novemBER 2002 VOL. 121 NO. 11

Also:Lutherans (Still) Care

Food, Clothing and Jesus

www.lcms.org/witness

The Church Is a Mercy Place

WITNESSWITNESST h e � u t h e r a nT h e � u t h e r a n

FeaturesFeatures

Contentment andThanksgiving Page 3

3 LifelineRoy A. Borges

4 Letters

14 National News

22 Notices

25 Family Counselor

26 Searching Scripture Andrew Simcak

27 Q&A/Shedding Some Light

28 From the PresidentGerald B. Kieschnick

WITNESST h e � u t h e r a n

A Magazine for the laypeople of the lutheran church — missouri synod

november 2002

Official periodical of The Lutheran Church—MissouriSynod through the Board for CommunicationServices, Dr. Martin G. Schramm, chairman; Rev. J.Thomas Lapacka, executive director.

Staff: Rev. David L. Mahsman, executive editor; Don Folkemer,managing editor; Joe Isenhower Jr., news editor; Paula SchlueterRoss, contributing editor; John Krus, senior designer; DarlaBroste, marketing manager; Richard Sanders, coordinator;Steve Masterson, advertising sales; Carla Dubbelde, editorialmanager, district editions; Charlesta R. Zekert, editorial assistant;editorial office: 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122-7295;(314) 965-9917, Ext. 1228.

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DepartmentsDepartments

THE CHURCH IS A MERCY PLACEby Matthew C.Harrison

Acts of mercy are part and parcel of what ourLord calls His Church to be.

Dav

e K

uenz

el

6

66

FOOD, CLOTHING...AND JESUSby Paula Schlueter Ross

With racks of used clothing andshelves of household items,“Compassion Centers”may look likethrift shops,but their focus is spiritual.1010 10

Pau

la R

oss

Cou

rtes

y T

rini

ty L

uthe

ran,

Jac

kson

, M

ich.LUTHERANS (STILL) CARE

by Kim Plummer Krull

Lutherans in America have beendoing human-care ministry formore than 150 years,providingcare from adoption to aging ser-vices and everything in between.

1313 A VISION FOR THE LOSTby Robert Roegner

Jesus cast a vision for reaching the lostwith a “ministry model”of holistic out-reach.

16

1616

Letters

isn’t the only way to heaven. Ipaused before the cross that dayand silently apologized for what Ihad heard. I brought to mindChrist’s words, “No one comes tothe father except through me” (John14:6).

What such pastors and followersof political correctness don’t seemto realize is that their all-inclusiveview of heaven isn’t doingChristians or Muslims any favors. Idon’t believe that the followers ofIslam want a room in His Father’shouse, nor do they want to shareeternity alongside Christian “infi-dels.”

Cheryl Hanna

Hudson, Ohio

Ethical questionsI WAS BOTH PLEASED AND DISAPPOINTED

by “What Child Is This?” (Sept. ’02).I was pleased by its clear standagainst reproductive cloning. But itseems to say that in vitro fertiliza-tion is ethical because “as long as achild is conceived by the sperm ofthe husband and the egg of the wifein faithful marriage, the fundamen-tals of Biblical guidance are beingobserved,” as though this is theonly ethical question to be consid-ered.

Three other ethical questionsare worth considering:

1. Embryos created by in vitro

fertilization are more likely to mis-carry than are embryos that areconceived naturally. Is it ethical touse in vitro fertilization if everybaby conceived by this method hasa higher chance of dying after anattempted implantation?

2. In vitro fertilization creates

DR. GENE EDWARD VEITH DID AN EXCEL-lent job pointing out the depth of ourcurrent Lutheran spiritual challenge(“What Hath Terror Wrought?,” Sept.’02). Unless we continue to distin-guish between Law and Gospel, wewill gradually resort to pluralism. Aswe know, it is only through faith inour Savior Jesus Christ that anyonecan be saved from eternal destruc-tion. All others will be damned.

Bruce Barthel

Amarillo, Texas

VEITH SEEMS TO VIEW MUSLIMS AND

Islam from his own perceptions as aChristian. The bit of amateur psy-chology on Mohamed Atta, includingsome juicy revelations, in my opin-ion is really bad. The simplisticdescription of “the world’sreligions,” completely in traditionalChristian categories (“legalistic,”“save themselves,” “being good andworking your way to heaven”) couldbe regarded as a sign of the inade-quate knowledge regarding thosereligions (including various forms ofHinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc.,as well as Islam, regarding which hemight well become familiar withRoland Miller’s fine CPH publica-tion, Muslim Friends, on the com-plex subject of salvation therein).

Do you not have editorial help inimproving the quality of what youpublish?

Rev. Luther T. Engelbrecht

Seattle, Wash.

THANK YOU, DR. VEITH, FOR EXPOSING

the heresy of religious relativism.Sadly, this “politically correct” reli-gion is making its way even into theMissouri Synod. I recall attending aSunday-school class in which thepastor advanced the idea that Jesus

Terrorism in focusDr. Veith once again offers a clear-headed view ofmatters at hand. He has a way of taking what isoften blurry and pulling it into sharp focus.

Cary Schwarz

Salmon, Idaho

numerous embryos and thenattempts to implant some ofthem in the mother. If 10embryos are created, five of themost promising might be placedin the uterus with the hope thatone might implant. If a successfulimplantation is created, the fivethat were not included in theimplantation attempt are frozen(for possible future use) or arekilled if they are no longer need-ed. Is it ethical to kill an unbornchild just because it is no longerneeded?

