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Robert Spencer helped those at the 2015 NALC Convocation to understandthe nature of Islam and why some Muslims feel called to persecuteChristians.

NALC NewsN o r t h A m e r i c a n L u t h e r a n C h u r c h A u g u s t - S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

Convocation reflects on martyrdomThe 2015 NALC Convocation focusedon the reality of Christians sufferingfor the sake of Jesus and the Gospel.Those at the Convocation heardstories that were both heartbreakingand inspiring about Christians beingkilled today because of their faith inChrist.

The Convocation heard keynoteaddresses from Pastor BassamAbdallah, Robert Spencer andMargaret Khamoo. They highlightedthe struggles Christians are facing atthe hands of Muslims and explainedthe nature of the Islamic faith and whyit is a threat to Christians.

About 600 people attended theConvocation held Aug. 12-14 at theHyatt Regency Hotel at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Given the threat that Islamic radicalspose to Christians in many parts ofthe world, NALC leaders thought thatlearning more about that threat wouldadd to the NALC’s focus on Christian martyrdom.

Robert Spencer, an expert in understanding Islamicjihad, delivered a keynote address for the NALCConvocation, explaining the Islamic view ofChristians by using texts from the Koran.

Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch (online at www.jihadwatch.org), a program of the DavidHorowitz Freedom Center. He is the author of 14books, including two New York Times bestsellers,The Truth About Muhammad and The PoliticallyIncorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades).

“We see practically every day horrific news storiesabout the persecution of Christians in the MiddleEast and elsewhere in the Islamic world. And Ithought that today it would be useful, in order tohelp you to understand why this is all happening, to take you through the Islamic view of Christiansand Christianity as per the Islamic holy book, theKoran,” he said.

Spencer noted that there are “some very serioustheological disagreements between Islam and ...

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About 600 people attended the 2015 NALC Convocation Aug. 12-14.

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Christianity.” However, he explained that for Muslimbelievers much more than religious differences isinvolved.

“When you have theological disagreements thenthey take on a very different character whencombined with the Islamic view that the Muslims arethe executors of the will of Allah. And this is a veryimportant point,” he said.

“In the Scriptures we hear, ‘Vengeance is mine,’says the Lord, ‘I will repay.’ And Christians are notto take revenge, not to avenge themselves in anyway, according to the Scriptures. In the Koran, youhave exactly the opposite teaching. As a matter offact, you have the explicit obligation given to Muslimsto be the executors of God’s wrath on earth.”

Spencer explained that Muslims believe thatunbelievers will be punished in this world as well inthe world to come. “And how will God punish theunbelievers in this world? By means of the Muslims.”

“So this creates, you see, an obligation for a piousand knowledgeable Muslim ... a feeling that he hasa responsibility before God to fight against thosewho have rejected the faith,” he said.

“So when we see this persecution in the MiddleEast, when we see the Islamic State, or ISIS as it’spopularly known, waging war against the Christians,driving them out of lands that they have lived in for

centuries, the people whoare doing that believe theyare carrying out a divineresponsibility — somethingthat will bring them blessingsfrom God,” Spencer said.

“You may recall that JesusHimself said, in the Gospel ofJohn, ‘The time will comewhen men will kill you andthink they are offering serviceto God’ (John 16:2). Thattime is upon us now,”Spencer said. “That ishappening every day in Iraq,in Syria and elsewhere.”

There have been times when Christians have livedunder Islamic rule in relative peace. Islamic law permits Christians to live in an Islamic society ifthey agree to pay a tax, called the “jizya,” and tolive as second-class citizens in “submission” toMuslims. “All of this is designed to remind theChristians that they have rebelled against the trueGod and that they have strayed from the right pathand that they are suffering in this world as wellas the next because of their rejection of Muhammadand the Koran and Islam. But once you’re in thoseboundaries — once you have accepted thesubjugated status, this second class status, andyou know your life hangs on the whims of theoverlords and you accept the denial of basic rightsthat the dhimma entails — then you can live.”

Spencer also said that the Koran teaches Muslimsto look at the ruins of other civilizations to see howthose civilizations fell because they did not believein Allah. “There’s another divine responsibility thatthe Muslims have: to create ruins — to destroy —because that in itself shows the power of Allah,” hesaid.

“The Islamic State has very often said that it’scoming down to the end. It considers that it is preparing for the twilight battle, the last strugglebetween good and evil. And they see themselvesas the good. ... They see all this in those terms.And I believe that they have a point in that. And weneed to see that in those terms as well.”

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“This is a challenge to the Church and to Christians— each individual Christian — such as has neverbeen seen before or at least has not been seensince the very early Roman persecutions. We arecalled upon now to understand exactly what’s atstake and to know that the stakes are indeed veryhigh. This group and groups like it are going to keepcoming no matter what, and they’re going to keepadvancing because they have an imperative to rulethe world, by their own statements. They’re going tokeep advancing until they’re stopped.”

He said stopping radical Islam will be a militarystruggle, but “it’s also a spiritual battle. A spiritualbattle requires spiritual weapons. It requires notonly prayer and fasting ... but also something that Ithink is very much lacking in the West today andthat we have a responsibility to try to restore andthat is: an understanding of and appreciation forwhat Judeo-Christian Western civilization hasbrought to the world.”

Spencer said that Western societies need to teachthe Christian origins of the basic values of oursocieties including the freedom of speech, theequality and dignity of all people, and the equalrights of people before the law.

“It does matter what you believe. It does matter thecontent of the assumptions that you bring to theworld. And the beliefs that come from the Koran arebeliefs that lead to hatred and violence andoppression. Does this mean that every Muslim —every believer in the Koran — is hateful and violentand oppressive? Of course not. ... If the Koranteaches something, it doesn’t necessarily mean thatany individual Muslim has any knowledge of it orinterest in it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

Spencer said we need to understand that Islamic violence against Christians around the world“is something that is based very deeply ... on Koranicimperatives. And, as such, it’s not going to go awayas long as there are believers in the Koran.”

“What can change it, of course, is the power of thetruth insofar as we ourselves have the courage tostand upon that truth without the slightestcompromise and without the slightest demur andwithout the slightest hesitation in the face of what

are certain to be, in the coming days and monthsand years, increasingly virulent and even violentchallenges.

“The good news is that we know how it ends up.We know that we will win. We know that life alwaystriumphs over death. We know that life will never beentirely extinguished,” Spencer said. “There arehard times ahead. And, of course, we haveabundant warnings about that and abundant adviceabout how to deal with it in the Christian Scriptures.That ultimately is where we can find the answersto this tremendous challenge. And it is indeed atremendous challenge. We have the best of allfighters on our side in the Lord. But we have to bewilling to stand for Him no matter what, as Hestands for us,” Spencer concluded.

Bassam Abdallah

The Rev. Dr. Bassam Abdallah, pastor of FirstUnited Lutheran Church in Hammond, Ind., led aBible study for the Convocation and offeredreflections based on Acts 26. He pointed to thewords of Jesus to Paul (Acts 26:16-18):

“But get up and stand on your feet; for I haveappeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you toserve and testify to the things in which you haveseen me and to those in which I will appear to you. Iwill rescue you from your people and from theGentiles — to whom I am sending you to open theireyes so that they may turn from darkness to lightand from the power of Satan to God, so that theymay receive forgiveness of sins and a place amongthose who are sanctified by faith in me.”

“The past few years, the Church and all the faith-filled Christians have been standing up — firm inJesus Christ. They did not and they will not yield tothe evil forces of the world,” he said.

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Pastor Bassam Abdallah, pastor of First United LutheranChurch of Hammond, Ind., led a Bible study andprovided reflections on the suffering of Christians and thecall for Christians to have the love of Christ for those whopersecute us.


He noted the 21 Christians slaughtered in Libya inFebruary. “Do you know what they were saying asthey were beheaded by the evil men who werebeheading them?” he asked. “‘My Lord Jesus’ weretheir final words.”

“From 1915 until the year 2015 — a hundred yearperiod — there were more martyrs crowned than inthe preceding 1,900 years of church history. Over 3 million Christians have been slaughtered — havebeen martyred over the past 100 years becausethey say, ‘Lord Jesus.’”

“Stand up, Christians, and tell the story of yoursisters and brothers suffering for their faith. Do notbe intimidated by the devil and his forces in theworld. ... If we do not speak up on their behalf,please tell me who could and who should?

