August 2023 Gospel Seeds

A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP

Dear Sister Congregations and Central African Republic Supporters,

In the April Gospel Seeds, you were invited to the Cities for a Centennial Celebration of our partner church in CAR. Many gathered from far and wide to celebrate, worship together, attend workshops, hear a panel of bishops, participate in a youth event, hear a panel about being a youth in the African church. There was history about the early church in Africa, live messages from their bishops with translation about church life today, and what they envision as we walk forward together in faith into the next chapter.

The celebration continues in Cameroun this October. Later in November Bishop Schweitzer plans to attend the centennial events in the Central African Republic. Here he will present your Synod Assembly resolution as a Certificate they can hang in their church offices, congratulating them as they mark 100 years of life in the Gospel, and recommitting us to future ministry together as companions in the common work to which our Lord calls us.

We are called to strengthen one another for life and ministry through prayer, study, communication, and sharing   of resources. Every year we raise funds for CAR, although in recent years we have seen a marked decline.

We could list many heartbreaking statistics about this land-locked country with so many needs, where a quarter of the population is displaced by continuous instability, and where life is so much shorter.  As church together, we are called to address the bodily needs.  The church there has schools, clinics, and Bible Schools we can support to help do this.  As I listened to President Ngoe on the live feed, it was clear to me that even as we support these needs, we are ultimately ministering to the spirit, to those who hunger to meet Jesus. With us walking by them, the church there is best placed to nourish the heart, to strengthen believers, and to help us learn what it means to follow Christ in the midst of struggles.

Metigoshe Lutheran would like to challenge you to match their $7,500 fundraiser, about the number of miles from Metigoshe to Bangui in CAR.

Acknowledging their blessings and all they have to share, Metigoshe Lutheran launch the “BRING US CLOSER” campaign to support our brothers and sisters of the CAR and give generously that they might be strengthened in God’s love through us.

What is it that inspires you to generosity. Is it meeting people’s physical and educational needs? Is it the thought of having our bishop there in person to greet them from you, or to help support their celebration of 100 years of hearing and sharing the Gospel? No matter what it is, each dollar sent is life changing and a rare opportunity to inspire them as they receive these gifts from Bishop Schweitzer’s hand on your behalf. Join Metigoshe Lutheran in this exciting challenge to support the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Central African Republic.

The post August 2023 Gospel Seeds appeared first on Western North Dakota Synod.