For the Life of the World Winter 2020, Volume Twenty-Four, Number Four
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CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, FORT WAYNE For the Life of the World Winter 2020, Volume Twenty-Four, Number Four The Theology of Missions Rev. Theodore M. R. Krey Word and Sacrament—The Means for Mission Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr. The Russian Project 25 Years Later Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill “Make Known His Deeds!’’ Among All the Peoples RebeccaWinter 2020 S. Ahlersmeyer 1 FROM THE PRESIDENT Photo: Erik M. Lunsford/The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Lutheran Church–Missouri Photo: Erik M. Lunsford/The Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1 oncordia Theological Seminary was founded 175 years ago with the urgent drive and purpose to couple our clear Lutheran confession with Ca vigorous missionary effort. That same vision has remained at the core of CTSFW’s life and service to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Lutheran confession throughout the world. The vision of our founders continues to Although they are here to study theology, our shape CTSFW’s focus as a vibrant, Christ- domestic students learn much from them as well. centered theological community that engages and It is good and healthy, opens our eyes, broadens resources the Church and world, domestically and our understanding of evangelism and mission, internationally, with distinctively Lutheran teaching, and connects us more directly to the reality of practice, and worship. CTSFW, today as in the the whole church on earth to have this mix of past, brings the saving Gospel into all the world students at CTSFW. It also helps us anticipate the by “forming servants in Jesus Christ who teach the church triumphant, which is so powerfully shown faithful, reach the lost, and care for all.” to us in Revelation 7:9–10, “After this I looked, Many of you know our mission well by now. You and behold, a great multitude that no one could are alumni of our institution yourselves or have had number, from every nation, from all tribes and the pleasure of knowing or being cared for by one peoples and languages, standing before the throne of our graduates. You’ve worshipped alongside us in and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with chapel and learned from our distinguished faculty. palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a But have you fully realized the global impact your loud voice, ̔Salvation belongs to our God who sits seminary has had and is still having today? on the throne, and to the Lamb!ʼ” The pages in this issue are filled with stories For more stories about the ways in which about the ongoing role CTSFW is playing in the the Lord is working through CTSFW and mission field. Our faculty, students, and alumni her graduates, scan the code below or visit are actively involved in every region of the world. www.MakeKnownHisDeeds.com. The Word of the There is great demand for theological education Lord endures forever! It goes out and does not return around the globe – so much so that our faculty empty but accomplishes His purposes (Isaiah 55:11). cannot keep up with the number of requests we Thanks be to God for He does all things well! receive each year! There is a hunger for the Word and a great desire for deeper understanding of In Christ’s service, theology. But honestly, we receive as much or even more than we give when we engage in Christ’s mission. When our faculty have the opportunity to teach at sister seminaries and mission stations in other countries, their worldview is expanded and Lawrence R. Rast Jr. their teaching here is benefitted. President Every year we are also greatly blessed to Concordia Theological Seminary receive international students on our campus. Fort Wayne, Indiana 2 For the Life of the World CONTENTS Volume Twenty-Four, Number Four FEATURES 4 The Theology of Missions By Rev. Theodore M. R. Krey Spreading the Gospel is likened to the Sower who intentionally goes out to sow the seed and throws His seed on all types of soil. The Sower is reckless in His love ensuring that the seed falls on all the soil. This seed, of course, is the Gospel our Lord desires all people to hear. 9 Word and Sacrament: Means for Mission By Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr. In His mission into our world, Jesus healed the nations by cleansing the world through His blood and rising on the third day to show in His own body the healing He brings to the creation He made new. 12 The Russian Project 25 Years Later By Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill The purpose of the Russian Project and the Siberian seminary has been to help restore the Lutheran Church in Russia by preparing pastors to faithfully preach, teach, and administer the Sacraments. 