“The wounds of the Church are as deep as historyhas ever seen. Jesus has become a threat to many.... The number one enemy of ISIS is Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Abdallah told the often untold part of thestory of the 21 Christians beheaded by ISIS inLibya. Only 20 of those killed were CopticChristians. The 21st man was a Muslim from Chad.When he saw the immense faith of the others, hereportedly said, “Their God is my God,” knowingthat he would be killed. The witness of the 20Christians resulted in that man’s conversion toChristianity. “Twenty were sacrificed for that one toreceive salvation.” Pastor Abdallah said.

Pastor Abdallah, a Palestinian and native ofJerusalem who still bears on his own body thewounds of Muslim hatred for Christians, challengedlisteners to share the love that Christ has for Muslimpeople. He also reported a hopeful statistic thatmillions of Muslims are converting to Christianityevery year.

“We need to reach the heart of God in prayer andsupplications, not only on behalf of those who arebeing tortured from our families, those who arebeing displaced and killed. But we need to pray forthose who are torturing them, displacing them, andkilling them. ... We need to lift our voices to heaven,bringing to the altar of God those who cheer theagony of our family of faith. God has sent them, and

God is sending us to the evils of the world that bythe power of the Holy Spirit they will turn fromdarkness to light and have their sins forgiventhrough the blood of Jesus Christ,” he said.

“We continue to have a problem on our hands. TheChurch is wounded, but the Church will never die.Christians are hurting, but Christians will neversurrender to the forces of the devil in the world.

“And even though sheiks and imams throughout theMuslim world continue to preach hatred, we preachthe love of Jesus Christ to all people. And eventhough Islamic television and radio stationsindoctrinate people, teaching them violence takenright from the Koran and from the Hadith, thespeeches of the prophet, we continue to preachforgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ. And eventhough thousands of sermons are preached everyFriday against Christians and Christianity, againstthe infidels and the United States, we preach thatwe are all God’s children for whom Jesus died and

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Margaret Khamoo told heartbreaking stories of thepersecution of Assyrian Christians in Iraq.


was resurrected. And even though the Islamicschools continue to produce generations ofteachers and students who believe in jihad, fighting,killing, and suicide bombing and torturing andslaughtering infidels, we follow the command of ourLord and search for His lost sheep and, when wefind them, we bring them home, we feed them, weembrace them, and we accompany them,” saidPastor Abdallah.

“I know first hand the pain of being Christian in anintolerant and evil world. I know good and well whatthe plans of Satan in many parts of the world are.I have heard and I continue to hear the cries of myChristian family in many parts of the world. Wecannot and we should not give up on the power ofthe Lord to (change) these men and women. Wehave to bring them to the foot of the cross of Jesuswith penitent hearts and contrite minds believingthat Jesus is their Lord also and the blood of thesaints are eternally joyful in the presence of God.”

Margaret Khamoo

Margaret Khamoo of Chicago delivered a keynoteaddress about the persecution of AssyrianChristians. She told heartbreaking stories ofAssyrian Christians in Iraq.

Khamoo is a first-generation American whoseparents were born in Baghdad, Iraq. She ispresident of the Chicago Chapter of the AssyrianAid Society of America, which was formed in 1991after the first Iraq war to aid the internally displacedChristians in Iraq. She is also involved in the Assyrian American National Federation — formedin 1933 following an Assyrian genocide that tookplace in Iraq — that fights for Assyrian rights andprotection in Iraq and the Iraqi Christian ReliefCouncil — established in 2007 in response tochurch bombings in Baghdad to educate Christiansabout the plight of Christians in the Middle East.

Assyrians have a history of over 6,000 years. Theyare natives of ancient Mesopotamia. Theirlanguage is based on ancient Aramaic. They wereamong the first people to accept Christ. They havepublicly worshiped Christ in that area in spite ofpersecution by Muslims for nearly 2,000 years —until they were forced underground in 2014.

“Assyrians are driven by their faith. ... All they haveis their church,” she said. “But the church is within.They can destroy our churches. They can destroyour homes. They can take down our crosses. Butthese people and their faith have not wavered.They remain strong in their faith,” she said.

“And their faith is in the West as well. We’reChristian. We have brothers and sisters all over theworld ... and their hope is in all of us — that we willcome to their rescue, that we will lobby for them tostay alive,” Khamoo said.

“Iraqi Christian persecution hasn’t ended.Everything that happened 100 and 200 years ago issystematically happening all over again,” she said.“It’s an annihilation of Christians.”

There has been major persecution of AssyrianChristians — including genocide — about every 45years since the rise of Islam.

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“Lots of stories — lots of persecution againstChristians — that are happening every day aren’tbeing broadcast,” she said. “There’s so much morethat is happening every day.”

“It’s all about religious cleansing. Our faith is athreat. And for as long as we are there, (Muslims)will not be happy. For as long as our churches arethere, they will not be content. Their goal is to wipeyou out at all cost,” Khamoo said.

“Assyrians are always on the run. Christians arealways on the run. And they’re still on the run. It’sstill not stable,” she said.

“ISIS is everywhere. And this is happening underthe watchful eyes of the world, right? We all haveheard the stories about Syria and Iraq. But where’sthe intervention? What are the tools? What can wedo?”

What Christians in the West can do to help: 1. Pray. 2. Provide urgent and direct humanitarian aid. 3. Provide international protection for Assyrians andother Christians.4. Establish local protection units like police.

“What do (Assyrian Christians) want? They want togo home. They’re tired of running. They wantpeace,” she said. “The slaughter is ongoing. Ithappened then; it’s happening now. Children diedthen; and children are dying now.

“All we have is each other. This is a Christian issue.These are our Christian brothers and sisters dyingbecause they are Christians. If we can’t help, I don’tknow who can,” Khamoo said.

Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theology

“Martyrdom and the Sufferings of the Righteous”was the theme of the Carl E. Braaten and Robert D.Benne Lectures in Theology, the annual theologicalconference which precedes the Convocation. Sixspeakers explored the theme from differenttheological perspectives.

Two of the speakers told stories of recentpersecution of Christians.

Raymond Ibrahim, a widely published author, publicspeaker, and Middle East and Islam specialist,spoke on the “Muslim Persecution of Christians:Past and Present.”

Ibrahim produces a monthly report on the Muslimpersecution of Christians which is available on hiswebsite: www.raymondibrahim.com. His booksinclude Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New Waron Christians and The Al Qaeda Reader.

“More Christians are being persecuted and killed inhorrific ways than have ever been,” he said. “It’smostly happening in the Islamic world, or, moreparticularly, where Muslims are present.”

“This is not just ISIS. This is happening all over theIslamic world by average Muslims, by Muslimgovernments, by Muslim regimes, by terrorists, bythe Muslim mobs or the Arab street,” Ibrahim said.

“What we’re discussing here is a centuries-old,continent-wide attack on Christianity by Islam. Andit’s based on doctrine,” he said.

“There is not a moderate Islam and a radical Islam.There are moderate Muslims and radical Muslims.But because there isn’t a moderate Islam, themoderate Muslims really have no theological leg tostand on, but they do exist. ... If you go by thetraditional Islamic jurisprudence and how you derivereasoning and rulings and fatwas, the ISIS versionactually wins,” he said.

Lensa Gudina, Managing Director of the GudinaTumsa Foundation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, toldthe stories of her parents, the Rev. Gudina Tumsaand Tsehay Tolessa. Her father was killed in 1979and her mother was imprisoned and tortured by theCommunist Derg which ruled Ethiopia 1971-1994.

Video Recordings

Video recordings of the speakers and all of thesessions of the 2015 NALC Convocationand the Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theology areavailable online at thenalc.org/2015-event-videos.

Reports and other documents from the 2015 NALCConvocation are available on the NALC website atthenalc.org/2015convocationrecap.


Bishop John Bradosky addresses the 2015 NALCConvocation following the announcement that hehad been reelected as bishop.

Carl Rasmussen

John Bradoskyreelected as bishopBishop John Bradosky was elected to a second four-yearterm as Bishop of the North American Lutheran Churchby the 2015 NALC Convocation.

Also nominated for Bishop was Pastor James Lehmannof Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flattville (Thomasboro),Ill. Bishop Bradosky received 321 of the 386 votes cast.

Responding to the announcement of his election, BishopBradosky said, “I’m so grateful for the honor that you’vebestowed on me in the past. And I get the chance tocontinue to nurture and develop these relationships forthe next four years also serving as your bishop. It is myprivilege and my hope that I can also be a blessing toyou and your congregations as we continue to serveChrist together and to lift up His name, to give expressionto the truth and wonder of His Word. Thank you so muchfor this opportunity. God bless you.”

