Giving thanks in all circumstances

Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel (right) preaches in Ukraine through a translator, LCC missionary Rev. Oleksiy Navrotskyy.

LCC’s retiring mission executive reflects on his years of service.

by Leonardo Neitzel

Throughout his epistles the Apostle Paul does not tire in giving thanks to God even under persecution, imprisonment, unnumbered hardships, trials, and health problems. The Holy Spirit nurtured in him a positive outlook of the Kingdom’s work, and he encourages us with the same attitude today: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Th 5:18). Paul can say this based on his own life experience and ministry that was a mixture of joys and challenges. At one time he was “chained” in spiritual blindness, bearing its marks, under the devil as his master. From the day Jesus called him, changing his life on the road to Damascus, he was free, bearing Christ’s marks as his new Master – marks of his personal salvation. As a result, he bears physical marks for the salvation of many – scars imprinted by hardship and persecution (see 1 Cor. 4:9-13; Gal 6:17). Speaking about his credentials as an apostle, he concludes: “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22).

Historically, in one or another way, prophets, apostles, evangelists and messengers of Christ’s Good News go through similar experiences – a mix of great joy amid hardships. Jesus says: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). With this perspective, and on the verge of retirement, I share some of my experiences serving as Lutheran Church–Canada’s Assistant to the President for Missions and Social Ministry Services since 2009.

Joys witnessed and experienced
There are so many blessings to report, but here are some highlights.
• countless numbers of children, youth, and adults reached by the Gospel, baptized, and incorporated into Christ’s church;
• hundreds of poor children, orphans, and youth cared for materially and spiritually by LCC through its Children’s Education Programs in Central America;
• so many generous supporters who give to support LCC’s missions and human care ministry;
• working with compassionate, understanding, and forgiving people, especially when we’ve failed in administration matters;
• teams and individuals across Canada who plan, work hard, and save money to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ overseas and become excited for being part of God’s mission;
• emerging army of young pastors and deaconesses serving in LCC’s international missions;
• emerging ethnic leadership in the LCC and around the world;
• pastors and congregations investing time and effort in planning and focusing on the essential raison d’être of the church—reaching out to their communities with the love of Christ;
• LCC’s missions never lacking funding for its missionaries, missions and social projects;
• working with an amazing team of faithful volunteers: LCC’s Committee on Missions and Social Ministry Services, Concordia Lutheran Mission Society, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada, individuals and congregations, theological teachers and professors, Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan in Central American matters, Rev. Dr. Leonard Harms in Southeast Asia and Rev. Dr. Norman Threinen in Ukraine and so many others;
• resilient church leaders holding on to God’s grace in difficult times such as war in Ukraine, conflict in Cambodia, political unrest, earthquakes in Central America, and other natural disasters.

Regrets
As we serve the Lord we become aware of our own weaknesses but also His strength!
• limitations in the ability to produce more for the Lord’s mission as planned. Mission will always require much encouragement, hard work, and determination. It will always be an unfinished task till Jesus returns;
• not perfectly completing the job and falling short in many areas. Despite our intentions, we are not perfect but as Luther says: “We are beggars, this is what we are.”
• not being able to do more to address personal and shared frustrations regarding complacency and a lack of commitment to God’s missions given the harvest at hand and the rich potential of human and material resources available in LCC.

Weaknesses and challenges
• difficulty in keeping up-to-date with all the developments in the mission field and sharing the news of God’s activities;
• long time taken or required for indigenous churches to move towards self-supporting churches.

Milestones
• preparation, formation, consecration and placement of church workers. The number of pastors and deaconesses has more than doubled in Central America;
• establishment of missions and congregations in Costa Rica and Honduras;
• preparation and formation of pastors for the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU);
• SELCU pastors studying in Canada at LCC seminaries;
• re-establishment of a Lutheran church body in Cambodia—the Cambodia Lutheran Church (CLC);
• formation of four ethnic pastors and one site-specific pastor through LCC’s Pastors with Alternate Training program (PAT) and seven more set to complete their studies in the near future.
• ongoing project sponsorship by CLMS, LWMLC, congregations and individuals by God’s grace.

Eyes on the future—by God’s grace
We thank God for what He has done in LCC’s mission fields at home and overseas. As He leads us there are still so many open doors and opportunities
• expand LCC’s alliance with international Confessional Lutheran churches and missions in outreach and Gospel proclamation to all nations;
• keep the vision and focus of pastors, congregations, organizations, seminaries, and individuals proactive for the sake of Christ’s mission in Canada and abroad.
• encourage our clergy to work collegially, mentoring each other, embracing new pastors, ethnic and immigrant workers in the same Spirit who nurtured Elijah and Elisha in mutual nurturing
• encourage men and heads of households to take their stand as Christ’s servants, joining the women as faith incubators, nurturing the family in God’s Word and witnessing to Christ in families and communities.
• guided by the Holy Spirit, study and understand the changing landscape of our society and the world in terms of morality and ethics, helping us understand how to reach out with the Gospel, especially to the churched, pre-churched, post-churched, millennials, wanderers, and new Canadians;
• under LCC’s new structure, achieve a threefold purpose: growth of our involvement in front-line mission outreach; salvation and well-being of all peoples, and the glory of Christ and His kingdom;
• keep focused on the harvest field, on the consummation of time, anticipating the unending victorious joy of Revelation 7 – the vision of great multitudes from all peoples, nations, and languages standing in white robes joining the Bridegroom triumphantly for all eternity;
• pray for steadfastness and endurance of Christ’s church in midst of persecution and hardship – giving thanks in all circumstances;
• give thanks for continued countless blessings from sowing of God’s Word under His promises: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11-13).

By God’s grace, LCC’s mission work, although imperfect and facing challenges, has continued with the help of an army of faithful assistants—His people. I thank and praise our Lord for the opportunity to serve in this capacity knowing it is He alone who works in us what pleases Him for His purpose. Whatever we do in God’s mission should be ultimately done in gratitude for Christ’s love – to the glory of His name, for the well-being and salvation of people, and the expansion of His kingdom.

Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel is retiring as Lutheran Church–Canada’s Assistant to the President for Mission and Social Ministry Services.

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