Every other month our CLC Board of Missions updates us with recent news from various mission fields.
Our God highly commends the sharing of helpful information. You could have no clue your tidbit of knowledge is someone else’s missing puzzle piece unless you opened your mouth. To “disperse knowledge” depicts a strewing of seed on fertile ground in confidence of a hearty crop.
This summer at Convention, the Board of Missions asked delegates to apply this “dispersing” wisdom to the “diaspora” of CLC members scattered across the US living at a distance from a CLC congregation. Mr. Jeff Radichel and Pastor Timothy Daub presented the backstories of several exciting domestic opportunities which have sprung up in recent years. But lest the many individual ideas across the room remained un-dispersed, we then asked pastors and delegates to sit together by conference and open their mouths.
After but a few awkward moments, the conversations began to flow freely. Men shared their current preaching stations and thoughts about where others might start. They brainstormed how to better communicate and follow through on opportunities. Many commented that they had no idea there was so much mission potential just in their area of the United States.
Over the next few days, lips kept dispersing. One pastor asked in passing, “I have someone in Peoria, Illinois, but that probably doesn’t count as diaspora, right?” Another pastor, who just happened to overhear, chimed in, “I do too!” I responded, “I think you just got your answer.”
In the weeks following, the Board received several brand-new diaspora list contributions. The Great Lakes Conference has started a shared spreadsheet of regional contacts. The Pacific Coast Conference pastors are actively working together on gathering scattered members in Alaska.
Pastors and delegates from the Southeastern Conference meet to discuss “diaspora” in their areas
There is rich wisdom in sharing best practices, letting people know what’s happening in your area, and asking for feedback from others. This is not boasting, but in the spirit of the Proverb, bringing individual puzzle pieces together for a full picture of the kingdom opportunities before us as a fellowship.
Keep the conversation going! Talk and ask about domestic mission opportunities in Bible study. Encourage your pastor and elders to keep diaspora contributions updated. Don’t hesitate to send the names of scattered family and friends on your heart directly to the Board. When it comes to the Gospel-harvest, the only insignificant kernel of information is the one never shared.
“The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.” (Proverbs 15:7 KJV)
is pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Hecla, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Aberdeen, and Redeemer Lutheran Church of Bowdle, South Dakota. He also serves on the CLC Board of Missions.