LCMS BLACK MINISTRY

NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2019

PLANT SEEDS TODAY… AND SEE WHAT GOD GROWS THROUGH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH he narrative of the Ascension of Christ ➤ A young Lutheran pastor who saw firsthand tells us a lot about what the disciples the awful consequences of segregation at his REV. DR. ROOSEVELT GRAY, JR. were thinking. “So when they had come first call to Holy Cross Lutheran in Camden, Ttogether, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this Ala., where a horn sounded every Saturday …the power of the Gospel time restore the kingdom to Israel?” at dusk telling blacks to get out of town, went in the lives of God’s people has on to lead churches and schools in Mont- turned the world upside down He said to them, “It is not for you to know times gomery and Chicago, teach in the seminary or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own and universities and serve in civil rights among African-American authority. But you will receive power when the Lutherans. movements to bring justice and freedom to Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be African-Americans in his mercy works — my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and and through His Word; Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (ACTS 1:6–8). ➤ A 15-year-old Lutheran student at Ala- The men who were concerned about the bama Lutheran Academy in Selma, in 1965 kingdom of Israel are the same people who, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with the preaching of the Gospel in the power and whose grandfather Walter Hill started of the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and down. “These men who have turned the world School in Tait’s Place. Today her work is laud- upside down have come here also” (ACTS 17:6). ed in National Geographic while she serves and sings at Trinity Lutheran and is active From 1877 to 2019, 142 years, with LWML; the power of the Gospel in the lives of God’s people has turned ➤ Young men and women today hearing the the world upside down among Good News of the Gospel and sharing their African-American Lutherans. We faith through High Impact Ministries in will never know the full extent of Hot Springs, Ark. and preparing to attend the impact on the lives of blacks the LCMS National Youth Gathering this and black communities the LCMS summer. has impacted. The full impact of our ministry is only known by We see this in the lives of the indi- God. What will the future hold for the LCMS in viduals in this issue of TimeLine. serving ethnic communities as we show Witness, Mercy, Together® in Christ for the Church ➤ A 10-year-old Lutheran and the world? elementary school student in Southern California intro- Only God knows, but we know that God calls TOP: Students of High Impact Ministries in Hot Springs, duced to the drums in 1957, us to carry out the work of the Gospel with Ark. BOTTOM: One of the graduates of Immanuel who at 72, after a successful Seminary and College honored at the LCMS Black witness, mercy and life together through the Family Ministry Convocation. Rev. Dr. James Marshall music career, is back in his Church, Christ’s bride, you and me. to the left and Rev. Dr. Bryant Clancy to the right. home community and church sharing the Good News;

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 PHOTOS: EILEEN ELLARS/REV. MEREDITH JACKSON LUTHERAN DRUMMER COMES FULL CIRCLE: HAROLD RAY BROWN: HIS MUSIC & MISSION

Who knew it would lead to a band called WAR and playing with Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Jim Morrison.

ust like the shape of his beloved ming to local youth, plays music during around him; he’s even called me up in the drums, Harold Ray Brown’s life has worship and walks through the neigh- middle of the day just to tell me he loves come full circle. A professional borhood of this Long Beach community, me, and he is always offering to pray for J musician, Brown has returned to his sharing his “good vibes” on faith. people. home — southern California — and his childhood church, First Lutheran, now “Harold is a gift to our church and our “I’d say his ‘official’ title is Missionary to called The Gathering, as music teacher, community,” said Pastor Kyle Blake, who the City. Though it’s not on any business church musician and faith-sharing friend was called to the 114-year-old Lutheran card, it certainly describes his life.” of a diverse community. church in 2015 and is now planting a new Lutheran church, The Gathering, to better Brown was a 10-year-old student at First At 72, Brown, a founding member of the reach the multiethnic community. “His Lutheran School when five minutes 1970s band WAR which won several passion for Jesus and people is infectious. changed his life. Principal Alvin J. Hahn gold and platinum awards, teaches drum- He is always encouraging the people brought instruments into the school gym

Harold Brown in his studio at The Gathering.

