Our nation has shifted from a churched to an unchurched society and the lost will not pursue the church. In order for the lost to hear and believe the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ, we must pursue them. We, as a corporate body and as individual members, can and should do whatever is possible, short of sinning, to have the chance to present the Gospel to the lost. The only means God has promised to use to bring people into a relationship with himself and to feed, nourish, and cause them grow is his Word of Holy Scripture and his Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Prayer is a vital spiritual weapon to be used to accomplish God's purposes.
Prayer is a vital and key component for and of a changed life in Jesus.
Our lives and our ministries can and should be characterized, energized, and directed by a reliance on prayer. A new or changed life in Jesus is best nurtured and supported within the context of a significant relationship with a small number of other Christians in community with one another. We can and should provide for, facilitate, and urge the involvement of all persons under our care in small group communities for the purposes of Bible study and nurture, growth and support, and service to others. Our public worship services are viewed by our guests, visitors, and members as our church at its best and most people determine whether or not they want to be a part of the church based on the worship service. God s Word and his Sacraments must be the central focus of our public worship services as that is the means God has promised to use to change people s lives and bring them into a relationship with himself.