3. If more than the desirednumber of embryos implant,selective abortion is often usedto remove the unwanted embryosfrom a woman’s uterus. Is it OKto abort excess children if toomany implant during in vitro

procedures?I think the answer to all these

questions is a resounding no!Human life is simply too preciousto be discarded just because it isno longer wanted. That is why Iwas saddened by this article’slack of clarity on the moral issuesinvolved in in vitro fertilization.

Dennis Di Mauro

Herndon, Va.

Dennis Di Mauro is director

of Lutherans For Life of the Mid-

Atlantic States.—Ed.

We need themTHE AUGUST “LIFELINE” ARTICLE

from the anonymous author whowrote of his life being on “CruiseControl” did not have an ending.We don’t know where he is, andthat’s as it should be. But I hopethat when he feels ready, he willgo on to the seminary. We needmen like him who know aboutsin and grace and who are willingto share the love of God whichthey themselves have received.

Rev. Stephen Vogt

Hamburg, N.J.

Photo by Kathy Willens /AP2 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

Middle East conflictI SHARE ANN BRYANT’S CONCERN ABOUT

“uninformed persons” regarding theconflict in the Middle East (“Letters,”July ’02). Many who travel to Israelobtain one view of Israeli-Palestinianissues because they visit only “holystones” (tourist sites), usually with anIsraeli-oriented guide, and don’t sitand sup with “holy people” (1 Peter2:9) who live in the Holy Land, fellowsisters and brothers in Christ, 99.9percent of whom are Arab.

Contra her questioning of LutheranPastor Mitri Raheb’s truthfulness,note that in April when he wasdetained by 45 Israeli soldiers, heoffered keys to all the doors; instead,they blasted open some 30 doors,destroyed computers and files and acopy machine, severed phone lines,wrote obscene graffiti and destroyedChristian symbols. A Lutheran WorldFederation delegation presentedIsraeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peresa list of damages to Lutheran-churchproperty amounting to a million dol-lars, half of which was to theLutheran church in Bethlehem.

Bryant is concerned that aLutheran Witness news article didnot provide an Israeli perspective.Amira Hass, a Jewish journalist writ-ing for Ha’aretz, a leading Israelidaily, comments (April 24, 2002),“This [destruction] is not a whim, orcrazed vengeance, by this or that unit,nor a personal vandalistic urge of asoldier whose buddies didn’t darestop him. This was a decision made tovandalize the civic, administrative,cultural infrastructure developed byPalestinian society.”

As a person and a pastor, I amangered that the Christian communityin our country closes its eyes to thesuffering of fellow Christians, choos-ing to walk by on the other side (Luke10:31–32) and uncritically acceptingan Israeli line that damns and punish-es all Palestinians.

Rev. Arnie Voigt

Littleton, Colo.

NOVEMBER 2002 5

by Matthew C. Harrison

“I’m goin’ t’ die! I’m goin’ t’ die!”

Zion Lutheran Church lives her life in the heart ofFort Wayne’s most troubled neighborhood. But eventhis congregation was shocked at what was happen-ing this morning.

The Sanctus had just been belted out as the mas-sive pipe organ shook the plaster of the old, ornategothic sanctuary. From behind the altar I had seenhim come in, sit on the lectern side, then move to thefront of the pulpit side. As the Lord’s Prayer ended, herose, faced the congregation, and began blowing kiss-es, shouting, “I’m goin’ t’ die!”

Behind the altar, arms outstretched, facing thecongregation, I moved only my index finger (as franti-cally as one digit can be moved!), directing four ratherperplexed ushers to deal with the man. They movedcloser. He wobbled. Wide, intoxicated eyes peered atthem with fear. His large body became tense, ready tofight or flee as he listed backward, cornered.

Not wanting a scene, the ushers paused and lookedhelplessly back to me. “Now what, Pastor?” I read intheir eyes.

,Complexities are common at the rough edge of the

church’s life—her mercy edge—as she is confrontedby real physical and spiritual need.

Jesus faced these complexities, misunderstandingsand challenges. Yet He never failed to proclaim HisGospel of forgiveness and bear witness to Himself asthe Divine Savior by His works of mercy. Crowds pur-sued Him for bread—not the bread of life—yet Hedelivered both (John 6).

The apostolic church faced similar challenges. Wasthe church’s task “Word and Sacrament,” or caring forthe needy?

In affirming the essential nature of the church’smarks (Gospel and Sacrament), we dare not miss thefact that love and mercy toward the needy mark thechurch’s corporate life. If not, she risks denial of thevery Gospel and Sacraments that constitute her.

The apostles ordained the seven to “wait tables” (i.e.,give bread to the widows) that the apostles might not“give up preaching the Word” (Acts 6:2). The apostlesestablished a church office to care for the needy and forthose who came to her with spiritual and physical need(Gal. 6:10).

From Jesus, to the apostolic church, to the MissouriSynod, it has always been so.

4 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

Acts of mercy are part and parcel of what our Lord calls His Church to be.

Illustration by Don Kueker

THE CHURCH ISA MERCY PLACE!

Jesus Christ gave us the perfect example of mercy in His ministryas He proclaimed the Gospel and cared for the needy.

