Letter Regarding the NEXUS Institute - Lutheran Coalition for Renewal (CORE)

Dear Friends in Christ –

Among Lutheran CORE’s greatest concerns have been the
following –

How can we help raise up a whole new generation of
Lutheran pastors who will be Biblical and confessional in their theology and
who will be committed to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples for
Jesus Christ?

What can we do to reach young people for Jesus? How can we present the Gospel of Jesus to
them in a clear, compelling, and engaging way?
How can we help them feel and be connected to the church?

Because of these concerns, we are very grateful for
the opportunity to sponsor a week of NEXUS for high schoolers at Grand View
University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Originally funded by a substantial Lilly Endowment
Grant, NEXUS is designed to give high school students a chance to engage in the
study of the Bible and Lutheran theology, be involved in service, and discern
whether God has gifted them and is calling them to full-time Christian ministry
and/or leadership in the church. In the
past three years, over one hundred high schoolers have gone through NEXUS. Grand View has found that after a week of
NEXUS, students grow significantly in their understanding of Scripture,
Lutheran theology, faith practices, and the doctrine of vocation. In addition, many college-aged mentors who
have participated in the program have gone on to seminary and/or full-time
church work.

There is no charge for high schoolers to attend NEXUS,
and Grand View wants to keep it that way.
The original grant from Lilly Endowment will have been spent by the end
of this coming summer, so Grand View has approached Lutheran CORE and other
ministries about sponsoring a week of NEXUS.
The board of Lutheran CORE has long recognized that many of the Lutheran
ministries that used to engage young people with a high view of the authority
of the Bible and the challenge to consider a career in Christian ministry no
longer exist or no longer function in that way, so the board immediately
responded positively to the invitation and request.

The cost to host one week of NEXUS for twenty-four
high school students, which includes college-aged mentors, teachers,
activities, room and board, and materials, is $30,000. Lutheran CORE has committed half of the
amount for one week – $15,000. The funds
from Lutheran CORE will be matched by Lilly Endowment to cover a full week’s
cost of $30,000.

Because the original grant from Lilly Endowment will
cover the costs for the two weeks of NEXUS during the summer of 2020, the funds
from Lutheran CORE will be used for a week during the summer of 2021. However, we do not want to wait until next
year to be involved. My plan is to
attend at least a significant part of the week of NEXUS this year that will be
sponsored by the NALC (North American Lutheran Church) – July 12-17 – to
further observe the program and to get to know, listen to, learn from, and
share with the young people who are there about such things as these –

What
are they thinking about, running into, and dealing with in their lives?

What
are the questions that they are asking and facing?

What
hopes do they have for the church and for their own lives?

What
is stirring them?

Sharing
in that interaction and experiencing a week of NEXUS will help us know how best
to put a “Lutheran CORE imprint” upon a week of NEXUS in 2021.

My
purpose for writing is to let you know about this additional ministry that we
are pursuing. In his first letter to his
young friend Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit expressly says that
in later times some will renounce the faith.”
(1 Timothy 4: 1) Part of our work
as Lutheran CORE is to alert people to ways in which the orthodox Christian
faith is being renounced by many – unfortunately even in the church. We also want to be there for people and
congregations when they do become aware of this great tragedy. In his second letter Paul wrote, “What you
have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will
be able to teach others as well.” (2
Timothy 2: 2) It is absolutely
imperative that the Christian faith be passed on from one generation to the
next. We do not want to be the
generation that drops the ball.

Please consider giving a gift to Lutheran CORE – over and above your current giving – to help fund the commitment that we have made to provide $15,000 for one week of high school NEXUS. You may donate online or use the response form that you will find below and/or you may designate NEXUS on the memo line on your check. We are very grateful for the faithful generosity of our friends, which will enable us to help support this fine ministry, in addition to all of the other ways in which we seek to be a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans.

Blessings
in Christ,

Dennis
D. Nelson

Executive
Director of Lutheran CORE

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our website www.lutherancore.org

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Click Here to Donate to Lutheran CORE for NEXUS Class

NEXUS Institute Home Page

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For easy access, the Response Form also appears below: