Lutherans encouraged to ‘be a praying church’

North American Lutheran church leader says Witness work is Christ’s

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., November 2, 2012—Speaking on the last day of the International Conference on Confessional Leadership, in Peachtree City, Ga., the Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba of the North American Lutheran Church encouraged global Lutherans to “be a praying church one more time.”

Buba presented on the topic of Witness (Martyría), urging leaders, “Don’t try to figure out missional strategies and plans. Jesus never outsourced missional leadership to anyone.” Instead, he said, “Ask. Be on your knees. Let us be a praying church one more time,” reminding attendees that Witness work is only “in the hand of the Holy Spirit.” 

More than 120 confessional leaders representing 20 million Lutherans around the world attended the three-day conference, journeying from Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia. The conference was sponsored by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Buba also noted that the struggles churches face today are not new. “The challenge of the Church of the first century and the challenge of the 21st century is the same,” he said. “The harvest is still plentiful. The workers are still few. The message is still the same: Law and Gospel, repentance and forgiveness.” 

The Rev. Wakseyoum Idosa, president of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, offered a brief response, agreeing, “Mission is ultimately the work of the Triune God. It is a ministry in which the Church is privileged to participate.” 

Other conference speakers included the Rev. Dr. Alister McGrath, King’s College, London; Bishop Emeritus Jobst Schöne, Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany; as well as Lutheran pastors from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

News briefs and recaps from the conference are available via the Witness, Mercy, Life Together blog, LCMS Twitter, LCMS Facebook and KFUO Radio. The conference was made possible by a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The 2.3 million-member Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.