God called her husband, Rev. G. Wilch, to serve at Faith Lutheran Church in 2010.
Dcn. Tingyu was born and raised in Beijing, China, and obtained a Bachelor of Economics from Capital University of Economics and Business. She worked as a university instructor for five years. After witnessing the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, she left China to pursue freedom in Canada.
While studying business administration and accounting at Mohawk College in Hamilton, she started to attend an ESL Bible Study connected to Philpot Memorial Church. God led her to faith and she was baptized in 1994. There she also found her future husband, Rev. Gerhard Wilch, and they were married in 1996, then called to Toronto.
Seeking a deeper foundation for her faith, Dcn. Tingyu received a Master of Theological Studies from Concordia Seminary in St. Catharines, and a Director of Parish Services certification from Concordia University College of Alberta.
Dcn. Tingyu served with Rev. Wilch with Philoxenia/Hospitality Ministry, welcoming hundreds of Canadian newcomers into their home, hosting a weekly ESL Bible Study over five years with an average of 30 guests, both children and adults. Frequent guests provided Dcn. Tingyu the opportunity to serve many meals. Many of her guests came to faith, with some now serving as pastors and church workers.
When her husband began to serve at Trinity Lutheran Church in Toronto, besides volunteering there Dcn. Tingyu was also commissioned to serve as a DPS at the Church of St. Luke Lutheran in North York to develop community outreach via ESL Bible study, conversation partners, art programs, and Gospel camps.
HATZIC LAKE, B.C. – From April 28-30, youth leaders from Walnut Grove Lutheran Church organized their second annual youth retreat. Held at Camp Luther, youth (Grades 6-12) from six different Lutheran churches were invited to attend, including Walnut Grove, Hillside Christian, Hope, Killarney, St. Paul’s, and Trinity.
This year’s retreat saw 47 campers and 28 leaders attend. Activities including canoeing, crafts, chapel, open gym, and wide games, with Capture the Flag becoming a tradition to play on the retreat’s first night. The camp band led songs during chapel. Also appreciated was Camp Luther’s amazing food services, which did not disappoint!
The theme for this year’s retreat was “My True Identity,” based on
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (NIV). Youth learned about God’s special plan for each one of them to serve Him, and of their uniqueness within His kingdom.
In God’s perfect timing, Dcn. Tingyu has been commissioned to serve Him as a DPS at Faith, to give leadership to intercultural ministries, Sunday school, preschool, youth, and outreach ministries, and to mobilize members in serving one another and reaching out with God’s love—to be a blessing to the community and to welcome the lost into God’s kingdom.
Rev. G. WilchAttendees wish to thank their friends at Walnut Grove who put so much work into planning the retreat. If you are a church in B.C.’s Lower Mainland Circuit that would like to take part in future events like this, please contact admin@wglc.org.
Amanda GervaisThe Apostle Paul, when writing the letter to the Romans, lifted up our forefather, Abraham, saying of him that “in hope he believed against hope” (Romans 4:18). On its own, this is a rather curious statement. The context, of course, is the promise that God gave to Abraham that he would be the forefather of many nations.
Natural hope, or hope born of our flesh, quickly sees the impossibility of God’s promises. Abraham at his age was “as good as dead” (4:19). He and his wife Sarah were far beyond the years of childbearing. Moreover, Sarah was unable to bear children. Abraham had left behind his homeland and dwelt in a land that was in the possession of other nations. Yet Abraham hoped with God-given faith. He believed God’s promises. With divine hope, he hoped against what his senses, his gut, and his reason told him. His trust was that God would do what He promised. God does not promise what He is unable to fulfill. Paul goes on to say that Abraham was never swayed from this faith.
We who live in this time also live under God’s promise. Paul reminds us that the promise of God was not for Abraham alone; it was intended for all people. As with Abraham, so it is with us. “It will be counted to” all “who believe in Him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (4:24-25).
We see the outcome of Abraham’s life lived out in the promise of God.
We hear how he handled family conflict with his nephew Lot over scarcity of grazing land, how he interceded for and saved Lot and his family, how he did not waver even when the Lord commanded him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. His trust in God’s promise never wavered, and God’s promise sustained and upheld him through all the days of his life.
The Apostle Paul commends Abraham to the Church and—even more so—he commends to the Church the promises of God which remain as unwavering to us as they were when they were first given to Abraham.
As an aging church body, we do well to pay attention to the words of St. Paul. Sometimes I think we see ourselves as good as dead—and that could be true. God has certainly crushed us down. We have suffered internal and external trials, tests, and temptations. Much has been written about the hopelessness of our situation. Perhaps you have felt it personally within your own body, your own family, and your own congregation. Our external, worldly, fleshly hope has suffered much. It is being put to death. Yet, against our hopes and dreams God’s promise remains dauntless and unwavering. This is what our God-worked faith grasps onto.
I have been blessed to encounter many of the children of Abraham in my life, just as you too have likely encountered many children of Abraham. This summer I attended the celebration of two of our pastors who are marking the fiftieth year
of their ordination into the office of holy ministry and who continue to serve faithfully. I am reminded of many more pastors and workers who have faced impossible situations and who continue to serve God’s people and their community. I have met lay leaders and members who continue, against all earthly hope, to faithfully serve the Lord. These are all children of Abraham.
I have met immigrants and pastors from all over the world who have lived in impossible, horrific situations and who have suffered and sacrificed much for the faith—and I have heard them tell stories of other brothers and sister who sacrificed their very lives for the sake of the Gospel. These too are children of Abraham. This summer I encountered a group of almost a hundred people from our congregations at the IMPACT Youth Gathering, where I met youth, leaders, workers, and pastors whose faith and life are clearly deeply rooted in God’s promises. Daily I work with Lutheran Church–Canada leaders whose faith and life are lived out of God’s promises: hope against hope.
All of these and so many more are children of Abraham. And by the grace and mercy of God, you too are Abraham’s child—a child of the promise, a child of God. By the grace and mercy of God, we are a church who in faith hope against hope. God grant that we would live out our days by the grace and mercy of God upheld by His Word of promise.
DICKSON, Alta. – King of Kings Lutheran Church saw a need in their community as a result of the confusion and isolation arising out of the pandemic (but ultimately birthed in the all in the garden of Eden).
Suffering has many causes, including relationship difficulties, grief, and life transitions. Others need material resources but don’t know where to go. Recognizing that not everyone needs a professional counselor, King of Kings hired a part-time Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) in September 2022.
The CWA is someone from the congregation with a history of working with clients in a pregnancy care centre and a family services agency. She brings her own life experience and trust in God with her, and meets confidentially with individuals in the community who want someone to talk to. The CWA is conscious of the need to refer those who need more professional help and assists them in finding appropriate help.
There is no charge for the service, though patrons can make a donation to the church if they wish. Clients express gratitude that this service which makes a difference in their lives is readily available in their own community.
