Dear Brothers in Christ Jesus!
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in Jesus, our coming King!
Thank you for your recent letters keeping us informed of the results of the 15th Synod of the LCSA. Both of you have been quite open and helpful to us in your responses. We also saw, before our meeting last evening, the pictures Dr. Weber put up on his face-book page. In our hearts, we wished that we could have been present with you!
In our meeting December 3rd, members of our Southern Illinois District Task Force for our Mission Partnership with the LCSA and LCMS World Mission spent significant time in prayer. We had already planned for this meeting to be focused on Scripture and prayer, but news from the 15th General Synod of the LCSA doubly focused our hearts on laying before the Lord of the Church the needs of both the SID and the LCSA. After a study of Colossians 3:1-17 and discussion of our mutual needs, we spent significant time lifting up our thoughts and concerns to the Lord of all.
For you in the LCSA we prayed specifically:
- To thank God for a spirit of wisdom and unity to enable the LCSA to recognize the Lord’s hand in the results of the election for Bishop. As Bishop Tswaedi indicated in his letter, you were all taken by surprise that a strong majority of a voting delegation of 71 Black persons would elect a non-Black candidate, but that your surprise was quickly removed by the realization that in Christ there is no Tswana, Zulu or German, but we are all baptized and forgiven children of God, and that this is a concrete living out of the vision of South Africa as a “Rainbow Nation.”
- We prayed for wisdom, humility, patience, vision, energy and a clear focus on Christ alone for Bishop Elect Weber.
- We prayed for exactly the same for Bishop Tswaedi for the time remaining in his term as Bishop and for guidance for him for the future.
- For the LCSA we prayed for unity and for faithfulness to the Scriptures and the confessions, for the living out of the fact proclaimed in Colossians 3, that “Christ is all, and in all.”
- We prayed for the many rural people moving to the cities that they would be gathered into congregations.
- We prayed for the seminary (LTS) and for Mofolo North parish during these times of transition. We prayed that God would raise up faithful leaders in all the churches, and give faithful pastors and theologians to His people.
- We prayed for all these things in
- For our task force we prayed for wisdom in our partnership, for protection for Lee and Pat Hoffmeier as they prepare for their next trip to
- I do plan to make every effort to be present for the installation of the new Bishop March 21, 2010, but our plans must always be qualified with a Deo volente – God willing!
- And much more…
Today, I am praying for the meetings between the two of you, and the meeting of Bishop Elect Weber with the LCSA Church Council, as well as the shareholders of LTS-Tshwane and its Board of Directors. There are many, many issues, I am sure, to work out for this transition and for your working together for the future, but rest assured, God will provide. “With man this is impossible, but not with God. With God all things are possible!” (Mark 10:27).
In the spirit of our partnership, we stand ready to help in whatever way we can, as God gives opportunity, strength, wisdom and resources. I am sure we will have further conversations regarding all necessary concerns in the future. May God bless both of you, directing you, guiding you and keeping you in His hands and on His path for His future, all so that Christ may be exalted and His saving Gospel proclaimed.
Peace be with you!
+ Herb Mueller
Rev. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr
District President
Southern Illinois District
Office - 618 234 4767
Cell - 618 567 5223
"One Sure Hope"
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! (1 Peter 1:3)
No comments:
Post a Comment