Carolyn Nestingen

Brian SuttonRosemary Johnson

Marty Ramey

Three elected to Executive CouncilTwo lay people and a pastor were elected toserve on the NALC Executive Council, theNALC’s board of directors, by the 2015 NALCConvocation.

Rosemary Johnson of Hope Lutheran Churchin Ladysmith, Wis., and Pastor CarlRasmussen of First Lutheran Church inKirkland, Ill., were elected to four-year termson the Executive Council.

Brian Sutton of St John’s Evangelical LutheranChurch in Statesville, N.C., was elected to a two-year term to fill avacancy on the Executive Council.

Carolyn Nestingen of Roseville, Minn., and Pastor Marty Ramey ofDallas, N.C., were elected to the Court of Adjudication. The Courtdecides questions regarding interpretation of the NALC’s governingdocuments and handles disciplinary matters in the church.

Five members of the 2016 Nominating Committee recommendedby the Executive Council were confirmed by the Convocation.


Ryan Schwarz, NALC treasurer, presents thebudgets to the 2015 NALC Convocation.

2016 NALC budgetsare approved

The 2015 NALC Convocation approved an operating budgetof nearly $2 million.

Budgets were also approved for two of the NALC’sdesignated funds: $170,000 for the Great Commission Fundand $625,860 for the Theological Education Fund (whichincludes the North American Lutheran Seminary).

It is estimated that 5-8 percent of congregational offeringswill be necessary to meet the operating budget. The NALCConstitution asks the Executive Council to report an estimateof the percentage of congregational income required to fundthe annual budget.

The NALC encourages congregations to support domesticand international ministries directly in addition to their supportfor the NALC and its designated funds.

Convocation approves constitutionalamendments reflecting change inNALC relationship to Lutheran COREThe 2015 NALC Convocation approved severalamendments to the NALC Constitution. Theproposed constitutional amendments are all relatedto a change in the relationship between LutheranCORE and the NALC.

The proposed amendments now go to NALCcongregations for ratification. The amendments willgo into effect if a two-thirds majority of the NALCcongregations voting by the Feb. 14 deadlineapprove the amendments.

The amendments remove references to LutheranCORE in constitutional language about theCommission on Theology and Doctrine. Thecommission had been a joint commission for theNALC and Lutheran CORE.

The “Vision and Plan” for Lutheran CORE and theNALC, as announced in 2010, was for LutheranCORE to continue as “an association of confessingLutherans spanning denominational bodies” and fora close ongoing relationship between LutheranCORE and the NALC. The NALC was to continueas a member of Lutheran CORE.

Lutheran CORE leaders have decided it is nownecessary for them to focus on providing “shelter”and “voice” for confessing Lutherans remaining inthe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Thatfocus requires an end to the formal relationshipbetween Lutheran CORE and the NALC.

The details of the proposed amendments areavailable online at thenalc.org/2015-convocation.


2015 NALC

Convocation

A variety of workshops were offered at the Convocation.

Many ministries were featured in the display area.

This altar banner was handmade for the 2015Convocation by Judy Knoll of Hope LutheranChurch in Cedar Hill, Texas, based on the themeScripture. Her pastor reports that she has customdesigned paraments, banners, and other works of artand that she would be open to projects for othercongregations. You may contact Judy [email protected].

The Rev. Dr. Amy Schifrin, president of the NorthAmerican Lutheran Seminary, reported on the workof the seminary.


Worship Team from All Saints Lutheran Church in Arlington,Texas, led music for the opening worship service.

Steve Bell, a Christian singer-songwriter fromWinnipeg, Manitoba, performed and led musicthroughout the Convocation and performed a specialconcert on Thursday night.

WorshipBishop Bradosky installed those who were elected toleadership positions in the NALC and Women of the NALC.


Revive Band from Peace Lutheran Church in Edmond, Okla., ledmusic for the closing service of Holy Communion.

Pastor Dan Selbo of St. Timothy LutheranChurch in San Jose, Calif., served asChaplain for the Convocation.

2015 NALC

Convocation

Bishop Bradosky led Bishop Spring in arenewal of his ordination vows. Bishop Springcelebrates the 50th anniversary of hisordination this year.

Bishop Paull Spring preached for the closing worship service.

Bishop Bradosky presided at the closing service of Holy Communion.


Pastor Dan Selbo of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church inSan Jose, Calif., opened the NALC Convocation bycalling on the church “to find new ways to fish.”

Mission-Driven event opens ConvocationA Mission Intensive event began the 2015 NALCConvocation. Wednesday afternoon and evening,Aug. 12, were spent focusing on what it means forthe NALC to be a Mission-Driven church.

In addition to inspiring speakers including BishopJohn Bradosky and Pastor Gemechis Buba, thosein attendance focused on developing road maps formission for their congregations and Mission Districts.

Pastor Dan Selbo of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Churchin San Jose, Calif., opened the Convocation byexplaining the purpose of the Mission Intensive.Preaching on Mark 1:14-20 — the calling of the firstdisciples — he said, “It’s about finding new ways totell the same old story. It’s about finding new waysto fish for those for whom our Lord Jesus died.”

He noted statistics showing the decline of churchattendance in North America. “We are surroundedby a mission field that’s becoming more of achallenge all the time. And one that’s telling us tothink and rethink ... what we’re about.”

Pastor Selbo, who served as chaplain for theConvocation, told a story about a lesson God taughthim while he was fishing. “He (God) said, ‘There aretwo ways to fish. The one is relaxing. The othertakes work. The one is hit-and-miss. The other iswhat I’ve called you to do.’ And He said, ‘I don’twant you relaxing any longer — sitting back andwaiting on the shore for the fish to come to you.I want you to change it up and start going out towhere you can find them.’ And, guess what? Hewasn’t talking about fish — but about people. Hewasn’t speaking only to me as a pastor and thecongregation I serve, but, I believe, to everyone inthis room and all of our churches.”

Pastor Selbo said a lot of congregations are stillwaiting for people to come to them rather thanworking to reach others.

“It’s the job of the pastors to pastor the church. It’sour job together to do the fishing. It’s the job of thepastors to feed the fish when they come. It’s our jobto go out together to find the fish and bring them in,”he said.

“It’s a new day, my friends. It’s a new culture, a newworld in which we live. We need to find new ways tofish. We might even need to find new bait,” PastorSelbo concluded.

Where are We Going?

Bishop John Bradosky then addressed thequestion, “Where are we going, and what does itmean to be a ‘Mission-Driven Church’?”

The bishop told the story of a time when he waslost while flying an airplane and found it difficult toadmit that he was lost.

“People are searching for direction. If Christian faithis a journey, what is the direction? A pastor ought toknow these things. God’s people ought to knowthem. But what if we’ve lost our way?” he asked.

“I bear witness to a larger problem we have andthat is our inability or our lack of readiness to admit

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Bishop John Bradosky focused on what it means for theNALC to be a Mission-Driven church by emphasizing discipleship during his address for the ConvocationMission Intensive.


that we may be lost. And the results can becatastrophic,” he said.

The bishop pointed out the difficulties of living in a“membership culture.”

“The problem is membership doesn’t go anywhere.It’s about having arrived — not a journey. And,what’s worse, it’s deadly for our congregations.Spiritual immaturity is often the result because,sensing that they have arrived, members are free tolearn as little or as much as they desire; to be asinvolved or as active as they also desire; to comewhen it’s convenient; to attend as frequently orinfrequently as they find helpful. The localcongregation becomes a kind of spiritual pit stop.The individuals often learn how to meet their ownneeds but not necessarily how to know Jesus.”

“The Church was created by Jesus to direct peopleto Jesus — to help them become His Disciples, togrow spiritually to a mature faith and to becomeleaders who can equip others to do the same —that is, to make disciples,” he said.

“Growth is not the goal. It’s the result of faithfulnessin doing precisely what Jesus called us to do andequipped his disciples to do.”

“Worship, I believe, propels us in the direction ofdiscipleship. In worship we hear the truth of theGospel read and proclaimed. We experience Hispresence in Word and Sacrament. In worship wehave the best opportunity to hear Christ’s call,‘Come and follow me.’ ... The danger is when webegin to believe that the entire mission of theChurch is fulfilled for a brief period of time onSunday morning or Saturday evening,” he said.

Bishop Bradosky said that discipleship has threekey elements: 1. Knowing Christ and the Faith thatis ours through Him; 2. Living the Faith; and 3.Being in accountable relationships to encourageone another to live out the faith.

