Increasing Bold Witness To All Peoples

Pastors in RIM are doing their part to reach the goal of 1,000 cross-cultural ministries

Ninety Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastors and wives from 21 states met in Chicago November 13-15 at a retreat for encouragement, hope and spiritual power.

The Rev. Dr. Arthur M. Vincent, Director of Advancing Renewal Ministries (ARM) said, “I have been attending Renewal In Missouri (RIM) retreats for many years. What I saw here was something astonishing and refreshing! I saw that spiritual renewal by the Holy Spirit means an increasingly bold witness to all peoples. RIM has supported ARM as I have worked in more than 20 countries around the world. At first I was one of the few voices speaking on spiritual renewal both for home and foreign missions. But now I am hearing many voices.”

During the three-day retreat, RIM teams reported outreach to India, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Africa, Haiti and Mexico, as well as to the United States. Retired Missouri Synod pastors are becoming missionaries to the nations. By sharing the Gospel with un-reached peoples these retired pastors have also been “refired!” The eagerness of the foreign students has encouraged the retired professors. Even the young pastors are refreshed by their short-term ministry overseas to continue more meaningful ministry at home.

Many pastors described their outreaches:

1. A Pakistani Lutheran pastor reported his full-time work among Muslims in America.

2. A Spanish-speaking pastor and his wife described their work among Spanish-speaking Americans.

3. A pastor for the deaf introduced members from his congregation who are reaching out to the deaf in their city.

4. A medical team went to Indonesia and supplied free eyeglasses.

5. A congregation helped found and equip a hospital in Nigeria and sent a team of five doctors to work in the new medical facility. Each evening the pastors also joined in crusades to preach the Gospel to thousands.

6. An Indian believer, member of one of our Lutheran congregations, reaches out to Indians in New York. He also has a weekly television program broadcasting the Gospel to New York and, by satellite, to India.

7. Another congregation reaches out to immigrants from many nations in a housing development near their church. They teach English As A Second Language, provide emergency food, clothing and cultural “know how” and provide worship facilities for Spanish and Russian Christians.

8. A team of six U.S. Lutheran pastors taught pastors from the India Evangelical Lutheran Church how to bring their congregations into spiritual renewal. Next year we are preparing for a team of 15 pastors to promote continued spiritual renewal and outreach to unreached people groups in India.

9. RIM congregations are supporting full-time workers in the Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Lutheran Bible Translators. Many congregations are supplying Bibles for the world through ARM and Bible Societies.

10. A Lutheran team taught 36 Nepalese pastors how to evangelize illiterate people telling chronological Bible stories. They also shared an Old and New Testament survey using picture symbols for illiterate and semi-illiterate peoples.

Dr. Robert Scudieri, Counselor for North American Ministries with Synod’s Board for Mission Services, challenged us to start 1,000 cross-cultural ministries by 2001. He called this effort, “Pentecost 2000.” Dr. Vincent commented, “At this RIM retreat I saw ‘Pentecost 2000’ actually happening. We were thrilled! Pastors in Renewal In Missouri (RIM) are doing their part to reach the goal of 1,000 cross-cultural ministries.”