Lutheran Church's National President Visits Garden City

President of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod commends Resurrection Lutheran Church for missions work. (from left) Pastor Jeff Browning, of Resurrection, Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick; Laura Bauer, Resurrection's president; and Pastor Bill Harmon, of Resurrection.

The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), met with members at Resurrection Lutheran Church recently to discuss the goals of Ablaze(r), the national church's mission initiative. He also recognized Resurrection's contribution to this movement through the local church's program to start a second church. Resurrection-Garden City has begun the development of a new church community on Jericho Tpke. at the site of the former Redeemer Lutheran Church. "The work you are doing here on Long Island is a vital example of how we are hoping to meet the ministry goals of LCMS, as defined by our national 'Ablaze' movement," Dr. Kieschnick said. "One of the stated strategies is to start 2,000 new churches in the United States."

Ablaze!(r) began as a vision of LCMS World Mission to involve every member of the LCMS, its partner church bodies, and partner mission agencies in one focused and concentrated effort to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him. Strategies were created in 2002 to direct the efforts of the 2.5 million LCMS membership to attain the goal of reaching 100 million un-reached and uncommitted people with the Gospel by 2017, which is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

"Dr. Kieschnick's surprise visit to Resurrection is an affirmation of all that the members and friends of the faith community are doing. When it is all said and done we are striving to touch people's lives with the love of Jesus Christ and we join Dr. Kieschnick in his vision to share the saving message of Jesus with all we can," said Rev. Bill Harmon, pastor of Resurrection-Garden City.

Resurrection is a multi-site Christian community of faith. All are invited to worship at 5:30 PM on Saturdays and at 8:30 and 11 AM Sunday mornings, with Christian Education at 9:45 AM at the 420 Stewart Avenue location in Garden City. For more information, please visit www.resgc.org or call 746.4426.