“Having our CWA serve the community from our house of worship is a great blessing,” says Rev. Russ Howard. “There are many people in our rural area that need care. It is not always easy to get into town, and it can be costly. To have a Christ-centred ministry right here in our beautiful little corner of the world goes a good distance in helping those who hurt, and in pointing them to Jesus.”
Linda HerronSIDNEY, B.C. – On May 5, 2023, the members of the Mary & Martha Society of Peace Lutheran Church hosted a Mother’s Day tea and fashion show in the fellowship hall.
The show was provided by Vintage Fashion Productions from Victoria, B.C. The event also featured music representative of each fashion era, from the early 1900s to the 1960s. The tea, served in elegant teacups, added authenticity to the mood, and was served alongside fancy sandwiches, fruit cups, and homemade goodies. The tables were adorned with local garden rhododendron blossoms.
There was a full house, and more than $800 was raised for Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
The Mary & Martha Society was founded at Peace Lutheran as a mission society in the early 1970s in order “to create Christian fellowship; to grow in
Christian knowledge and education; to do systematic church and charity work; to worship; to do mission work.”
The group meets once per month and has contributed to many Christian charities, including the LWMLC, local food banks and shelters, the BC Mission Boat, Lutheran Bible Translators, the seminary, and others. The group is small but mighty, for which they are thankful.
Mari Davis
TERRACE, B.C. – This spring, a Lutheran Church–Canada mission site and vicar in northwestern B.C. were highlighted in The Terrace Standard . The article provides some information on the small community of Lutherans living in Terrace and about Vicar Daniel Cunningham, who serves Terrace Lutheran Mission and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kitimat, under the supervision of Rev. Alan Visser.
When asked about the local news coverage, Vicar Cunningham shared that “it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we sinners come to know the love of Christ won through the cross. It is my prayer that the
Word of God would go forth in this community in Terrace and that the Holy Spirit would bring people to this mission congregation.”
Alex Steinke
VERNON, B.C. – St. John’s Lutheran Church is on the move. As of April 1, 2023, the 112-year-old congregation moved to its fifth building: the former home of Living Word Lutheran at 6525 Okanagan Landing Road.
Since 1986, St. John’s had been situated at 5151 Alain Road in a big, brown brick building. Built with a massive concrete slab on clay, the foundation began shifting within months. As more time passed it was no longer safe to be in the building, so it became necessary to find a temporary home. April 8, 2018 (Palm Sunday) was the last service held at Alain Road. A rental location had been found at Community Baptist Church, which was just across the parking lot.
There were many things to appreciate about this new home, including not having to worry about
the financial costs of the building. Other factors were less than ideal, including the service time moving from the morning to various times in the afternoon.
It was determined that the church would rebuild at 5151 Alain Road, but by November 2022, it became apparent that the congregation could not afford the church they had hoped to build. However, in November 2022, St. John’s learned that Living Word Lutheran Church intended to sell their building and negotiations followed.
On April 2, 2023 (Palm Sunday) the first service in this new building took place. “Exciting times are in store for all of us at St. John’s,” said congregational chair Reinhard Mann. “I feel that our Lord has definitely been watching out for us and leading us in a new direction.”
An open invitation was issued for all to attend a Service of Rededication on April 16. Many were in attendance, including members of the Vernon Ministerial, friends from Community Baptist Church, and leaders and members from other Okanagan Lutheran churches.
Rev. Craig Tufts preached his last message on April 30 to start his retirement. Rev. Tufts and Donna shared their many talents over ten years of service and walked with the congregation through five years in the wilderness. St. John’s wishes them both well as God guides and blesses them on their new journey. They will be missed.
A longer version of this article with more information will be published online at www.canadianlutheran.com.
Joel Haberstock and Irene HirschmillerLAPPE, Ont. – The annual spring cleanup for Aurora Lutheran Bible Camp took place June 17, 2023, in anticipation of campers’ arrival this summer. It takes many caring hands to maintain this property nestled among the evergreens: there are trees to cut down, grass to cut, washrooms to clean, cabins to tidy, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors to check, sports equipment to maintain, a sauna to inspect, kitchen, dining and worship hall to sanitize, life jackets and canoes to inventory, and docks to float. The list goes on.
A wonderful group of folks came for the day, and youth that had a retreat at camp the evening before helped as well. The morning was a hive of activity, followed by lunch together in the dining hall—a welcome break from the activity of the morning and a chance for everyone to learn the shark prayer (ask Rev. Brian Falkenholt about that one). There was also an opportunity to share a laugh or two and meet some folks from partner churches. After lunch, there was a final push to get things checked off the to-do list.
Maintenance and upkeep continue throughout the summer in order to provide this unique camping experience. With the help of God and the heart and hands of helpers, there were three backto-back weeks of camp scheduled for July. Please remember all the campers,
staff, and helpers of Aurora Lutheran Bible Camp in your prayers.
Aurora Lutheran Bible Camp is located just outside the village of Lappe, Ontario, and was established in 1955. It is owned by the communicant members of the six Lutheran Church–
Canada congregations in Thunder Bay and surrounding area: Calvary, Christ, Trinity, and Epiphany from Thunder Bay; Lappe Lutheran in Lappe; and Redeemer in Kakabeka Falls.
C. Barr, Redeemer Lutheran
Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask. – Camp Lutherland on Pasqua Lake, northwest of Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, is open for rentals, camping, and kids’ camp experiences after surviving the pandemic!
The camp has launched a new website and logo designed by Isabel (Brum) Jagnow, with the facility now branded as a Christian Retreat Centre in addition to a camp.
Wacana Circuit Counselor, Rev. Arron Gust (Grace, Regina), blessed 16 crosses on April 16, which will be placed in each of the 14 dorm rooms as well as other buildings at Lutherland. The board thanks everyone who donated a cross, including hobby woodworker Rod Nurnberg of Grace for his donation of 15 crosses.
Diane Dennis, Camp Board SecretaryAfter the unpleasantness of 2020-2022, we are starting to feel almost back to normal. But what hasn’t left me is the banality of screens. Prior to the pandemic, I was already grappling with too much screen time and its impacts. But the pandemic put my screen time on steroids. With the disruption of regular human interaction, screens had the effect of flattening out everything to two dimensions, robbing it of soul, of substance, of interaction with flesh and blood and spirit, making it a grey, synthetic imitation of real life—only more boring. I’m worn out by it.
Most of us were forced to try “online church” at one point or another, either producing or attending it. For whatever blessings it provided in that moment, after a while many discovered that without a serious act of the will to make “online church” sacred in our own actions, it can be just like everything else online—common, banal, boring. It is tempting to bring your worst viewing habits from streaming platforms to church—sitting in your pajamas, scrolling on your phone, not really paying attention, or dividing your attention between five other things.
For some (especially us introverts), being able to “consume” church whenever you wanted—at home in your PJs on the couch, coffee in hand, only watching the bits you like—felt great. But those habits which are so common elsewhere are not appropriate for the worship of a holy God in Spirit and truth and the serious study of His Word.
