hide submenuIn September 2002, Dr. Kieschnick shared his vision for the Synod of "One Mission – One Message – One People."
We are called to be a Synod with One Mission...The Great Commission. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). Accomplishing the mission of the church to disciple, baptize and teach the nations of the world is and must continue to be Job One among us!
We are called to be a Synod proclaiming One Message...the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified...the message of sins forgiven...the message of the free gift of eternal life. For, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting mankind's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). We have the greatest message in the world!
We are called to live and act as One People. St. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, acknowledges "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:5-6). We have a long way to go in this regard, yet I implore you, in the words of St. Paul to the Philippians, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel" (Phil. 1:27). We need to work together – as one – to meet the challenges before us!
Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Read more about the development of this vision in his September 25, 2002 Statement, "State of the Synod: A Presidential Perspective".
One Mission - To Seek the Lost for Christ
Isaiah writes, "The Lord says, 'It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Isaiah 49:6
Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
One Message - Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world
St. Paul writes, "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all..." 1 Timothy 2:5
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled the world to himself through Christ, not counting mankind's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
One People - United by God's love in Jesus Christ
Again, St. Paul writes, "Stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel..." Philippians 1:27
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." John 10:14-16