But why?Some might answer: “Missions! We care in order to

evangelize the needy. Find the need, meet it, and growthe church.”

I am not happy at all with this idea. It’s very pragmat-ic, very American, but not particularly Lutheran.

The Bible teaches that eternallife is only through faith in Christand His cross, so evangelism isan essential part of the church’slife (Matt. 28:19). But it smacksof “bait and switch” to me. Jesusproclaimed the Gospel and

cared for the needy becausethat’s who He is as MercyIncarnate. Mercy responds tohuman need and suffering,whether spiritual or physical.

The church doesn’t reach outto those in need because it’s aguaranteed way to fill pews.Proclaiming Jesus and loving ourneighbor has to do with who andwhat the church is as the bodyof Christ. Where proclamation ofthe Gospel or acts of love andmercy are missing, the church’slife is not what Christ intended itto be. Mere “social gospel” sub-stitutes our work for Christ’s. Butproclamation absent love rendersus a mere “clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13).

Why ought the church show mercy to the needy?Because it’s Christ’s command. “Love your neighbor asyourself.”

I don’t want to minimize the importance of the Lawof God in guiding us as His church. And yet, not only isthe Law not the proper motivation for Christian acts ofmercy, the church shows mercy to the needy for rea-sons deeper than mere command. The church performsacts of mercy because this is what she’s given to be—a mercy place.

The saints in Matthew 25 aren’t even aware of howthey served Christ by serving the needy. They did thesethings because they were a people of mercy. WilhelmLoehe (so tremendously influential in the founding ofour Synod, institutions of mercy and the deaconessmovement) expressed this beautifully: “God’s mercy isdivine love meeting need. When divine mercy meetshuman sin, that mercy becomes the grace of forgive-ness. When divine love meets human suffering, itbecomes merciful care and healing.”

Why ought the church care for those in need? Theskeptic might say: “I’m still not convinced it should. Thechurch should be about preaching and the administra-

tion of the Sacraments, period.” Well, even the skepticwould agree that each individual has the mandate to bemerciful to others within his or her vocation. Loving ourneighbor is a large part of the priesthood of the baptized.

As a clear example of mercy as the church’s corpo-

rate task, consider St. Paul’s collection for the needy

church in Jerusalem (1Cor. 16:1ff; Acts 11:28; 2 Cor.8:1–15, 9:12–14; and Acts 24:7). Individuals providedgifts. These gifts were collected by congregations andeven by national churches (Macedonia). More thanthat, they were delivered to the church in Jerusalem by none other than the apostle Paul.

Martin Luther wrote in the Smalcald Articles: “Thechurch cannot be better ruled and preserved than if weall live under one head, Christ … and keep diligentlytogether in unity of teaching, faith, Sacraments, prayersand works of love.”

NOVEMBER 2002 5Photo courtesy of Cross Lutheran Church, Yorkville, Ill.

Parish nurse Karen Hardecopf visits Glenn Corniels, a fellow member of CrossLutheran Church, Yorkville, Ill., and a nursing home resident.

About the Cover:This mosaic of Christ’s face

was created with photos fromLCMS World Relief and Human

Care, and some historicalLutheran art. For your sup-

port, you can receive a posterof this mosaic, while supplieslast. Contact Anna Lockwood,

(800) 325-7912, ext. 1672 for more information.

Luther left us stirring descrip-tions of the church as a mercyplace, and of her Gospel-drivenmotivation to be merciful. TheReformer often speaks of Christ’sincarnation and sacrificial death asour motivation to be merciful to theneedy—including the non-believer.He wrote to the Duke of Saxony,who was ill:

“Our Lord and Savior Jesus has

left us a commandment which

applies equally to all Christians,

namely, that we are to render …

the words of mercy to those who

are afflicted, … and that we are

visit the sick, try to free the cap-

tives, and do similar things for

our neighbor so that the evils of

the present may be somewhat less-

ened. Our Lord Jesus Christ

Himself gave us the brightest

example of this commandment

when, because of His

infinite love for the

race of men, He

descended from

the bosom of the

Father into our

misery and our

prison, that is,

into our flesh

and our most

wretched life,

and took upon

Himself the

penalty for our

sins so that we

might be saved.

… And while we

have the duty to

visit and console

all who are

afflicted with

sickness, we are

especially oblig-

ated to those of

the household of

faith.”

His com-ments in “TheBlessedSacrament of theHoly and TrueBody of Christ” of 1519 are a “mustread” in order to understand thechurch’s work of mercy as part ofthe church’s corporate life. Lutheroffers an antidote for a individualis-tic “Jesus and me” piety regardingthe Lord’s Supper:

“There your heart must go out

in love and devotion and learn

that this sacrament is a sacrament

of love, and that love and service

are given you and you again must

render love and service to Christ

and His needy ones. You must feel

with sorrow all the dishonor done

to Christ in His holy Word, all the

misery of Christendom, all the

unjust suffering of the inno-

cent, with which the world

is everywhere filled to

overflowing; you must

fight, work, pray, and

if you cannot do more,

have heartfelt sympa-

thy.”

“You must fight,work, pray. …” Thereare no words more aptfor describing thechurch’s challenge to bea “mercy place” today. It

is often difficult for a parish tounderstand its life as one thatreceives Christ’s gifts at altar, fontand pulpit, then moves out to theworld “in fervent love for all.”