Now back to regular, “in-person” church, there are times where I grapple with the same feelings of boredom. This is especially so when there is a screen in the sanctuary. While I know there are benefits for some, there are also drawbacks. The screen increases my itch to get on my phone, to split my attention, and to scroll, scroll, scroll. And I suspect I am not alone.
I feel similarly when the service does not follow our tried-and-true liturgies. A whole generation clearly loved “creative worship” for it to be so common today; but the constantly changing text of the service places me in an ever-present “now” of not knowing what comes next. As a result, I’m not able to engage intellectually or emotionally with the words of the service. By contrast, I know the liturgies from our hymnals by heart and can participate with the full-engagement of my heart and head, even when I’m distracted by children, have dropped my hymnal, or the projector fails.
Some of you have heard me say that I have not read a physical book in years (at least not for my own personal pleasure—I’ve read the children’s fantasy canon with my daughter at bedtime). I’ve hardly read a book that wasn’t on Audible or an article that wasn’t on a screen. For me, this has been almost entirely due to an overdose of screens and digital media—during the pandemic, but even before. Screens are everywhere in modern life—in my hand, on my desk, in the living room, in the sanctuary.
As I intentionally detox from that overdose I have begun to enjoy reading actual books again for fun. I have also sat down for daily Bible reading, reading the whole thing from beginning to end—something I haven’t done for years. I am enjoying it immeasurably! But for me it requires an intentional decision not to choose a screen. Otherwise, I just can’t focus and am constantly kinetically bored. I say “kinetically,” because when I am on screens, I am usually on more than one at a time, one hand scrolling, watching a show on another screen, or fiddling with some game on another screen. Which brings me back to lowtech liturgy, traditions, and habits. I need them in the form of sitting down everyday at the same time to read my Bible (or it won’t happen). I need it in the form of going to church to pray in the sanctuary of my local church at the start of my pastoral workday (or it doesn’t really happen).
I need it in the form of the sacredness, the set-apartness, the specialness ingrained into my soul through years of repetition on Sunday mornings, so that when this flesh and blood fail and my mental faculties falter, the Spirit can still pray the Lord’s Prayer through my flesh when the pastor prays it at my deathbed. This stuff is the stuff of life. And I know I’m not the only one who needs this routine and tradition for godly, life-giving discipline.
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WINNIPEG - From May 29-31, Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) Central Region held its 2023 Pastors and Deacons Conference at the Holiday Inn Airport West in Winnipeg, just down the road from Synod’s office.
Doxology: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel conducted this year’s conference sessions.
After registration and fellowship, the first session of the conference took place: “Ministry in the Face of Calamity: A Look at the Landscape.” This session, led by Dr. Beverly Yahnke, Doxology’s Executive Director for Christian Counsel, explored some of the effects (and after-effects) of COVID-19 on the church and its people.
Rev. David Fleming, Doxology’s Executive Director for Spiritual Care, explored the next topic: “A Pandemic of Loneliness and Isolation: Help for Us and Others.” The rise of loneliness in North America was discussed, as well as the effects that it can have and the role of the church as Christ’s body to create community.
Divine Service followed, led by Central Regional Pastor David Haberstock with a moving sermon given by LCC President Timothy Teuscher. A reception was held afterwards, and individual discussions on a variety of topics stretched late into the evening.
Day two featured discussions led alternatingly by Dr. Yahnke and Rev. Fleming. Some of the topics
Low-Tech Worship, cont.
What blessings are ours in this digital age, to be called out of the cyberworld to gather around real Word and Sacraments. It anchors me not just in the now but connects me with the
included “The Cost of Caring: A Quiet Epidemic Revolving Around Workaholism, Burnout, and Depression;” “Prayer, Meditation, and Lament: Spiritual Self-Care;” and “Resilience in a Time of Adversity and Challenge,” which reflected on the various ways people handle stress as well as tools and strategies to handle stress and exhaustion.
On the evening of day two, regional business and discussions regarding future conferences were led by Rev. Haberstock. David Friesen, LCC’s Director of Advancement, gave a brief talk on the Purpose and Priority Planning process and answered some questions. Matthew Honey, the new Central Region Gift Coordinator for Lutheran Foundation Canada, also introduced himself and gave a short talk about the Foundation’s work in the Central Region.
The last day of the conference opened in prayer. Two more excellent sessions were held before lunch dealing with conflict and criticism during the pandemic and further strategies for dealing with stress. The closing service was led by Rev. Aaron Gust. Farewells
were said and everyone prepared to return to the places God has called them. The conference was filled with worship, fellowship, and lots of interesting information providing spiritual and professional growth. Special thanks is due to Rev. David Haberstock and Angela Honey for organizing the conference, and to Rev. Fleming and Dr. Yahnke of Doxology for leading the sessions. Special thanks is also due to Rev. Gust for leading the closing service.
Matthew Honeysaints who have gone before. They handed this low-tech worship on to us, as Jesus handed it to them. It is the meat and potatoes that feed my soul. It brings heaven to earth and places it in my ears,
on my tongue, and in my heart. It cuts through the itch for screens and grounds me not just in the physical world but also the spiritual world, whose realities we receive in the Divine Service.
the sermon by Rev. Grout, who recently served as one of the LWMLC Central Region’s Pastoral Advisors and will continue to contribute Bible studies to the LWMLC’s Tapestry magazine in the future.
LUSELAND, Sask. – On May 7, 2023, Holy Trinity Lutheran marked LWMLC Sunday (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League - Canada) during the service
and the following luncheon. The service included participation by the Kerrobert society ladies, dedicated prayers, a hymn, and offering, plus recognition in
Lunch included a smorgasbord of delicious homemade soups and special desserts. A video was shown during lunch to acquaint the congregation with the names and faces of the recipients of mission mites projects, and table centrepieces shared the pledge of LWMLC women with everyone. Door prizes were awarded and special blessing bags distributed. The handdecorated bags included handcrafted ribbon crosses, bookmarks, fridge magnets, spring flower seeds, sweet treats, and stationery items, as well as an explanation of the LWMLC logo.
Lorna Groutin the NAME.” Ten people from Saskatchewan and Manitoba spent time together studying the names and titles for God found in Scripture and tying them back to the importance of Baptism and worship in the Christian’s life.
WINKLER, Man. – From May 2628,
The conference featured worship, a movie, bowling, games, delicious meals, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Plans for next year’s retreat are already under discussion.
Rev. Alex KlagesNIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – Pastors and deacons of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s East Region gathered April 24-26, 2023, for a conference at Mount Carmel Retreat Centre in Niagara Falls.
The conference began with Divine Service in the main chapel, with Rev. Paul Williams serving as celebrant and LCC President Timothy Teuscher as preacher. The assembly sang “Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide” (LSB 585) as the concluding hymn.
