beggars at the gate

F Faith ellowshipChurch of the Lutheran Brethren • September/October 2013 • Vol. 80, No. 5

www.ffmagazine.org

Beggars at the GateA Day in the Life • The Miracle Church • God is a Translator

FAITH & FELLOWSHIP Volume 80 - Number 5

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

FFDirector of Communications:Tim [email protected] | twitter: @ffmag

Editor: Brent [email protected]

Publisher/Graphic Designer: Troy [email protected]

Photos: Katie Tysdal: p.4, p.7

2 Faith & Fellowship

Pray On!

4 A Day in the LifeMary Anderson

8 The Miracle ChurchSteven Heppner

16 Urban Church PlantingErick Sorensen

18 CLB News

20 re:ThinkBrent Juliot

Christians can depend on nothing except Christ, their Lord and God. For the sake of Christ, they surrender everything and declare, “Before I deny or leave my Christ, I will abandon food and drink, honor and possessions, house and property, spouse and child—everything.” A Christian’s courage cannot be fake or weak. It must be genuine and certain. For Christians cannot encourage themselves with any temporary thing on this earth. Instead, they cling only to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified and died for us. So Christ will say, “Because you acknowledge me, you have this advantage and comfort. Your courage won’t mislead you, for your Helper is the Spirit of truth.” All other courage comes from the spirit of lies—a false spirit

that cannot please God. But whatever Christians do, or suffer, for their faith in the Lord Christ is done for the truth. They have done what is proper and right. They can boast truthfully and joyfully that what they have done is pleasing to God and the angels. Christians can feel so confident that they don’t have to fear the devil or the

world. They don’t have to be afraid of any threat or terror. Let this encourage you, for nothing on earth can comfort you more during times of need than a confident heart.

Dr. Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 and died on February 18, 1546 at the age of 62. He was Doctor of Bible at the University of Wittenberg.

Luther, Martin, By Faith Alone. Iowa Falls, IA: World Bible Publishers, 1998.

The CLB Prayer Team is on-call to pray for requests from our family of churches. E-mail: [email protected]

Spirit of TruthMARTIN LUTHER

14 Journey to ChadPart 3 of 6Danny Bronson

19 Lifting Our EyesBiennial Convention 2014

F cusCLB

ROY HEGGLAND

11 Live the VisionCheryl Olsen

12 God is a TranslatorMarcos Holzner

In This Issue

Beggar at the GateTROY TYSDAL

www.ffmagazine.org 3

LUKE 16:19-21“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.”

I wanted nothing to do with him. He looked dirty, depressed and potentially dangerous, sitting on his old beaten-up Harley Davidson. It had been a long day. My wife had sent me for a ride on my motorcycle to unwind, a 750 Honda Shadow. Not exactly a bike respected by those who ride Harleys. I had two instructions as I rode off that evening. The first was to relax. The second was to pick up a movie from the Redbox on my way home. Upon seeing my fellow “biker” sitting in front of the Redbox I decided I would get the movie later. About twenty minutes passed and I returned. He hadn’t left, so I rode by again. About five minutes later I came back and still he sat. I couldn’t wait any longer so I pulled into the parking lot. I tried to ignore him as I stood in line. In my peripheral vision I could see that his arms were covered with tattoos and he looked meaner and tougher than he had from the street. “Are you the guy who gave me a ride last year?” he asked. “No!” I replied. “Are you sure?” he asked. I was sure. As I waited for my turn at the Redbox I could tell there was something seriously wrong, so I said to him, “You look like someone with a lot on your mind.” Over the next forty-five minutes the biker told me his story. He told me about his trouble with the law. He told me about his trouble with women. And, finally the big news, he told me that he had walked out on the mother of his son earlier that day. As he spoke, my heart broke. I thought to myself, “This guy needs Jesus, but how do I incorporate Jesus into this

conversation?” Then I saw it! Crudely tattooed on his hand was the word God. I asked him about the tattoo. He told me that it was the only one he had given himself—he wanted to feel the pain. I told him that it would take more than a needle and some ink to appease God. “Don’t I know it!” he replied. I told him about three nails that held the Son of God to a Roman Cross. I told him about blood that washed away the sins of the world. “Are you talking about Jesus?” He asked. “Yes!” I said. He smiled and, humoring me, replied, “I believe in Jesus.” “Good! So do the demons!” I told him. “They do?” he asked, with surprise in his voice. “Of course!” I said, “They know that Jesus is God, but there’s a big difference between knowing Jesus is God and believing he is your savior and the Lord of your life.” “I guess there is,” replied the biker. I explained to him that Jesus has a plan, not only for his eternity, but also for his family (and that plan does not include his son growing up without a father). The biker’s face filled with emotion as I laid out God’s plan and he nodded in agreement. As we parted ways, I gave him the name of a counselor I thought could help, and I told him how he could contact me if he wanted to talk more about Jesus.

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man had something that Lazarus needed. He had bread! But he believed he was better than Lazarus and even hell wouldn’t change his mind (Luke 16:24). Sometimes, as Christians, we fall into the same trap as the rich man. We have treasure in abundance, the bread of life, Moses and the prophets, the story of Jesus (the firstborn from the dead), and yet we hang onto it because sharing it is hard work; sharing it means getting our hands dirty. The spiritual beggars of this world take on many forms. They might be rich bankers, poor farmers, or even bikers at the Redbox, but they all need the same thing. They are begging to eat what falls from our tables. As those with seats at the banquet, those saved by faith, we are called to have compassion, to reach out to the lost, knowing that just one crumb from Christ can set them free and open the door to eternal life.

