“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands…” —Revelation 7:9 (ESV)
Guiding Statement: LCMS Northern Illinois District’s Intercultural Ministry
The LCMS Northern Illinois District’s Intercultural Ministry is a Kingdom partnership made up of diverse Christ followers which exists to serve, encourage, and equip individuals and congregations of all nations with love and compassion for the sake of Advancing His Kingdom. (June 2022)
Intercultural ministry provides us with the privilege of participating in what Jesus is already doing to usher in His Kingdom. Christ’s commission is to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19). The word “nation” here is where we get the word ethnic.
In Revelation (5:9, 7:9) we see an intercultural assembly of believers which includes all the diversity of humankind for whom Christ died and rose again. This worldwide movement was first promised to Abraham, whose descendants (as the people of God) would bless all the families of the earth (Gen 12:3).
Certainly, to participate in Gospel ministry is ethnic ministry, because we are all part of that diverse multitude whom the Holy Spirit gathers. But many of us find ourselves in rapidly changing communities and know that we need to grow in our ability to communicate the unchanging Gospel inter-culturally and in various languages. We need each other’s prayerful encouragement, support, creativity, risk, and wisdom. Intercultural ministry includes intentionally working toward the realization of God’s desire that “all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:4)
Help. Encourage. Support.
Intercultural Ministry is the story of how we, as a District, started off being intentional about reaching people of German ancestry and Lutherans and how wildly successful we were at that, and how, pretty much since the baby boom generation, we [no longer] have the same sort of neighborhood loyalty, loyalty toward the denomination that we were capitalizing on. We need to continue to learn how to reach out to our communities which are in transition.
If you are serving an ethnic ministry, or would like to learn how best to serve, contact Rev. Whitby at kris.whitby@nidlcms.org. Through our work together, we can share the vision, the challenges, the victories, and the mission!
The Northern Illinois District has renewed commitment to Intercultural Ministries, as evidenced by gatherings of individuals from across the LCMS Northern Illinois District.
The Northern Illinois District continues to support Hispanic ministry through Enviando.“Intercultercural ministry includes intentionally working toward the realization of God’s desire that ‘all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.'” (1 Timothy 2:4)
Support this movement. Because of Christ’s command and vision, this Gospel movement should be worked toward, nurtured, and celebrated in the communities we serve.
Mission Focus
As the District office, we carry out our mission by upholding three pillars. These pillars direct our work together in the vision laid out for us.
WORD: Helping congregations be more centered on a rich life of Word and Sacrament, with congregational support in transitions, as well as time of joys and sorrows.
WELLNESS: Promoting and encouraging health and vitality in congregations, schools, ministries, professional workers, and lay-leaders.
WITNESS: Encouraging personal witnessing, congregational engagement with their community, support of our NID partnerships and missions, and sharing in a world mission field together.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
The LCMS Northern Illinois District encourages you to partner with us in Advancing His Kingdom, faithfully serving the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing it in our community and the world. You make a difference!