Ohio District - LCMS

Ironic Request: Stop using Electronic Media for some Mission Work

Kevin Wilson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:07:00 GMT

I know its ironic to have a blog post on a Christian web site trying to persuade you from using electronic media to communicate about outreach to Muslims. However, this is the best opportunity I have address a practice that is leading to the persecution of Christians in the United States, especially new converts from Islam. The practice is putting information about mission work among Muslims, especially prayer requests listing the names of converts, on electronic media.

From Lighthouse to Lighthouses

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:39:00 GMT

After three years of living in central Ohio I'm still intrigued by the ornamental lighthouses in front of homes. A visit to Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie increased my fascination with home lighthouses for spiritual reasons.

Counting the Cost vs. Grace

Kevin Wilson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:15:00 GMT

A North Carolina teenager inadvertedly became a sermon illustration. The teen thought being buried in the sand on Bald Head Island, NC sounded fun. However, he didn't think through the idea too deeply. He chose to be buried below the surf line. In other words, when the surf came in, the sand got wet, and he could not escape the sand. This brought to my mind Jesus' teaching on discipleship. He said we are called to "count the cost" before responding to our Lord's call to follow Him (Luke 14). Wise words for daily life as well.

Rough Hewn Hope

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:08:00 GMT

One of the county roads I ride in the summer rolls past a cemetery. I spun passed the cemetery several times before I realized a boulder sits near the front of the grounds. The boulder looks very out of place by the neatly trimmed lawn marked by carefully cut and polished headstones. This puzzled me for a few weeks, although I didn't lose any sleep over the rock. Why the stone is in the cemetery has finally dawned on me. It was placed in the cemetery as a sign of hope for all who visit or drive by. Figured out why it is a sign of hope yet? Look up Matthew 28:2.

A Blessing from a Threat

Kevin Wilson — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:03:59 GMT

For a few years now I've hammered away at the threat posed by relativism in Western society. Relativism posits that there is no absolute truth, only truths held by individuals that do not apply to other people. This rebels against common sense (so gravity doesn't exist if I say it doesn't exist?). More importantly it denies the claims of Jesus.

In a conversation with Pastor Berhanu Ofgaa last week I was introduced to a blessing that arises from the threat of relativism. Dr. Ofgaa and I were discussing his doctoral thesis. He noted that there was a time when the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod was very much a closed denomination. It was very difficult for people who were not life long cultural Lutherans to join our churches. This would seem especially true in the days when one had to know German to worship in a LCMS church in America. Vestiges of this version of a closed society were perpetuated even after English was introduced into worship.

Dr. Ofgaa notes that as American society becomes more tolerant and open, so LCMS congregations also are more open for people without Lutheran backgrounds. We acknowledged the dangers of these waters, especially the risk of churches being formed and shaped more by society than God. This caveat understood, there still is a blessing from this shift in our churches. Later this morning I'll preach at Beautiful Savior in Powell, OH, a church that celebrated an adult baptism last week. This afternoon I will participate in the installation of Pastor Fakih in Portsmouth, OH. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church has a handful of people with varied ethnic and racial backgrounds in adult instruction classes now.

I definitely have not embraced the gospel of tolerance, so I won't be ordering a dozen of the "tolerance" bumper stickers. However, if the shift in society made it more acceptable to share the Gospel with new people so that they are disicpled in our churches, then that aspect of the trend is a blessing.

Murder, Abortion and Church Discipline

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:35:41 GMT

I need to make this perfectly clear: There is no possible way to biblically justify the murder of Dr. George Tiller. Before God murder is murder. At this same time, there is a painful lesson to learn about biblical church discipline in the midst of Tiller's death.

Tiller was shot to death on May 31 in the narthex of Reformation Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Wichita, KS. He was known nation-wide because his medical clinic is one of only three in the United States that performs late term abortions. Tiller's clinic was the site of protests when I was attending Wichita State University more than 20 years ago.

It should be noted that the ELCA does not support abortion on demand, as evidenced by an official statement on the topic. Likewise the LCMS does not support abortion on demand. While both denominations allow that there are exceptions where abortion is ethical, as I understand it, neither justify late term abortion. This led to debates in my home town as to whether Tiller should be under church discipline. It was understood in the Lutheran community that he was not under such discipline at his church.