Rev. Troy Tysdal is Church Resource Coordinator for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, and serves as Publisher for Faith & Fellowship Magazine.

Visit Faith & Fellowship Magazineonline at www.ffmagazine.org

Glimpse


t’s Friday night. Youth Group night. Well, technically it’s Saturday since it’s 12:30 AM... and I am exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Exhausted. Yet spiritually filled. I have been “doing youth group” since 3 this afternoon. That’s a 9-1/2 hour workday, as a volunteer. I find that I dread Fridays. I find that my entire day, even if I don’t physically start spending time with kids until 5 PM, is dominated by youth group. I wake up feeling like I have to rush to get anything that I need to do (grocery shopping, a trip to gym, etc.) done because youth group is going to dominate my afternoon. I expect my conversations with my husband to only entail details of what we’re doing that night, or issues that need to be resolved. I have to start planning what songs we’re going to sing, and even though practice is at 5 PM every week, I’m still going to have to contact every person on the worship team to check that they’re coming. And probably several of them won’t be. And I need to figure out dinner for the leaders meeting. Once afternoon hits, forget it. My eyes are on the clock: Five hours until I need to be in the church basement for practice. Four hours. Three hours. Only two hours left, better get that laundry in asap! I might as well just go over to the church at 3 PM every Friday. My entire mind is engulfed by the coming night anyway, so I might as well be relating to the kids while thinking about them. But I dread it. Because it’s stressful. Because there are so many crazy, insane issues that come up with these kids. I have to be on the watch so that nothing gets stolen. And no one gets into a fight. And I have to follow the girls into the bathroom to make sure

I

A Day in the LifeMARY ANDERSON

that some of them aren’t going to end up making another one cry. I have to insert myself into their gossip. And their anger. And their messiness. And their sin. And it’s hard. And I wonder what it was like for Jesus to come to earth. And be surrounded by the messiness and sin. Because it would be so much easier to just go out on a Friday night with my sane, rational, educated friends. See a movie. Get dinner. Extract myself from the exhaustion of trying to control the potential hurricane of urban teenage emotions and actions while simultaneously trying to love that hurricane. It’s so much easier to love the people who are like me. Because these kids are not like me. Oh, they’re sinners and I’m a sinner, trust me, I know that. This whole letter is “An Ode to My Selfishness.” But the sin they struggle with is so hard for me to relate to. Just tonight: I had a teenager show me her report card, which she is hiding in the lining of her jacket so her mom (who is actually her grandma) will never find it. She did not pass a single class, mostly because she hasn’t gone to some of them the entire term. I cannot relate to just not going to school. Then again, if I had been at the elementary reading

level she’s at when I was in high school, maybe I wouldn’t have wanted to be in class either. Then I had to strategically place myself in the middle of at least two interactions to ensure that no fights would happen. Some of the girls just don’t know when to stop; they smack people “as a joke” and bother them to the point that patience is exhausted. So I spent some of the evening’s free time just standing and nagging them to stop being bothersome, hating that I have to do that, but knowing that if I don’t, someone is going to snap. I cannot relate to being that annoying to the people around me, or to getting so annoyed at an annoying person that I may actually hit them. Before the game, I had to lock up several people’s coats/phones because they were concerned that they might be stolen if they left them unattended. Those are legitimate fears, as we have several students in our youth group who have been arrested multiple times for stealing, and have stolen things at church several times. I cannot relate to that level of illegal activity at such a young age. I had to pull aside a girl because she had been spreading rumors that another girl had an abortion. The other girl has, in fact, been pregnant—twice—and not yet carried a pregnancy to term. It’s

fuzzy, however, as to whether she has miscarried twice or if she has actually had an abortion or two. Regardless, these two girls have been in an escalating feud, and bringing up the lost babies as a vengeful tactic is going to push the problem from nasty glances to potential blows. I cannot relate to dealing with two pregnancies while in high school, to being willing to badmouth someone because of that, to potentially fighting someone because neither person is willing to apologize. During the lesson time, I heard that there was someone upset in the bathroom, so I went in there and found the aforementioned girl who lost two babies sobbing on the floor because of the conflict with the other girl. I spent a good twenty minutes talking/praying with her, and it’s just incredible—the stuff that she’s dealt with: being adopted, having an adoptive mother who is an illegal immigrant, her real father dying, her best friend dying, being raped, getting pregnant twice (with two different boyfriends) and losing both babies, and now last week her grandma died. She’s 19. She hasn’t finished high school yet; she’s in a GED/job readiness program. But she’s also stressed because she has to buy business casual clothing for the interview portion of the program and she has no money to do so, since she gave her last paycheck to her parents to



attend a small group or Bible study once a week, and read your Bible and pray when you remember to.” No, Jesus said to his disciples, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He took their profession—fishing—and aimed it in a new direction. It’s not about them making a comfortable living anymore. It’s about impacting the kingdom. Not that it’s wrong to have a well educated pastor, or to make a good living, or to go to brunch. And it’s certainly not wrong to go to a small group or Bible study or to read your Bible or to pray. These are all things that I do, and I think they’re good things, but they are not what Christ calls me to. Christ calls me to be a fisher of men. If my Christian life is just about comfortable settings and being contented with myself, that’s a problem. Part of me wishes Christ had said that first statement. That sounds like the life I want. But he didn’t. And he also made statements like, “Take up your cross and follow me.” When I think of Christians and contentment, I remember Paul, who says he is contented in all things. But he’s writing those words from a jail cell, so.... I have a feeling my desire to spend my Friday nights out at dinner with friends rather than sitting on a bathroom floor praying with a sobbing teenager is, once again, an “Ode to My Selfishness.” Not what Christ has called me to. Here’s the other thing. That life that I

