God opens doors
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
In this issue of "Together," you will read a story about how our synod, for the first time in nearly ten years, is about to send resident missionaries into a new mission field. While the Board for World Missions approved the plan in February, the move clearly reflects the intent of last summer's synod convention, where we committed ourselves to expanding our efforts in world missions.
What is remarkable about this is not the decision to enter that field; the amazing thing is to see how God is blessing this decision in ways that we could not have anticipated. Certainly, it was God who enabled those refugees from Mozambique to hear his Word in Malawi and who are now taking their faith back home with them. It was God who has enabled the political situation in Mozambique to stabilize. And it was certainly God who brought our synod into fellowship last summer with a small group of believers in the Lutheran Church of Portugal, led by Pastor Artur Villares. Since the language of Mozambique is Portuguese, Pastor Villares will prove to be extremely helpful to our new missionaries. He will assist and guide them in the upcoming months as they travel to Portugal to learn the Portuguese language. Pastor Villares will also provide printed resources the missionaries can use in Mozambique.
It's amazing how God's hand shapes events and circumstances to enable the gospel to be spread. I can't help but think of Paul's words, "When the time had fully come, God sent his Son." It was no accident that when the Savior was born, God had put all things into place that would provide a world in which the good news of that Savior could be spread. A common language, the Roman peace, the Roman roads and postal system, the culture's openness to new ideas—these were not mere accidents. God worked then, and he still works today, to guide and shape events to enable his Word to spread and his kingdom to grow.
On a personal note: As much as many people appreciate the "Together" newsletter, we hope that this week you will receive only one copy. We apologize for the multiple e-mails of the last issue.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Missions, Mozambique, Portugal, World Missions
Top Stories
Compiled by WELS Communication Services
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