Note from our Executive Director: Many thanks to Paul Borg, LCMS pastor and friend of Lutheran CORE, for his report on the recent gathering of the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum (Global Forum) in Nairobi, Kenya.  This is an international gathering of Lutheran church leaders and representatives of Lutheran reform and renewal communities throughout the world.  Many of them are from Western Europe and Africa.  The NALC was very instrumental in the formation of the Global Forum.  On several occasions the Forum met in conjunction with the NALC’s Lutheran Week.  More recently it has met in Africa.  We are very grateful to hear from Paul about how the Spirit of God is moving mightily in the Lutheran Church throughout the world. 

Pause and ponder with me for just a moment. There has never been a time in all of civilization when so many unbelievers are discovering and embracing the Creator of the universe, Jesus. Never. And because of the financial support of CORE, I was gifted with a wonderful five day opportunity in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. I lived with, listened to, and learned from many global Christian leaders. They are being empowered and used by Jesus to reach those who do not yet know Him.

Many of us know the statistics of this unique moment of Christian history: a greater number of people are coming to know Jesus as Lord, than centuries past. Therefore, during this week, we sat together, ate together, became friends with each other and prayed with so many of these leaders whom Jesus is using to reach the unreached.

This particular gathering includes close to 50 Lutheran pastors and leaders from 14 different countries. We, in the global North, asked those from the global South, to teach us and be missionaries to us. There were many fascinating revelations that were, in the end, a call back to the basics: the core of sacred Scriptures, the essential act of reaching the lost, and prayer as a constant, life-sustaining heartbeat.

Here are three examples of their encouragement. They lovingly said to us:

1) Hold on passionately to the power and authority of sacred Scriptures. It is indeed “True Truth,” accurate and true as it describes history, life and faith. This is what the missionaries taught us! The Bible brings us out of darkness and evil, into light and into the presence and joy of Jesus. Maybe we simply need to remind you of what you, in the past, had profoundly taught us: Many of you in the North are diminishing that power of The Scriptures. 

2) Ask Jesus for a passionate zeal to reach the lost. May that zeal not be a part of, but the very heart of every breathing moment of life. This is more than reading books and listening to lectures. And always have a couple of unbelievers as personal friends. Those growing relationships with unbelievers empower not only growth in faith but transformation of all of life, both for the Christian and for the one who may not yet know Jesus.

3) Personally talking with our Creator of the universe, Jesus. Consider prayer as more than quick sentences for appropriate occasions. Instead, consider prayer as breathing. That intimate personal conversation becomes life giving, like a courtship with our Creator. Such intimacy results not only in profound joy but also in profound power. Jesus asks us to do what Jesus did. His miraculous life was empowered by His intimacy and continuous prayer with His Father.

Finally, I thank you for your investment in me and the leaders of God’s church. Your generosity has brought about much encouragement, strategic planning and purposeful connection between the Lutheran leaders, globally. Thanks in part to your support, we are bringing forth the Kingdom of God back into the dry bones of the Church. Amen!

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,”  They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; there is no one who does good.  God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God.”  (Psalm 53:1-2)

The fool looks into himself and does not ask from whence all that is came.  Looking only to the self, is absorbed in self and cannot think of the other.  God who created all things knows His own being and offers Himself to all, but the fools, if they think of God at all, only think in terms of what they can gain apart from God’s order of things.  Seek first the Lord, then all that is needed will be added.

Lord, I am often persuaded by the fools of this world to see things from their perspective.  Guide me in the way of truth that I would not seek what I want to be true, but You who is truth itself.  Lead me away from foolish thinking to realize that You, the Creator of all things, know the hearts of every man and hold all things in Your hand.  Guide me according to Your wisdom to come into truth.

Truth Incarnate, Jesus who has come that all who turn to You might know the way of life, guide me to live truthfully in this world, fleeing from the fools of the world who will not acknowledge You.  Help me through the obstacles that will come knowing that there is purpose in all things and by grace what is purposed will grow in me Your likeness.  Lead me this day through all that will come to be with You and in You always.  Amen.

“If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains.  “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of male goats?”  (Psalm 50:11-12)

The Lord does not need our counsel, for He already knows all that is, past, present and future.  He is not in need of things, for He is the creator of all things.  All that the world contains is in His hands.  What need does the Lord have of us?  Yet, although He has made us a little less than the angels, He has invited us to be in Him and with Him forever.  Come into the Lord and taste and see that He is good.

Lord, I am easily distracted by all of the unending hurried pace of this world.  It goes fast, but accomplishes nothing.  Help me simply turn to You knowing that You hold all things in Your hands and that everything is in Your power.  Guide me to walk with You now and always knowing that in You is hope and an eternal future.  You are God, there is no other.

Lord Jesus, Guide me in Your will and way to walk according to the principles You have laid down from eternity.  Lead me O Lord according to the will of the Father to do what is right in Your sight.  Help me to not be led astray, but to learn from You how to be faithful and true.  Guide me this day O Lord in the way I should go that I may walk in the way You have established.  Amen.