want? I probably don’t actually want it. It sounds nice. But it doesn’t actually sound fulfilling. That’s what I said in the beginning. I am physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. But I am spiritually filled. Because just tonight: I was able to have a deep one-on-one conversation with a girl about her relationship with her boyfriend, and learning to set aside pride, and learning to apologize, and not always being right. She doesn’t know where she stands with the whole God thing, but I can see her opening up as she builds relationships. I saw one of the older girls ask a younger girl to spend some time with her baking in the afternoon, and watched as she stepped into a mentorship role. I saw three new guys dive right into singing during worship, and they commented to me at the end of the night that they wished our service would continue on into the next day. I was able to re-connect with a couple of kids who haven’t been around in months, and encourage them in what’s going on in their lives and in reconnecting with the church. I was able to pray with two girls about the loss of their babies, and had a really good, if hard, time of sharing and mourning and crying out to God. Sometimes on Friday nights I feel like I’m on that fishing boat, and we’ve caught so many fish that the nets are going to break because these fish just won’t stop

help them make rent. Her entire world is just something I cannot relate to. They are so wrapped up in sin. There is so much sin that has been done to them. And there is so much sin that they do. And I have such a hard time dealing with what they do, and knowing how to relate to what’s been done to them. So it’s hard, sometimes—a lot of the time—to love them. And my Friday nights are exhausting. And I dread them all day. And I know I’m going to crash on my couch at 12:30 AM and just want to bury my head in the sand. BUT. Here’s the amazing part: They are in church. On a Friday night. Cause you know what? It would be so much easier for them to be out with their friends too, doing whatever they wanted to do. Instead, they come to a place where there are rules (even if they push at those rules as hard as they can). They come to a place where they have to play a group game, no matter how cheesy they think it is. Where they have to sit and turn off their phones for an hour, sing songs about Jesus, and listen to a pastor give a message. And they’re here. Every week. Because Jesus is drawing them in. And I have to remind myself: Jesus did not say, “Come, follow me, and I will make you a contented Christian who has a pretty comfortable life, where you listen to a well-educated pastor every week and then go out to brunch with other upper middle class people to discuss what you thought of the sermon, and then you

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20

flopping around and doing whatever it is they want to do! But the reality is that the fish are there. And slowly, but surely, I’m a part of the team helping to pull the net in. Some fish might jump out. But at least we’re fishing. And when it’s too overwhelming, well, Jesus is right there, on the shore. And he’s reminding me that it’s his work. As I cleaned up and turned off the heat and wiped cupcake frosting off the floor and put away microphones and freaked out because I thought one of the laptops had been stolen—but luckily it was just already put away—I was tempted to dwell on the potential fights, the gossip, the tears, the mess. But tonight Christ reminded me of the blessings. And isn’t that what contentment is about? Finding my contentment, at the end of the night, from seeing God at work in the messy, crazy lives of these kids. And isn’t that more fulfilling than dinner and a movie can ever be? Hopefully I’ll read this to myself next Friday afternoon. And instead of feeling dread at the coming messiness and exhaustion, I’ll feel excitement at the coming work that God will do, in which he lets me join him. Let’s go fishing.

Mary Anderson is a member of 59th Street Lutheran Brethren Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Visit 59th Street Lutheran Brethren Churchonline at www.59thstreetlbc.org

The entrance to 59th Street Lutheran Brethren Church, Brooklyn, NY

The view of New York City from American Veterans Memorial Pier in Brooklyn

Above: Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City’s five boroughsBelow: Inside the sanctuary of 59th Street Church



nce upon a time I accepted the church planting challenge. I was impatient with discipleship.

I had a vision, a plan, a method and a place. I believed that counties with a high number of permits for new home construction would yield a significant number of dislocated Christians. I moved my family to such a location and found the local newspaper was happy to assist my plan. We designed a logo for water bottles and mugs and mailed them to specific zip codes. A letter was written describing our new church. The invitation was for those who wished to be leaders in a self-multiplying church. We waited by the phone, which rang once. The end result was a ninety year old man who offered us $20.

O We collected a few families via canvassing and through friends of friends. Discipleship happened in some homes. My family and our friends worshipped in our home, a fire station, a borrowed church building and a day care center. Then the funding dried up and an invitation came that provided a more secure environment for the family, so I laid aside the work. Now I serve as pastor of Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Malta, Montana. According to demographics, the opportunity for a second Elim LBC in Malta is not an earthly reality. But in obedience to Christ, we practice discipleship for church planting elsewhere. The Gospel makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the church planter.