“It is Jesus’ plan to make disciples who are capableof making more disciples. The learning curve issimply this: you can only make disciples if you are disciples,” he said.

“In the North American Lutheran Church, let us beclear regarding the path, the map, and thedestination. Discipleship begins and ends in Christwho is the way, the truth and the life. The path isthe way — Christ. The map is the truth — His holyWord. And the destination is the life that beginsnow and is eternal. To that end we press on,”Bishop Bradosky said.

Who is Driving?

Pastor Gemechis Buba, Assistant to the Bishop forMissions, delivered the keynote address on thetheme “Who is Driving?” He lifted up a vision for“mission drivers” as people who are “awakening,equipping, and mobilizing individuals for the GreatCommission of Jesus Christ.”

He focused on the need for three types of “missiondrivers:” individuals, congregations, and Mission



The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, Assistant to the Bishop forMissions, delivered the keynote message for the MissionIntensive. He provided guidance for creating missionteams in congregations and Mission Districts.


Districts. The hope is to have Mission Teams incongregations and Mission Districts throughout theNALC.

Pastor Buba highlighted the fundamentalcharacteristics of “mission drivers,” using Luke 24as a basis. He said “mission drivers” are:

1. Driven by the Word of God.

2. Ready to suffer.

3. Believe in resurrection — the miraculous. “Theynever give up.”

4. Preach repentance and forgiveness. “Just preachthe Word of God. The Word will do the job.”

5. Vision for local and global mission. “Your globalmission is as strong as your local mission. ... Ourlocal congregations must be strengthened in orderfor us to have a global vision.”

6. Clearly defined identity as witnesses.

7. Wait, pray and receive the power of the Holy Spirit.

8. Go, dwell and act in the mission field.

Pastor Buba also described five fundamentalpractices and actions for Mission Teams:

1. Practice the works of mission — Go, teach,preach, and heal.

2. Perceive, analyze and define reality. “Get out ofthe routine.”

3. Promote opportunities.

4. Pray, pray, pray.

5. Prepare and mobilize people for mission.

Joys of the Journey

Pastor Scott Ness of St. John’s EvangelicalLutheran Church in Grove City, Ohio, shared hisexperience using technology and cell phoneapplications in ministry. He talked about reading

Scripture with others using cell phones andchallenged listeners to use technology as a tool.

Pastor Ness highlighted “Drops from the Well,” anew cell phone text ministry of the NALC, which willsend a Scripture verse to group members once aweek. The hope is that members will reflect on thatverse throughout the week. You can learn moreabout “Drops from the Well” and how to participateat thenalc.org/drops-from-the-well.

“What would it look like if we, as the NorthAmerican Lutheran Church, all were reflecting onthe same verse of Scripture every night? Whatwould that do for us if every night, across our nationand the nations that we serve, we gathered at thesame time and we prayed through the Word of Godfor one another that we might dine on the Bread ofLife whose name is Jesus?” Pastor Ness asked.



Pastor Didi Panzo, an NALC missionary, told of the joysof his work in Ecuador and his new calling to work in theCongo. He described the importance of the partnershiprelationships with NALC congregations in his work.


Pastor Didi Panzo, an NALC missionary, told of thejoys of his work in Ecuador and the importance ofpartnership relationships with NALC congregationsin his work. He told the stories of visits from NALCcongregations and the difference the members hadmade to the people in Ecuador.

“I know your work is not in vain. When you’resupporting a missionary, you’re supporting the workof Jesus. When you’re siding a mission or a churchmission, you’re siding with Jesus. And that is a joy,and that strengthens us to continue to be in thefield,” Pastor Panzo said.

Pastor Panzo and his wife, Serafina, are now goingto the Democratic Republic of the Congo asmissionaries. You can learn more about supportingthe Panzos’ work and the work of other NALCglobal workers at thenalc.org/global-workers.

Faith Webbing

Gary Pecuch, Director of Youth Ministry at St.John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grove City,Ohio, told of an exciting new partnership betweenthe NALC and FaithWebbing.com, the ministry ofGary and his wife, Laurie.

He used the story of David and Goliath as anillustration of the importance of equipping youngpeople with faith skills. “The Lord God chose Davidbecause David had a heart for God and David had a skill in his bag that the Lord God wanted him to use.

“I want our young people to be just like David. Iwant them to have a heart for God, and I want themto have skills in their bag — skills that they havepracticed over and over and over and over again sothat they are in that bag so that they can pull thoseout and use them when the Lord God Almightyplaces and positions them in the right place and theright time for His glory,” he said. He explained thattheir congregation has over 40 faith skills that theytry to instill in young people.

“The definition for us of youth ministry is ‘youthdoing ministry.’ ... Family ministry is ‘families doingministry.’ Our personal mission statement is to trainand equip God’s people with the necessary faithskills to live out their personal calling in life,” he said.

All of the congregations represented at the NALCConvocation were given copies of his two books:Faith Webbing: Wrapping Children and Youth in aWeb of Faith and What’s In Your Bag?: Outcome-Based Youth Ministry.

The partnership between FaithWebbing.com andthe NALC will provide free resources to allcongregations including ministry consulting, ministryresources, as well as tools, forms, and webinars.

For more information on how your congregation canbenefit from this partnership, please join the FaithWebbing group on the NALC Network and visitfaithwebbing.com (also see article on Page 31).

Roadblocks or Detours?

A panel of mission leaders shared perspectives and resources to help congregations see that“roadblocks” to mission may be “detours” —opportunities to see and do new things.

Pastor Trina Petersen of A New Thing ChristianChurch, an NALC congregation in Lithonia, Ga.,discussed the need for congregational vision formission.



Pastor Trina Petersen of A New Thing Christian Churchin Lithonia, Ga., talked about the importance of vision incongregations.

Pastor Brad Hales of Reformation Lutheran Church inCulpeper, Va., talked about revitalizing congregations.


“If you’re going on a road trip a destination is animportant thing to have,” she said. “We need to bemindful to have that destination very clear. In thechurch or in church language that is called ‘vision.’”

“You have to make sure that the vision that you areoperating with is the vision for now,” she said. “Weare a people of God, and we are called to operateon ‘now faith.’ ... The faith that I need now toaccomplish the vision God that has given to us.”

Pastor Brad Hales of Reformation Lutheran Churchin Culpeper, Va., talked about revitalizing churches.

“The church can be renewed. The church can berevived. And that’s what God is calling us to do inHis Word,” he said. He challenged congregations tofocus on discipleship, to confront the darkness, tobe out in their communities, and to try new things.

“We don’t have to take a declining church, do we?We don’t have to wallow around and say, ‘This ishow the church is; this is how it’s going to be. Wehave to live with it.’ No, with power and passionfrom the Holy Spirit, we can say, ‘The Spirit’s goingto turn this around. We’re going to be different,’” hesaid. “The church is not going down on my watchbecause we have Jesus and the power of the HolySpirit.”

Pastor David Wendel, Assistant to the Bishop forMinistry and Ecumenism, talked about addressingconflict in congregations. He stressed the importanceof dealing with conflict and difficulties openly.

“The first thing that one has to do is simplycommunicate with one another other about theissues related to conflict,” he said.

He suggested that congregations and individualssee conflict as an opportunity. “Most congregations,that actually deal positively with conflict and openlywith the issues that they have to deal with, end upfeeling, ‘we have never grown so much as we havewhen we began to deal with the conflict,’” PastorWendel said.

Ryan Schwarz, NALC treasurer, discussed aligningcongregational finances with mission. Hehighlighted four areas regarding finances: realisticbudgeting, zero-based budgeting, reviewingendowments, and aligning our priorities forbenevolence around mission.

Schwarz noted the NALC’s benevolence model offorming direct relationships with both domestic



Pastor Dave Keener of Christ the King Lutheran Churchin Evans, Ga., talked about putting discipleship andevangelism back together.

Pastor Jody Becker of Bethany Lutheran Church,Catawba, Wis., and Bethel Lutheran Church, Hawkins,Wis., focused on “holistic faith” and self-care.


congregations and ministries and internationalmissionaries and ministries.

He also provided a two-page resource that canassist congregations as they evaluate their financesand seek to align their finances with their mission.

Pastor Dave Keener of Christ the King LutheranChurch in Evans, Ga. discussed the problem of“evangeliphobia” — an unnatural fear of the wordsevangelism and evangelist.