There is no way to know whether God would have worked through church discipline to bring repentance in Tiller's life. I have at times wondered how many, if any, lives would have been spared if church discipline were applied. Among Lutherans church discipline has fallen into such disuse that most church members do not know the biblical steps it requires. I know full well from parish ministry how difficult it is to get the board of elders, let alone Voters Assembly, to exercise church discipline. It is always a painful process. However, there is almost always a price to pay for nothing following God's will. It is my hope that circumstances around Tiller's murder will cause Christians to get past their avoidance of biblical church discipline.

County Churches, Goats and Islam

Kevin Wilson — Sun, 31 May 2009 02:22:54 GMT

The first couple of years living in central Ohio I especially enjoyed bicycling the countryside in the summer. One highlight was biking past the flocks of sheep. Because the last two decades I have lived and worked among Lutherans of German descent, I'm accustomed to seeing cattle, not sheep. Now for the first time I live near towns named 'London' and 'Dublin', places likely to have residents with the name "Wilson." It is not surprising to find sheep in the midst of the descendants of the Scots and Welsh.

This spring there are very few flocks of sheep (and fewer cow herds as well). In their place I'm seeing herds of goats. At first I was puzzled by the change. Then farmers from two of the Lutheran churches in Union County, OH explained why. It turns out Columbus, OH, which is about 30 miles away, is home to more than 40,000 immigrants from Somolia. The Somolians want products from goats, not sheep or cows. And in America, where there is market demand, the demand is soon met.

Almost all the Somolians are Muslim. So suddenly there is the possibility of God opening the doors for members of rural or county churches to share Christ with people from Africa who follow Islam. I am rather sensitive to this because I'm one of those members. I have experience witnessing to Mormons and Buddhists and secular humanists. I have no experience with Muslims.

Hearing Pastor John Loum, a Muslim convert and Lutheran pastor, speak at the Revelation 7:9 Conference in Columbus helped. However, it is not enough. We'll see how well I get equipped during the remainder of the year.

Time to Twitter

Kevin Wilson — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:17:15 GMT

Keeping up with the communication revolution is a challenge. I am somewhere between a "pioneer" and "early adopter" on the change scale. Adapting to new technology is no big issue. That said, I also prefer proven technology because I value fulfilling the mission more than experiencing the toys to get the mission done. And I enjoy a fairly high level of privacy, if nothing else for the sake of my family. So it did take some convincing for me to join the Twitter nation. Yet now several times a day I "Tweet" an update of ministry, whether its about the southern region or church planting or following Christ in general. If you are interested in following ministry in the Ohio District, send me an email at wilsonk@oh.lcms.org. If you are on Twitter then search for OhioDistrictMMF. I'd like to follow your ministry as well.

Sustainability and Stewardship

Kevin Wilson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:58:08 GMT

A concept that is becoming increasingly popular in society is "sustainability." I recently read a marker at the Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest near Clermont, KY that defined sustainability this way: "To live a sustainable life is to care about generations we'll never know and embrace the future for them." The marker went to give examples of sustainable activities, such as planting trees that will mature for the benefit of others long after we have died.

This is a connecting point between Christianity and the culture. There is a sense of self sacrifice to sustainability. Certainly Christians are called to lives of self sacrifice as a response to Jesus' ultimate sacrifice. Just a sustainability is based on the assumption that humanity has a responsibility to those who will come later, so Jesus' call to love our neighbor includes caring for that which will benefit future generations. In financial stewardship we emphasize gifts that will perpetuate the spreading of the Gospel after we are called to glory. It would be interesting to hear of connections between sustainability and stewardship in your community and congregation.

Christians in Decline

Kevin Wilson — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:56:18 GMT

In time we had to figure the public media would pick up on what Christians leaders have known the past decade: the percentage of Christians in the United States has declined so much that America has become a mission field. This time the secular press is Newsweek. Click on the link to the article share your thoughts in the comment space: "The End of Christian America"

Anxious Times Might Inhibit Change in Churches

Kevin Wilson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:55:39 GMT

The past six months I've repeated the following refrain: The the current anxious and uncertain times have created the best opportunity in 30 years for Christians to witness to unchurched friends and family. Until recently much of the middle class was comfortable resting on wealth or status. Now the idols of consumerism are falling, leaving room for the true Lord of life.