The same miracle that creates faith for personal salvation creates corporate faith for churches. Jesus proclaimed it in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He fished this revelation out of Peter in Matthew 16:17-18, “On this rock (of revelation) I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” At Jesus’ ascension, his last word on discipleship emphasized that the authority to start churches rests with him (Matthew 28:18-20). As we understand discipleship, it is a biblical relationship between trainees accountable to mentors. Our first prayer is to witness confirmation of faith from Jesus for individual eternal salvation. Our second prayer is to witness the revelation

The Miracle ChurchSTEVEN HEPPNER


house-church planting in China. The miracle church happened. We practice “tenure discipleship.” In Acts chapter 20, we read of the tenure of the Apostle Paul in Ephesus. For three years, the Apostle practiced discipleship with both Jews from the synagogue and converts from an idol goddess. He carefully taught the story of Jesus as prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures. A miracle church in Ephesus happened. Phillips County is home to homestead domestic families. These faithful folks have a heritage of preaching the story of Jesus as laymen, often without seminary-trained pastors. They have continued to regularly preach in surrounding prairie churches. Elim LBC has thrived with and without seminary-trained pastors. This has happened because of discipleship. Discipleship is not a program but a biblical relationship. We do not know when or to whom it will happen next. We are called to watch and wait for the coming of Jesus’ miracle church. We practice “generational discipleship.” The Gospel of John in chapter 21 paints an all too familiar scene of Jesus discipling Peter. Peter is exhorted to care for and feed metaphoric sheep and

of corporate talents and gifts in service in the Church. Every teacher is looking for an assistant. Anyone willing to do “scripture reading and prayer” in weekly worship is fair game to develop as a lay preacher. As the young people leave our community, they are equipped to build mini-churches among their college friends. As families are vocationally transferred to other towns, they are prepared to build small home groups that may become public churches. We practice “momentary discipleship.” There is a scene in Acts 8 where Philip has an opportunity to spend an afternoon with a traveler who is reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip teaches the traveler to see Jesus in all the books of the Bible. This leads to the miracle church happening in Ethiopia. Here in Malta we have witnessed Jesus practicing momentary discipleship. We have seen individuals and families that blow in, blow up and blow away like nomads. Like the couple that lost the rear axle in their Volvo. They slept on the hide-a-bed in the youth room of the church for five weeks. We read the Bible together, prayed together and worshiped together. I have recently heard they are

lambs. We pray “thy kingdom come” and we believe God will bring his kingdom. Every generation, rural and urban, is prone to insulation, isolation, stagnation and extinction. Generational discipleship is a twenty year project to train those we baptize for leadership in new churches of the next generation. Every generation is called to be born of the Spirit for a miracle church. Elim LBC has four young adults of the congregation that are practicing discipleship this summer; one in Africa and three in the youth group. We are witnessing the Spirit of Jesus plant his miracle church in the hearts of every generation. Jesus has not sent us out to find Bible-believing churches, but to build them. Jesus is worshiped because he is planting churches. He is the revelation and the authority. You and I are here to make disciples for Christ. Let us make disciples and witness Jesus building miracle churches everywhere.

Rev. Steven Heppner is pastor at Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Malta, MT.

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.” Acts 8:4-6

StewardshipROY HEGGLAND

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L uther wrote extensively about “Stewardship.” Usually, he called it “Vocation.” God the Creator

gives every person his vocation, his place in the divine order, but it is only the believer who becomes aware that his earthly vocation is a divine calling. He recognizes the world, with all of its activities, as God’s workshop, not something neutral or secular which the church must try to “spiritualize.” Although his daily work often appears to have nothing to do with God, he sees it as a “mask disguising God’s presence” (Luther). God came to earth in the person of Christ, the lowly suffering servant. He continues to come to earth through us, his servants. Philippians 2:5-7 says: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” The believer learns to avoid unscriptural separations between the spiritual and earthly, faith and works, love of God and love of neighbor. There is always the temptation to identify the cause of God’s kingdom only with church activities and separate it from our everyday work. We need to be reminded that every task God entrusts to us (our vocation) has divine significance. This “entrustment” is what we call Stewardship.

Roy Heggland serves the Church of the Lutheran Brethren as Associate for Biblical Stewardship.

CLB Contribution Report

- 50,000

CLB Fiscal Year End: April 30, 2014Fiscal Year Goal: $2,525,000Received (May-July): $288,563 (11%)

Received as of July 31, 2013

Accumulated Difference

ActualAnticipated

0

-50,000

-100,000

50,000

100,000

150,000

Jun.May Jul.

“We see God stirring in our church a fresh passion to reach beyond our own comfort to all people among whom God places us. We embrace God’s mission to bring the life changing Gospel to unreached people in Asia and Africa, and we sense God convicting us to more intentionally reach out to people who live in our midst in North America as well.” - CLB Vision Statement

• Rachel Patterson elected as WMCLB Chairman. Thanks, Janet Spencer, for your years of service!

• Praising God! Old budget met and surpassed! New budget: $42,575.

• New Focus Project: “Mercy Guinebor” —supporting Guinebor II (G2) Hospital in the middle of four very rural Muslim villages (in Chad) that have no local health care. Goal: paint for pediatric ward, mosquito netting for all wards, operating room air-conditioning, and solar-powered water pump. For practical ideas: sewing infant blankets, layettes, etc., go to www.wmclb.com.

Vision shared: Banquet speaker, Trisch Johnson, of Maple Park LBC in Lynnwood, travels with husband Noel frequently to work with G2. Her passionate slide presentation depicted the needs of Chadian people. Opened in 2010, G2 has already served thousands of sick, injured, and malnourished people, as well as delivering babies, and teaching healthcare. The Jesus Film is shown, proclaiming the Gospel, and trust is being built even among the Muslim population. They will gratefully receive our financial assistance as our Focus Project this year. Prayer for God’s guidance: Join the WM Team—in prayer for our new president, Rachel Patterson; for open eyes to see God at work; to actively participate in fulfilling the Great Commission in our neighborhoods, Regions, and around the globe, as his women of the CLB.

