04/16/2017
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they had come to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they declared all that God had done with them. Acts 15:3-4
Greetings one and all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I pray that this letter finds you all well.
Paul and Barnabas were sent on their way by the Church in the same way that missionaries and pastors are sent out in our own day. They were sent with a purpose and with the great tool of the Gospel. They passed through certain areas, shared joys, preached and taught and caused great joy to all the brothers much as the called men of God do today. Similarly, missionaries and pastors often find themselves passing through a certain territory for a brief amount of time. And it is this that I wish to write to you about this month.
Three years ago the Lord God called Melissa, Knox and me to the mission field in Philadelphia to tend to the sheep of Northeast Philadelphia, Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church, Logos Lutheran Fellowship, St. John’s Lutheran Church (Springfield, Pa.). I was called to preach and teach and to give account of the great works of our loving God. For three years, we faithfully saw to the care of the souls that were given to us and yet there are times, just like in Acts 15, when God sends His men through places with His promises of faithfulness, His promises of protection and He prepares those men for new work within his church. Paul and Barnabas were protected as they faced the uncertainty of the early Christian Church and yet they were guided and girded by the great promises of God, and so are we.
I write this month’s newsletter with a heavy heart, with great sorrow and yet exceeding joy. My heart is heavy and sorrow is present because Melissa, Knox and I, like so many missionary families before us in various places in the world are no longer in the fields we were originally called to. As of March 19, 2017 we have moved from Philadelphia in order to await the Lord’s direction and calling into another field. As time permits and as your curiosities may arise, I am willing to discuss this matter with you personally but for the time being we continue to be missionaries awaiting another field of placement as we, exactly like Paul and Barnabas in all their circumstances, trust the promises of Almighty God. It is because of this, in the midst of entrusting 15 souls to the care Almighty God, in the midst of leaving a neighborhood, friends and families that we grew to love immensely, that we have to occasion for great joy! Paul faced many worldly uncertainties from the 15th chapter of Acts onward, but he was constantly cared for, provided for and protected by Almighty God. This is our certain hope, that as we await the Lord’s gracious provision of another placement into His harvest that we would be continually provided for.
The United States and her mission field, as you no doubt know by now, is the world’s third largest mission field and we are excited for and continue to wait with eagerness for another placement into the mission field in the United States. I thank all of you for your continued prayers and financial support. Our Synod and district mission leaders are praying about these mission opportunities and seeking God’s wisdom about which place to send us. Due to the sensitive nature of placing missionaries, it would not be appropriate to announce which places are under consideration. A decision will be made soon and we hope to able to announce the location in our next newsletter. Please pray the Holy Spirit would guide our mission leaders in this decision.
We are excited that we will be able to serve God’s mission. Sometimes, we find it difficult not knowing what God has in store for us, yet we are continually reminded that God is in control, He is the Lord of the Church and it is His direction that we heed. He is doing what is best for His mission work. His plan is far greater than we can imagine.
Thank you for your prayers and your partnership in God’s mission work. Thank you for your patience, your kind words, your notes, and your cards. God works through you to give us strength and patience. It is because of your partnership that we are able to proclaim the Gospel to the lost, the wayward and the erring in the United States of America. Thank you.