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 2 PHOTO: RAY BROWN one morning. “The snare drum was sitting A few years after Katrina cut through right in front of the stage,” Brown said. “He the city, Brown felt a tug back home, to handed me the drumsticks and gave me a California and to family. One weekend LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, 5-minute lesson on how to hold the drum- while visiting the Lutheran church at Long sticks and how to play a quarter note. I SAW THE CROSS THAT STANDS Beach, the pastor came up to him after the OVER FIRST LUTHERAN WHERE service and handed him a book: The 100th “Just five minutes,” he said, his voice Anniversary of First Lutheran Church. choking. “Who knew it would lead to a I GOT THAT FIVE MINUTES THAT band called WAR and playing with Jimi “When I got to page 18, I see my parents’ Hendrix, Bob Marley and Jim Morrison.” SET THE COURSE FOR ME. AND I names: Clyde R Brown Sr., wife Icelo Carter Formed in 1969, WAR was a musical cross- THOUGHT: ‘GIVE GOD PRAISE — Brown and 5 boys and 1 girl. We were the over band which fused elements of rock, first black family to join and attend First Lu- funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and and I AM HOME!’ theran Church in Long Beach [where Brown reggae. Their albumThe World is a Ghetto was baptized and confirmed]. All six of us attended Sunday school. I was the acolyte at Harold Brown’s student identification the the dedication of the new church building in year he attended Lutheran High. He was a track star and awarded a full scholarship to was the bestselling album of 1973. 1959. It brought tears to my eyes.” Valparaiso University but decided to pursue music instead. Brown left the band in the 1980s, got a col- He felt the need to return, but housing is lege degree in computer science and landed expensive and hard to come by. The first in , where he formed a new place he looked, an apartment on the 5th band, , and gave tours of the city. floor of a local building, was ready to rent. He also worked with the Lutheran church “Looking out the window, I saw the cross through LINC, where he also taught youth, that stands over First Lutheran where I inspiring them to work hard toward real- got that five minutes that set the course izing their dreams. “It is far greater to have for me. And I thought: ‘Give God praise your name written on young people’s hearts — I am HOME!’” than to have it written in stone,” he said. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Ray_Brown

Harold Brown stands in the auditorium/gym of his former First Lutheran grade school (now The Gathering) holding the trophy he won at age 10 for good citizenship. “It’s a little beat up, just like me, but I treasure it,” he says.

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 3 PHOTOS: THOMAS R. CORDOVA, LONG BEACH POST/COURTESY OF HAROLD BROWN THE ‘CURTAIN CALL,’ CIVIL RIGHTS FROM ALABAMA TO CHICAGO A LUTHERAN PASTOR REFLECTS hen Rev. Dr. William Griffin and member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church IN MY LIVING ROOM AS A CHILD, his family wanted new draperies in Kannapolis, N.C., in the 1890s. His for their home in Montgomery, parents, Willie and Bessie Griffin, also MY PARENTS HAD A PLAQUE ON THE Ala.,W where he served as pastor at Grace Lu- attended Mt. Calvary. Griffin was born in theran Church, they called a highly recom- Kannapolis, N.C., the third of 14 children. WALL WHICH SAID, ‘ORA AND LABORA’ mended seamstress: Rosa Parks. There was no slacking in their household, and church was always attended. – PRAY AND WORK. THEY TRIED TO Not much later, they awoke to a phone call: their quiet, efficient seamstress had refused “In my living room as a child, my parents had INSTILL IN ALL OF US CHILDREN to give up her bus seat to a white man and a plaque on the wall which said, “Ora and had been arrested. A local black pastor, Rev. Labora” – pray and work. They tried to instill THAT WE WERE TO WORK AS THOUGH Martin Luther King, Jr., was calling for a in all of us children that we were to work as bus boycott, and local pastors were asked though everything depended on us and to EVERYTHING DEPENDED ON US AND to announce the plan. Because Mrs. Parks pray as though everything depended on God. knew he was a pastor from time spent at his That is a winning combination,” said the TO PRAY AS THOUGH EVERYTHING home making curtains, Rev. Griffin got one pastor who now lives in New Orleans. of those history-making calls. Griffin attended Immanuel Lutheran DEPENDED ON GOD. THAT IS A As Rev. Griffin celebrates his 90th birth- College and Seminary in Greensboro, N.C., day on March 24, the Church recognizes graduating in 1951. His first call was to the WINNING COMBINATION. the faithful work of a third-generation Deep South in rural Alabama, to church- pastor who was on the front lines of key es begun through the ministry of Rosa J. events in the nation’s history, from Young: Holy Cross, Camden; Our Savior, segregation and sharecropping in Possum Bend and Redeemer, Longmile. He the Deep South, through civil preached at all three churches every Sunday rights and seeking mercy for and, with Rev. Richard Dickerson, recorded the poor in Montgomery and sermons for a radio station in Monroeville. Chicago. Professor, theolo- gian, community leader, father Segregation and Jim Crow laws ruled the small town in the Deep South, where the One of the graduates of to four and pastor to hundreds, Immanuel Seminary and Dr. Griffin is one of our hon- whistle still blew on Saturday night before College honored at the dark telling blacks who had come to town to LCMS Black Family ored wise men of the Church. Ministry Convocation. shop to get out of town quick. One parishio- Griffin's family was there ner, who was a sharecropper cheated by the at the birth of Lutheran landowner on his cotton crop, had to leave outreach to blacks in town fearing for his life after challenging him. the 1870s. His grandmother His congregation, although not rich in mon- Margaret ey and not treated fairly by the segregated Steward South, was deeply merciful and compas- Crowell sionate. “That’s where I learned how to be Griffin a pastor,” he said. Generous members kept became a their table and pantry filled with good food. He recalled a parishioner who had two hogs — one for his family and one for the church. “They didn’t have much, but whatever they had, they shared.”