Cheryl Olsen is Information Coordinator for Women’s Ministries of the CLB.

Saturday afternoon: Six break-out sessions were offered, two by Women’s Ministries. Ruth Vallevik described the physical vision we desire: clear, broad, unobstructed, and accurate. She challenged us to think how those attributes are also true of our spiritual vision. Our physical vision can need correction through glasses or contacts, but at times we put it off because it’s costly, inconvenient, or we’re just comfortable the way things are. Our spiritual state needs correction too—receiving new eyes for blind ones; receiving ongoing correction through focusing on Jesus, listening to God’s conviction, and yielding to his work in us. Alyssa McIvor moderated a panel of women whose lives had been re-focused because of specific trials in their lives. Marit Stueckle of Edmonds, Peggy Smythe of Marysville, and Lori Christopherson of Everett shared simply and poignantly their initial reactions to their trial situations. Speaking from their hearts, they allowed us to see through their eyes how God used his Word, other believers, and circumstances to enable them to cope, survive, and ultimately learn to know him more intimately. Saturday evening: Sixty-five women gathered for a 5 PM banquet, the main event of the day. The African motif met our eyes, in both table décor and mission-themed wall hangings, preparing us for our speaker, Trisch Johnson. Other highlights:• Ruth Vallevik’s book, Rooted in the

Word, our completed 2012-13 Focus Project. (Books available through Ruth, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.)

Women’s MinistriesChurch of the Lutheran Brethren


Live the VisionCHERYL OLSEN

L ive the Vision!” was the theme of the national Women’s Event June 28-30, in conjunction with the

Pacific Region North Biennial at Warm Beach, Washington. Friday evening: Several rose to the challenge of serving 125 meals at New Life at the Well Church in Mount Vernon, Washington. It was an eye-opening vision to all who hadn’t been there before. One commented that it was the highlight of her whole weekend! This CLB church’s influence in the Mount Vernon community is significant, outweighing its small size, providing service to the homeless and working poor through food, clothing, haircuts and more. It’s not easy, it’s not comfortable, but those involved know that God has called them to this mission which, though costly in time, energy, and resources, is spiritually rewarding. Serving alongside them was a privilege, as we saw the challenges and benefits first-hand! Saturday morning: Both men and women were given a glimpse into what God is doing in the Region. There was the testimony of a new believer in Marysville. A Seattle woman spoke enthusiastically about young adult ministry. Lynnwood women told how their study of the Word motivated them in giving. And three pastors shared how their churches are actively reaching their communities, in part, because the Region invests in them financially. After each testimony, the room buzzed with praise and petition as we paused in small clusters to pray aloud for the ministry just shared with us. We became involved in living the vision, not just hearing about it.

Left: Praying for Rachel Patterson, the new president of WMCLB • Right: A little girl with cast at G2


od is a translator!1 He translates himself—into your words! Have you ever thought about

that? How were you saved? Maybe you have known Jesus for as long as you can remember. Perhaps you grew up hearing of his love and saving power from your parents and later from your church family. Or maybe you came to know Christ later, as a teenager or an adult, when someone told you about Jesus and what he did for you. Then again, some people come to Christ directly by reading the Bible, like I did. However you came to believe in him, God employed words—translated words—to speak to you. Thank you, Lord! Now reflect on the words that God uses to bring you into his Kingdom and then to nurture you as his child. More specifically, think about the language in which you heard or read those words. It’s obvious: God’s Word comes to you in a language you understand and almost

G certainly in the language that you speak best. That’s no accident. In fact, many of the world’s religions have a sacred language, such as Arabic for Muslims or Sanskrit for Hindus. Only by learning these languages can adherents learn well the teachings of these faiths. Thankfully, your Father God has gone out of his way to speak to you in your language, so that you may know the truth and be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), so that you may hear the word of Christ and come to faith (Romans 10:17). What does God communicate? His very own self. God translates himself into concrete terms so that you can know him. How else could we limited human beings begin to perceive an infinite God unless he made himself accessible to us? He began by speaking the universe into existence (Genesis 1). The human race can perceive his existence, eternal power and divine nature in the wonders of nature (Psalm 19:1-4, Romans 1:20).

But God did not remain far off. As soon as he created the first people, he began speaking directly to human beings and he has not stopped. He sought out Adam and Eve and talked with them. He spoke to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; he met with Moses; he revealed himself through the prophets. Yet, for our salvation, God’s communication culminated when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). When God the Son was made flesh, “divinity was translated into humanity.”2 In Christ, not only the fact of God’s existence, but the personal and saving knowledge of God becomes accessible to all people. Through Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection, he expressed “incomprehensible mercy, faithfulness, and sacrifice—in sum, love—for the sake of sinners.”3 The incarnation is the Father’s greatest act of translation—of himself to you! Indeed, through the various times when God spoke and revealed himself to

1I want to thank Paul Szobody, who made many useful suggestions and comments that improved this article greatly. Any errors or deficiencies, are my responsibility. 2I drew the idea of incarnation as translation from the following article: Kenney, Tyler. “A Justification for Translation: Why Every Christian Should Care about Gospel Resources in Languages beyond Their Own.” http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/a-justification-for-translation. Desiring God, 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 July 2013. 3 Ibid