18 “Make Known His Deeds!” Among the Peoples: The International Reach of CTSFW By Rebecca S. Ahlersmeyer For the Life of the World Started by German missionaries in 1846, the Seminary has always had a heart for serving the Lord with a vision for PUBLISHER Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. global impact. Over the years this vision has taken many President forms and expanded exponentially. During our 175th year, PUBLISHER ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER three consistent strategies have emerged and endured: Carrie M. O’Donnell Colleen M. Bartzsch recruit world-class faculty, bring students here, and raise up EDITOR COPY EDITOR and send out leaders from and to all corners of the earth. Rebecca S. Ahlersmeyer Trudy E. Behning ART DIRECTOR Also in this Issue: Steve J. Blakey What Does This Mean? ................... 7 For the Life of the World is published by Concordia Theological Seminary Press, CTSFW Celebrates Its Newest Graduates ..... 15 6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the Editor of For the Life of the World by email CTSFW Throughout the World ............. 16 at [email protected] or (260) 452-2150. Copyright 2020. Printed in the Called to Serve: International Harvesters . 21 United States. Postage paid at Berne, Indiana. Faculty Focus: Dr. Don C. Wiley ........... 24 For the Life of the World is mailed to all pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Profiles in Giving ...................... 26 Church—Missouri Synod in the United States and Canada and to anyone interested in the work of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Memorium: Rev. Dr. David Rakotonirina..... 28 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the English Standard Version Bowditch Room Dedication .............. 28 (ESV). Upcoming Events at CTSFW .............. 29 In the Word Bible Study.................. 30 Winter 2020 3 The Theology of Missions “ Photo: Erik M. Lunsford/The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Lutheran Church–Missouri Photo: Erik M. Lunsford/The Above: The Rev. Ted Krey, regional pread the Gospel, Plant Lutheran Churches, and Show director for the Latin America and the Mercy” is the slogan of the church-mission (Office of Caribbean region of the LCMS, installs SInternational Mission) of The Lutheran Church— the Rev. Gustavo Maita as pastor of Iglesia Luterana Principe de Paz (Prince Missouri Synod (LCMS) as it celebrates 125 years working of Peace Lutheran Church), Mayagüez, in foreign countries. Church and mission go together. As Puerto Rico. C. F. W. Walther famously preached, “the church is the mission society,” pointing his hearers to the fact that the Church is in mission and realizes that mission through the Church. The LCMS came together as a Synod teachers, administrators, and has raised to form men for the ministry and to send up more than 30 partner churches. Today, missionaries to the four corners of the nine of these partner churches are in globe. The Lord has blessed the work of the Latin America Caribbean (LAC) thousands of our sons and daughters who region. The largest and oldest is Brazil’s have served worldwide and continue to church partnership, having over 2,000 serve as pastors, deaconesses, nurses, congregations and missions and over 4 For the Life of the World The of Theology Missions Theodore M. R. Krey 800 pastors formed through the seminary might see all of Jesus. To give them in Puerto Alegre, now forming pastors something less when we have so much Below: The Rev. Ted Krey prepares and planting churches in Portuguese- more is to love our neighbor less than for worship at Fuente de Vida speaking Mozambique and Angola. ourselves. Planting a Lutheran church (Fountain of Life Lutheran Church), Spreading the Gospel is likened to is seasoning a community with the salt Ponce, Puerto Rico. the Sower who intentionally goes out to of the Gospel, so that Jesus might be sow the seed and throws His seed on all present and disciple His people through types of soil. The Sower is reckless in His His superabundant means of grace. love ensuring that the seed falls on all the At the heart of planting a church, soil. This seed, of course, is the Gospel our Lord Jesus is present in the Divine our Lord desires all people to hear. The Service. There God’s people are fed and very center of the Gospel is that Jesus nourished by Jesus, through His called died for all and has reconciled the world servants with His Word and His gifts. It to Himself through His death on the tree. does not stop there however. The baptized To obtain such faith, God has instituted go out and “Make Known His Deeds!” by the preaching office. The impulse of the proclaiming, sharing, and inviting others preaching office is outward, as universal to come and see Christ, who has brought grace is for all people.