There has never been a morecomplex era for Lutheran institu-tions of mercy. They sorely needand want to be reconnected withcongregations. We, through theLCMS World Relief,, have opportu-nities the world over to share themercy of Christ in word and deed.But there is so very much more thatcan be done, such tremendous needto rethink what it means to beLutheran and merciful as institu-tions of care, and as congregations,districts and Synod. There is needfor us to revisit what it means to“cooperate in externals” with oth-ers, Christian or not. We must neversacrifice our clear Confessional andBiblical Lutheran commitments,while clearly recognizing thebreadth of “one, holy, catholic andapostolic church.”

Where shall we find the where-withal for the tasks at hand in thiscomplex world?

,

6 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS Top photo by Dave KuenzelBottom photo courtesy of Lutheran Retirement Home, Truman, Minn.

Kim Meade helps Dwayne Boesch get to dinner.Boesch is a resident at the Lutheran RetirementHome of Southern Minnesota in Truman, Minnesota.

Deaconess Audrey Vanderbles (right) visits with a hospitalpatient in St. Louis as part of her ministry to share Christ’slove and mercy.

“What do we do now, Pastor?”The ushers’ eyes were pleading.

The entire congregation wasfrozen in time, silent. I left the altar.Soon I had extended my arm aroundthis confused man’s shoulders.“Friend, we are really glad that youare here with us. Let me help you.”

His tension eased as I literallyfolded him into the green Trinity-season chasuble I was wearing. Itwas ample enough to cover us both.Not a snicker, not a smirk markedthe faces of the silent observers aswe made our way to the rear of thesanctuary. I handed him to others,and returned to the altar. The “sacra-ment of love” commenced. After theservice I sought him out. He hadslipped away. I never saw him again.

I think that somehow he knew we were a “mercyplace.” Yet, to this day, I have a nagging visceral disquietabout him. We failed him.

Yet much more ample than that chasuble that cov-ered this unworthy servant of Christ and that desperatesoul trapped by sin, death and devil, is Holy Baptism.How shall we deal with our consciences disquieted byour failures at mercy? Where shall we find the strengthof faith and fortitude as the church to be evermorewhat Christ has made us and called us to be: A mercyplace? How shall we face the complexities of remaining

faithful to our beautiful Lutheran confession in today’svexing world? Luther has an answer:

“We must hold boldly and fearlessly to our baptism,and hold it up against all sins and terrors of conscience,and humbly say, ‘I know full well that I have not a sin-gle work which is pure, but I am baptized, and throughmy baptism God, Who cannot lie, has bound Himself ina covenant with me, not to count my sin against me, butto slay it and blot it out.’”

Oh, Lord Christ, Fount of everlasting compassion;

grant Your church on earth grace according to Your

promise, that she may be the channel of Your mercy to

all those in need, body and soul. And may Your merci-

ful washing ever more beget in us merciful living.

NOVEMBER 2002 7Top photo by Dave KuenzelBottom photo by Judy Ladage

Rev. Matthew C. Harrisonis executive director ofLCMS World Relief andHuman Care.

Wednesday Bible study Friendship Classes are specialevents for the 60 to 80 people attending LutheranDisability Outreach, Fort Wayne. This program providesa one-on-one Christian relationship with a student whohas a developmental disability.

Chaplain Ed Watson, of Lutheran Ministries Association, brings a smile to theface of a resident at McLaran Skilled Care, a long-term-care facility in the cityof St. Louis.

Lord have mercy.Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Photos by Dave Kuenzel

by Kim Plummer Krull

Nearly 130 years ago, a dozen Lutheran congrega-tions in northern Illinois joined forces to providea home for children who had lost their parents

and had nowhere to turn.Using a farmhouse in Addison, these Lutherans

opened the German Evangelical Lutheran Orphan Homefor six youngsters.

Today, that orphanage has grown into Lutheran Childand Family Services of Illinois (LCFS), an extensivesocial-ministry organization that touches 20,000 childrenand families a year through services that include adop-tion, foster care, counseling, residential programs andcommunity services.

That’s just one example of the stories Jill Schumannwants the world to hear—stories about how Lutheransin congregations and communities across the coun-try have identified needs and responded.

“Lutherans have a rich history of service, butit’s not well known,” said Schumann, president ofLutheran Services in America (LSA), the youngalliance of 281 Lutheran social-ministry organiza-tions like LCFS.

“Generally, Lutherans are morefocused on serving than telling abouttheir service,” she said. “They tendto go quietly about their work.”

So quietly that the typical“Lutheran in the pew,” Schumannsays, would never guess thatLutheran health-and-human-ser-

vice organizations serve 5.8 million people—one in 50people in the United States and the Caribbean.

So quietly that even the boards and staffs of theseorganizations are surprised to learn they are part of whatThe NonProfit Times, a business magazine for non-profitmanagement, has called the largest not-for-profit networkin the United States, a network with collective operatingbudgets of nearly $7.6 billion—far greater than those ofthe Red Cross, the Salvation Army or the YMCA.

American Lutherans have been doing social—alsocalled human-care—ministry since the mid-1800s, begin-ning with such early efforts as Lutheran hospitals andorphanages. Today’s services generally continue tospring out of the local congregation and have expandedto include childcare, counseling, disaster assistance,residential care, prison ministries and many more.

Highlighting those ministries to strengthen services andexpand their reach are key reasons LSA wasestablished in 1997.