God is a Translator!MARCOS HOLZNER

for you in Jesus has been passed from one generation to the next, changing languages as the generations changed. To come to you, God’s Word took on the form of English or perhaps some other modern language so that you could hear it and believe. The path that God’s Word takes from where it is originally given to each person may be long or short. Yet it always begins with God and his gracious desire to be in relationship with people. Thank God that he speaks in languages all people can understand! But God’s work of translation is not finished. Sadly, there are still billions who have not heard the Gospel and millions who do not have it in their own language. Amazingly, God uses us to work with him as he makes himself known to all peoples. Translation has always been a central part of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren’s work in Africa.4 Now that Lutheran Brethren mission work has expanded to reach Chadian Muslims

humanity, he inspired human authors to record, for us, all of his words and actions that we need for faith and godliness (2 Timothy 3:15-17). God’s Word, the Bible, remains his principal means of communicating with us. Originally, because God was communicating with and through humans, God gave us his written Word in the languages of its human authors: Classical Hebrew, Aramaic and Koiné Greek. Yet he did not institute them as sacred languages. His desire is for all people to know him, so he continues his work of translation. To reach you, God used people to translate Scripture and gave it to you in a way and in a language you could understand. Maybe a pastor studied biblical texts in the original languages and then communicated the Gospel of Christ to you, or to someone else, who then shared it with you—in your language. Perhaps your family has a rich heritage of faith. The message of God’s love

for Christ, your CLB missionaries are collectively speaking God’s Word into people’s lives using Chadian Arabic, Fulfulde, Naba, and Bagirmi.5 We have also begun written translations into the Bagirmi and Naba languages. Pray for us as we continue to participate in the Lord’s work of translation in Chad. Pray that the people of Chad would receive God’s Word and come to know Jesus as their savior. Finally, praise God that such a small church body as ours has been given the grace and privilege to be his hands in this work.

Marcos Holzner lives in Fergus Falls, MN and works as a translator for Lutheran Brethren International Mission.

w w w . L B I M . o r gLBIM

4In his providence, the Lord used the Church of the Lutheran Brethren to translate at least 13 New Testaments and 5 complete Bibles. Our sister churches in Chad and Cameroon are completing more Bibles as they finish translating the Old Testament into more languages. 5Chadian Arabic is the mother tongue of the Arabs of Chad and is also the trade language used by all Chadian Muslims. Fulfulde is the language of the Fulbe people, also known as the Fulani. They have the entire Bible in their language. Naba is the language of the Bilala people, and Bagirmi is the language of the Barma people.



e’re almost in our new home. Things are winding down in our preparations to leave. Or

is that winding up? With all the packing of things to go to France, Chad, or stay in Montana, along with some training and lots of goodbyes, it’s hard to know what direction we’re going. But the time is getting close. The storage shed has everything in place. The crates to ship to Chad have been sealed. We have with us what we are taking to France. We’ve said goodbye to Mandy’s extended family. We said a very difficult goodbye to her sister and family. And now we’ve said the hardest goodbye to Mandy’s parents. We have a few more goodbyes to go with my family, and then we’re out of here. Along the way, we’ve stopped in at some churches and gotten to see people we know, as well as meet new people. It’s been exciting to get to share about the work that we are headed to (what little we know of it right now anyway), and encouraging to see people who are prepared to pray for us. Some even pray for us right on the spot. Not only is God with us through every step of this journey, he has also provided us with a family of believers who will be with us in prayer. One tremendous blessing for us was the four weeks we spent at Mission Training International in Palmer Lake, Colorado. In addition to gaining language learning tools and skills (for learning three languages—yikes!), we worked through some of the challenges we will be facing in the coming months and years. We also learned ways to ease the transitions to new cultures and life settings. Our kids also had their own excellent training, and we left there with some great memories and new friends. Of course, this also added to the pain of leaving, as we grew close to these friends, and then had to say goodbye after four weeks. This coming together of “good” and

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“bad” is part of what we can expect in the years to come. It’s the paradox of living in this world, and living in service to God. At MTI they talk about it as a pair-o’-ducks: the “yay” duck, and the “yuck” duck. They almost always come together. And this is a good way to talk about it with our kids. We see it illustrated as we talk about the upcoming departure for France. As I was telling Zeke about the long flight we will have, his eyes lit up when I told him about the possibility of having his own TV screen on the plane. “That’s what my friend at MTI told me about!” he exclaimed. But his face got sad when I mentioned our arrival at our new home. I asked, “What’s the matter?”

He responded with one word, “Snow.” He will surely miss snow when we get to Chad, but at least that yuck duck can wait for one more transition. We thank God for all the yay ducks, such as friends and family who have helped in our preparations, and we trust God to carry us through the yuck ducks, such as all the painful goodbyes. I’m glad God can deal with the pair-o’-ducks just fine.

Rev. Danny Bronson and his wife Mandy are preparing to work in Africa with Lutheran Brethren International Mission. They are preparing to leave for a year in France, before moving to Africa with their children, Ezekiel, Theo and Jonah.

