Missionary at Large Update: August, 2019

By Paul Arndt ekklesia, missionary at large

It has been four months since my installation at East Bethlehem and my deployment as a “Missionary at Large” to the Metro Detroit Area. The days have been filled with many challenges and matching blessings. Praise be to the Triune God that He is faithful and true. All of His promises remain the same. Not only is the Lord Jesus for us but He has also promised to work through, in and with us. He is building His Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail. 

As we enter the Fall, we are confident that the Holy Spirit will continue to grant us the wisdom to know the will of the Father and the accompanying gifts, courage and strength to accomplish the Kingdom work of Jesus.

In order that you might know about and pray for the ministry, I’ve outlined some of the work that the Lord Jesus is doing among us. Below is an update about East Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Detroit and the five (5) “ekklesias” that have been established in the Tri-County area during the last four months.

(“ekklesia” is the Greek word used in the New Testament to
describe the early church that commonly met in homes)

East Bethlehem Lutheran Church
145th Anniversary Year

This year (2019) is the 145th anniversary year of East Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Only Jesus knows how many lives and generations of families have been changed through the proclamation of the Gospel in worship, from the pulpit, through the school and by the saints at East Bethlehem. We are going to have a …

145th Anniversary Service
Sunday, December 8th at 10 am
You are invited to attend and more information will follow.

In this 145th anniversary year, East Bethlehem continues to walk by faith and believes that the Lord Jesus desires to grow His Kingdom and make disciples not only at the physical building located on Outer Drive in Detroit but also in the surrounding Tri-County area.  In order to accomplish this, East Bethlehem has called and deployed me as a “Missionary at Large” to the Tri-County area.

My primary responsibility as a Missionary at Large is to share the Gospel with the un-churched/de-churched in the Tri-County area, to disciple them and then connect them to a Lutheran Word and Sacrament ministry that would give to them all of the gifts of the Triune God.

East Bethlehem has asked me to accomplish this through …

  • personal conversations
  • the establishment of discipleship communities (called “ekklesias”) in homes and gathering places throughout the Tri-County Metro Detroit area
  • the teaching of Bible studies, classes and seminars at East Bethlehem Lutheran Church, as well as in the Tri-County “ekklesias”
  • the development of online discipleship resources (“eXPlain it“)
  • the administration of a Word and Sacrament ministry in well established and pastorally instructed “ekklesias”
  • the training of pastors in the global mission field (as opportunities, time and resources allow)

Five (5) established “ekklesias”

By God’s grace, during the last four months, the Lord has established five (5) little gatherings (“ekklesias”) that meet to hear, study, and receive God’s Word and gifts. In keeping with the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, the purpose of each ekklesia is to …

“make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

Said another way …

We endeavor to drown sin, death and the Devil
through the gift of Baptism;

feed and nourish the flock (and starve the Devil)
through the Lord’s Supper;

and teach the Devil to death
through the study of the Scriptures.

Each ekklesia devotes itself to the “apostle’s teaching, to the fellowship and to prayer”.  (Acts 2:42-47) The Word incarnate (Jesus) and the Word in the Scriptures are at the center of all that we do.

By the Holy Spirit’s orchestration, and to our surprise, we’re finding that each ekklesia is unique. We study the same, inerrant, living and active Scriptures but we learn about Jesus in different ways. Some learn by listening, others through conversation and still others by honest, vigorous and spontaneous questions.

Each gathering is also made up of different groupings of people, of different ages from different cultures and even different religions. The Holy Spirit has planted some beautiful “seedling” communities among us and each has the potential to bear much fruit for the Gospel.

Below is a brief description of each of the “ekklesias”. You are welcome to attend any of the gatherings listed below. For more information about location, days, times and the emphasis of each study, you can email me at paul@paulwarndt.com. 

Ekklesia Contact and Information (Click Here)

Word and Sacrament Ekklesia
(Wednesdays at 6:30 pm)

This gathering meets weekly for a structured time of worship, prayer, confession and absolution, the reading and study of God’s Word and the celebration of the Sacrament of the Altar. It meets in Troy and about 25-40 individuals regularly attend. This gathering is probably best described as a “house church”.