The group took every opportunity to worship together before, after, and between discussions, business matters, presentations, and meals, with Matins (liturgist Rev. Vishal Paul and preacher East Regional Pastor Marvin Bublitz); Vespers (liturgist Rev. David Zakel and preacher Rev. Bublitz); Compline (led by Rev. John Rapp); Morning Prayer (liturgist Rev. Saulo Bledoff and preacher Rev. Bublitz); and Responsive Prayer (led by Rev. Richard Juritsch).
In his preaching, Rev. Bublitz encouraged his fellow pastors and church workers with these words: “Now consider this: Before the King calls us to service, the King Himself serves us. Before we are an undershepherd, we have been shepherded by the Christ.”
Century.” The focus of the presentations was learning from the best practices of preaching in the past to meet the challenges of preaching in a very different world. The presenters explored the theology of preaching contrasted with popular preaching myths, as well as a proper understanding and application of rhetoric in preaching. The group received a number of reports, including from President Teuscher, East Regional Pastor Bublitz, Rev. Dan Abraham on behalf of the East’s Regional Mission and Ministry Council (RMMC), and more.
The pastors and deacons in attendance were treated to a presentation series led by Rev. Dr. James A. Kellerman and Rev. Dr. Thomas Korcok entitled “Treasures Old and New: Faithful Preaching in the 21st
The pastors and deacons in attendance enjoyed the opportunity for worship, fellowship, spiritual and professional growth, and delicious food. Special thanks is due to Rev. Don Schieman for his work coordinating the event, as well as Carol Walrath who served as organist. A brief video capturing the spirit of the conference was prepared by Peter Steinke and can be viewed on LCC’s YouTube Channel.
Alex SteinkeYears ago, I came across an interesting story in Herman Gockel’s book, My Hand in His . Gockel tells of a pastor packing to move to a new congregation. This particular pastor was one who had everything meticulously organized. At the end of each year, he would stack his sermons, bind them together, and label them, but as he was packing, he could not find last year’s sermons.
He hollered to his wife, who was packing in the kitchen, “Last year’s sermons: where are they?” Half humorously, half philosophically, his wife replied: “I’ve often wondered that.”
I dare say many a pastor has wondered that a time or two. I am sure parents often wonder that about the lessons, morals, and ethics they tried to instill in their children. Pastors could reflect on sermons and lessons from the past and wonder if they have amounted to anything—especially when we see how our parishioners or children live their daily lives.
change their behaviour, his view is clouded. The purpose of the proclamation of the Word of God— Law and Gospel—is intended to convict the sinner and absolve the repentant. The Law shows us our sin and we stand convicted and condemned. We are led to confession and repentance.
The sweet Gospel then shows us our Saviour. We receive the forgiveness He earned with His
the sunshine from last year? Where is the meal I ate last week? Did they work? Are they still working?
Well, ask yourself: am I still alive? In a very real sense, then, they are still working. That meal you ate last week has refreshed and strengthened your body. The food grew with the rains and sunshine of the past. So, we see how the Lord sustains our body and life with His blessings.
In a much more significant way, the Word of God feeds and sustains our spiritual life. Sun, rain, and Word come to us from the same gracious Lord, and all continue to work even after they appear to be done.
But if a pastor only views his sermons as successful or effective when those hearing it suddenly
lifeblood on Calvary. It is an error to think that the purpose of a sermon is simply to change one’s behaviour. That change is only motivated by the Gospel. It is the sanctification worked by the Holy Spirit within us.
One could easily ask: Where are the rains from last year? Where is
Where have last year’s sermons gone? They are still working. The Lord continues working through the Word proclaimed, through our Baptism, through the Supper received, to strengthen us in faith. His Word and Sacraments will not return void but will accomplish His purpose. We pray His will be done in us.
COBOURG, Ont. – St. Paul Lutheran Church’s Ukraine project began in 2022. Unused space in the building quickly filled up with donations of gently used clothing, furniture, and housewares. Through social media, the church welcomed the community’s newcomers from Ukraine by offering a free “shopping” experience, which was overwhelmingly positive as the church welcomed people into the church building and the church family.
As the 2023 Lenten season began, the church was contacted by a local shoe store. They were closing their doors and had a short time to empty their space. They wanted to donate their remaining inventory to the Ukraine project. The next day, the church received approximately 1,000 pairs of high quality new and vintage footwear. There was no immediate plan on how to distribute the footwear at the time, and there was some concern expressed about the crowded space the donation created, but the church moved forward as God’s faithful servants.
An idea was born. Planning began and the execution to set up, advertise, and open the doors for ShoeFest came to fruition within one week. The three-day Shoe-Fest event was a huge success! Many Ukrainian friends came out to the event. There were smiles and hugs and catching up with them
about their lives as they gratefully selected their new shoes. Through advertising within the Ukrainian community, the church welcomed representatives from the Ukrainian Consulate from both Durham and Peterborough region, with whom the gift of shoes was also shared.
More than half the shoes were distributed through the shoe-fest event, and yet several hundred pairs remained, taking up much of the fellowship hall’s limited space. The hope was to find a suitable home for the remaining shoes before Easter. Reaching out to a local children’s aid society, a solution was found. Just a few days before Easter, a representative picked up the remaining shoes with a plan to make them available to children and families within the children’s aid society.
God blessed St. Paul’s with shoes and in doing so He blessed the church with the opportunity to come together for a greater cause, to put others’ needs ahead of our own, and to put fears, opposition, and differences
aside. It was an opportunity to pick up the cross and follow Him.
Karen KuehnGODERICH, Ont. – LWMLC’s Mitchell Zone held their Spring Rally and prayer service at Berea-by-the-Water Lutheran Church in Goderich on Saturday, April 29. Twenty-four members from Goderich, Dashwood, Mitchell, Monkton, Seebach’s Hill, and Stratford attended. The ingathering donation recipient for the event was the Huron Women’s Shelter in Goderich. Gift cards totalling $580 were gathered for various local eateries and stores and were very appreciated when delivered to the shelter.
Heather Ball
NIAGARA CIRCUIT, Ont. – For some time, Niagara Circuit pastors have been discussing the possibility of hosting joint services in order to promote greater interaction between their congregations. This year the project began to be put into practice as Regional Services are being promoted on special dates of the Liturgical Calendar. The first of these services was a joint Paschal Vigil at Resurrection Lutheran Church in St. Catharines.
Then, on May 18, a joint service for the Ascension of Our Lord was celebrated at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Snyder. The service was presided over by the pastor of St. John’s, Rev. Saulo Bledoff, assisted by Rev. Chad Miller (Grace, St. Catharines), who served as deacon. Rev. Dr. John Stephenson (Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines) served as preacher (his sermon was subsequently published
online in Gottesdienst ). Rev. Kurt Lantz (Resurrection, St. Catharines; Niagara Circuit Counselor) and Rev. Dave Hamp (St. John’s, Gasline, and Concordia, Fonthill) served as lectors. Nigel Prozenko (seminary student) served as crucifer. A time of food and fellowship followed the Service.
