Annual Convention 2007

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren annual convention this year was held at Marysville Word of Life Church on June 17th-June 20th.

The theme for the convention was "Thy Kingdom Come."

The first evening, our church president Joel Egge spoke from Mark 1:14-15. He talked about how perplexing, yet amazing God's kingdom is. He emphasized the facts that when God's kingdom comes to us it 1) calls us to repentance from sin, and 2) it comes at just the right moment.

As we closed the opening service, the worship leader, Micah Nordtvedt, together with the worship band, led us in singing "The Lord's Prayer." Joining our hands and praising the Lord in this manner moved many in the congregation to tears, and seemed to set the tone of a unified spirit that continued to reign throughout the coming days of prayer, worship and communion, business deliberation, and decision-making.

On Monday morning, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren voted to accept a new church into membership- the Grace Community Church in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Pastor Jeff Olsen and his family have been serving there for the past couple years and have witnessed the hand of God as they have seen their numbers grow and people commit themselves to serving the risen Lord.

As a district, we also rejoice in the news that one of our own churches, RockChurch in Chandler, Arizona, has become self-supporting and will be going off financial subsidy this year. Unfortunately, their pastor, Forrest Erickson , was unable to attend the convention due to illness. We pray for God's healing and for a speedy recovery.

On Monday evening, before Pastor Thor Foss (Succasunna, NJ) spoke, a commissioning service was held for our missionaries leaving this fall. Steve and Janice Flude, (the couple on the left)together with their family of nine children, will be leaving in September for nine months of language study in France before they begin their ministry in Chad.



Linda Low (on right) will be leaving in August to begin her two-year ministry of teaching the Venberg children in Doh, Chad. We continue to praise God for His call to these servants of His, and pray for their protection, wisdom for their studies, and grace as they adapt to new cultures and situations. The Flude family

We rejoice in the task that God has given to us as a church body and pray for His guidance as we seek to do this work. Our desire, as a church synod, and as a district, is that people everywhere be brought into God's kingdom of saving, sustaining and strengthening grace.

For more information on the convention go to http://www.clba.org/