LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 87

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Introduction

Esteemed President, honorable delegates, advisory rep-
resentatives, and visiting guests—dear brothers and sisters
in Christ!

Convention time is, among other things, reunion time.
Here is a great gathering: friends, relatives, classmates, ac-
quaintances who got to know each other through serving
on boards, commissions, and committees. Even first time
attenders will not be strangers for long. I see it all around:
vigorous handshakes, warm embraces, glad smiles, punc-
tuated with animated conversation and happy laughter.
These great halls are filled with sounds of joy—a special
kind of joy—the joy of being together as brothers and sis-
ters in Christ Jesus. But you know—each one of us who
lays claim to that oneness in Him should do so with a
thankful heart. With St. Paul we confess, “But by the grace
of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not with-
out effect” (1 Cor. 15:10).

Let’s stop to think about that. Who was it in your life

who served as God’s instrument to bring you to Christ?
Someone somewhere at some time reached out to youina

caring way with God’s Word of power, the Good News of
- Jesus Christ in whom alone is the forgiveness of sins and

the free gift of eternal life, a new life to live here in His

kingdom and when He calls, forever in the mansions above.

Who was it in your life who reached out to you? Your

parents? Later friends? A spouse? A Christian in the work

place? A teacher? A pastor? Were it not for that outreach,

where would you and I be today?

At the end of this presentation you will have an oppor-

tunity to share with those seated near you in response to

these questions:

1. How were you brought to Christ?

2. How has God used you to lead someone else to Christ? .
3. How can you help your congregation to become more
effective in reaching out to others? ‘
“Sent forth by God’s blessing ... to tell the Good News.”
What does this mean? That’s simple, just three short

words: Grow in Outreach.

This is a timely emphasis for each one of us individually
and for all of us together as God’s people in this sector of
Christendom which we know and love as The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. For a moment let’s call it sym-
bolically the beautiful “Mansion of Missouri,” a well-built
house with many rooms. .
Located right on the “1995 Freeway” the “Mansion of
Missouri” is not only historic. (Its cornerstone says 1847.)
It’s well kept, often remodeled, and filled with a growing
number of occupants, many of whom are leadership ori-
ented and quite well traveled in today’s world, and many
who prefer to stay within its familiar rooms. It’s up to date
in every way with the latest technologies, but for the world
it still has a well-formulated, evangelically confessional
message from above intended by Ged for all mankind, the
Good News of Jesus Christ. Because of time limitation we

87

2. Grow in Outreach

\
will for now skip the imaginary house tour to take a quick
look in the attic of this “Missouri Mansion of many rooms.”

Attics can be too hot in summer, too cold in winter; a bit
dark, dusty, and musty, but exciting nonetheless—espe-
cially when there are several old trunks and boxes of hid-
den treasures to explore.

It’s in the attic of history that we can begin to realize
that the times into which the Lord of the church has placed
us comprise a world which our first synodical President, Dr.
C. F. W. Walther, in his day would not have been able to
foresee. We live in a world totally different from what F. C.
D. Wyneken could ever have dreamed of. Today’s world in
the mid-1800s was beyond the ken of a devoted ambassador
of Christ like Ferdinand Sievers. Yet these three pioneers
Walther, Wyneken, and Sievers with their stout-hearted co-
workers, plus a strong supporter in Germany, Wilhelm
Loehe, displayed with their exemplary lives and work a
deep commitment to God’s mission to the unreached, a com-
mitment we would want to continue to emulate today, and
that is, to grow in outreach. Let’s take another quick look.

Dr. Walther. Walther was endowed with unusual lead-
ership qualities. He put these to good use as a devout

Christian within the context of his keen understanding of

Law and Gospel, that is, in the light of God’s ultimate pur-

pose and plan for the salvation of fallen man through the

suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ. This happy combination of leadership quali-

ties and understanding of the Gospel in his dealings with