UKRAINE – The seminary of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) in Odessa was damaged during recent missile strikes on the city.
“We recently received heartwrenching news and pictures from our missionary in Ukraine, Rev. Olexsiy Navrotskyy,” noted Rev. Mark L. Smith, Director of Missions for Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC).
“On July 18 and 19, Russia launched missile strikes in and around Odessa and Nikolaev. One missile landed only a few yards from the seminary in Odessa and caused damage to the building. Thankfully, no one was injured.”
LCC has been active in Ukraine since 1993. The Canadian church funded the building of Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Odessa and has
continued to cover the costs of the seminary program thanks to the support of LCC auxiliaries Lutheran Women’s Missionary League – Canada and Concordia Lutheran Mission Society.
As of late June, LCC has raised $763,961.28 to support the relief efforts of SELCU.
“The damage to the seminary is still being assessed,” noted Rev. Smith. “Although the strike caused cracks in the building, as well as extensive damage to windows and doors, we are grateful that no one was hurt and are prayerful that there are no major foundational problems to the building.”
Lutheran Church–Canada encourages its members to continue to keep SELCU and the people of Ukraine in prayer.
Lord God, Heavenly Father, we pray for Your people in Ukraine, especially those impacted by the recent strikes in Odessa and Nikolaev. Comfort Your faithful with the peace that only You can bring during these difficult days. Watch over and strengthen Your Church there so that she may continue to shine the Light of Christ in the darkness of this world and provide ministry to all those in need of Your Life-giving Gospel. Bless all the servants of Your Church so that they may continue to provide care to those You place before them. And, if it be Your will, bring a quick end to this war so that peace and security may prevail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
One missile landed only a few yards from the seminary in Odessa....
Thankfully, no one was injured.
HAITI – In mid-July, copies of Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) French hymnal—Liturgie et cantique luthériens—were distributed to students enrolled in an upcoming liturgy course from LCC’s Francophone Lutheran Liturgical Institute (Institut liturgique luthérien francophone - IILF) being offered in cooperation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti’s ( Église Évangélique Luthérienne d'Haïti - EELH) Concordia Seminary in Laotchikit.
“In the name of all the members in our Lutheran churches in the Central Plateau, we thank you for all your efforts for us,” said Rev. Walta Clercius on behalf of the recipients. “You are blessing us with your love, your charity, and your books. Words and expressions are not sufficient to really express our thankfulness to you.” Rev. Clercius, a native of Haiti, serves as Assistant Missionary-at-Large for LCC’s French Ministries.
Additional hymnals are also being distributed to local congregations in order to introduce and encourage the use of the hymnals, through the leadership and guidance of those enrolled in the course. In the last decade, a dozen schools and churches have been planted in the Central Plateau region where the seminary is located.
The gift of hymnals comes in response to LCC’s increasing involvement with the EELH and its
seminary in Laotchikit. It also grows out of the IILF’s intensifying activity in assisting Francophone Lutherans with liturgical formation—a growing need brought on by the recent spurt of growth in Francophone Lutheran churches worldwide. The recent liturgy workshop in Montreal, which brought together Francophone Lutherans from across the globe, is another example of the ILLF’s work in the area of liturgical formation.
Courtenay, B.C. – B.C. Mission Boat Society’s (BCMBS) board has announced that Rhonda Kelman has completed her service as Executive Director after seven years of service. “We thank her for her contributions and we wish her God's blessings as she moves in a new direction,” the board writes in an announcement.
The board further writes that it will be working over the next months on a new strategic plan and the recruitment of a new executive director.
COSTA RICA – Rev. Edmundo Retana, Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) missionary in Costa Rica, has released a new book discussing images of the sacred in the works of famous Costa Rican poet, Jorge Debravo.
Rev. Retana, a recognized poet himself, developed the book out of a thesis he wrote in 2006 for his Master’s degree in pastoral theology.
“There’s such rich imagery and depth in Rev. Retana’s sermons and poetry, which is why he’s become one of the most beloved religious poets in Central America,” said Rev. Mark Smith, LCC’s International Missions Executive. “In his newest book, Rev. Retana sheds light on the theological insights of one of his role models, Costa Rica’s national poet, Jorge Debravo, and the impact his sacred poetry has had on Costa Rican culture.”
Debravo holds an important place in Costa Rican culture. His birthday, January 31, has been declared Costa Rica’s National Day of Poetry.
The National Library of Costa Rica featured Rev. Retana and his book during a special event on July 19. The library called Rev. Retana’s book a significant “contribution to the study of a theme in Debravo’s work that has not been systematically addressed before.”
The event, which was also broadcast live online, saw remarks made not only by Rev. Retana but also by three notable Costa Rican intellectuals: Mariamalia Sotela, Habib Succar, and Álvaro Fernández. Fernández also provided a musical interlude.
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – In June 2023, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) announced that Rev. Kirk Radford intends to accept a call as Assistant Professor of Theology.
Rev. Radford is expected to begin teaching in the 2024-25 academic year. The delay will allow Rev. Radford time to pursue additional studies in historical theology before entering his new position. This summer he began classes in the Master of Sacred Theology program at Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana).
“By extending a call, the seminary is expressing a commitment to support
CANADA – The 2023 volume of Lutheran Theological Review (LTR) has now been released.
This volume is dedicated to Rev. Dr. John Stephenson, who in December of last year entered retirement after serving as a professor at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) for 33 years. Appropriately, one of the featured works in this volume is an English translation of an essay by Rev. Gottfried, which previously appeared in German in a Festschrift honouring Dr. Stephenson released in February.
Other works which appear in Volume 35 of LTR include: a hymn
by Marvin Bublitz; articles by Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau, Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Winger, and Rev. Cwirla; and sermons by Rev. Jack Hetzel, Rev. Dr. Lucas V. Woodford, and Rev. Dr. Joshua C. Miller.
is jointly produced by Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries: Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton and Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines. You can read the current volume of LTR and previous volumes online for free at concordia-seminary.ca/ltr.
him along this route,” CLTS notes in a release. “He brings to the seminary faculty considerable church experience, pastoral wisdom, theological acumen, and administrative ability.”
Rev. Radford graduated from CLTS with a M.Div. in 2017, and has subsequently served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church (Sarnia, Ontario). A lifelong Lutheran, he previously served as an elder, congregational president, and trained deacon (working at an inner-city parish in Detroit).
Prior to entering seminary, Rev. Radford held a number of positions in business administration, including founding his own management firm.
CANADA – The opening services for the new academic year at Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries have now been set.
Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton) will hold its opening service on September 5 at 4:30 p.m., during which time Rev. Dr. Joel Heck will be installed as Interim President of the seminary.
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, Ontario) will hold its opening service on September 10 at 4:00 p.m., during which time Rev. Kirk Ranford will be installed as Assistant Professor of Theology.
