Missionary David Koenig gives behind the scenes looks at happenings in our overseas mission endeavors.
The following report arrived under the date of October 2, 2014. Let us all be praying with the hymnwriter* of “Spread, Oh, Spread, Thou Mighty Word” (at the end of article) — Editor
Grebenhain, Germany, Free Conference.
This month yet again we commemorate what God did through the Lutheran Reformation. What better way to celebrate God’s work of restoring to the church so many basic truths of His Word than to preach and teach these truths?
We did just that at Grebenhain, Germany, on August 29-31, when various conservative Lutherans gathered for a Free Conference. On the first day there were twenty-four in attendance while on the second there were at least thirty-two. While we came from different Lutheran backgrounds, we all had the same goal of upholding the truth of God’s Word. But because we did not know if we agreed completely, we did not practice fellowship. We did hear eight essays and had lively floor discussions. There was also that entirely wholesome chatting at meals over a variety of matters.
The distances travelled from the Swiss border, the Dutch border, Berlin (and so on) were worth the effort to sit and hear and speak of God, His will, His Word and work. The CLC—or as we are known in German, the KLB—was glad to sponsor the meeting.
While in Germany I also had the pleasure of visiting several homes and witnessing the faith of the people and their desire to continue in the Word.
May God bestow on us His grace,
With blessings rich provide us,
And may the brightness of His face
To life eternal guide us….
TLH #500:1
Spread, Oh, spread, thou mighty Word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe’er His breath has giv’n,
Life to beings meant for heav’n.
Tell them how the Father’s will
Made the world and keeps it still,
How His only Son He gave
Man from sin and death to save.
Tell of our Redeemer’s love,
Who forever doth remove
By His holy sacrifice
All the guilt that on us lies.
Tell them of the Spirit giv’n
Now to guide us up to heav’n,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.
Up! The ripening fields ye see,
Mighty shall the harvest be;
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.
Lord of Harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thee,
Till the nations, far and near,
See Thy light, and learn Thy fear.
TLH #507:1-6