“By working together,our Lutheran social-ministry organizationscan accomplish somuch more than

Rev. Norm Dake of LutheranMinistries Association, St. Louis,teaches Bible-study classes and

does one-on-one counseling withinmates in his chaplain ministry

at the St. Louis County Jail.

Lutherans in America have been doing human-careministry for more than 150 years, providing care fromadoption to aging services and everything in between.

LUTHERANS(STILL) CARE

8 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

NOVEMBER 2002 9Photo courtesy Rev. Robert Appold

L utheran Services in America(LSA) is working to raise thepublic’s awareness of Lutheran

social ministry to match some of it’sremarkably high numbers.

In one year alone (fiscal 2000–2001), Lutheran agencies servedmore than 5.8 million people in 3,000communities, according to an LSAsurvey. That service included:

✙ More than 125,000 people wereserved in foster-care programs.

✙ More than 13,000 peoplereceived adoption services.

✙ More than 24,000 people receivedemployment services.

✙ More than 12,500 permanent-housing units were made avail-able.

✙ More than 100,000 people partici-pated in counseling services.

✙ More than 109,000 people lived inresidential facilities providing 24-hour care.

✙ More than 5 million meals wereserved.

✙ More than 78,000 nights of shel-ter were provided.

✙ More than 8,500 people wereserved in partnership withLutheran Disaster Response in the wake of 29 fires, seventornadoes, 24 floods and oneearthquake.

The people who provided thatservice included:✙ More than 93,000 volunteers.

✙ 3,800 board members (all volun-teers).

✙ More than 144,000 paid staff.

— K.P.K.

MORE THAN 5 MILLION SERVED

they can on their own,” Schumann said.One major step in that direction has been the facilita-

tion of 15 networks—groups of Lutheran social-ministryorganizations that provide professional support andleadership development, and opportunities to moreeffectively integrate services.

A relatively new one is the Lutheran AdoptionNetwork (LAN), a group of 32 Lutheran adoption ser-vices that pool their resources to help families providehomes for abandoned and orphaned children.

A family baffled by where to begin the complexprocess of international adoption can click the group’sWeb site (www.LANadopt.org) and get assistance fromwhat may be the world’s largest adoption service network.

“What’s exciting about this network is that it bringstogether agencies that have relationships with foreigncountries and that have access to children who needfamilies to work with other like-minded agencies,” said

Carol Hakala, director of adoption services for LutheranSocial Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, a LANmember.

The LSA Disability Network (LSA-DN) provides aforum for the leaders of 14 organizations that serve12,000 people with developmental disabilities. Membersshare resources, develop materials together andexchange information on regulations and staff recruit-ment and retention.

The LSA Chaplains’ Network has nearly 100 members,including many who work in Lutheran hospitals and resi-dential-care facilities.

“LSA gives us a way to connect with colleagues whohave the information we may need tomorrow,” saidCraig Carlson, the network chair and chaplain atLakeshore Lutheran Home, Duluth, Minn.

LSA also is sharing the Lutheran social ministry storyin Washington, D.C. It’s a two-way process, Schumann

No doubt about it, Our SaviorLutheran Church in Lansing,Mich., is a caring congregation.

But the pastor is the first to admit thatits members aren’t experts in identify-ing and meeting human needs.

That’s why they partner with LutheranChild and Family Service (LCFS) ofMichigan, an LCMS social-ministry orga-nization that touches nearly 16,000 peo-ple a year through services that includefoster care, adoption and counseling.

“By working hand in hand with an

agency like LCFS, we know we canvolunteer or give gifts and our supportwill get to the people who need it whenthey need it,” said Rev. Robert Appold,Our Savior’s pastor.

One example of this longtime partner-ship is a parish-based counseling ser-vice. Our Savior provides office spacefor a professional counselor who servesboth church and community memberson issues that may reach beyond thepastor’s training.

— K.P.K.

PARTNERS WITH CONGREGATIONS

Rev. Robert Appold helps set up Our Savior’s “caring tree.” EachAdvent, it is decorated with thenames and wishes of needy chil-dren. Members respond with giftsthat show Christ’s love.

10 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

says, that includes educating LSA agencies about actionson Capitol Hill that may impact their services as well asbuilding relationships in offices as prominent as theWhite House.

The timing is good. President Bush has expressedgreat support for faith-based organizations and the needfor their services, establishing an Office of Faith-Basedand Community Initiatives. Schumann and other key LSAmembers have been invited to White House meetings.

“The folks on the Hill know Lutherans are out thereand doing good work. They respect our numbers,”Schumann said. “Through LSA, they also know how tograb hold of Lutherans and find out what they think.”

Looking ahead, one LSA project expected to debutwithin the next few months is a Web searchable data-base of Lutheran social-ministry organizations. A per-son in New York, for example, will be able to use theLSA Web site (www.lutheranservices.org) to find theclosest Lutheran nursing home for a loved one in Florida.

Although LSA has made tremendous strides over thepast five years, hurdles remain. One struggle,Schumann says, is to find ways the alliance can moreeffectively help social-ministry organizations growtheir ministry. Another is to help agencies better

express their Lutheran identity.Other challenges crop up due to the alliance’s diverse

membership—agencies that serve a wide mix of peopleand that can be recognized by either The LutheranChurch—Missouri Synod , the Evangelical LutheranChurch in American or be affiliated with both.