LBTC’s mission statement (printed above) has guided our organization for many years. It really has two goals. The first is obvious in our name—to translate the Bible into people’s mother tongues or heart languages. And the statistics at right highlight the urgent need for this translation work to happen.
Statistics as of September, 2022*
Number of Living Languages
7051 - 8 billion people
Languages with acomplete Bible 724 - 5.9 billion people
Languages with translation work 964 - 74.2 million people
Languages with NO Scripture
There are over 2800 languages with NO Scripture and NO translation work even beginning. This statistic presents LBTC, and indeed all of us, with a great challenge.
Some people may look at the 5.9 billion number and say that 139 million is a small number in comparison. And yet, it is nearly four times the population of Canada. Jesus’ parable of the shepherd leaving 99 to go in search of one lost sheep must help us to rethink our response to these numbers and rise to the challenge of translating the Bible into every language!
Several language communities in Africa have recently approached Pastor Mike Kuhn about beginning a Bible translation program for their language. They are hungering for God’s Word in their mother tongue. Pastor Kuhn is working with our ministry partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon to prioritize these requests and meet them as quickly as possible.
2835 - 129 million peoople
*Stats courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Tranlators
There are indigenous communities here in Canada that have no Scripture translated into their heart languages. In celebration of upcoming anniversaries for both organizations, LBTC (50 years) and LAMP (55 years) have committed to working together to offer our resources in communities where LAMP has not worked before and where their languages are without a translated Bible. Please pray for the Lord to grant wisdom, direction, and open doors for this new co-operative venture.
The second goal of LBTC’s mission statement is to make the translated Scriptures available to those language communities. This work is equally or even more important, because what good is a Bible translated into any language if it is only placed on a shelf or sits in a warehouse.
Pastor Kuhn meets with a man who speaks the Kolbila language.
LBTC and LBT US are both involved in the SURAM— Cameroon project (Scripture Use Research and Ministry). Pastor Kuhn is devoting some of his time to this project which seeks to understand how best to get language
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Survey being conducted in the Maaka community.
The
Lutheran
Translators of Canada is to help bring people to faith in Jesus Christ by making the Word of God available to those who do not yet have it in the language of their hearts.
Meeting the challenge, continued
communities using the translated Scriptures. Several translation projects are being studied and the data is being analyzed to determine what gets a language community to engage eagerly with God’s Word once it is translated.
Madam Alice Robs-Ini (left) has played an integral part in the Dowayo community’s Scripture engagement (SE) programs. She trains SE leaders to form Bible Study and Bible Listening groups in a large number of Dowayo villages. Because of this program’s success, one of LBTC’s 2023 Special Projects is funding a series of SE Workshops led by Madam Alice and a few others in other language communities with ongoing translation projects.
Another of our 2023 Special Projects involves new work in Thailand.
By the time you see this article, we will all be well into the Pentecost season. I (Pastor Mike Kuhn) want to bring you greetings at this time of year because there is no better time in the church year to celebrate the work of Bible Translation than Pentecost! We know the impact that the day of Pentecost had when people from all over the known world heard the disciples declaring the wonders of God each in their own language. The church was born that day as 3000 repented of their sins and were baptized into the Christian faith. That life-changing impact still takes place today as people hear a reading of God’s word in their own mother tongue!
Many of you who are reading this are supporters of LBTC work in Cameroon through your prayers and your donations. Thank you! By partnering with LBTC in these ways, you are helping Nizaa, Dowayo, Dii, and Kwanja people to hear about God’s wonderful works in their own languages. Please continue to pray that those who read and hear about what God has done in Christ will respond as the Pentecost crowd did in Acts 2.
LBTC and Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church has begun to investigate possibilities for Bible translation projects there. Pastor Chujit has begun to preach and read the Scriptures in Southern Thai. And Pastor Yongthanayot has recorded Luke 2 in Southern Thai. Use this link (https://lbtc.ca/Media/Luke%202%20Southern%20 Thai-a.mp4) or go to lbtc.ca to hear his recording! Both men are part of the assessment process to gauge people's receptiveness to having the Bible in Southern Thai.
About 50 of the over 270 language in Cameroon have at least some of the Bible translated for them. Another of our 2023 Special Projects is providing funds to make these Bible translations available for the EELC’s prison chaplains to distribute and use in their ministries.
I recently had the joy of helping some of my friends in the EELC (Cameroon Lutheran Church) gain access to the Scriptures in their own languages as I learned about some handy tools that are available to access almost 2000 versions of online scriptures!
In fact, I would like to invite you to share in the joy of helping those in your circles— congregation, workplace,
The joy of people receiving God’s Word in their mother tongues is obvious in these pictures.
By the time you are reading this, I will have been serving in Cameroon, West Africa for nearly a year. My role is as a Missionary Kids Teacher for the Kuhn family. I teach Tobias (13), Gideon (11), Gloria (8) and Jubilee (3), as well as being generally helpful and pitching in where needed. I received my education degree just before moving here, and I’m thrilled to use my skills to serve the Lord in this way!
Surprisingly, my life has been “normal” living and working here. Of course, there were adjustments, but living alone and working with a Canadian family means that I could choose to remain mostly in my comfort zone if I had wished to. (Killing cockroaches will never be in my comfort zone, but that isn’t necessary very often.) However, I wanted to experience Cameroonian culture, and have a chance to use my limited French in the real world. So, I joined a choir.
Gospel Singers of Ngaoundéré is made of people of many ages, from all the Lutheran congregations in the city. We usually meet once a week, but in the month leading up to a concert, we may rehearse as many as 5 times a week. We dance and sing mostly in French, but occasionally we also sing in English or various local languages. Rehearsal is conducted entirely in French. I’ve picked up a few words, like “breathe”, “again”, and “pray”, but I don’t understand more than that. I rely on closely observing the behaviour and actions of those around me, and copying them closely.
Most of the time, I have a lot of fun in choir! I love to sing and dance, and it feels good to get out of the mission compound and be with other people. Leaving rehearsal in tears, though, has happened a few times. It is really, really, really hard to have no idea what people are saying
or asking or expecting of you. It’s a mental battle to not quit when you seem to be the only one who doesn’t already know the songs, dances, and social behaviours.
A few things have made me feel especially welcome at choir. There is a group of young girls, around 11 years old, who will grab my hand and walk with me to whichever location in the compound we’re rehearsing that day. They’ll squeeze in to sit beside me, and greet me with hugs. Only one of them speaks a little English, but their obvious joy at seeing me each week makes me feel wanted and welcomed without a single word being spoken.
A simple greeting also makes a big difference. There’s this one woman whose face lights up each time she greets me with a “Bon soir, Kayla!” Even without conversing, the genuine joy in her eyes every time she says hello to me by name makes me feel safe and secure in my place at choir.
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Warm greetings, continued
community, etc.,—to gain access to the Scriptures in their own language. If you know someone who has immigrated to Canada or who hails from a minority language community, you will see their faces light up when they hear God’s word in their mother tongue. Please read on for more information on how to make use of this great resource. If you succeed in sharing mother tongue scriptures with a friend or acquaintance, I would love to hear about your experience!
