NALC Receives $1 Million Gift for Missions, Theological Education

David Barnhart.com ^ | 2/11/11 | David Barnhart

[rhema]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) has received a $1 million gift that will expand the new church body’s work in carrying out its mission and in training and educating its pastors, the NALC announced Thursday, Feb. 10.

The NALC will use the gift to launch two designated funds that will be significant for the church body’s future. One fund will support theological education — the training and continuing education of NALC pastors. The other fund will be used to provide “Great Commission Grants” to fund special mission projects, including new congregation starts, missionaries, and other initiatives to spread the Gospel and make disciples for Christ.

The $1 million gift was given by Tom and Saundra Smith of Elderton, Pa. The Smiths are members of Mount Union Lutheran Church of Elderton. The Smiths were reluctant to be recognized for their gift, but they agreed to the public announcement because it could inspire others to support these special projects in the NALC.

Mount Union Lutheran Church of Elderton (Shelocta) will cast its second vote to leave the ELCA Sunday Feb. 13.

More: NALC news release

[rhema]

Churches scheduled to vote to leave the ELCA February 13

REMEMBER THESE CONGREGATIONS IN YOUR PRAYERS.

INFORM US REGARDING ADDITIONS OR CHANGES AT: wordabide@aol.com

Faith Lutheran Church, Seguin, TX **
Hope Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD *
Christ Lutheran Church, Santa Clarita, CA **
St. Timothy Lutheran Church, San Jose, CA **
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Smethport, PA *
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Mesa, AZ **
Christ Lutheran Church, Shelocta, PA**
Mt. Union Lutheran Church, Shelocta, PA**
St. John Lutheran Church, Starbuck, MN *
St. John Lutheran Church, Phillips, WI ** St. Matthew Lutheran Church, (Bowley's Quarter) Baltimore, MD**
St. John Lutheran Church (Edgemere) Baltimore, MD**

[pnh102]

When our church was going through the process of quitting the ELCA (thank God it was by a near unanimous vote both times), there were some concerns expressed about dividing the church even more than it is already.

We were taught that never in the history of the USA was there ever a single administrative Lutheran church body. It certainly did not impact how we voted on this issue, but it was an interesting historical aside on the matter.

[hinckley buzzard]

That's true. Most if not all original American Lutheran church bodies were founded on the basis of immigrant nationality. You had German Lutherans, Finnish Lutherans, Swedish Lutherans, etc. It illustrates one of the most important societal functions of the church in America, as a focus for community cohesion and organization.

This why the Left hates the church and is engaged in a concerted effort to dissolve the mainline protestants and attack relentlessly the Catholic Church. They want to destroy any alternative source of loyalty that could stand in the way of totalitarian government.

Meanwhile, this is great news for the NALC, which offers a viable refuge for the Faithful as they escape the apostate wreckage of the ELCA.

[pnh102]

This why the Left hates the church and is engaged in a concerted effort to dissolve the mainline protestants and attack relentlessly the Catholic Church.

Indeed. Paul teaches us that grievous wolves will seek to attack the Church from within. The changes in policy within the ELCA, as well as other church organizations (Episcopalians and Presbyterians come to mind) are manifestations of those attacks from within.

It will be a truly glorious victory for God when these faux church organizations collapse under the weight of their own perversion of Scripture. In the mean time, Christ commands us to cut these sinful "eyes" and "hands" away from His church.

Sorry for the sermon... these kinds of threads always bring these things out of me. :)

[rhema]

[lightman]

Lutheran Ping!

Christ is in our midst!

[pnh102]

Cool image... and I think this one says it all about the ELCA:

When I first got news of this happening, I really got freaked out. This is the type of thing that happens on a good day in the Old Testament. That's all the validation I'd ever need about whether or not the ELCA is doing the right thing.