“We separated evangelism and discipleship,” hesaid. “We need to put discipleship and evangelismback together.”

Pastor Jody Becker of Bethany Lutheran Church,Catawba, Wis., and Bethel Lutheran Church,Hawkins, Wis., focused on the issue of clergy burnoutand the need for “holistic faith” and self-care.

“Jesus models ministry in a way that is about rest,”she said. “Jesus takes care of His ‘self’ so that Hecan leave an example for those around Him.”

“Sabbath, sabbatical, self-care — if it’s not centeredwith Christ, it’s nothing more than a nap,” PastorBecker said. “If we aren’t connecting everything inour lives — and I mean everything — then we aren’tliving into the faith that God meant us to have.”

“If we forget to take care of ourselves in a faithfulway, we turn away from the very first call that wereceived from God — the call to life. Each moment,each breath, is precious, and we should be honoredto share in that. It is why Paul writes, ‘Glorify God inyour body,’” she said.

Developing a Road Map

Pastors and congregational representatives weregiven a time to work through a process of reviewingtheir congregation’s strengths, weaknesses andthreats and then to discern opportunities for mission.

Mission Districts gathered in the evening and wentthrough a similar process to discern opportunitiesfor mission.

The booklet from the Mission Intensive is availableonline at thenalc.org/2015convocationrecap.

Videos of the Mission Intensive presentations areavailable online at thenalc.org/2015-event-videos.


The Rev. Dr. Berhanu Ofgaa, General Secretary of the EthiopianEvangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus, addresses the 2015 NALCConvocation.

Pastor David EibelLutheran Congregations

in Mission for Christ

Ecumenicalguests

Ecumenical guests addressed the2015 NALC Convocation.

Among them were the Rev. Dr.Berhanu Ofgaa, General Secretaryof the Ethiopian Evangelical ChurchMekane Yesus, a Full Communionpartner church of the NALC.

Other church bodies bringinggreetings to the Convocation werethe Anglican Church in NorthAmerica, Lutheran Congregationsin Mission for Christ, and TheLutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Representatives of other churchbodies and international churchorganizations were also introduced.

Pastor Larry VogelLutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Bishop Ray SuttonAnglican Church in North America


Bishop Spring also preached for the closingworship service of the Convocation andrenewed his ordination vows during theservice.

Bishop Spring served as a parish pastor andfor 14 years as bishop of the NorthwesternPennsylvania Synod of the EvangelicalLutheran Church in America.

He was a leader in efforts to uphold Biblicaland Confessional teaching and truth in theELCA. He served as the chair of Solid RockLutherans and Lutheran CORE during thestruggles to maintain Biblical and traditionalChristian teaching in the ELCA regardingmarriage and sexual ethics. He was a keyleader in the work to establish the NorthAmerican Lutheran Church. He was electedprovisional bishop of the NALC in 2010 andguided the church through its first year.

Bishop John Bradosky and Pastor David Wendel read letters from former ELCA bishops and other church leaders honoring BishopPaull Spring during celebrations of Bishop Spring’s 50 years offaithful ministry at the 2015 NALC Convocation.

Bishop Paull Spring shows the bishop’s cross given to him by the NALCduring celebrations of the 50th anniversary of his ordination at the 2015NALC Convocation.

Honoring Bishop Paull Springfor 50 years of faithful ministryBishop Paull Spring, bishop emeritusof the North American LutheranChurch, was honored at the 2015NALC Convocation on the occasion ofthe 50th anniversary of his ordination.

Over $13,500 was received in gifts to the North American LutheranSeminary in thanksgiving for BishopSpring’s ministry and in honor of hisordination anniversary. Gifts to theseminary were encouraged as a wayof honoring Bishop Spring’s 50 yearsof faithful ministry.

Bishop Spring has been involved inthe North American Lutheran Churchand the North American LutheranSeminary from the beginning. Heserved as the first bishop of the NALCand the first chair of the NALS Boardof Regents.


Bishop Paull Spring addresses the NALC Convocation atthe evening celebration honoring his 50 years of ministry.

Barbara and Bishop Paull Spring at the 2015 NALCConvocation as he was honored for 50 years of faithful ministry.

Words of thanks from Bishop SpringDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Words cannot adequately express the gratitudeI feel in my heart for your gracious recognitionof my 50 years as a pastor in Christ’s church.

The comments that were made at ourConvocation, the gifts, and the funds that manyof you raised in my honor for our seminary —all of these were deeply moving to me. Equallymoving were the gracious words that many ofyou shared with me on a personal level.

As I indicated at the Convocation, there’s asense in which the North American LutheranChurch is my congregation, and it has been myprivilege and honor to serve you as your pastor.

To be sure, the years I served as chair of SolidRock Lutherans and then in Lutheran CORE werenot easy ones for me. The same could be said forthe preparation for our gathering in Fishers, Ind.,and for the first year of our life as the NorthAmerican Lutheran Church. They were demandingand challenging years for me and for many of youas well.

What sustained me during those years was theconviction that we were all together under theguidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. We weredoing God’s work and were seeking to follow theWord and will of God.

I am deeply grateful for the quiet and steadysupport I received from my wife, Barbara, whoalways was by my side with her words ofcompassion and encouragement.

And, last but not least, I was also sustained by theprayers and support that I consistently experiencedfrom you, the North American Lutheran Church, mycongregation. For me and for you, the surepromise of God in Psalm 30 rings true, “Weepingmay linger for the night, but joy comes with themorning.” It is now “morning” for us in the NorthAmerican Lutheran Church. Thanks be to God!

Thank you, therefore, for being my congregation,and thank you for the call you extended to me to beyour pastor. May God’s Spirit continue to guide andlead us all in the life and ministry of the Gospel.

In Christ,

Paull E. Spring


Anniversaries recognized at Convocation

OrdinationAnniversaries

70 yearsThe Rev. Albert L. HockThe Rev. Arnold E. Schlueter

60 yearsThe Rev. Dr. James A. HarrisonThe Rev. J. Weldon Smith

55 yearsThe Rev. Leland Bottjen The Rev. James E. HansonThe Rev. John P. KlineThe Rev. Neal E. SniderThe Rev. E. Dean Windhorn

50 yearsThe Rev. Edwin R. FidlerThe Rev. Dr. Benjamin A. JohnsonThe Rev. Victor C. Langford IIIThe Rev. Lawrence LystigThe Rev. Henry Schulte Jr.The Rev. Paull E. Spring

45 yearsThe Rev. Paul ArnoldThe Rev. David BaeseThe Rev. Dr. Eugene GrimmThe Rev. Bruce G. LundbergThe Rev. Paul G. ReiffThe Rev. Raymond C. ScheckThe Rev. Alden TowbermanThe Rev. Ronald Warren

40 yearsThe Rev. Joseph M. FreemanThe Rev. Daniel HartThe Rev. William S. KetchieThe Rev. Dennis A. MeyerThe Rev. Randal L. OuimetteThe Rev. Thomas A. PhillipsThe Rev. Michael TamorriaThe Rev. W. Paul Weeg

35 yearsThe Rev. Hugh W. BrewerThe Rev. Mark JamisonThe Rev. John KulczyckiThe Rev. Dr. Craig L. LovingThe Rev. David MannThe Rev. Carl NielsenThe Rev. Allan A. OmanThe Rev. Mark Q. RowlandThe Rev. William A. Rush IIIThe Rev. Steven J. WadleThe Rev. Thomas H. Walker

30 yearsThe Rev. Mark A. BillowThe Rev. Lawrence A. GemberThe Rev. Steven G. GilbertsonThe Rev. Marshall E. HahnThe Rev. Dr. Mary B. HavensThe Rev. W. Stephen JohnsonThe Rev. David KeenerThe Rev. Alan K. KnokeThe Rev. Douglas B. LindsayThe Rev. Paul LinternThe Rev. Todd P. PetersonThe Rev. Dr. Eric M. RiesenThe Rev. Elizabeth J. TolerThe Rev. Dr. William E. WhiteThe Rev. David K. Woodby

25 yearsThe Rev. Cathy A. AmmlungThe Rev. Thomas J. BeamThe Rev. Gerald M. BerggrenThe Rev. Mariola Z. BergquistThe Rev. Thomas L. ChristensonThe Rev. Steven E. KingThe Rev. Janice A. UngerThe Rev. Stanley Simonik

