Greetings in Christ Jesus, whose call to proclaim the gospel sends his servants all over the world. Indeed, Isaiah’s words are being fulfilled in Christ Jesus, “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants” (Isaiah 42:10, ESV).
In the Northwest District, we have a unique connection to coastlands on the other side of the world through Church of All Nations in Hong Kong. Church of All Nations is one of our Northwest District congregations. Beginning in 1962 as Repulse Bay Lutheran Church, Church of All Nations participated with the LCMS in the founding of Hong Kong International School (HKIS). Church of All Nations continues to meet on the Repulse Bay campus of HKIS.
Last month, the LCMS Reporter announced disheartening news of legal action filed by the LCMS against Hong Kong International School Association Limited (HKISAL), the entity that administers HKIS on behalf of the LCMS.
While Church of All Nations, as a congregation, is not directly involved in this litigation, Church of All Nations carries out its ministry working closely with HKIS and among the school community to proclaim the good news of God’s love and forgiveness shown through Jesus Christ.
I would like to invite the Northwest District to join in prayer, along with the faithful at Church of All Nations, that through the work of His Spirit, the Lord would soon provide resolution to these matters for the sake of the ministry of the gospel in Jesus’ name.
In Jesus,
Rev. Dr. Mike Von Behren
President of the Northwest District of the LCMS