Finding Christ in the Psalms Study
(alternating Thursdays at 6:30 pm)

This gathering meets to study and pray through the Psalms (and the rest of the Scriptures).  We search the Scriptures looking for Jesus and His promise of the forgiveness of sins. This gathering is also a place for individuals to ask questions about the Christian faith. It meets in Sterling Heights and currently 3-6 individuals attend. This group is open to all and it has much potential for growth in numbers and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

A Study of the Lutheran Confessions
(alternating Mondays at 6:30 pm)

This gathering meets to discuss the Confessions of our Lutheran faith (The Book of Concord). We currently meet at the Lutheran Heritage Foundation in Macomb Township and currently 6-10 individuals attend. This ekklesia is also open to all and is full of wonderful conversation about the truths of the Scripture as confessed by our Lutheran Church. We are currently studying the Formula of Concord.

“eXPlain it“
(Saturday evenings at 7 pm)

This gathering is a time set aside for open questions, conversations and dialogue about the Scriptures. This ekklesia meets in Macomb Township. Currently 5-15 individuals attend from a variety of diverse cultural backgrounds (Indian, Pakistani, Anglo). All are welcome, especially those who have questions about the Scriptures and the Christian faith.

Teen ekklesia “tekklesia” = teen + ekklesia
(times will adjust in the Fall to accommodate school schedules)

This group of junior high and high school students meets to study the Scriptures and the chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism. We are currently using The Receptive Life course materials. This ekklesia meets in Sterling Heights. During the summer we had 10-12 teens in attendance.

Online Resources

This website and the eXPlain it discipleship portal provide online resources to help support each of the ekklesia gatherings. Each ekklesia has its own designated class module. The modules currently provide PDF specific study guides for the topics discussed. Soon, as time allows, the modules will include video teaching tutorials for each lesson.

Online Discipleship Resource (Click Here)

Personal Conversations and Meetings

In addition to the five ekklesias, I have had (and continue to be available for) personal meetings and conversations about the Scriptures or the Christian faith. If you have friends or family members who would like to talk individually about Jesus Christ and the Scriptures, please feel free to contact me to schedule a personal meeting.

Coffee First Cafe and Bake Shoppe is new little cafe and a nice place to meet in the Sterling Heights, MI area. The address is 38373 Dodge Park Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.

Charitable Giving and Support for the “Missionary at Large” Position

Since East Bethlehem Lutheran Church is an under resourced ministry in the city of Detroit, I am responsible for raising 100% of my own funding (salary, health care, benefits, ministry costs).

This financial support is an ongoing need and is a formidable challenge. We go “by faith” and continually thank God for His provision supplied by faithful and generous individuals.

If you would like to support the Missionary at Large position through East Bethlehem you can either give a charitable donation by check or through electronic giving.  

Below are some of the specifics for each option:

Giving Online

You can financially support my deployment as a “Missionary at Large” to the Tri-County, Metro Detroit Area through East Bethlehem Lutheran Church by giving online. Just click the button below and complete the secure online form.

Give Online Now

All electronic giving will be transacted through the Kindrid/MinistryOne giving platform. For all credit or debit card donations the transaction fee charged by Kindred is: 2.5% of transaction + 30 cents per gift.

Ministry One Apps for i-Phone and Android are also available.



Giving by Check

You can also make a donation towards the “Missionary at Large” deployment by check.

Make your check payable to:

  • “East Bethlehem Lutheran Church”
  • In the memo line designate: “Missionary at Large”

Mail to:

East Bethlehem Lutheran Church

3510 E. Outer Dr.

Detroit, MI 48234

(313) 892-2670

All gifts received to this designated fund are deposited into an account restricted for the support and deployment of the “Missionary at Large” position through East Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Any gifts received in excess of the deployment’s needs for a given year are held and carried over for use during the next fiscal year.

We commend all into the Lord’s hands. One day He will reappear, perhaps yet this day, and He will make all things new. But if He delays, He only tarries so that many more may hear, receive and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

To that end we pledge ourselves.

We belong to Christ,

Paul