In 1952 he took a call to Trinity, Selma, where Rosa Young was a member and became

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 4 PHOTO: REV. MEREDITH JACKSON godmother to his son, Marvin. In 1954, the district offices and agencies: as a staff person young family moved to Montgomery, where for the LCMS Northern Illinois District as a he started Grace Lutheran Church, located 2 Mission Facilitator and director of An- blocks from Dexter Avenue Baptist Church ti-Racism project; as interim pastor for Our … where a young preacher, Dr. Martin Savior Lutheran Church in Orlando, Fla.; as Luther King, Jr., filled the pulpit. chaplain assistant to the dean and religion instructor at Luther High School South in “I had a 1954 Chevrolet and gave workers Chicago; as area representative for Wheat rides during the bus boycott,” he said. (The Ridge Ministries and as Vacancy Pastor for Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted from Zion Lutheran Church in Chicago. In 2009, December 5, 1955 to December 20, 1956.) Rev. Griffin really retired to take care of his “But I participated in the bus boycott with wife, Ella Mae, who died in February 2015. a guilty conscience. We had been taught at Immanuel the importance of the separation Griffin’s children carry on the Lutheran of church and state. Church is not to become tradition: his son Marvin is the pastor at involved in social issues, but to preach the St. Philip Lutheran, Detroit; his daughter, Gospel. The “social Gospel” movement — Marie, runs a nonprofit to help the poor in we were to stay out of that,” he said. Front and center at the 50th anniversary of the LCMS “Pensiontown” New Orleans and is married Black Clergy Caucus celebration in Chicago. to Rev. Collis Parham, pastor of Epiphany When he got a call to Christ the King Lutheran Church. His son Mark, who died Lutheran Church, Chicago, in 1956, he was of a brain tumor in 2010, had served as ready to leave the troubled South behind. pastor of Berea Lutheran, Detroit. But there were troubles up north as well: in the church better respond to the needs grinding poverty, damaging discrimination, of their African-American neighbors. The Despite the struggles of the past and the slumlords and poor schools. result was what is now called the Black questions about the future, Dr. Griffin Clergy Caucus, which focuses on building stands strong and sure in his faith. “Our Awakening to the needs of his people and roots and our future are in Him, the Holy seeking to bring an end to second-citizen up the church through the Gospel and out- reach ministry in diverse communities. At Triune God, who created us in His own status, Pastor Griffin extended his ministry image when we were lost; He redeemed to work in the community, alongside Dr. the same time, he continued his education, getting a master’s from Concordia Universi- us with His innocent suffering and death Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Jesse Jackson, and by rising again on Easter morning,” he Dr. Ralph Abernathy and Stokely Carmi- ty Chicago, River Forest, Ill., and a doctorate from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He said. “And by His Holy Spirit, He sancti- chael as organizing President of the Ken- fied us in Him; our past is blessed and our wood–Oakland Community Organization. taught on both faculties and served at two more Chicago churches on Chicago’s South future is secure. In the words of the hymn, “O God, our help in ages past, our hope After Dr. King was murdered and riots broke Side before “retiring” in 1983. for years to come.” out, Dr. Griffin and other black Lutheran pastors met to discuss ways to serve the But the curtain call didn’t last. Pastor Griffin continued serving in various capacities for Rev. Dr. William Griffin black community and to help white brothers (looking at camera) listens to another 15 years, with Lutheran churches, a speaker at the LCMS Black Family Ministry Convocation in Birmingham. His son, Rev. Marvin Griffin, sits to his right.