“Clearly, there are issues within and between theLCMS and ELCA that create tension in some spheres,”Schumann said. But, she added, she believes there is“real value in the two church bodies working together in social ministry.”

“Sometimes, people think of mainline churches likethe Lutheran churches as static and not where excitingthings are happening,” she continued. “But the truth is,Lutherans have a lot of creative, effective work going on, in their congregations and in their social-ministryorganizations.”

“It’s a livelywitness,”Schumann said.“We need andlove to tell thestory.”

THREE MOREHUMAN-CAREPARTNERSHIPS

In addition to Lutheran Servicesin America (LSA), three otherhuman-care partnerships are

cooperative ministries of TheLutheran Church—Missouri Synodand the Evangelical LutheranChurch in America:

Lutheran Disaster Response

(LDR) www.ldr.org.

Last year, LDR responded to theurgent needs of people affected bytornadoes in Mississippi, Kansas andWisconsin, as well as tropical stormsand flooding in Texas and Louisiana.

Since Sept. 11, the ministry alsohas channeled financial supportthrough LDR’s “Comfort andRenew” to help victims of the terror-ist attacks and their families.

LDR works in partnership withlocal Lutheran social-ministry organi-

zations and congregations to provideemergency relief and long-termrecovery. Volunteers who can helpclean up and rebuild are needed. Soare financial donations, which LCMSmembers channel through LCMSWorld Relief and Human Care.

Lutheran Immigration and

Refugee Service (LIRS)

www.lirs.org.

These are challenging times forLIRS, the agency charged by thechurch to welcome the “stranger”—refugees and immigrants who cometo this country seeking new hope andnew life.

Since Sept. 11, refugee resettlementhas slowed dramatically. Only 28,000of the 70,000 refugees originally autho-rized to enter the United States thisyear have been resettled, said AnnieWilson, acting LIRS president.

“Understandably, there is morefear of people born in other coun-tries,” Wilson said. But, she added,refugees are not terrorists. Instead,many are victims of terrorism.

Congregations are invited to spon-

sor families and reach out to immi-grants who live in their communities.

Financial donations are neededmore than ever.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR)

www.lwr.org.

LWR is an opportunity to “loveyour neighbor” in places mostAmericans will never see, saidJonathan Frerichs, the ministry’scommunications director.

“As Americans, we might think wedon’t have to worry about theseprob-lems overseas, but asChristians, we don’t have a choice,”Frerichs said.

LWR is involved in about 150 pro-jects with 100 different partners in 50countries. The ministry is a leader inworking to turn the tide on hungerand AIDS through the “Stand withAfrica” campaign.

Congregations are needed to tack-le hands-on projects such as makingquilts and donating used clothing.LCMS members can direct financialgifts through LCMS World Relief.

— K.P.K.

Kim Plummer Krull is a free-lance writerand a member of St. Paul’s LutheranChurch, Des Peres, Mo.

SearchingSCRIPTURE

Photo by D. Jeanene Tiner

The words “think” and“thank” (and the German“denken” and “danken”)

come from the same Latin rootword tongere, to know.

We need to think in order tothank. Often, the reason we do

not give thanks to God as weshould is that we do not

think of all He has, isand will do for us.

Thankfulness hasbeen rightly called“the memory of theheart and head.”

Why do we

give thanks?

Read Col. 3:17,Phil. 4:4–7 and

1 Chron. 16:8 in yourBible and then answer that

question in your own words.___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

What is the greatest bless-

ing for which we give Him

thanks?

Before answering that question,read 2 Cor. 9:15 and Ps. 103:9–13.

____________________________

_________________________

How did God“remove our sins from us” with His“indescribable gift”?____________________

____________________

TO THINK IS TO THANKby Andrew Simcak Jr.. Is thankfulness limited to

special days and events?

Read Eph. 5:20 and 6:18, andreread Phil. 4:6.

_____________________________

_____________________________

Read 1 Thess. 5:16–18. Doesthis describe your prayer life?When does it not?_____________________________

_____________________________

Why do you think it is so

easy to take God’s blessings

for granted?

Read Luke’s account about ourSavior’s healing of the 10 lepers(17:11–18) for some insights._____________________________

_____________________________

What an example of thankful-ness the Samaritan leper is for us to follow. A daily attitude ofgratitude for all of God’s unde-served blessings of body andsoul is a God-given privilege.Read Psalm 92.

Conclusion

Ps. 118:1—the common tableprayer—summarizes why thechild of God gives thanks. As wethink more about what God hasdone for us, we will thank Him.Our hearts and minds will over-flow with thanksgiving that willdemonstrate itself in lips andlives filled with “thanksliving.”

Rev. Andrew SimcakJr. is vacancy pastorat St. Luke’sLutheran Church,Houston, Texas.

Once you have experienced the

grace of God, the rest of life is thanksgiving.”

Martin Luther

“

NOVEMBER 2002 11

NATIONAL News

Confessional, evangelicaland missional, yieldingnot to those who areperceived as holdingpositions on either the farright or far left withregard to theologicalissues in our midst, butfocused on staying on the

road together.”Kieschnick said, “We

are called to be a Synodwith one mission, theGreat Commission ...proclaiming one message,the message of JesusChrist and Him crucified... to live and act as one

“If The LutheranChurch—Missouri Synodis going to continue to bea vital part of the Body ofChrist, it is necessary thatwe rededicate ourselvesto the mission of thechurch,” Synod PresidentGerald Kieschnick toldthe Council of Presidents(COP) at their Septembermeeting in St. Louis.

