LCMS World Relief and Human Care: Sharing newsletter — July 2021
Martin Luther wrote: “Whoever is in despair, distressed by a sin-stricken conscience or terrified by death or carrying some other burden upon his heart, if he would be rid of them all, let him go joyfully to the sacrament of the altar and lay down his woe in the midst of the community [of saints] and seek help from the entire company of the spiritual body” (Luther’s Works, vol. 35).
In Christ’s church, we find the love and support to carry on in this broken world, and in return we provide that care to others by showing Christ’s love to them. This issue of Sharing highlights two ways that Lutherans are bearing the burdens of fellow believers to encourage and strengthen them for the work that God has given them to do:
- In Latvia, two LCMS missionaries are providing online theological education in English for students from different countries, including 16 students from Pakistan who desire to learn the Word of God despite the danger of persecution.
- In Wisconsin, the members of Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Houlton, have stepped up to care for their pastor’s family while he is on a yearlong deployment as a military chaplain.