20 yearsThe Rev. Thomas J. AndersonThe Rev. Debra L. DomeierThe Rev. Douglas V. HedmanThe Rev. Dr. Daniel T. LioyThe Rev. Alfredo R. LunaThe Rev. Rimon R. SaidThe Rev. Kevin L. ScottThe Rev. Diana L. SeamanThe Rev. John SuttonThe Rev. Edward L. ThomasThe Rev. Pamela L. Wells

CongregationalAnniversaries

100 yearsGrace Lutheran ChurchSpringfield, OhioEstablished - 1915

125 yearsPeace Lutheran ChurchCaroline, Wis.Established - 1890

150 yearsZion Lutheran ChurchChicora, Pa.Established - 1865

175 yearsMiller’s Lutheran ChurchHickory, N.C.Established - 1840

225 yearsBethel Lutheran ChurchLincolnton, N.C. Established - 1790

275 yearsZoar Lutheran ChurchLebanon, Pa.Established - 1740


Martyr – Life-Giving WitnessBishop Bradosky’s sermon for the opening worship of the NALC Convocation

“And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you arepersecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for Ihave appeared to you for this purpose, to appointyou as a servant and witness to the things in whichyou have seen me and to those in which I will appearto you, delivering you from your people and from theGentiles — to whom I am sending you to open theireyes, so that they may turn from darkness to lightand from the power of Satan to God, that they mayreceive forgiveness of sins and a place among thosewho are sanctified by faith in me.’” — Acts 26:16-18

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Fatherand our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Since our Convocation last year, thousands ofChristians have been martyred for their faith throughtargeted acts of terrorism. These attacks havenothing to do with war, combat or insurgency. Theseare Christians targeted because of their faith inJesus Christ. Thousands more have been displaced,lost all material possessions and financial resources,and are now refugees. Countless others have beenwounded, tortured, raped, and sold as slaves. Thepersecution of Christians continues to escalateworldwide.

During Holy Week this year Pope Francis offeredthese comments, “Our brothers and our sisters …are persecuted, exiled, slain, beheaded, solely forbeing Christian.” The pope said that there havebeen more martyrs for Christianity in recent yearsthan in the early centuries of the faith. He added, “I hope that the international community doesn’tstand mute and inert before such unacceptablecrimes, which constitute a worrisome erosion of themost elementary human rights. I truly hope that the international community doesn’t look the other way.”He decried the world’s complicit silence and, for thesake of justice, so must we.

These horrifying realities have caused Christians tolive in fear. Some conclude that in order to bepolitically correct we must say nothing. Others havebecome consumed with hatred, longing forretribution. Feeling so powerless, others search forsome compromise, live in denial, or try to avoidbeing identified as a Christian.

Yet the Scripture and witness of the Church throughthe ages provides us with a far more appropriateresponse. Let us begin by remembering Jesus’words about what we should expect as thosecommitted to following Him. From the very beginningof Jesus’ public ministry, in the Sermon on theMount, He says, “Blessed are you when peopleinsult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds ofevil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in thesame way they persecuted the prophets who werebefore you” (Matthew 5:11-12). In John 15, Jesussays, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that ithated me first. ... If they persecuted me they willpersecute you also” (John 15:18, 20).

Following Pentecost Jesus’ words become reality forthe disciples who face resistance, persecution andhatred. They are thrown into prison, beaten, andthreatened. Stephen, the first martyr, is stoned todeath. The Church is persecuted and scattered. Throughout their epistles to the churches Peter andPaul write about facing and dealing with persecution.When we consider what is happening in the worldtoday we should not be shocked or surprised that itcompromises our conviction or our witness. Thewitness of Scripture reminds us that persecution is tobe expected for all those who profess Jesus Christas Lord. The question is, how do we respond?

Let us consider Paul’s example in Acts 26. The highpriest has brought charges against Paul. He is atroublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews allover the world and a ringleader of the Nazarenesect. After pleading his case with Felix, Paul remainsin prison for two years. After Felix is gone, Festusrules and offers to send Paul back to Jerusalem.Paul knows this would be certain death. He says, “If Iam guilty of anything deserving death, I do notrefuse to die.” Instead of returning to Jerusalem,Paul appeals to Caesar.

A few days later King Herod Agrippa and QueenBernice arrive and Agrippa wants to hear Pauldefend himself in person. Paul has to stand before aperson whose great-grandfather had tried to kill



Bishop John Bradosky preaches at the opening worshipservice of the 2015 NALC Convocation.


Jesus as a baby and slaughtered many innocentchildren — a man whose grandfather had John theBaptist beheaded and whose father martyred thefirst apostle, James. The people of Caesarea andJerusalem want Paul put to death. So Paul isbrought in to make his defense.

The first thing Paul does is to speak positively aboutKing Agrippa. He shows both respect and admiration.He affirms Agrippa’s wisdom and understanding. He asks only for patience in listening to him.

Second, Paul says he is happy to present his casenot because he is trying to protect himself butbecause it is an opportunity to present the Gospel ofJesus Christ to kings and rulers. This is exactly whatJesus called him to do at his conversion, to bearJesus’ name before Gentiles, kings and the childrenof Israel. With his life on the line, his greater concernis proclaiming Christ.

Third, Paul makes it clear what his past has been. He was a part of the group now accusing him. Hewas a Pharisee among Pharisees. Paul shows theconnection of the Gospel of Jesus to the promises ofGod in sending the Messiah who died and now lives.Why should you think it incredible that God can raisethe dead? Jesus is the fulfillment of all that Godpromises. The real issue is not Paul; it is Jesus.

Fourth, Paul begins to talk about the differenceJesus has made in his life. He talks about the personhe was. There was a time when he too wasconvinced that he needed to do everything he couldto oppose the name of Jesus and all who believed inHim. He had the authority of the chief priests to putChristians in prison, to have them put to death. Hetried to force them to renounce their faith in Jesus.He was obsessed with persecuting the Christians;he was hunting them down in foreign cities. Hisdiligence in his own faith was his motivation fordestroying those who believed in Jesus. Perhapsyou could call Paul the first terrorist opposingChristians. Paul does not present himself to beperfect and without fault. He presents himself as onein need of the very grace he experienced and isabout to proclaim. He is humble and transparent, notarrogant or defensive.

Fifth, Paul tells those listening to him all the details ofhis conversion experience. While Paul shares his

encounter with Jesus in several other places in theNew Testament, this presentation is the mostdetailed account. He is on the road to Damascuswhen a light from heaven shines on him and theother travelers with him. It is a light bright enough toknock them to the ground. From the light there is avoice, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It ishard for you to kick against the goads.”

Notice that if you persecute Christ’s followers youare persecuting Christ. Those who believe in Himare one with Him in His body, the Church. Paul asks,“Who are you Lord?” Jesus reveals Himself to Paul.“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!” Then Jesuscommissions Paul with these instructions: “Get upand stand on your feet.” He was being sent so hehad to be ready to go. Like the other apostles whoheard Jesus’ invitation to come and follow Him, thischallenge cannot be received by standing still. Obedience to Jesus requires action.




Paul is about to receive a new purpose for his life. This moment forces us to ask the question, “Forwhat purpose are we living?” Jesus makes it clear toPaul. “You are to be my servant and a witness ofwhat you have seen and what you will see of me!”The message does not serve you. You serve themessage, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh, how easyit is to get that twisted and reversed! We don’t try tocreate experiences or content, we simply witness towhat we have seen and heard. We pass on what wehave first received — Jesus Christ!

Jesus promises Paul that from now on He would behis protection from both Jew and Gentile, but hecan’t avoid them or live in fear of them. He had to goto them. Jesus was sending him out to be with them.It is clear that Jesus is concerned about thecondition and the future of those to whom He issending Paul. Paul’s purpose in being with them is toopen their eyes. Paul’s own encounter with Jesusmade him aware of how blind he was in opposingJesus. Paul now saw his life and purpose with neweyes, a revelation of the one who is the way, thetruth and the life. He is to reach others who are livinglike he once lived — their eyes closed to both theFather and the Son. The Gospel of Jesus Christopens one’s eyes to the greater reality of theKingdom of Heaven Jesus proclaimed. The Gospelof Jesus Christ provides a worldview that is not onlydifferent but in opposition to our cultural worldview.

Not only is Paul to present the Gospel of Jesus sotheir eyes are open to this worldview, but also toproclaim the Gospel in a way that turns their livesfrom darkness to light. This turning is repentance. Itis not only a change in thinking, but also a change inbehavior. His message must expose sin and thepower of evil that so easily ensnares and destroys. His message must give the hope of the far greaterpower of God available in Christ through the work ofthe Holy Spirit. In the power of His life-giving love,His death and resurrection, there is forgiveness,justification and sanctification through faith in Jesusand the work of His Holy Spirit. Those who have notyet been reached with the Gospel will be broughtinto that intimate fellowship with Jesus in His body,the Church.