Share mother tongue Scriptures with those around you in a few easy steps:
1) Help them download “Youversion” from their app provider on their phone.
2) Open the app and click the menu icon on the bottom right corner of the screen.
3) Navigate down to the language option in the menu and click on it.
4) Under “Bible Text” click on “English” to see other languages.
5) Click the search icon on the top right corner of the screen and type in their language. (Or swipe down until you find it!)
6) Once the language has been set to their mother tongue, exit out of the menu and click on the Bible tab (on the bottom, second from the left)
7) You should see their language translation. If there is a “play” button on the bottom of the screen, you can click it and the app will read the passage to them in their language!
If the steps above seem somewhat complicated, please scan the QR code at the end left to see a short video that demonstrates the same process. Or, go to YouTube and search “Lutheran Bible Translators Canada” to find our channel where you can watch the video.
2024 will mark 50 years of Bible translation ministry for LBTC. Our anniversary committee has been making plans for how we can give praise and glory to our Lord and abundant thanks to our donors and celebrate with great joy the work of our missionaries and their families and our ministry partners.
Please mark your calendars and set aside these two weekends, May 17-19 in Kitchener-Waterloo and September 27-29 in Edmonton, for major celebrations involving reunions of current and former missionaries,
Since August of 2019, LBTC has had the pleasure of having our offices in the Lutheran East District Corporation (LED) building. They have been gracious and generous landlords. And we have so enjoyed having Darryll Holland (LED’s business manager and LBTC’s most recent treasurer) in the building with us, joining us in devotions and in discussions both light-hearted and serious.
But with LED shutting down and selling the building, LBTC needed a new place. We had the luxury of choosing between three KW churches that offered us office space, each of which had very workable facilities for us. But after prayerful consideration, we decided to make Messiah Lutheran Church, Waterloo LBTC’s new home.
God blessed us with beautiful weather for our moving day. Our movers treated us with expertise and efficiency. Everything fit so nicely into our new office spaces. Both Tara Bradley (LBTC’s long-serving financial supervisor/
executive directors and staff, and board members; guests from US, Cameroon, and beyond; special music and other presentations highlighting the countless ways God has worked through His Word, translated, proclaimed, and received by people in their mother tongues.
Yulin Harley designed the 50th anniversary logo that you see pictured here. She is currently attending the University of Manitoba, studying Fine Arts. She enjoys creative writing and listening to music, as well as reading. Her home church is St. James, Winnipeg where she has helped with VBS and is part of the congregation’s young adult group. We give thanks to God for her artistic talents and for the ways she is using them in His service.
office manager) and Pastor Mohr (LBTC’s not quite so long-serving executive director) said how quickly they felt perfectly settled in and at home.
As of June 6, 2023 our new address is 700 Glen Forrest Blvd., Waterloo ON N2L 4K6. We look forward to a long, warm, and joyful relationship with our new landlords and welcome all of our LBTC family to come and visit us in our new home.
Some of you will know what it feels like to be the only one in the room with your skin tone. For those of you who have never felt that way, I’m sure you know people who have. In your church, workplace, or community, there are probably people feeling like outsiders and questioning their place. Now that I’ve been the outsider, I realize what a big difference the care of a single person can make.
You don’t need to be able to speak a person’s language to make them feel welcomed. A consistent, genuine smile every time you see a person makes more difference than you may ever know. Intentionally sitting next to that person
at church may be the one thing that makes them feel accepted enough to come back the next week. God can work mighty deeds through the simple actions of his children.
Kayla Falkenholt (24) is serving with the Kuhn family to teach their children for the 2022-2024 school years. If you would like to make a monetary donation to support Kayla’s work, you can donate online at lbtc. org, or mail a cheque to the LBTC head office with the memo “missionary kids teacher.” If you would like to receive updates, prayer letters, and Youtube videos from Kayla, you can contact her at kayla@lbtc.ca to be added to her email list. To see her sing with her choir, search “Gospel Singers of Ngaoundéré” on Youtube!
Your prayers and donations are a vital part of LBTC’s ministry. For more information or to make a donation please contact our office at 519-7423361 or 866-518-7071, at our website lbtc.ca, or by email at pastor.r.mohr@lbtc.ca.
Set against the rugged backdrop of the Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858, Raymond Maher’s book The Deadly Five tells the story of an unlikely group of men who form a unique bond over two years of prospecting as they, along with 30,000 other men afflicted with gold fever, venture into the newly founded colony of British Columbia to strike it rich.
The resourceful Will Brown, nicknamed ‘Nothing’ Brown because of his small stature, quickly emerges as the central protagonist. As a devout Quaker uninterested in gambling at cards, drinking in saloons, or philandering with prostitutes, he seems misplaced in the rough and tumble world of prospecting. While generally meek and mild with a gentle heart, Brown—a man under church discipline due to his history of lack of self-control—at the first sign of trouble throws himself into berserker fits of fury to confuse and disarm his attackers.
It’s his fearless, trigger-happy temper that first catches the attention of the hulking loner Mean Mike who takes a liking to the diminutive fellow American. In short order, they are joined by the equally large Seph, a bartender sick of serving drinks and dealing with drunks; and the Québécois Métis trapper and fur trader Jacque, a former Hudson’s Bay Company employee with bush and river experience. Eventually, Wilfred ‘Old Man’ Magee, a down on his luck British prospector and singer with a history of drinking away the proceeds of his prospecting, rounds out the five when Judge Begbie, the local crown magistrate, adds Magee to their number by court order as a “chance to start over.”
Nothing Brown soon shows himself to be more than a man with a short fuse. Much of the book revolves around his skills as a field medic and
Ted Giesehis desire to set an example for his family back home in Oregon “by living in the light of Christ” both in his actions and as a Christian in his spiritual struggle to grow in pacifism and to see “God in everyone.” In fact, his desire to seek gold is rooted in charity and not in the accumulation of worldly riches. Along the way, his aspirations to help others in need
creates a vocational dilemma for Brown who at one point describes himself as “an almost person, too short to be a real man, not a real doctor or priest, just a weird little guy who you could say anything to because he did not count.”
While fictional, The Deadly Five is authentic to the time and place it is set in and will appeal
to readers interested in historical fiction and 19th century wilderness adventures. Writer Raymond Maher, a retired Lutheran Church—Canada pastor living in Chilliwack, British Columbia, displays a deft grasp of the geography and history of the time. He carefully weaves together the positive and negative sentiments of the era, exploring the religious, political, and racial attitudes of the people who were suddenly thrust together along the Fraser River.