Under the principle that the greatest strength is also the greatest weakness, the current tumultuous times are also negatively affecting congregations. One way is that congregational members seem less open to change now than in recent years. The most likely cause is that the more uncertainly found in jobs and at home the more Christians want stability elsewhere in life. One place to find such stability is the church.

So congregations have their greatest opportunity to connect people to Christ in at least a generation. This requires change. Social ministries may need to include financial planning and stewardship of life. Members would benefit from learning to articulate why they feel secure in Christ during such times. The irony is that congregations are now less likely to make the necessary changes because members want greater stability and consistency in life.

If your church has figured out how to help members go through the changes necessary to share the truth and hope of Christ to their community, add a comment to this blog. A note of thanks to Pastor Nate Guelzow for the conversation that helped clarify this reality for me.

Thoughts on "Pre-Forgiveness"

Kevin Wilson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:23:58 GMT

I was among the millions of people who recently received a mailing from Nationwide for vehicle insurance. The teaser on the envelop stated "You've Been Pre-Forgiven." While I realize Nationwide was not marketing to specific denominations I am certain a number of Lutherans opened that envelop while throwing away other unopened junk mail.

It turns out "pre-forgiven" means the insurer might not increase your insurance premium after the first vehicle accident or minor traffic violation. Maybe I'm a little distrustful but it sounds like Nationwide has already raised premiums on everyone. The only way to benefit is to have an accident or traffic violation. If you have neither the offer does not include a refund of part of the premium.

That said, maybe this insurance strategy does provide a theological metaphor for understanding the Lord's Supper. One condition for receiving Holy Communion is that the person has received forgiveness of sins through God-given faith in Jesus. Roman Catholicism teaches we must earn the merits of Christ's forgiveness for sins committed after baptism. So for Catholicism there is no "pre-forgiveness." Biblically speaking faith and forgiveness found in baptism cover all sins now and in the future. Since our actual sins do offend God and our neighbor we continue to make confession and receive absolution as well as participate in the Lord's Supper. However, we make confession and go the Lord's Table with confidence, knowing that we are "pre-forgiven" through faith in Christ.

It turns out "pre-forgiveness" is not insurance we purchase but assurance of forgiveness that Christ already bought for us.

Signs of the Times

Kevin Wilson — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:52:31 GMT

While driving in central Ohio last week I saw the following customized license plate on a car: "nvr4gve." My first thought was I needed my own license plate that states "4fgvn" or "4gve." My second thought was rather sobering: In a post-modern world, the original license plate is a hopeful sign. At least there are people out there who still understand the reality of right and wrong, the concept of forgiving and forgiveness.

Irony of the Lutheran World Federation

Kevin Wilson — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:11:53 GMT

Because the LCMS is not a member of the Lutheran World Federation I have never paid any attention to the LWF. Doing some research today I ran into the fact that LWF world headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

Geneva? How ironic is this?

Does this mean the Reformed World Federation's national headquarters is in Augsburg, Germany?

Evidence of the Post-Christian Era

Kevin Wilson — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:23:03 GMT

On Thursday night author Mitchell Zuckoff was on television defining a "Ponzi Scheme." In the process he said: "It is what used to be called robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Why "used to be?" Because in the post-Christian era a majority of Americans do not know of Peter or Paul.

"Ah-Ha" Moment in Transforming Congregations

Kevin Wilson — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:41:00 GMT

I'm with more than 40 LCMS pastors at a Transforming Congregations Learning Community retreat hosted by Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. Transforming Congregations (TC) is the LCMS revitalization process for churches. Learning Communities are made up of 3 to 6 pastors whose churches are going through the TC process. The retreat includes the pastors pictured: Revs. Mark Etter, Eric Linthicum and Everette Greene.

A majority of the pastors gathered serve city or urban churches, almost all of the rest rural congregations. The churches are found in five different states. The congregations are held together by three common threads: They are LCMS, the congregations were on a plateau or declining and the pastors were willing to lead their churches to embrace Jesus' Great Commission.

I knew some of these men before they started TC. They struggled to maintain godly attitudes. They were tired. A couple had picked out their retirement dates. Others were on call lists. They had little hope for their churches to again be vibrant congregations.