THE JOURNAL OF DANNY AND MANDY BRONSON

Pair-o’-ducks (Paradox)

The Bronson boys: Ezekiel (4), Theo (2) and Jonah (1) saying ‘Goodbye’ to their grandparents and cousins

Journey to ChadPART 3 of 6

Lutheran Brethren

BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS TO UNREACHED PEOPLEInternational Mission

Danny and Mandy Bronson have been called and commissioned to serve in Chad, Africa among the Bilala people. Danny is a 2010 graduate of Lutheran Brethren Seminary and has served Birch Hills Community Church

and Saron Lutheran Church in Saskatchewan, Canada as pastor. Danny and Mandy have a passion to see lost people reached with the Gospel. They have three children, Ezekiel, Theo and Jonah.

• 8 Million People 6 people per sq. km.

• 10% Literacy

• 120 Unreached People groups Unreached People: an ethnic group

without an indigenous, self-propagating

Christian church movement.

ChadThe Church of the Lutheran Brethren has identified three people groups in south central Chad, the Bilala, Fulbe and Bagirmi. These people groups have never heard the life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bronson family has accepted the call, leaving us to ask the question: Who’s Next?

Is God calling you? Contact Rev. Matthew Rogness: [email protected]


while back, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren’s Eastern Regional Pastor Warren Geraghty

began talking with Pastors Matthew Buccheri and Kevin Foss about planting new churches. As a result of these discussions, at the beginning of 2013 a cluster was formed of seven interested pastors, representing five churches in the Eastern Region. The goal was clear: Plant new churches. As we gathered for discussion and planning, this cluster felt a pull towards starting churches not just anywhere, but specifically in urban environments. What would it look like if the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) started planting in the heart of major cities? The idea was exciting, but clearly beyond us, right? So we talked and planned and prayed. We met with regional leaders to discuss our thoughts. We talked and planned and prayed some more. We determined that planting in cities was beyond us, but it was not beyond God. So we made a decision: We would facilitate a church planting movement specifically focused on cities. We’ve titled it, “The Fifth Act.” As we’ve begun unveiling our vision, people have asked plenty of questions. For starters, they’ve wanted to know, “Who are the members of the Fifth Act?” There are eight pastors all together: Kevin Foss (Peace Christian Church), Andy Olsen and Kristian Anderson (59th Street

A LBC), Andrew Foss (Hope Community Church), Brad Hoganson and Bruce Hillman (Hillside LBC), and me, Erick Sorensen (Bethany LBC). Helping us get off the ground is Matthew Buccheri, former Assistant Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.

The Fifth Act? OK, but “What’s up with the name?” Some scholars have compared the structure of the biblical story to a five-act play. Act One: Creation. Act Two: The Fall. Act Three: Israel. Act Four: Jesus as the Climax. Act Five: The Church. During this “Fifth Act,” the Church is in a unique place living between two historic events: Jesus’ ascension and his return. It is during this time that we find ourselves led by the Holy Spirit to carry on Jesus’ mission. One important facet of this mission is church planting.

What about my church? Is there really even a need to start new churches? After all, doesn’t the CLB have plenty of churches already in existence that could use more resourcing? Sure. As a pastor of a long established church (Bethany LBC in Staten Island), I understand the sentiment. But the fact is, if we don’t plant new churches, then we are merely trying to maintain. And statistics tell us that if we are not at least planting 1% (and some say as high as

5%!) of our denomination’s total number of churches per year, then we’ll inevitably decline. Consider Tim Keller’s words, “….New congregations empower new people much more quickly and readily than older churches. Thus they always have and always will reach new people with greater facility than long-established bodies. This means, of course, that church planting is not only for ‘frontier regions’ or ‘pagan’ countries that we are trying to see become Christian. Christian countries will have to maintain vigorous, extensive church planting simply to stay Christian!” Missiologist C. Peter Wagner put it this way: “Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.”

Why cities? Probably the main question we’ve received about our effort is, “Why just cities?” It’s a good question. The answer’s pretty simple: That’s where the majority of people are. According to the United Nations Population Fund, 52% of the world’s total population currently lives in cities. That number is expected to increase to 60% by 2025 and to a staggering 70% by 2050! North America is no exception to this rule: For the first time in over 60 years, my city (New York) saw more people move in than move out! Data like this prompted Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological

Urban Church PlantingERICK SORENSEN


Seminary, to comment: “If the Christian Church does not learn new modes of urban ministry, we will find ourselves on the outside looking in. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must call a new generation of committed Christians into these teeming cities. As these new numbers make clear, there really is no choice.” As if the mass migration of people into cities weren’t enough of a reason, the Fifth Act also sees a very strategic reason for urban churches: Wider cultural influence. Whether we realize it or not, all of who we are, all of what we do, all of who we’re becoming begins in cities. What happens in cities doesn’t stay in cities. Culture (media, education, art, music, finance, politics, technology, etc.) flows out from the cities into other cities and beyond. So, if we want to effect change in this world through the power of the Gospel, cities have to be a big part of the plan!

Want to help? Considering all of this, we’ve targeted six North American cities in which we hope to plant CLB churches: New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Toronto. You may have just read that list of cities and found yourself thinking, “That’s impossible!” If we’re just talking about what we “naturally” can do, we’d agree with you. But we’re not talking about anything “natural” here. We are talking about, praying about and dreaming about God accomplishing this massive Kingdom-sized goal through us working together. In light of this, we have made strategic partnerships with Redeemer City to City for resourcing and funding of these churches. We have also set up a program with Gateway Leaders to help assess potential pastors. But as great as these partnerships are, the fact is we need you! We want you to come alongside this vision and help support it through your prayers. We want you to consider whether you might be one of the people or pastors who will be involved in planting one of these churches. We’re asking you to consider giving of your time, money and resources to watch this impossibly awesome goal come to fruition. By God’s provision and grace it will!

