Missions are about securing land and building buildings. Even more, missions are about connecting precious souls with Jesus’ wonderful and sure Gospel. The people so connected are the Spirit’s beautiful quilting.

Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church of Rogers, Minnesota, has experienced such beauty and blessing. Some of the people sewn into the fabric of our new church family are “core” people. These are the ones with long, deep roots in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod or our sister synod (WELS), all graced with a clear confession of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. They represent the faithful mission work of former days done by moms and dads, pastors and teachers, Christian friends and church leaders, who built upon the baptismal faith, built upon the foundation of Christ, built with the inspired instruction of Moses, prophets, evangelists and apostles, built with the blessed Sacrament. Some of the people in our mission are there today because of the careful, concerted mission work of yesterday. Praise God for such Gospel-connecting work!

Our mission also consists of new members—people with whom we had no previous ties, such as Tom and Paula. Theirs was the last doorbell rung on a hot July Saturday two summers ago. They were of different spiritual backgrounds and hadn’t been connected with a Christian church for 15 years. But they recently finished instruction and confirmed their faith. Their son now is learning about his Savior through a study of Old and New Testament Bible lessons and will start Catechism classes. All this was after numerous follow-up visits, mailings and phone conversations. All this was interrupted by major life-threatening illnesses for both. She and their son are in church now every week. He’s handicapped and home-bound and happy that, “If you can’t come to church the church comes to you.”

Employing tools like canvassing, making follow-up calls and sending nurturing mailings works. Submitting carefully written press releases and attractive and succinct newspaper ads works. Putting out sandwich board signs and getting our name “in lights” on the highway sign of the strip mall where we currently meet works. Conducting children’s events like Christmas and Easter for Kids and VBS, along with family-oriented Parents’ Nights Out and Family Fun times, works. These tactics work, not because they are the means, but because they serve as relationship developers, so that people with whom we normally would not have a relationship might be connected to the Means, the Gospel in Word and Sacraments. Then, by the Holy Spirit’s power, they are connected to Jesus.

At Redeeming Grace we not only strengthen the stakes of the Lord’s tabernacle by nurturing the saints gathered, but we seek to stretch the tent curtains wide and lengthen the cords with two Gospel-connecting strategies before us: friendship evangelism and “stranger” evangelism. We Christians already have bridges built with our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors (FRAN Network), to whom we can witness and whom we can invite and bring. That’s friendship evangelism. The harder work is trying to build bridges with those with whom we do not yet have such an advantage. That’s “stranger” evangelism. Both forms of evangelism are necessary because Jesus did say “all” and because “all” need to be connected to Him, His blood and His righteousness. When they are, our God, who has used our meager efforts, receives all credit and all glory!

All of us in the ELS constantly “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.” At Redeeming Grace we marvel at His mighty Word in action. He is accomplishing wonderful things with the Gospel for us and with us in our mission. He’s even moved God’s people in the synod to help us secure land on which our building is now under way. Land and buildings also serve to build Christ’s Kingdom of Grace as they assist in connecting precious souls—people—with the Gospel of Jesus’ saving love.

David Russow is a home missionary at Redeeming Grace Lutheran Church in Rogers, Minnesota.