The "Ah-Ha" moment came half way through the first day of the retreat. I realized there was something different in these pastors. They have hope. Are they anxious about the rapid changes in their churches that accompany TC? Yes. Are they being stretched to learn how to serve as pastor in new ways? Yes. But they are truly now more hopeful.

And hope for your church is a powerful for a pastor.

Name the New Web Site!

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:23:43 GMT

It is common for sports franchises to ask fans from their community to suggest names for a new team. I've always liked the idea. Its good to get community involvement and input for community based organizations.

I started wondering whether the concept would work for the launch of a new ministry. The Appalachian Mission Partnership (AMP) is being formed to support seeing 20 new LCMS churches started in West Virginia. This organization will truly be a "partnership" between congregations and members of LCMS churches that border of West Virginia. So here we go. AMP needs a name for its web site. The web site will inform people about AMP and list opportunities for people to partner with AMP in West Virginia. Click HERE to find a survey that has seven options for the domain name for the AMP web site. In fewer than five minutes you can help choose the web site name for the new ministry.

Sermon Illustration: Coping with Difficult Times

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:09:48 GMT

Jim, my prayer partner from church, and I were recently talking about how Christians deal with difficult times. He gave his blessing for me to share a story that came from that conversation.

Jim said that his father was a big gardener, tending to as many as four gardens in different parts of town in the summers. It is important to know that Jim's father did not believe in using weed killing chemicals. So you already have an inkling about how Jim and his siblings spent their summers: pulling weeds in gardens.

One particular garden was the most difficult to weed. It was on a hill and close to a football field in length. Jim and his siblings would pull weeds from the rows sweet corn and look up to see how much farther they had to go to finish weeding that row. Every time they looked up they would get more and more discouraged because they could not see the end of the row on that hill. It seemed like corn went on for eternity.

Finally Jim figured out a way change their attitudes when the evenings got long. He would tell his siblings: "Don't look forward at how far you have to go. Look back and see how many weeds you've pulled."

That's simple but profound advice.

How many times have we looked forward in ministry and got psyched out?
+ We look up and see no resolution to conflict in the church.
+ We peer into the future and see no relief to financial problems in the church.
+ We focus forward only to get a sinking sensation that inactive members will never again participate in congregational life.

If we were to follow Jim's advice at such times we would look backwards. Looking back we see that God has already delivered us from more difficult times. We see how God has sustained us through rough days that taught us valuable lessons of faith.

The idea of looking back brings to mind Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6 about remembering that God has always cared for His creation. It resonates with every passage where Psalmists call us to remember God's faithfulness in the past to provide hope for the future.

There is godly wisdom in looking back before again looking forward.

Did You Say 60 New Church Starts?!?

Kevin Wilson — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:02:00 GMT

President Terry Cripe's letter announcing the Ohio District's intent to see 60 new churches started has raised questions. Why do we need 60 more churches? Where will these churches be planted? Are there 60 Pastors with the skills and desire to plant churches in the entire synod? How can our church participate in planting these churches?

Throughout 2009 posts in this blog will answer most if not all of the questions. In order prime the pump a little I'll close 2008 with a post concerning the single most important change necessary for this vision to become a reality: The responsibility for starting new churches must shift from the district staff to local congregations. Congregations need to start daughter churches instead of the district starting new congregations.

This change in strategy was decided before I joined the Ohio District staff. I probably would have declined the call if this change were not made. I have planted daughter churches 20 miles from home and planted a district sponsored church 1,800 miles from home. That experience taught me that the local congregation knows the needs of the community much better than the outside church planter. The local church already has members in the community being evangelized to share in the work. Prayer support is stronger when the planter has personal relationships before the new church is launched.

It was affirming to find that a majority of the respondents to the Ohio District New Church Survey 2008 agree. The following statement was in the survey: "Local congregations, not Ohio District staff, should be responsible for ensuring new churches are started." Sixty-three percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with this statement while six percent disagreed or strongly disagreed. The survey also also had the opposite statement: "The Ohio District staff, not local congregations, should be responsible for ensuring new churches are started." Eighty-seven percent of those who responded marked "disagree" or "strongly disagree" to this statement. Five percent strongly agreed while no one marked "agreed."