Faithful to that vision Paul encourages Festus,Agrippa and Bernice to let this same Jesus opentheir eyes to faith in Him. Paul is faithful to this

vision, command and mission of Christ. Even whenthey conclude he is a mad man, irrational, Paulreassures them that the Gospel is both true andreasonable when seen through the eyes of faith. It isonly foolishness to those who are perishing, as Paulreminds us in his letter to the Corinthians.

Luther writes, “It is the nature of bearing witness thatit speaks of something which others do not see,know, or feel, but they must believe the witness whobears the testimony to it. Thus the Gospel, too, doesnot demand rational decision and agreement, but afaith that is above reason; otherwise this light maynot be comprehended. ... The light of reason fightsand rages against this light.” It is clear in Paul’spresentation that he is not concerned with defendinghimself but concerned with the light, the impact ofthe Gospel on those to whom he is witnessing.

Even as Paul is sent to those who are persecutinghim and other Christians, so we are sent to thosewho are persecuting Christians throughout ourworld. We know that much of that persecution iscoming from Muslims. The response of Christianscovers the spectrum from acquiescence, to denial, toanger, hatred and profound fear. Like many, I agreethat the killing, persecution, and dehumanizing actsof violence toward Christians must be stopped forthe sake of justice and out of respect for the lives ofthose so persecuted.

But we cannot hate those whom God loves. JesusChrist gave His life for their sake as well. They areprecious in His sight. Muslim people are not theenemy. Mark Gabriel was a professor of Islam, anImam, who became a Christian. In his book, TheUnfinished Battle, Islam and the Jews, he writes thatthe problem is misplaced faith in Islam. We oftenfear the unknown — what we do not understand. Ifwe are to reach Muslims with the Gospel of JesusChrist, we must learn about their faith andunderstand why they believe and act in certain waystoward Christians and Jews. Gabriel believes it istheir faith in Islam that creates the unhealthyattitudes and problems. He reminds us that Muslimsare also the victims of Islam. They are suffering evenmore because of this misplaced trust. He writes,“Because of Islam they go through life trying toplease Allah, but never know if they havesucceeded. They lose their lives fighting for Allah, inhopes that this will get them into paradise. Because




of Islam they don’t know how to forgive themselvesor to forgive others.”

I have read the Koran and at least a thousandHadith, the sayings of Mohammed. I have read threeother books about Islam, and I am convinced that wemust be open to the truth and forgo those promotingpolitical correctness as a solution. Paul’s witnessshould remind us that those notorious forpersecuting the Church have the opportunity tobecome the greatest evangelists for the Church! Paul’s approach in this text from the book of Actsgives us great direction.

1. First, we must go. In a recent conversation,Gemechis reminded me, “Victory is going into thelion’s den. Victory is going into the fiery furnace. It isnot so much coming out but going in.”

2. Second, we should go being assured of Jesus’presence and protection. (Eucharist)

3. Approach them with Christ’s love, respect,understanding, and admiration as those also lovedby Christ.

4. Permit them to know your need for Christ, not yourself-righteousness.

5. Pass on what you have received as you shareyour witness. That your eyes were opened, the lightof Christ was revealed, that you were set free fromthe power of Satan, sin and death. Your worldview isnow one of the Kingdom of Heaven in which there isforgiveness, hope, new life now and life eternalthrough faith in Jesus Christ. Let them know thatJesus longs for them to enter that same intimatereality through faith in Him, to become his sanctifiedchildren. (Baptism)

6. Share the Gospel, not for the sake of defendingyourself but for the sake of making an eternal impacton those you are sent to reach. This is no time toremain silent but a time for the Church to speak outand reach out.

7. Depend on the Holy Spirit as Paul did. St. Cyril of Jerusalem writes, “You must also know that theHoly Spirit empowers the martyrs to bear witness. A person cannot testify as a martyr for Christ’s sakeexcept through the Holy Spirit. If no man can say

‘Jesus is Lord,’ except in the Holy Spirit, will any mangive his life for Jesus’ sake except through the HolySpirit?”

Let me close with another powerful witness that wasshared with me when I was with our missionaries,the Ekka family in the northern part of India. At theseminary in Ranchi they are training evangelists whotake the Gospel into the surrounding communitywhere they face fierce opposition from Hindus andMuslims. They fully realize that in Islam, leading aMuslim to faith in Jesus could result in your tortureand death. Yet in spite of the opposition, thesefaithful pastors, seminary students and evangelistsare filled with joy and celebrate the privilege offollowing Jesus and leading others to do the same.They shared with us the story of one evangelist whowas captured by the leaders of a Muslim village. Hewas bound and told that because he broughtChristian faith to their village and was seeking toconvert people to this faith, he would face death.They were going to behead him. (One thing I havenoticed is that those who spend their life promotingfear and engaging in constant tactics to create terrorin the lives of others also live in fear themselves.)Just before his execution he looked up at the leadersof the village and said he was willing to die for thesake of Jesus Christ. He was willing to give his lifefor the sake of sharing the Gospel. Then he said,“You can behead me but know this, for every drop ofblood that comes from my neck, 100 Christians willfollow me to this place!” At that moment, a greatreversal took place. The one fearing for his life wasseen as fearless and those seeking to inflict terrorand death were themselves terrified! The leadersstopped the process, released him and told himnever to return to their village. When asked about hisresponse, he told others he had never thought aboutwhat he would say in such a circumstance. It wasnothing less than the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. InLuke 12:11, Jesus assures us of this. “When you arebrought before synagogues, rulers and authorities,do not worry about what you will say, for the HolySpirit will teach you at that time what you shouldsay!” Before evangelists go out into the uncertaintythat awaits them in each new village where theyshare the Gospel of Jesus Christ they recount thisstory. They even have buttons made that simplystate, “For every drop of blood a hundred Christianswill follow.” In the midst of darkness, the power andlight of the Gospel still shines boldly in the life andwitness of these followers of Jesus. So may it be inour lives as well.


Dr. Hans WiersmaThe First Martyrs of the Reformation

Dr. Paul HinlickyThe Theology of the Martyrs

Dr. Judy Stack-NelsonYou Shall Be My Witnesses:

The Witness Tradition in Acts, John and Paul

Carl E. Braaten-

Robert D. Benne

Lectures in Theology

Over 300 people attended the Carl E. Braaten-Robert D.Benne Lectures in Theology, the NALC’s annual theologicalconference, held prior to the NALC Convocation.


Lensa GudinaSuffering and Martyrdom:

An Obligation or a Choice?The Stories of Gudina Tumsa and Tsehay Tolessa

Raymond IbrahimMuslim Persecution of Christian Martyrs:

Past and Present

Dr. Michael DeJongeA Martyr for What Cause?

Reconsidering ‘Bonhoeffer and the Jews’

‘Martyrdom

and the Sufferings

of the Righteous’

The speakers for the Braaten-Benne Lectures in Theologyengaged one another in discussion during a Speakers’Forum.


Leaders of Confessional churches and reform movements met Aug. 8-9 for the GlobalConfessional and Missional Lutheran Forum.

NALC hosts Global Confessionaland Missional Lutherans Forum“The Church today iscalled to bear faithfulwitness to the Gospel ofJesus Christ and to theWord of God,responding to the GreatCommission of our Lord(Matthew 28). While thishas always been thechief mission of theChurch, carrying out thatmission is particularlydifficult in today’s world. Lutheran communitiescurrently face uniqueand varied challengeswhich impact and oftenimpede mission andministry.”

With these words, the“Dallas Proposal” describes the current situationsLutheran Christians are facing in the world todayand proposes to establish an ongoing GlobalConfessional and Missional Lutheran Forum. Thisproposal was the result of a gathering of 16Lutheran leaders from around the world,responding to an invitation from the North AmericanLutheran Church.

The forum included leaders of reform movementswithin existing Lutheran church bodies, missiongroups and societies, and Confessional Lutherandenominations.

The gathering took place Saturday and Sunday,Aug. 8-9, immediately preceding the NALC’sLutheran Week at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The timing allowed thosewho wished to also participate in the events of theweek, including the Braaten-Benne Lectures inTheology and the 2015 NALC Convocation.