He stressed that thechurch’s mission is “criti-cal.”

Kieschnick acknowl-edged that the Synod is“fractured by disagree-ments,” but said, “thereare also many reasons forgreat hope for the future.”

He emphasized theneed for the Synod “main-stream” to “continue to besolidly Biblical,

people,” he said.After hearing

Kieschnick’s report, theCOP voted to “encour-age him to share it withthe Synod.” The fullreport is on the Web atwww.lcms.org/presi-

dent.

Kieschnick calls for ‘rededication to church’s mission’

Rodger Hebermehl for hiscontinued service with theleague. He said Schulz’semployment with the Int’lLLL ended Sept. 17.

The end of his employ-ment with the league doesnot affect Schulz’s statusas a Synod vice president.

Schulz was temporarilyrelieved of his LutheranHour duties July 12 afterhe placed Atlantic DistrictPresident David Benke on suspended status.Schulz’s action came inresponse to complaintsover Benke’s participationin a post-Sept. 11 event atYankee Stadium last year.

The league’s Board ofGovernors July 21 said

that Schulz had violatedthe organization’s code ofethics and its conflict ofinterest policy by adjudi-cating the Benke case.

Schulz said he wrotetwo letters to the board,“the last one appealing thatwe return to the workingrelationship of trust thatwe enjoyed for the past 25years. The LLL boarddecided otherwise.

“I accept and respectthe board’s decision,”Schulz continued. “I haveabsolutely no negativefeelings about people atthe LLL or the Board ofGovernors. I am ready andeager to move on to wher-ever I can serve our gra-

Missouri Synod SecondVice President WallaceSchulz is no longerLutheran Hour radiospeaker for theInternational LutheranLaymen’s League (Int’lLLL).

TheleagueconsidersSchulz to have“vacated”his employ-ment withthe organization, saidleague spokesman JimTelle.

Telle said Schulz failedto agree to stipulations setby Executive Director

cious Lord in His king-dom, always mindfulthat we must press onwith the work of ourLord ‘as long as it is daysince the night is comingwhen no man canwork.’”

Schulz no longer Lutheran Hour radio speaker

All 10 CUS schools make ‘best’ listFor the second year

in a row, all 10 of theSynod’s ConcordiaUniversity System (CUS)schools are in the topranks of U.S. News and

World Report’s listings of“America’s Best Colleges.”

U.S. News announcedits 2003 best-college academic rankings inSeptember, published aspecial edition listing

them, and also postedthem on its Web site,www.usnews.com.

The CUS schools areranked in four tiers, withConcordia University,Seward, Neb., listed in tier

one, the highest rank-ing.

“Our heritage ofLutheran higher educa-tion continues to be asource of great pridefor the Synod,” said Dr.

William F. Meyer, exec-utive director of theLCMS Board for HigherEducation, after the2003 rankings wereannounced.

For more news...For more news—

and more timelynews—visithttp://reporter.lcms.org

on the Web. That’s theWeb site for Reporter,the official newspaperof The LutheranChurch—MissouriSynod.

Schulz

12 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

NATIONAL News

Rev. Harold Ristau, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church,Montreal, prays with “Nancy,” who faces the possibility ofbeing deported from Canada and imprisoned in Iran. Herface is obscured to protect her identity.

ered to have convertedfrom Islam to Christianity.

Nancy’s request forrefugee status in Canadawas denied earlier thisyear by Judge HelenePanagakos, who, duringan immigration hearing inwhich she attempted todetermine whether Nancywas a Christian, did notoffer Nancy an opportuni-ty for a fact-finding

appeal. Ristau says that the

court’s decision thatNancy is not a Christianseems to hinge on severalpoints, including thejudge’s lack of familiaritywith Lutheranism andrejection of Ristau’s“expert” testimony onNancy’s behalf.

Nancy emigrated toCanada almost two years

As this Lutheran

Witness went to press, awoman who is a commu-nicant member of aMissouri Synod congre-gation in Canada was indanger of being deportedand jailed in Iranbecause a Canadianimmigration-authorityjudge did not believe sheis a Christian.

“Nancy” (not her realname, to protect heridentity), a refugee fromIran and a member ofAscension LutheranChurch, Montreal, wasexpected to be forcedout of Canada as early asthe end of last month.

Her pastor, Rev.Harold Ristau, saysNancy almost certainlyfaces imprisonment—and perhaps death—ifshe is forced to return toIran, where she, her hus-band, son and daughterare labeled as apostatebecause they are consid-

ago, claiming her lifewas in danger becauseshe was a Christian con-vert in Iran. Her pastorsaid it is legal in Iran to be a Christian butillegal to convert toChristianity.

Nancy has appealedthe judge’s decision. ButRistau said the appealprocess is lengthy andwould almost surely beconcluded long afterNancy is deported.

Letters were sent tothe court on Nancy’sbehalf by a number ofLutheran officials,including LCMSPresident GeraldKieschnick.

Nancy said that she isconvinced that she willgo to jail in Iran if she isdeported.

“I know whateverhappens, God’s going totake care of me,” shesaid. “Jesus is mySavior.”