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 5 PHOTOS: REV. MEREDITH JACKSON VOTING RIGHTS IN ALABAMA, CIRCA 1867 AND 1965 Dr. King in the march to restore voting rights. One of those teenagers was Dianne Howard Harris, Battle Scott and Nathan Hill’s great-great-granddaughter.

Harris, 15, was a student at Alabama Lu- theran Academy when she and her brother, Isaac, walked from campus two miles to Brown Chapel AME singing “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” to attend a mass meeting.

With their mother’s approval, they attended meetings and marched for voting rights, inspired by Dr. King’s Christ-centered mes- sage of the worth and value of every person, regardless of race. They were arrested twice, Dianne Harris, second row, far left, (wearing a hat) as a fingerprinted and photographed; after their student marcher, February first arrest, they were bused to “Camp Selma,” 1965 in Selma. Photograph shown on a National Park a state-run prison camp east of town, and after Service kiosk in Selma. the second arrest, they spent a night at the Old National Guard Armory, where Harris was shocked with an electric cattle prod.

n the summer of 1867, Battle Scott, 42, for a more efficient government of the rebel Harris is a third-generation Lutheran: her and Nathan Hill, 46, both African-Amer- states and to facilitate restoration.” grandfather, Mr. Walter Hill, Sr. (Nathan icans living in rural Alabama, did some- Hill’s grandson) had been taught by Rosa Ithing they had never done before: They went We don’t know who they voted for, but Young and, with her help, started Zion Evan- hopefully in 1869 they voted for President to the county courthouse, took an oath of gelical Lutheran Church and School in Tait’s Ulysses S. Grant, who worked hard to keep loyalty and registered to vote. Scott regis- Place (Wilcox County), which had been one Reconstruction alive. But it didn’t last. tered on June 28 in Wilcox County and Hill of the largest plantations in the county. registered on July 22 in Marengo County. After Reconstruction ended in 1877, blacks were under pressure not to vote, and by Today, Harris, a member of Trinity Lutheran Hill and Scott were fulfilling the mandate 1901 the Alabama state legislature passed a and the LWML in Selma, encourages young of the Reconstruction Act of 1867, which new constitution that disfranchised over 97 people to register to vote and recalls that her required all men age 21 and older to take a percent of black voters. mother, Mollie Hill Howard, never missed loyalty oath and register to vote to “provide an election, even when she could barely walk. Nearly 100 years later, in January 1965, Every March, Harris joins the foot soldiers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Dianne Harris stands at the famed Edmund Pettus Bridge where of the movement to reminisce about the the voting rights marches took place in 1965, holding a copy of Rights movement came to Selma, changes their hard work won. She also offers the National Geographic Traveler she is featured in. Ala., to seek the vote for Afri- civil rights tours of Selma, and her work was can-Americans. Dozens of local profiled in theNational Geographic Traveler, Selma youth joined Feb.–March 2019.

