Dear Members and Friends of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod,
G. K. Chesterton, a late 19th early 20th century author, philosopher and Christian apologist has been credited with saying something like this: “We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world.” Jesus’ Church has always been countercultural, which can make its members uncomfortable. The devil knows this and uses his ally, the unbelieving world, to woo us to its ways to find our comfort and peace in this world.
As Jesus once said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.“ (Mt. 10:34) This will at times divide His believers from those with whom they are closest. Again, Jesus said: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
Now Jesus does not call us to follow Him to drive away the unbelieving world around us, but to move it toward Him as Savior by our words and deeds. Consider this as you conduct your divine services and reach out to your communities. Jesus wants all your neighbors to be saved. Do not move with the world. Pray that God will use you to move the world toward Him and thus to everlasting salvation.
Glenn Obenberger
Board for Youth Outreach
The Board for Youth Outreach met on January 20–21. A board restructure proposal was approved in order to implement a more effective way of studying and carrying out the work assigned to the BYO in the ELS Handbook. LYA 2025 “Sanctified” in Spokane, Washington, is well underway with registration opening on February 1, and preliminary planning for LYA 2026 is under way with Cincinnati as the location. In addition to our current work supporting camps and hosting Honor Choir, the BYO has also identified three new areas where our work for synod youth will be expanded:
- A proposal for a trial period converting Young Branches into short videos to target Gen-Z youth with ELS social media.
- Preliminary plans are also underway to create family camp options to support families in congregations without strong youth programs.
- Plans are underway to create opportunities for regional Christian education conferences to focus specifically on studying and improving vital aspects of children’s ministry such as Sunday school, youth group ministry, and parenting for teenagers.
Lutheran Military Support Group
Lutheran Military Support Group (LMSG) will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Saturday, May 3, at 10:00 am at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. A brief service at Trinity Chapel by ELS President Rev. Glenn Obenberger and WELS Civilian Chaplain to the Military Rev. Paul Horn will be followed by a ceremony at the ELS Military Monument. This ceremony will include presentations by past and present LMSG Directors and ELS Military Monument designer Jason Jaspersen and will highlight the past and future work of LMSG in its mission to provide Christ-centered support to military service members, veterans, and their families. All are welcome. For more information and to RSVP for lunch, visit www.lutheranmilitary.org.
Installation of Rev. Lee Kuhns at New Life Ev. Lutheran Church, Sebring, Florida
The Rev. Lee Kuhns was installed as pastor at New Life Ev. Lutheran Church in Sebring, Florida on Sunday, February 16. The Rev. Wayne Schoch was the preacher, the Rev. Daniel Wagenknecht served as lector, and the Rev. Mark Faugstad served as liturgist and performed the rite of installation. The congregation welcomed Pastor Kuhns and his wife Pam with the ladies of New Life providing a meal after the service.
Back: Vicar Skyler Hepler, Rev. Charles Keeler, Rev. Daniel Wagenknecht, Rev. Alex Ring, Rev. Wayne Schoch
Front: Rev. Jonathan Madson, Rev. Herb Huhnerkoch, Rev. Lee Kuhns, Rev. Mark Faugstad
Called Worker Assistance Program
The Board for Christian Service operates a Called Worker Assistance Program (CWAP), which offers six sessions of synod-paid Christian counseling services through Christian Family Solutions. No referral is needed for these services. For more information, please search online at the Christian Family Solutions website (https://christianfamilysolutions.org/) or call 1-800-438-1772. The counseling services are strictly confidential. The number of sessions is limited to six. If longer-term support is necessary, you and your counselor will explore appropriate local resources to help meet that need.
Board and Committee Reports
The deadline for items for publication in the 2025 Book of Reports and Memorials is March 15. Completed reports are to be mailed to the synod’s secretary. Requests for presentation time during the synod convention program must be directed to the president of the synod prior to April 15. Board and committee secretaries are reminded that any corrections or additions to the “Addresses of Board and Committee Members” which is printed in the Synod Report also should be submitted at this time. We thank the many congregations that have completed their statistical reporting for 2024. If you have not already reported, you can complete the statistical reporting form online: els.org/statistics/
Upcoming Events
March 15 – BORAM report deadline
March 16–19 – Board for World Outreach
April 20 – Easter Sunday
View current vacancies and calls in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
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