Big days on campus, days of high energy with optimism for the future. We just finished our annual Multiethnic Symposium, stimulating plenary and sectional presentations under the overarching theme, “Shame and Honor: Gospel Proclamation in the Majority World.” 97 percent of the least evangelized countries are in the “10/40 Window”, between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator in northern Africa and Asia. In North America we present the Gospel in legal and logical terms – “You’re a sinner to be judged guilty but Jesus suffered your judgment” – but in the 10/40 window people think in terms of shame and honor. Presentations showed us how the Gospel of Jesus Christ speaks also to people who understand life through shame and honor. Interesting, shame/honor view of life is increasing in the United States.
Couple that with the decline in membership and attendance of many denominations, including The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. President Lawrence Rast of Concordia Theological Seminary, a serious historian, has documented the steady growth of the Synod from 1847 until 1970. Then losses began, going from 2.8 million to 1,968,641 in 2017. Among other effects, that decline has shrunk the pool of pastors for the future if we continue to think of future clergy as white Lutherans of European descent. We certainly do need these candidates for the future but how will ethnic communities in the United States “hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14). Many of the millions of ethnics living here think in terms of shame/honor. Increasing our number of ethnic pastors will help us reach these communities that otherwise may well not be blessed with our Christ-centered Gospel, that “everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:13).
This Wednesday is Call Day. That big day is also forward looking. Young men and women will receive their first placements in our Lord’s Church. They go forth with optimism. Many of us who are older grieve the changes we’ve seen in America and the church over the decades but not our graduates, most of whom were only a few years old on 9-11. Please pray for these hopeful new workers and their families as they learn where they’re being sent to serve with the Good News of God in Jesus. Our Multiethnic Symposium and Call Day are speaking a strong message about the future. It’s an exciting time to be the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ! Help share the joy.
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