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ALD Fundraising for New Mission Starts is in Full Swing

The Christmas letter from our District Pastor has generated interest in our new mission starts. As we continue raising funds for them, this issue is devoted to giving you more information about these courageous new churches who faithfully witness to the message of justification by faith alone for the redemption of God’s people today.

In 2001 three new Lutheran churches affiliated with the Augsburg Lutheran District of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), began worshiping weekly. These churches were originally organized as preaching points for Lutherans who wanted to worship using the Lutheran service of Word and Sacrament. Shunned by their local churches for their confessional stands, they had no other place to go. Some were told to join a Presbyterian church, but they said, “No, we’re Lutherans!” As these congregations grew and formally constituted themselves as churches, they became affiliated with LCMC and the Augsburg Lutheran District.

Peace Lutheran Church in Orange Beach, AL, began worshiping in a rented building on the Gulf of Mexico in January 2001. They had a core group of 12 families, and advertised in the local papers to attract people who winter in the area. On their first Sunday 78 people worshiped and shared the Lord’s Supper. Peace Lutheran received a gift of $10,000.00 from the LCMC mission fund in September 2001, and members of ALD have raised another $10,000 in gifts and pledges, leaving a balance of $7,000 yet to be raised to fulfill their first year goal. Pastor Jim Hansen accepted a call to be their pastor in September. He is actively calling on the unchurched in the area and people who are moving into Orange Beach and Baldwin County. This particular part of Alabama is growing quickly, and there is much need for Lutheran outreach. We thank and praise God for raising up a pastor willing to join in this work and accept the call from Peace Lutheran. Our fundraising goal for this mission church is $7,000 for 2002.

Gifts for Peace Lutheran may be sent directly to: 

Peace Lutheran 
P. O. Box #3192 
Orange Beach, AL 36561

Fellowship Lutheran Church in Louisville, KY, began worshiping after the ELCA stopped supporting their inner-city mission church two years ago. Members of this fellowship joined with Lutherans from Messiah-Trinity, the first blended ELCA-Episcopal congregation, to form Fellowship Lutheran Church. Messiah-Trinity has gone without a Lutheran pastor for over a year. Many of its members have quit attending or joined another Lutheran church after the services became more and more Episcopalian. Pastor John Sanders, Jr., accepted the call to be Fellowship Lutheran's pastor on October 26, 2001. He is gathering unchurched in the area, former members of closed mission churches, and the scattered sheep from Messiah. Pastor Sanders visits shut-ins, hospitalized, and people in jail. Fellowship Lutheran is making plans to rent a location in downtown Louisville which will house its food and clothing mission and provide a place for weekly worship services. Our fundraising goal for this mission church is $20,000 for 2002.

Gifts for Fellowship Lutheran may be sent directly to:

Fellowship Lutheran 
7904 Apple Valley Drive
Louisville, KY 40228

Sola Scriptura Lutheran Church (SSLC) in Flint, MI, began worshiping in early 2001. Six pastors affiliated with either WordAlone, or LCMC and ALD, volunteer their time enabling this mission church to start up on a shoestring budget. We hope to help SSLC call a pastor this year, and expand their mission outreach in the greater Flint area. This fall SSLC sponsored a regional seminar on the confessional crisis within the ELCA. Attendees were informed as to the issues involved and discussed possible options including starting LCMC mission churches like SSLC. Our mission fundraising goal for SSLC is $20,000 in 2002.

Gifts for Sola Scriptura may be sent directly to:

Sola Scriptura
1411 Calumet 
Flint, MI 48503

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