Erick Sorensen serves as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church in Staten Island, NY.

For information visit: www.fifthactchurchplanting.com To help support visit: www.fifthactchurchplanting.com/give

www.facebook.com/fifthactchurchplanting

The apostle Paul planted churches in areas that would affect the wider Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds

Cities are places where the culture of the entire world is formed

The rapid rate of people moving into cities is unmatched in human history

1 John 1:7

Walk in the light

The blood of Jesus

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

Date: October 5, 2013

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CDTLocation: Join us live online or in Fergus Falls, MN

Register and Learn More Online: clba.org/churchplantingp

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o n l i n e Dr. Robert Bennett is the author of “I Am Not Afraid: Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare.”

Recently Dr. Bennett has focused his research on animism, interviewing numerous voodoo practitioners in Haiti and the USA. He is the adjunct professor of Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN and the Administrative Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Reese, MI.

For more information visit: www.LBS.edu

Hexum Ordained

Rev. Mark Tungseth, Rev. Dale Hexum and Regional Pastor Joel Nordtvedt

On August 11, 2013, Pastor Dale Hexum was ordained at Good Shepherd Lutheran Brethren Church in Fergus Falls, MN. Regional Pastor Joel Nordtvedt performed the ordination.

Bronsons Commissioned

On August 18, 2013, Rev. Danny Bronson and his wife Mandy were commissioned as missionaries to the Bilala people of Chad, Africa. Rev. Matthew Rogness, Director of International Mission, performed the commissioning.

Rev. Rocky Bronson (blue shirt) leading prayer over his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren

Praising the Lord for 75 years of MinistryImmanuel Lutheran Brethren Church in Pasadena, CA would like to invite you to a celebration of God’s faithfulness. Join us October 18-20, 2013 for our 75th anniversary. Friday night: Reception and Singspiration. Saturday night: Banquet and Program. Sunday morning: Worship Service and Meal. For more information email us at [email protected].

Faith & Fellowship is the official publication of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655, issued six times a year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December) by Faith and Fellowship Publishing, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655. Phone (218)736-7357. The viewpoints expressed in the articles are those of the authors and may or may not necessarily reflect the official position of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA). Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538.

(USPS 184-600) • (ISSN 10741712)SUBSCRIPTIONS: Faith & Fellowship is offered to its readers at no charge. We would encourage your continued support with a donation and if you would like to be on our mailing list, please contact our office. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please give both old and new addresses and allow four weeks.

Direct all correspondence, including submission of articles, to: Faith & Fellowship, P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655;Telephone, (218)736-7357; e-mail, [email protected]; FAX, (218)736-2200. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Faith & Fellowship, P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538-0655 FF


As the Church of the Lutheran Brethren prepares to gather for the 2014 Biennial Convention the BC14 Planning Committee asks that you join them in prayer. Please pray for wisdom as worship themes are chosen, speakers are contacted and leaders prepare training sessions.

Please pray for the Presidential Search Committee as they prayerfully contact individuals in search of candidates who will faithfully seek God’s will for the denomination, boldly cling to God’s Word as truth, and humbly lead us in the proclamation of the life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

CLB • PO Box 655 • Fergus Falls, MN 56537 • Phone: 218-739-3336 • web: www.clba.org • email: [email protected]

Join us as we immerse the planning and preparation of the 2014 Biennial Convention in prayer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

JULY 30 - AUGUST 1, 2014

LIFTING OUR EYESChurch of the Lutheran Brethren - Biennial Convention 2014

“We want to see Jesus.” John 12:21

by: Brent Juliot

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Contribute at: www.CLBA.org/givingor by mail at: PO Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538

Your generous gifts help make this publication possible.

Faith & Fellowship is a free magazine funded by the Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

Your gifts help pay for pre-press, printing, and postage, easing the expense divided between the Ministries.

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Compassiononsider the rich man in Jesus’ story: There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar

named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:19-21a). How many years passed while this man disregarded poor Lazarus? Isn’t it distressing when wealthy people fail to use their resources to meet others’ material needs? Consider also the conclusion of Judas’ story: When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). It’s a moot point now, but could this story have ended differently if just one of those leaders had stepped forward to talk to Judas about his guilt? Isn’t it disturbing when religious leaders fail to minister to needy people in their time of spiritual desperation? It’s easy for us to see the faults of such people. It’s also easy to assume we would be more merciful, more compassionate, if we had that much money, that kind of power, that level of authority, that degree of theological expertise. Consider finally Jesus’ words of judgment: Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels…” They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Matthew 25:41,44-45). This is also distressing! Are people to be eternally judged on the basis of their compassion or lack thereof? No, Jesus means that we who know him by faith will certainly show compassion to others regardless of our wealth, position, or knowledge—because he has shown us mercy. Jesus makes it clear: Compassion is not optional. There is a time and place for compassion. The story of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us that the time is now (before it’s too late) and the place is right outside our own doors.

Rev. Brent Juliot is Editor of Faith & Fellowship Magazine, teaches math at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, and serves as senior pastor at Stavanger Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN.

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Beggars at the GateA Day in the Life • The Miracle Church • God is a Translator

Romans 10:14

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