Although the “Dallas Proposal” is at this timeexactly that — a proposal — the draft states:

The purpose of the forum will include a) mutualsupport and encouragement; b) theologicalreflection on themes related to the LutheranConfessions; and c) the development of strategiesfor congregational and pastoral renewal for thesake of mission and discipleship.

An important first step was to define and clarify thecurrent existing global reality facing Biblical,Confessional Lutherans.

Such challenges include increasing secularizationoutside and inside the church; denial of the Law ofGod and an unwillingness to repent and live a newlife in Christ according to God’s Word; persecution,oppression and martyrdom of Christians; over-institutionalization of the church; lack ofcommitment to the Great Commission; and anunwillingness to pass on the Apostolic Faith inchurch and home.

The proposal continues, however,Continued on Page 29


Participants in the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum pose for agroup photo.


These challenges need notlead to despair, can be anopportunity for greater faith,response and commitment.History indicates that theChurch and every Christiancan grow and thrive in timesof persecution and difficulty.For “we rejoice in oursufferings,” knowing thatsuffering and challengelead to endurance,character and hope whichwill not disappoint us! (Romans 5:3-5)

The participants, then, intend to create a forum ofconfessional, missional Lutheran communities “toshare this hope that is in us, to weep with thosewho weep and rejoice with those who rejoice, tosupport one another in the Gospel, to meet thechallenges we face and to further the church’smission and ministry...”

A planning task force was formed and will makespecific suggestions for taking next steps inorganizing this forum, gaining support of the variousLutheran communities, and working toward the nextgathering of this group, which will take place inconjunction with the 2016 NALC Lutheran Week,August 9-12 in Anaheim, CA.

Participants at the Dallas gathering were:

+ The Rev. Paul Borg, representing NALC andLutheran CORE.

+ The Rev. John Bradosky, Bishop, NALC.

+ The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, NALC Assistant tothe Bishop for Missions.

+ The Rev. Mark Chavez, NALC General Secretary.

+ The Rev. Brian Christensen, Evangelical LutheranNetwork, Denmark.

+ The Rev. Martin Fromm, Representative of theInternational Christian Network to America andVice-chair of the Church Coalition for the Bible andConfession.

+ The Rt. Rev. Roland Gustafsson, PresidingBishop, Mission Province in Sweden.

+ The Rev. Scott Grorud, Faith Lutheran Church,Hutchinson, Minn., representing the AugustanaDistrict of Lutheran Congregations in Mission forChrist.

+ The Rev. Rolf Kjöde, Chair of EvangelicalLutheran Network, Norway.

+ The Rev. Isaya J. Mengele, Bishop, representingEvangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

+ The Rev. Dr. Berhanu Ofgaa, General Secretary,Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.

+ The Rev. Heidi Punt, Christ United LutheranChurch, Granite Falls, N.C., representing NALC.

+ The Rev. Jarle Skullerud, Synod Chair of theEvangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway andrepresenting Evangelical Lutheran Network.

+ The Rev. Andreas Späth, Chair of ChurchCoalition for the Bible and Confession, Vice-president of the International Christian Network.

+ The Rev. Paull Spring, Bishop Emeritus, NALC.

+ The Rev. Dr. David Wendel, NALC Assistant tothe Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism.

+ Rev. Dr. Nathan Yoder, St. Martin LutheranChurch, Maiden, N.C., representing NALC.


Great Commission is not an optionAs our time in Dallas has concluded, we continue tomeditate on Jesus’ words in John 19:30: “It isfinished.” My brothers and sisters, we are not goingto start anything; it’s already done. The biggestproblem for humanity has already been solved. Thebiggest mountain has already been climbed. Thebiggest debt has already been paid. The greatestenemy has already been defeated. The doors ofheaven are open. The grave in Jerusalem is empty.The road before us is accompanied by God’spromise to be with us and to send us the power ofthe Holy Spirit. Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” Andso on that path we go.

As baptized disciples of Jesus Christ, livingmembers of His body, our mission is to share thegood news of His saving death and resurrection withthose living in darkness, fear and godlessness,bringing the Kingdom — His risen presence — near,so that through God’s Word and Holy Spirit they maybecome His followers, baptized into His Church,disciples with us in the Kingdom of God.

Mission is sharing the good news of Jesus’ deathand resurrection, bringing the kingdom near, makingdisciples, together following all that Jesus hascommanded us.

The NALC Missions Office has a primary focus ofmobilizing congregations, leaders, and missiondistricts for mission. In order to achieve this,systematic organization for mission is criticallyimportant. Therefore, the NALC Missions Office ispursuing a teamwork approach in order to mobilizethe whole denomination by forming three categoriesof mission teams:

1. National Mission Teams (NMT).2. District Mission Teams (DMT).3. Congregational Mission Teams (CMT).

Training, equipping and resourcing these teams willhelp us awaken, mobilize, and equip our missionworkers nationwide at every level. These missionteams will be advocates, ambassadors, leaders, andresource people for mission work in their own areas.

During our Mission Intensive at the Convocation inDallas, we focused on what it means to be “Mission

Driven.” There are five National Mission Teams atwork currently, and at last year’s Mission Festival weprovided training for District Mission Teams. Webegan discussing Congregational Mission Teams inDallas, and will continue that training at the MissionFestival this fall. As a Mission- Driven denomination,we need to focus on those who “drive” the missionforward. Whether NMTs, DMTs, or CMTs, all mustfocus on these four questions:

1. What is the vision of mission drivers?

2. Who are the mission drivers in the NALC?

3. What are the characteristics of mission drivers?

4. What are the fundamental practices and actions ofmission drivers?

The Great Commission is not an option. Nor is itsomething you can rely on the international church todo. You cannot wait for your Mission District to do itfor you. You must not wait for your Bishop to do it foryou, or wait for your pastor to live into what Jesushas called you to do. You are the driver! Our vision isto awaken, equip, and mobilize individuals for theGreat Commission of Jesus Christ!

We consider it our joy and privilege to assist inproviding the needed resources so that you can liveinto this vision, and we continue this journeytogether. All of the resources from the 2015 NALCConvocation Mission Intensive are available onlineat www.thenalc.org, as well as registration for theMission Festival this November in Hilliard, Ohio.

May we be called “Repairers of Broken Walls andthose who Restore Streets with Dwellings” (Isaiah58:12).

Mission Driven

Pastor Gemechis BubaAssistant to the Bishop for Missions


Gary Pecuch, Director of Youth Ministry at St. John’sEvangelical Lutheran Church in Grove City, Ohio,explains an exciting partnership between Faith Webbingand the NALC to the 2015 NALC Convocation. The newpartnership will help to equip and enhance youth ministryin NALC congregations.

NALC partners with Faith Webbingfor Youth and Family Ministry

The North American Lutheran Church has enteredinto an agreement with faithwebbing.com to providechildren’s, youth, and family ministry consultationfor NALC congregations.

Faithwebbing.com is a youth and family ministryconsultation service offered by Gary and LauriePecuch of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Churchin Grove City, Ohio. For more on Gary and Laurievisit faithwebbing.com.

What does this mean for our congregation?

The agreement between the NALC andfaithwebbing.com will provide youth ministryconsultation services to NALC churches at no direct cost to the congregation. The service willinclude access to faithwebbing.com (including the“members only” section), webinars, newsletters and more.

How do we get connected?

Start by creating an account at nalcnetwork.comand join the faithwebbing.com community group forupdates. All are welcome to join the faithwebbing.compublic group.

Next, faithwebbing.com will give opportunity forspecific interaction with each interestedcongregation. Communication will take placeprimarily through what is called a “Faith WebbingCongregational Connector.”

A Congregational Connector is someone that apastor recommends be a main contact personbetween their church and faithwebbing.com.

Pastors can take this next step by sending an emailto [email protected] with the name of theconnector, the church and the connector's emailaddress.

Faithwebbing.comwill take it from there.Much is on thehorizon. Let’s get ourcommunicationsnetwork set up.


NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDTWIN CITIES, MNPERMIT NO. 7007

2299 Palmer Drive, Suite 220New Brighton, MN 55112-2202

Christ Centered + Mission Driven + Traditionally Grounded + Congregationally Focused

NALC Mission Festival

November 5-7

Upper Arlington Lutheran Church - Hilliard, Ohio

thenalc.org/mission-festival-2015

NALC NewsPublished by

North AmericanLutheran Church

3500 Mill Run DriveHilliard, OH 43026-7770

Phone: 614-777-5709

www.thenalc.org

Pastor David J. Baer, [email protected]

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