Candor, Love for Christ and Desire to Preserve the Remnant Characterize ULMA’s Second Missionary-at-Large, by Rev. Brock Abbott

(Editor’s Note: ULMA is one of the many confessional groups that post here on the BJS website. Their  posts and the posts of other groups are archived on the Regular Columns page. Maybe the Ablaze folks need to study the work of ULMA? They have doubled the number of congregations – from two to four – in just four years and have done so without the help of any expensive consultants. It reminds one of how things were done in our grandfather’s church.)

 

Rev. William C. Mack was installed as Missionary-at-Large of Pilgrim Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 17, 2009. A little over 550 people attended. Rev. Mack, formerly of Faith Lutheran Church in Oregon, Wisconsin, resigned from the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) in order to work at Christ the Rock Lutheran Church in Carlsbad, California.

 

Christ the Rock is a new mission congregation of the United Lutheran Mission Association (ULMA). It was formed in January of 2009 after a group of Lutheran laity left the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) over doctrinal and financial reasons. In their former LCMS congregation, the laity were expected to support the principles of the Church Growth Movement (CGM) rather than the means of grace. In brief, the CGM believes that the Word of God plus sociology, the efforts of twenty-first century man, and human wisdom equals a church full of fervent Christians. The laity were expected to support alternative styles of worship, new methods of evangelism, and huge building projects beyond their financial resources.

 

In the installation sermon, Rev. Brock Abbott preached on the appointed Gospel lesson, John 15:9-17. “In California there is a little flock by the name of Christ the Rock Lutheran Church. They know and reflect on their eternal destiny. They have demonstrated that it is their chief concern to remain in the Vine. They find all their consolation in Jesus and have given proof of this in their conduct. They have removed themselves from false teaching. By their fruits, we conclude that they have a blessed relationship with our God in heaven and are saints and sinners like us. And, they earnestly desire to share their salvation with others so that many will be set free from sin, death, and the power of the devil.” After the sermon Rev. Mack was installed by Rev. William K. Abbott.

 

Before the installation service, Rev. Mack taught the Sunday morning Bible class at Pilgrim. It was attended by almost 200 people. The people were moved by his life and how he connected it to God’s Word. They rejoiced in how the Lord had led him into the ministry and now to Christ the Rock Lutheran Church. It was a reminder to all how God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise so that no one may boast before him. “It is because of God that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Cor. 1:26-31).” The people were greatly encouraged by his candor, his love for Christ and his desire to preserve the remnant and reach the lost. Rev. Mack will be moving to California in the first half of June and will be permanently preaching there beginning June 21. You can reach Christ the Rock by calling (760) 525-8556 or through the United Lutheran Mission Association website listed below.

 

The United Lutheran Mission Association (ULMA) was formed in 2005 when the voters of Redeemer Lutheran Church of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, and Pilgrim Lutheran Church of Decatur, Illinois, unanimously voted to form the Association after leaving the LCMS. The ULMA is comprised of committed Lutheran laity and pastors who are zealous for God’s Word and getting that Word out. Members of the ULMA are committed to using mission contributions to effectively and efficiently support confessional, Lutheran mission work.

 

For further information you can check out the following websites.

 

United Lutheran Mission Association

https://www.unitedlutheranmission.org

 

Pilgrim Lutheran Church

(217) 877-2444

https://www.pilgrimlutherandecatur.org

 

Redeemer Lutheran Church

(586) 294-0640

https://www.redeemerlutheranchurch.org

 

Agnus Dei Lutheran Church

(540) 446-0777

https://www.adlutheran.org

 

Sola Scriptura Lutheran Church

(414) 727-1711

https://www.solascripturalutheran.org

 

Christ The Rock Lutheran Church

(760) 525-8556

 

In Christ,

Rev. Brock Abbott

 

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