Bottom line: If the Ohio District staff had to locate all the places for mission churches, had to raise all the funds and had to find all the church planters 60 new churches, it would be almost impossible to get the work done. However, with 175 churches starting to focus on new church starts, instead of one district, suddenly 60 new churches isn't nearly as daunting.

Check this space regularly for more answers to the questions concerning the 60 New Churches challenge.

Story of Forgiveness

Kevin Wilson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:41:44 GMT

Educators and Pastors, looking for a current illustration of forgiveness? Click on the image for a story about Dong Yun Moon who recently experienced a devastating loss.

Sermon Illustration: Honesty and/or Relativism

Kevin Wilson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:18:46 GMT

In a society that increasingly engages in relativism there are fewer and fewer examples of absolutes. This makes the story of J.P. Hayes stand out.

Hayes is a professional golfer trying to get back on the Professional Golf Association tour. To do this he needs to get through a qualifying school. The difference in earnings between playing at the PGA level and a lower level is literally seven figures. This year Hayes was in position to get back among the elite golfers. At least he was until he decided integrity is more important than increased income.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Hayes realized he used an illegal golf ball in a tournament. This realization struck him in a hotel room hours after the competition ended. Literally no one would know he used an illegal ball unless he admitted it.

Hayes admitted it. His hopes of playing on the PGA tour next year disappeared.

The debate about his decision on-line and over the radio air waves is as expected. The majority of people responding say he made the wrong choice. Others - including some Christians - say that if he were destitute that cheating and stealing would be justifiable. It is a sad commentary on society.

The story itself remains an inspiration. It is the story I'll tell our children tonight.

The Death of a Christian Quip

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:03:56 GMT

In the past week I've heard three different pastors give the following quip: "Shepherds don't make sheep. Sheep make sheep." The point is that the members of the church are the ones who share Christ with their neighbor so that the neighbor can come to faith in Christ. It also suggests that pastors are not the ones out and about people seeing them come to faith. I've never been a fan of the analogy because pastors are also members so everyone is really engaged by God in the process.

It took me more than a decade but I finally realized that this quip died a long time ago. We can finally lay it to rest.

Remember Dolly the sheep? It was acclaimed the first mammal clone. So while shepherds may not make sheep, scientists do. And scientists are not sheep.

Feel free to give your opinion in the comment section.

Serving in the Name of Christ

Kevin Wilson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:42:01 GMT

This post requires full and open disclosure. I have no aptitude for things mechanical. None. Changing light bulbs causes my blood pressure to rise. I have to schedule an entire time block if a chore requires unscrewing bolts. I made this abundantly clear to the "Loving in Actions and in Truth" ministry from St. John's Lutheran Church in Marysville OH before recently accompanying them to work with Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio.

All told about 25 people worked repairing and winterizing three houses and preparing Thanksgiving baskets over a three day period. Desiring to minimize the risk to all involved I only worked on Saturday. Our eldest son Barrett (pictured) went along to sweat and serve as well. While the best news is that the work got done and was done well. The "next best" news is I did not destroy anything that I wasn't supposed to wreck.

Three observations from the experience:

The Right @ Responsibility to Vote

Kevin Wilson — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:02:00 GMT

The general election in 2004 was quite a shock for the Wilsons. We didn't anticipate the effect such issues as same-sex marriage would have on voter turn out in suburban Phoenix. I cast my ballot at lunch and had to wait in line an hour. By the time my wife Dorinda got off of work that evening, the lines were literally a half mile long. I remember bringing her dinner while she stood in line. As the night approached tempers flared. While the weather played a role in the displeasure - it was still in the high 80s in Phoenix - most were furious about not getting the opportunity to cast their ballots.

Not wanting to get shut out in 2008, we requested absentee ballots this year. While our main intent was just to get to vote the process really became a blessing. Like so many Americans I have not always thoroughly researched all the political races before voting. In the past I wasn't always sure about judges, etc. Not this year. I spent a couple of hours on-line, with my ballot sitting next to the computer, researching candidates. Even when I was a journalist I wasn't this knowledgeable about all the candidates.

Bottom line: The absentee ballot better allowed me to fulfill my responsibility as a Christian as well as an American.

Anxiety Leads to Opportunity

Kevin Wilson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:37:54 GMT

The wide spread fear and anxiety over economic uncertainty is opening doors for Christians to express their faith and trust in God to friends and neighbors who do not share our beliefs.