Harris felt a sense of pride and joy when she learned that she comes from a family that Seeing my great-great- knew the importance of the vote. “Seeing my grandfathers’ names on the voting great-great-grandfathers’ names on the vot- ing roll of 1867 was a great joy and affirma- roll of 1867 was a great joy and tion that voting rights is in my blood!” affirmation that voting rights is in my blood! Families with Alabama roots can see if their relatives registered to vote in 1867: archives.alabama. gov/voterreg/search.cfm

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 6 PHOTOS: WILL WHALEY, SELMA TIMES JOURNAL / CHRISTINE WEERTS REACHING TEENS WITH CHRIST-CENTERED MINISTRY

Rev. Amos Gray sharing God’s Word TEENS TALK during High Impact Wednesday night ABOUT THE youth fellowship. IMPACT OF H.I.M. “High Impact is somewhere that people can develop themselves and find who they are. The leaders help students to build themselves by helping them with their personal problems and at-home relationships.” – TANYIA

“When I step in, my whole mood changes. It made me start caring more about people and myself.” – TYRESE ev. Amos Gray has a heart for young stone of sustaining a strong and effective “High Impact brought out my personal people, especially those who might youth ministry in the church. strengths and brought me closer to wear the label “at-risk.” With exten- God.” – INDIA Rsive experience in youth ministry, he has H.I.M. also offers school-based and stepped out in faith to establish a new minis- after-school mentoring programs focusing “I used to constantly have attitudes with try to reach teens in schools and in churches on creating healthy environments for teachers, students, etc. Now I really fueled by Christ’s transforming love. learning by partnering with schools to don’t get in trouble.” – AIYANNA promote academic and life success for all Rev. Gray established High Impact Min- students. Using Choosing the Best and “ It teaches me how to communicate with istries, H.I.M., last June to embrace, equip Real Essentials curriculum, H.I.M. edu- other people and step out of my comfort and empower teens living in cities across cates students on character development, zone.” – MEYAH America, based on programs working in his making healthy choices and abstinence urban community of Hot Springs, Ark. education. Programs also offer mentors to “ High Impact changes your thoughts of students in grades 5–12 to build academic, mind and your attitude.” – ANAIYAH After serving for nine years as youth minis- relationship and leadership skills. ter at First Lutheran, Hot Springs, Rev. Gray “ The program is like taking a break from formed the non-profit faith-based organiza- “One of our young adult leaders, Krisstasha, family problems to work on my attitude tion to extend ministry to more people and said she feels like the ‘prodigal’ daughter,” and to build a stronger sense of self.” places, providing a safe and caring environ- Rev. Gray said. “Krisstasha grew up in a – JA’LESA ment and promoting personal, spiritual, Christian home and went to church regu- academic and social growth for young men larly. But she lost interest in church when and women, ages 11 to 18. The ministry is one of her brothers was incarcerated. Now designed to meet the needs of teens who she has truly committed to growing in have been identified at-risk by their school her faith and speaks often with her peers or community leaders. about her new walk with the Lord.”

H.I.M. also walks alongside urban churches, “At the core of H.I.M. is the power of providing insight, inspiration and intention- Jesus Christ to reach, connect, equip al ministry options for working with youth and empower young men and women to in church and in the community. Rev. Gray be the moral and spiritual leaders God has led workshops in Detroit, Omaha and intended them to be,” he said. other cities, showing congregations how to develop an effective intentional 21st century To learn more about H.I.M. go to: Jalesa Martin and Teaja Lambert enjoying time youth ministry; understanding the needs together during High Impact Ministries’ after highimpactinc.org school program. and desires of today’s youth is the corner-

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 7 PHOTOS: EILEEN ELLARS/REV. AMOS GRAY PRAISING THE LORD IN MOBILE, ALABAMA The convention will feature a unique “Mission in Motion” Pledge Walk Saturday at Cooper Riverside Park along the Mobile River led by the Excelsior Band of Mobile, a five-piece marching brass band that has been marching the streets of Mobile for over 100 years. A $12 fee includes a special Mission in Motion T-shirt, yellow-gold with purple imprint. It’s a great chance to exercise outdoors and experience wonderful music and fellowship while witnessing to the Mobile community and raising funds for LWML missions.

There will also be servant events, a blood drive and the opportunity to bring materials to support missions locally and worldwide.

EARLY REGISTRATION (by March 14) is $175. Discounted convention registration began Feb. 1.

