“As the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of China (CLBC) in Taiwan reflects on 75 years of ministry and the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA) celebrates 125 years of ministry in North America and around the world, perhaps this is the question that stands before us: What will the next generation inherit from us? Will they inherit buildings, programs, and traditions? Or will they inherit a living faith, a deep love for God’s Word, a passion for the lost, and a commitment to make disciples who make disciples?
My prayer is that future generations will be able to say what Paul said of Timothy: that the faith dwelling in one generation was faithfully passed on to the next. May the Lord grant that what our spiritual forefathers loved, we would love anew. May what they believed be believed afresh in us. May what they gave their lives to be something to which we would joyfully continue to devote ourselves. And may God, by his grace, raise up through the China Lutheran Brethren Church in Taiwan and the Church of the Lutheran Brethren in America generations of believers who are truly restful in grace and restless in mission, until the day when faith becomes sight and our Lord Jesus Christ returns in glory.”
-—Rev. Enoch Chou, President of the LB Church in Taiwan
The above quote was penned by Rev. Enoch Chou, president of our sister Lutheran Brethren Church in Taiwan (CLBC). This was part of his introduction to a seminar titled Piety 2.0: A New Vision of Passion, organized by the CLBC in Taiwan. Dr. Brad Pribbenow and I were invited to participate as presenters. Approximately 100 participants gathered, a mixture of pastors and spouses, lay ministers, missionaries, and those sensing a call to ministry. The overarching theme of the seminar was pietism; its historical roots, its influence on the CLBA historically, and its connection to the ongoing mission of the Church. They desired to revisit and learn from the pietistic roots of the CLB and explore what it looks like to live out their faith today and pass it on to the next generation.
Brad and I arrived in Taiwan on October 5 and spent six days visiting LBIM missionaries (Hosches and Christoffersons), national pastors and ministers, and several young people considering a vocational cross-cultural mission calling. We also visited China Lutheran Seminary (CLS) and visited several CLBC churches. I had the privilege of preaching at Faith Righteousness Church, the first CLBC congregation, planted by Rev. Arthur Nyhus, who along with his wife Ruth, and daughter Ruth Jenette, were the first LB missionaries sent to Taiwan (and who previously served in China and Japan).
The seminar started on Sunday evening. After a time of introduction and worship, I presented a series of stories from both my own life experience and from LBIM’s mission―historical and contemporary settings; stories that demonstrated how biblical pietism and the resulting response to the calling of the Word of God has served the missionary passion that has marked the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.
On Monday, Dr. Pribbenow presented three separate sessions, including the historical roots of the Pietist movement, the effect of Pietism historically for the CLBA, and the ongoing impact that Pietism has on the vision and disciple-making mission of the Church. After each session, a designated responder provided further thoughts and insights. After a panel discussion that fielded questions from the audience, the seminar closed with a time of worship, and prayer over those present who were following a call to serve in cross-cultural mission.
I am so grateful for the privilege to partner in mission with our sister CLB churches around the globe. We have much to learn from each other and we have much to contribute to each other as we join together with our missionary God in his mission among the nations.
David Kuan, former CLBC missionary to Chad and organizer of the seminar, shared the following with me about this special time:
“We are grateful that this seminar brought together brothers and sisters from different CLBC churches, including pastors, church elders, ministry leaders, and lay members. Together, we had the opportunity to reflect on how Pietism renews the lives of individual believers and how this spiritual renewal can help the Church refocus on the Great Commission entrusted to us by God. We pray that this experience will deepen our longing to see his Church built up as an instrument in his hands, with every believer inspired to live wholeheartedly for the Lord.”
Our last evening in Taiwan was spent dining on several delicious dishes whose main ingredient was a large fish that our restaurant host caught from a large holding tank while we watched. As we―President Chou, Pastor Jonathon Wong (serving Hsinchu Victory Church), his wife Cynthia, missionaries David Kuan and Ethan and Sandra Christofferson, Dr. Pribbenow and I―all sat around a large table, the conversations shifted from the catch of the fish to Christ’s call on us to be fishers of men.
What followed was a passionate ideation session where we brainstormed how the Church in Taiwan might increasingly and relevantly reach their unreached neighbors, both those near in Taiwan and those far across oceans, with the gospel of Christ, through which faith comes. The conversation was borne out of a collective compelling and intentional obedience to respond to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations. Piety 2.0: A New Vision of Passion… indeed!
Dan Venberg is the Director of Lutheran Brethren International Mission.