Sign of the Times 2

Kevin Wilson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:34:00 GMT

My previous post dealt with scanning the horizon to discern what is on the heart of people in your community, including your own members.

Here is a second "scan" that helps you discern what deeply concerns people in your community so you can adroitly apply God's word to people.

Sign of the Times

Kevin Wilson — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:03:30 GMT

Pastors are constantly scanning the horizon to discover what is on the hearts and minds of participants in their churches. One of the more reliable indicators is when media outlets that usually have nothing to do with faith or spirituality start to publish religious articles. Today's blindingly obvious example is from Fast Company, which published the following "Big Idea" on its web site:

"The world's financial crisis is the result of greed, and an example of what happens when God, basic rights, and the common good are ignored."

Unusual Church Life Cycle Indicators

Kevin Wilson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:53:40 GMT

One of the most effective tools for helping congregations discern their level health is the analogy of the life cycle. Popularized by George Bullard, this analogy compares the development of congregations with the aging process people experience. Each church is "birthed" when it starts public worship. Most new congregations go through a period of fast early growth that is synonymous with "adolescence."

Just as the reflexes slow and flexibility decreases as we mature, so also churches also show signs of aging. However, with congregations this change seems to be literal. Answer the following questions about your congregation:

1. If your church has a trophy case, how old is the "newest" trophy? Was it won in this century, last decade or thirty years ago?

2. Check to see how many sports teams your church sponsors for members. If your church no longer has such teams, find out when these teams ceased.

3. Ask the trustees about the floor in your fellowship space. Find out how often the black skid marks from children's dress shoes must be removed from the floor. Especially ask if the trend is for these scuff marks to be cleaned more or less often.

Here is what these signs probably indicate:

"Adult" church: Trophies won after the year 2000, still have sports teams and the kids wreak havoc on the floors.

"Mature" church: Trophies are a little dusty and from the 1980s or 1990s, people who played in the church league are still members and there are some skid marks on the fellowship hall floor.

"Aging" church: The trophies are tarnish and were earned in the 1970s or earlier, no one remembers the last church volleyball team and the floors almost never have scuff marks.

If you want more information about the church life cycle contact your regional Mission and Ministry Facilitator. (Once you click the link scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the facilitators).

Modeling Stewardship for Children

Kevin Wilson — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:25:40 GMT

This is a first. I can not recall ever turning to the New York Times or a football player for inspiration in the Christian life. Yet here is story about modeling Christian stewardship for children drawn from both sources.

According to the NYTimes professional football quarterback Kurt Warner has a little different practice when his family goes out to eat. While at the restaurant the Warners survey the people who have come to dine. Then they anonymously pay for the dinner of one family or group at the restaurant. Why?

Because Warner wants to teach his children the "joy of giving." The free meal is really more about developing the family as followers of Christ than blessing another family.

Sounds a lot like 2 Corinthians 9:7 to me.

The Acts of Ike

Kevin Wilson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:57:24 GMT

Usually we associate wind and the Book of Acts with the Pentecost experience. The apostles are gathered together, there is a sound like a rushing wind, Peter preaches one seriously evangelistic sermon. Now that we're dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike I'm starting to associate wind with Acts chapter 8 .

The wind storm has changed the routine of almost every Lutheran church and Lutheran school in the southern region. Damage to buildings, loss of power and inability to communicate have wreaked havoc on ministries. It has forced pastors to work from home, church boards to meet in community centers and fellowship groups to gather in coffee houses.

This is the association with Acts chapter 8. After Stephen was stoned God's people were scattered. That "unintentional sending" of disciples resulted in the spread of the Gospel and ultimately a church planting movement. Sound familiar? The windstorm has forced Christians out of churches into their communities. This could bring a tremendous amount of human care, Gospel sharing and mutual encouragement into the places where those who do not know Christ gather.

This is not a celebration of destruction. Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Granville, OH would prefer to still have its steeple on the church building. Yet in the midst of the hardships God has brought opportunities for Christians to connect to their communities.

Developing Leaders

Kevin Wilson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:14:14 GMT

If your church has too many leaders, ignore this post. For that matter, if your congregation has a process for developing leaders, click on another page of this web site. However, if by the off chance your church could use some assistance in the area of leadership, keep reading.