More of this, please!
Can we make the REACH conference an annual gathering for our LB family of churches? REACH fills a training, equipping and convening gap in our wider church body that no other regularly scheduled event is currently able to fill. Here’s why.
REACH scratches our biggest itch as a family of gospel-centered churches. The CLB, like all Christ-centered church bodies, is essentially called into existence by Jesus to be “a disciple-making movement”—to be Jesus-followers that make Jesus-followers that make Jesus-followers that make Jesus-followers (Mt 28: 19-20; 2 Tim 2: 1-2). That is the primary reason why the church exists on earth. For one dynamic, action-packed weekend in mid-September, we came together in central Minnesota from dozens of LB congregations to primarily focus on doing just that: making new disciples. It was wonderful to be ruminating about this shoulder to shoulder with LB brothers and sisters from both coasts and all walks of life: singles, couples, students, young adults, pastors, elders, church-planters, retirees. REACH created a space for us to come together around our primary calling as the CLB.
REACH hit just the right balance between CLB-insider (4) and -outsider (5) presenters. Many different Christian organizations are doing trainings and events that focus on outreach, disciple-making and church planting these days. I could attend a different one every weekend if I had the time and finances to do so. But other organizations know little about the history or current needs of LB churches. Because this conference was organized by our own NAM leadership, I sensed that the plenary sessions and ministry tracks generally fit who we are. This is important if we want LB participants to be mobilized for fruitful outreach in the places where real LB people live, worship, and minister.
So, bring on REACH 2027! I need it, my congregation needs it, and we as the CLB need it.
Dr. Joel Christenson is Pofessor of Mission and Evangelism at Lutheran Brethren Seminary.