REGISTRATION after March 14 is $195. Late registration (after May 9 and Kaye Wolff, center, with Heart to Heart Sisters of the LWML. onsite) is $220.

oin sisters and brothers in Christ in Come early and stay afterwards to enjoy To register for and learn praising the Lord and proclaiming many exciting tours that have been planned more about this event, Him among all nations by attending just for LWML attendees, including a visit LWML.org. J the 2019 LWML Convention in cruise post-convention from Mobile to Mobile, Ala., June 20–23, 2019, with the Costa Maya and Cozumel. theme, “In Praise to the Lord!”. AMONG THE FEATURED SPEAKERS WILL BE: The 38th Biennial LWML Convention is Worship Leader hosted by LWML Gulf States, Florida- Georgia, Gulf States and Louisiana-Missis- Rev. Dr. Ulmer Marshall sippi Districts under the Scripture verse: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his Bethel Lutheran Church, Mobile, Ala. salvation from day to day. Declare his glory Luncheon Speaker among the nations (1 CHRON. 16:23–24A). Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Gray, Jr. Director, LCMS Black Ministry

EACH CONVENTION ATTENDEE WILL: Song Leader Rev. Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor ❱❱ SING AND REJOICE IN CELEBRATION OF HIS WORD. Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bronx, N.Y. ❱❱ TELL OF HIS SALVATION FOR ALL. Mites in Action Speaker ❱❱ DECLARE HIS GLORY AMONG THE NATIONS. Rev. Gregory Manning ❱❱ GO FORTH IN HIS JOY! Broadmoor Community Church, New Orleans Mission Developer

TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 8 PHOTOS: COURTESY OF THE LWML; LCMS COMMUNICATIONS / ERIK M. LUNSFORD SUMMER IN THE CITY: SIGN UP FOR THE LCMS YOUTH GATHERING

LCMS YOUTH GATHERINGS: ❱❱REACH OUT AND AFFIRM YOUNG PEOPLE, TIMELINE IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY: BOTH CHURCHED AND UNCHURCHED. LCMS Black Ministry ❱❱EQUIP YOUTH AND ADULTS FOR MINISTRY 1333 S. Kirkwood Road IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS IN THEIR CONGRE- St. Louis, MO 63122 GATIONS, COMMUNITIES AND WORLD. 888-THE LCMS (843-5267) t’s time to prepare to attend the ❱❱AFFIRM, EQUIP AND SUPPORT ADULTS WHO [email protected] LCMS Youth Gathering this summer, lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/ July 11–15, in Minneapolis under the WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. black-ministry Ibanner "Real. Present. God." Held every ❱❱CELEBRATE THE MEANING OF CHRISTIAN JOY three years since 1980, the Gathering IN ALL OF LIFE’S SITUATIONS. TimeLine may be reprinted with provides thousands of youth and adults acknowledgment given to the opportunity to come together as a ❱❱RECOGNIZE AND AFFIRM THE DIVERSITY OF The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. community of God’s people to learn more GOD’S PEOPLE. STAFF: about Jesus Christ, the Christian faith and ❱❱AFFIRM, SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE MINISTRY their Lutheran identity. Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Gray, Jr. OF LCMS DISTRICTS AND CONGREGATIONS. Director, LCMS Black Ministry The Gathering, for youth ages 14 to 19 Maria Winsborough (older youth can apply to serve as volun- Coordinator, LCMS Black Ministry teers), proclaims the Lordship of Jesus Registration opened last fall at $365 per Christ and God’s saving grace to His peo- person. After March 1, participants will CONTRIBUTORS: ple through Christ. In this setting, young continue to be admitted to the Gathering Christine Weerts people grow in their personal relationship on a space available basis for the late regis- Writer with God and grow in their fellowship of tration fee of $400. Lisa Moeller Word and Sacrament in Christ’s Church. Designer To register for and learn more about this event, visit lcmsgathering.com. SHARE YOUR STORIES We want to hear from you! If you have ideas for future issues, comments or feedback on articles you’ve read in TimeLine, please contact Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Gray, Jr. at [email protected].

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TIMELINE NEWSLETTER SPRING 2019 / PAGE 9 PHOTO: LCMS COMMUNICATIONS / ERIK M. LUNSFORD