It is enough that their lives are better and more complete. Lutherans are known for their charity and service. This is another mission function. To witness is to testify to the mighty and loving acts of God and the saving acts of Jesus. The testimony includes an invitation for hearers to believe and to embrace the Good News, to be joined to the church and to shape life with Jesus at the center.
Witness aims to plant and build the church.
Lutherans are known to be shy about witness. Some come near heresy when they try to substitute service for witness and suppose that if they are nice to people in need, then those people will want to come to our churches, even though we do not invite them or have a place prepared for them. Enough theology for now. Meanwhile, back in Seattle I was a parish pastor. With others I was trying to picture what a congregation needs to do if it is to be effective in witness .