Christian readers will be particularly interested in the way this quintet of prospectors gains its moniker, and the effect their notoriety has upon them as the Deadly Five. They will be even more interested in seeing how Nothing Brown’s faith impacts nearly everyone he comes into contact with—from judges to prospectors to bar maids—all in need of the fruits of the Spirit
displayed in him: love, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (Galatians 5:22–23). Brown’s inner conflict comes from his desire to also have joy, peace, patience, and selfcontrol in equal measure as one who belongs to Christ Jesus. As rough and bad-mannered as the search for gold sometimes becomes, Maher develops some truly bittersweet and tender moments of grace and second chances in the face of tragedy that are well worth reading. Along their way, the Deadly Five unexpectedly discover something more precious than a pan full of gold; they find friendship, loyalty, and trust in a world full of cheats and crooks, murderers and scoundrels.
The Deadly Five was published in 2020 by Friesen Press. A sequel—The Second Five—is also now available.
Rev. Ted Giese is lead pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church (Regina, Saskatchewan), a contributor to The Canadian Lutheran and the LCMS Reporter, and movie reviewer for the “Issues, Etc.” radio program.
Dcn. Michael Gillingham (Bethel, Sherwood Park, AB) accepted a call to Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP).
Rev. Edward Govaski (Candidate) accepted a call to Calvary (Thunder Bay, ON).
Rev. David Leung (Candidate) to Emeritus.
Rev. Kirk Radford (Christ, Sarnia, ON) accepted a call to Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (St. Catharines, ON).
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35
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Our first parents, Adam and Eve, being created by God in His image, in righteousness and holiness, undoubtedly saw nature far differently than we do—at least for the short time before they succumbed to the temptation of the serpent, disobeyed God, and fell into sin. They would have seen everything as a manifestation of God’s glory and goodness. The wind in the trees sang a glorious hymn of praise to God. The stars in the heavens proclaimed His greatness. The lilies of the field and the birds of the air reminded them that they had nothing to worry about.
As people who bear the image of our sinful parents, however, we have lost this. Today, we live in cities and are so impressed with what we have built that we no longer bother to look at what God has done and is still doing. We drive merely to get from point A to point B. As a result, we miss all the evidence of our heavenly Father’s love along the way. To be sure, we might be thrilled for a short time by some towering mountain peak or by a thundering waterfall. But we often treat these things as ends in themselves, rather than seeing them as a grand symphony of praise to God.
What is more, this created world has also been infected and marred by sin: violent storms, earthquakes, diseases, droughts, floods, wild fires, pandemics, and the like. Everything has been “subjected to futility… (in) bondage to corruption… groaning together in the pains of childbirth,” as St. Paul puts it (Romans 8:20-22). We’ve seen a lot of that lately.
At the same time, however, the psalmist reminds us that God has not abandoned this once-perfect world, but still takes care of His creation: “He covers the heavens with clouds; He prepares rain for the earth; He makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry” (Psalm 147:8-9). So, too, our Lord Jesus instills in us wonder for God’s creation. “Consider the lilies of the field,” He says, so that we may understand where our clothing really comes from; “they neither toil or spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29). “Consider the birds of the air,” He says, in order that we may imitate their lack of worry; “they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). In our hectic lives, however, this is what we so often fail to do: namely, to ‘consider’— “to observe,” as the dictionary defines it, “to think about with care, to regard or treat with attention or solicitude, to gaze on steadily or reflectively.”
For your consideration, then, reflect on this: Consider that the God in whose hands the mountains are as specks of dust is the same God whose hands were scarred upon the mountain of Calvary as He secured our redemption from sin and death. Consider that the God of the waterfalls is the same God by whose name we have been called through the life-giving waters of Holy Baptism. Consider that the God of the wheat and barley fields that stretch for kilometre after kilometre in our prairie provinces and that the God of the vineyards in the Niagara Region and the Okanagan Valley is the same God who gives us His very body and blood for our present and eternal life in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Consider that the God of the lilies is the same God who has clothed us with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Consider that the God of the birds is the same God who sent His Spirit in the form of a dove upon His own Son that we might be restored to Paradise.
And consider, as such, these words of Martin Luther on this matter: “There fly the little birds before our eyes and above us, putting us to shame, that we might take our hats off before them and say: ‘My dear Doctor, I must confess, that I cannot do what you can. You sleep during the night in your little nest without worry. In the morning you get up, are cheerful, sit down on a tree, praise and thank God with joyful singing of Matins. Then you look for your food and find it. But what did I old fool learn from you that I don’t do it also; I who have so much more reason to be grateful?’”
A familiar hymn sums it up this way:
When through the woods and forest glades I wander, I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and fell the gentle breeze; Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee. How great Thou art! How great Thou art!”
But when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in— That on the cross my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin; Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee. How great Thou art! How great Thou art!”
(LSB 801:2-3).
Regional News can include something unique that your congregation is doing for its members, like hosting a hiking club, mentoring younger members into leadership positions, or preserving a heritage church building. Sharing our news is one way our geographically widespread Synod can stay connected, and if you're not sure if a story qualifies as news, please ask!
regionaleditor@lutheranchurch.ca
We've all likely heard the familiar refrain: “We need more young people in the church!” It seems fitting, then, to talk to the young people who are in the pews to learn more about why they're sitting there in the first place. This new project will explore the stories of the faithful young people in Lutheran Church–Canada congregations, and the one true faith that binds us all together— young and old—as one body under Christ! Submissions: communications@lutheranchurch.ca
“I grew up at St. Paul’s, as my family has been members of the congregation for my whole life. My environment growing up was one of devotion in the Lutheran faith; however, it didn’t always get through to me. It wasn’t until the last 3-5 years that I began to engage in the church and theology beyond what we would do as a family. The most significant action of engagement in the church that I have done is attending the Twelfth Regular Convention of Lutheran Church–Canada...
Our Lutheran theology has been one of the most critical pieces in my life as I have engaged with different people that have different points of view. It has kept me grounded in my faith and the teachings of scripture as I began my undergraduate degree in 2021.
One of the main elements of Lutheranism that I have been very passionate about is the liturgy and hymnody. The Lutheran liturgy is one of the biggest blessings that we have as Lutherans. It’s intellectually engaging, spiritually nourishing, and the historical way Christians have worshipped back to the early church. The hymns have been perhaps the greatest blessing for me and offer comfort, words of encouragement, sound doctrine, and scripture in a format that can be learned and sung practically in daily devotional life.”
“I had been an atheist for a very long time. I despised every kind of religion out of ignorance. But God's grace has found me. I remember hearing about the idea of sin for the first time. It was like an epiphany. I started to understand why at times I would feel so sick about myself. I once promised myself to be a good person but I kept failing. I saw all kinds of evil inside me. This concept of sin helped me understand my struggles. When I heard about the Gospel, it made sense to me as to why I need salvation. I had visited other churches before the Lutheran Church. They preached the Gospel with no mention of sin. To an extent, I didn't understand why the Gospel mattered to me. I am grateful that God led me to the Lutheran Church to hear about both the Law and the Gospel all the time so that I can see clearly who I am and who Christ is.”
