Fifteen Children Baptized at East Bethlehem
As the Triune God willed, appointed and worked, fifteen (15) children were baptized at the 10 am service at East Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Sunday, October 27th.
Many prayers, hours of service and countless volunteers from all over the Tri-County area were spiritually invested in this magnificent and sacred sowing of the seed of God’s Word. By God’s grace and gift, we were all able to see and bear witness to the Spirit’s work and fruit among us.
Flee you evil spirit! Make room for the Holy Spirit!
Do you renounce the devil and all of his works and all of his ways?
If so answer, ‘I do!’
Luther’s Baptismal Rite
Kingdom Work is a Co-Mission!
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. ”
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NIV)
The disciples of Jesus, Paul, Apollos and the little “ekklesias” (Greek word used to refer to the early Christian “gatherings” that met in homes) knew that the work of the Kingdom was a Co-mission.
Jesus, the Messiah, the One who was FOR them in His death and resurrection, also promised that He would work WITH, AMONG and THROUGH them.
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:19-20) NIV
Each member of the church, according to their God given vocation, is called and graced to serve in the Lord’s harvest field. Some plant the seed. Some water it. Some till the soil. Some weed. Others harvest. All work and they do it together.
But, in the end, we all know that it is the Triune God who makes the SEED of the Gospel grow. After all, it isn’t our mission. It’s the Lord’s.
- He has the authority and the accompanying power to send us out.
- He gives us the directive, the means and the manner to accomplish the mission: baptize and teach!
- And He gives us a promise … “I’ll be with you always!”
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and 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 I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)
A Story of the Seed, the Workers and the Triune God Who Makes the Kingdom Grow
The CO-Mission story behind the fifteen baptisms on October 27th centers around the many volunteers and “saints” who serve in three different mission outposts.
- Gifts for All God’s Children
- CKC (Connecting Kids to Christ) Tutoring Program
- East Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Mission Post 1: Gifts For All God’s Children
The mission of Gifts for All God’s Children is …
“to meet needs and share the love of Christ with at-risk children in Southeast Michigan. We accomplish this by connecting children with churches and community organizations, giving gifts, and planning events.”
Ten years ago GFAGC partnered with East Bethlehem Lutheran church. The CO-Mission started with a Christmas outreach program that gave sponsored gifts to children. Over the years the outreach has expanded and now includes …
- Valentine’s Day and Easter events
- Summer Bible Camps
- Prayer Partners for the Children
- Field Trips and Transportation to Sports Camps
- Backpacks and School Supplies
- Click on the button below to view photo albums of the most recent Gifts For All God’s Children and East Bethlehem events.
The overwhelming majority of the pictures in this post are to be credited to Wayne Cannava. Thanks Wayne for capturing the work of the Lord Jesus in picture form for East Bethlehem and Gifts for All God’s Children.
Mission Post 2: Connecting Kids to Christ (CKC) Tutoring Program
The Connecting Kids to Christ (CKC) Tutoring Program is an outreach of Gifts For All God’s Children (GFAGC) and East Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Detroit. The purpose of the program is to connect kids to Christ and to help them build and achieve academic success.
The volunteer tutors are one of the key components of the success of the program. They faithfully come to serve and instruct their student one or two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 pm).
In addition to the one on one teaching, the student and tutor pray and study the Word of God. Through their time together, the tutors build a bond that helps the students grow in wisdom and understanding.
Mission Post 3: East Bethlehem Lutheran Church
The final part of the CO-mission and baptismal story happened this Fall. On the Sunday when East Bethlehem distributed the school supplies and backpacks provided by Gifts For All God’s Children, Pastor Asaph James and I asked the children about baptism.
When asked how many of them had been baptized, only a few raised their hands. But those gathered were excited to learn more. When we asked the families how many would like to come back for a time of teaching about the gifts of baptism, we were overwhelmed by the response.
As part of my Missionary at Large deployment through East Bethlehem Lutheran Church and with the help of Pastor Asaph James (and the saints gathered at East Bethlehem), I then had the opportunity to meet with the families and children who wanted to learn more about the Triune God’s gifts given in Baptism.
Teaching the Devil to Death!
The devil is a liar and a deceiver and a murderer … and he is a good teacher! But the Holy Spirit is the Real Teacher and through His Word and all of His gifts we endeavor to “teach the Devil to death!”
(paraphrase of Martin Luther’s words and thoughts in the Large Catechism)
Everytime we gathered to learn about God’s gifts, we had an “energetic” time together. The children were excited and eager to learn the “ABC’s of the Christian Faith”!
The ABC’s of the Christian Faith
A Simple Explanation of Christianity (the Small Catechism)
- The Ten Commandments (the Triune God’s will)
- The Creed (the Triune God’s work)
- Lord’s Prayer (the Triune God’s instruction and invitation to pray)
- Sacrament of Baptism (drown the devil)
- Confession (silence the devil)
- Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (starve the devil)
- Table of Duties (how to live the Christian life)
I taught them how to …
- make the sign of the cross
- to declare the Trinitarian invocation
- to pray Luther’s evening and morning prayer
- how to “drown the Old Man” in repentance
- and “rise with Jesus and live in His righteousness”
- to put the devil in his place by confessing the Creed
- and to fight the evil one by using the Lord’s Prayer
As Peter said in his Pentecost sermon ,
“Repent. Be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise (Baptism) is for you and your family.” (Acts 2)
By God’s amazing work, fifteen (15) children were baptized on October 27th (Reformation Sunday observed). Here’s a wonderful video that captures the marvelous work of the Triune God among us at East Bethlehem and the accompanying joy of the Lord’s salvation.
Thank you to the Michigan District LCMS for capturing the work of God on this day and producing and sharing this video.
Please pray for these children. We commend them into the Lord’s hands. May the Holy Angel be with them that the evil foe may have no power over them. Amen!
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, the CKC, the outreach programs and by the volunteers and the saints at East Bethlehem.
And only the Lord knows how many more are “appointed to believe” (Acts 13:48) through the CO-mission that awaits and includes all of us connected to East Bethlehem.
We are going to celebrate this work of God among us with a …
145th Anniversary Service
Sunday, December 8th at 10 am
Rev. Roosevelt Gray, Director of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Black Ministry will be the guest preacher.
You are invited to attend. Luncheon 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.
Missionary at Large Position
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 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)
For a description of the work the Lord has started since April 1st, 2019 you can click on the link below. A more detailed update of the mission will be coming in January of 2020.
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.
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