LCMS woman in Canada faces deportation, prison

Its purpose,Kieschnick said, “is toidentify the reasons forthese losses, to report ...their recommendationsfor stopping these unac-ceptable losses, and tohelp the Synod begin toexperience gains in allour congregations of thenumber of souls forwhom Christ died.”

“We’re going to listento the church [and] askfor God’s guidance,” saidDr. Robert J. Scudieri,director of NorthAmerica Services withLCMS World Mission.

“It’s now time,”

Scudieri said, for theMissouri Synod to “stopmaking excuses, stoptrying to rationalize whywe’re not growing and tosay, ‘Lord, we’re not whatYou wanted us to be.Forgive us. And bless ourefforts at outreach.”

Missionaries safein Cote d’Ivoire

Seven LCMS “mission-ary units”—individualsand families who serve asmissionaries— in Coted’Ivoire (Ivory Coast),West Africa, areunharmed in fighting from

Task force to studymember losses,renewed outreach

A new task forceappointed by SynodPresident GeraldKieschnick is looking atwhy the LCMS lost 28,000members in 2000 and13,000 in 2001, and whatcan be done to bringmore people to Christ.

The focus of the eight-member task force,which first met lastmonth, is dubbed,“Mission Forward 21stCentury: A Matter ofFaithfulness.”

a military uprising thatstarted there Sept. 19.

Although fightingcontinued as thisLutheran Witness wentto press, the LCMS missionaries are notbelieved to be in danger,according to KenReiner, counselor formissionary care withLCMS World Mission.

“At this point, we’remonitoring the situationvery carefully,” saidReiner, adding that themissionaries would beevacuated if thatbecame necessary.

Photo by Elise Ristau NOVEMBER 2002 13

14 THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

from thePRESIDENT

• Many congregations are seiz-ing opportunities in their localcommunities for touching the livesof people who are lost, hurting,oppressed and searching for value,meaning, hope and acceptance!

• Many congregations are boldlyand creatively involving their pas-toral and lay leaders in the revital-ization of hearts and lives throughWord and Sacrament, sparkingsanctified, intentional and strategicmission endeavors in the churchesand schools of our Synod!

In a recent meeting of theCouncil of Presidents, I presenteda report titled “The State of theSynod.” The Council received thisreport “with gratitude” and encour-aged me to share it with the entireSynod. Subsequently, it was e-mailed to the congregations andprofessional church workers forwhom we have e-mail addresses.This report also is available on theSynod’s Web site, www.lcms.org. Irespectfully invite and encourageyou to read and share it with oth-ers in your congregation.

Here are a few quotes from thatreport:

• “We are called to be a Synodwith One Mission … the GreatCommission mandated by our Lordin Matt. 28:18-20. Accomplishingthe mission of the church to disci-ple, baptize and teach the nationsof the world is and must continueto be Job One among us!”

• “We are called to be a Synodproclaiming One Message … themessage of Jesus Christ and Himcrucified … the message of sinsforgiven … the message of the freegift of eternal life. For, ‘God was inChrist, reconciling the world to him-self, not counting mankind’s sinsagainst them’ (2 Cor. 5:19). We havethe greatest message in the world!”

For the last two months, I’veshared some significantconcerns in this column,

including these statements:• A deep spiritual crisis exists

today throughout the United Statesand across the face of the globe.

• A deep spiritual crisis existstoday throughout the Christianchurch, including The LutheranChurch—Missouri Synod.

In those columns, I articulatedmy concerns for the health, vitalityand future of the Christian faith,the Christian church and theMissouri Synod, from my perspec-tive as Synod president.

I hasten to add a word ofencouragement, hope, optimismand excitement about the future Isee for the church, especially theLCMS, in the years ahead. It isparticularly appropriate to sharethese positive aspects of our lifetogether this month, inviting you,my dear brothers and sisters inChrist, to give God humble andhearty thanks for His rich blessingsto our Synod as together we cele-brate our national day ofThanksgiving.

Although we have our share ofchallenges in the LCMS, there arealso great causes for rejoicing andreasons for celebration:

• Many congregations of ourpart of the Body of Christ are bee-hives of mission and ministry, tak-ing advantage of the virtuallyunlimited opportunities for out-reach that exist in these early yearsof the 21st century!

• Many congregations are expe-riencing healthy growth anddynamic worship, using creativeformats and traditional liturgies inleading members and visitors toexperience a worshipful encounterwith the triune God, Father, Sonand Holy Spirit!

THANKS FOR LIVES TRANSFORMED

• “We are called to live and actas One People. I implore you, inthe words of St. Paul to thePhilippians, ‘Whatever happens,conduct yourselves in a mannerworthy of the gospel of Christ ...stand firm in one spirit, contendingas one man for the faith of thegospel” (Phil. 1:27). We need towork together—as one—to meetthe challenges before us!”

• “It is my presidential percep-tion that, for 155 years, our Synodhas been held together by the graceof God, the commitment of pastors,teachers and congregations to thatgrace and to its theological confes-sion of that grace at work in theworld, proclaimed through wordand deed to the lost people of theworld. The result of God’s workamong us: transformed lives

through Christ’s love … in time,

for eternity!”May your Thanksgiving celebra-

tion include heartfelt thanks forGod’s great gifts to His church,including The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod!

Jerry Kieschnick

John 3:16 –17e-mail: president@lcms.org

Web page: www.lcms.org/president