New Church Plant in Lilburn!

Please see the message from Pastor Andy Wrasman to the congregation of Oak Road Lutheran about the newest church plant in North Georgia!

Dear saints of Oak Road Lutheran Church,

Blessings to you today in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Thank you for your flexibility this past Sunday, switching the 10:45am service to 11am for Atlanta Mekane Yesus Church to be able to hold their Inaugural Ceremony in our Sanctuary.  

The congregation had 7 baptisms, installed leaders, and received communion.  

Members of Mekane Yesus of North America came from Maryland, Coloroda, and North Carloina to join their Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate their new church plant.  

Pastors Yared Halche, Francis Estafanos, and Samuel Yonas of Mekane Yesus of North America were in attendance and serving the Word and overseeing the distribution of the Sacraments.  Pastor Peter Meier, the Executive Director of Missions for the FL-GA District, preached on Acts 2 (and he also attended our 9:30am service).  

The Inaugural Ceremony met Friday-Sunday.  Here is a link to Sunday’s service: https://www.youtube.com/live/Qvqz92OUPTM?si=eYhtuNwyGoeJAyhh

Some of Oak Road’s members were able to attend the service and the lunch that followed.  We are blessed to have partnership with this new congregation in furthering the Kingdom of God.  I hope to receive photos of our members at the meal.  I’ll share those when I receive any. 

1 Samuel 7:12 – “Thus far the Lord has helped us!”  

Peace in Christ, 

Pastor Andy

3 Day Countdown!

Phase 2 of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the new LCMS mission to Norcross, Georgia begins in 3 days! Starting on September 14, Emmanuel will have a regular Biblical study called Topic & Conversation which will involve direct engagement with the Norcross community. People should begin to gather around 5:45 PM by the fountain at Lillian Webb Park (5 College St. Norcross).

TOPIC & CONVERSATION will then begin at 6:00 PM by the fountain. Just bring along a Bible and a lawn chair. Be prepared to welcome new comers as they just jump in and join the conversation! Some light refreshments will be offered as well.

DIVINE SERVICE – At 7:15 PM, Divine Service will be held at the Norcross Community Center (10 College St. Norcross). It is within a 2 minute walking distance!

For either lifelong Lutherans who need God’s Word and Gifts on a Saturday night, or new people seeking out Biblical teaching and worship, this mission is for you!

Again, we are thankful for a team of leaders committed to this work and we are approaching this church plant with a “first fruits” mentality. This work is not an afterthought, but an intentional press of God’s Word and the grace of Christ into this community. We know that the Lord. only creates saving faith through His Word so . . . we aim to bring the Word of God to that area of Norcross each and every Saturday!

Join the Odd Circles (like Meet Up but free!) to stay tuned below. https://www.oddcircles.com/groups/5730afe6-03ef-4878-81ea-97db33339a17/Topic%20and%20Conversation

We ask for your prayers over the next 3 days, that our Lord will put the people in our path that are lost, hurting, and need to hear the precious Good News of Jesus. Thanks!

FIRST TOPIC AND CONVERSATION!

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the new LCMS church plant in Norcross, Georgia is starting weekly events called TOPIC & CONVERSATION. The events will be held each Saturday. The schedule is:

5:45 PM – Gather at Lillian Webb Park (5 College St. Norcross, Georgia). Meet by the fountain!

6:00 PM – Topic & Conversation begins

7:15 PM – The Divine Service in the Norcross Community Center (10 College St. Norcross, Georgia)

The very first TOPIC & CONVERSATION will be: ONLY 2 RELIGIONS. Come be a part of the study and part of the discussion!

7 people already attending!

Sign up here . . .

https://www.oddcircles.com/short/e/TRtdAuOop

EMMANUEL Lutheran Phase 2

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the new LCMS mission to Norcross, Georgia is moving to Saturday nights. Starting on September 14, Emmanuel will have a regular Biblical study, interface with the Norcross community, and Divine Service every Saturday.

Emmanuel is embracing a new way of engaging the community of Norcross called TOPIC & CONVERSATION. In our present 2D context of soundbites and social media, meaningful dialogue around the Word of God is being lost. People are losing the ability to listen, reason, or even converse. Topic and Conversation provides an avenue to introduce issues that are meaningful to all people and then provide a framework where there can be civil and respectful discourse. In the TOPIC & CONVERSATION study, we expect to be engaging with people who are not yet grounded in the Biblical narrative and do not yet believe in the finished work of Christ. That is why we are doing this. This won’t trip us out. We welcome the chance to engage with those outside of the faith! Each of these T & C events sponsored by the new mission in Norcross, Emmanuel Lutheran Church will be held in public at the Lillian Webb Park (5 College St. Norcross).

TOPIC & CONVERSATION will begin at 6:00 PM by the fountain. Refreshments will be served to all participants and be prepared with a Bible and a lawn chair. Be prepared to welcome new comers as they just jump in and join the conversation.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Gather – 5:45 PM

Topic and conversation – starts 6 PM and ends at 7 PM
Location: Lillian Webb Park (5 College St, Norcross)

7:15 Divine Service (within 2 minute walking distance!)
Location: The Norcross Community Center (10 College St., Norcross)

We have a team of leaders committed to this work and we are approaching this church plant with a “first fruits” mentality. This work is not an afterthought, but an intentional press of God’s Word and the grace of Christ into this community. Thank you for your prayers for this work… and the effort you have put into establishing another place where sinners can receive God’s life-saving gifts in Christ! We are very excited about this next phase and your possible participation in this! I am committed to serving each Saturday night so that there is consistency in pastoral care.

In Christ,

Pastor Tim Droegemueller

Your Mission to Pakistan!

Living Faith Lutheran Church in Cumming, Georgia, will be hosting a 2 hour presentation from Pastor Dass and Julie on the miraculous progress of the Lutheran Confessional Church of Pakistan! All the congregations along with their pastors and members are invited to hear about what the Lord has been doing to reach the people of Pakistan with His powerful Word!

The gathering will be head at Living Faith (1171 Atlanta Hwy) on July 27, 2024 at 10 AM.

There will be a free luncheon offered at noon.

Changing Our Name

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, due to the confusion with another “Kairos Network” that started a couple years after ours, we will be changing the name our church planting initiative to the VDMA Network. This will help us to keep continuity and consistency in the church plants that we are starting as we seek under God’s abundant grace in Jesus to continue this work. As we have been in the past, we are starting new churches from the confessional Lutheran perspective. We do not do this by attracting donors or clients or districts into funding us, but rather by actually entering the mission field first with the Word of God, catechisms, hymnals, etc. We get to work hand in glove with our Circuit, District, and Synod to do this work with complete accountability and collaboration. Our church planting network requires no funding to keep itself going, for the Lord has made it such that we can keep the work going without a single dime of support for the network itself. The purpose of the VDMA network is to plant churches. God has given us a way to do this now in complete freedom and we do not need any money to “preserve ourselves.” The great news about this is that all the churches that are started can be supported directly. Glory to God!

Over time, you will see the changes occurring over time in the website address, Facebook page, etc. What continues to be most important to us is that this Lutheran mission work is actually being done regardless of names, funding, branding, etc. The Kairos Network of North Georgia planted over 10 churches in the last 11 years that have gone forth with the Gospel and gathered people around God’s Word and Sacraments. Praise the Lord! It has served His purpose! Now the work of the VDMA Network begins.

Lord, have mercy on this work also so that the work of your Church may go forth to reach lost, hurting, burdened souls with the precious antidote of Jesus’ all atoning forgiveness! In the name of our Advent Savior and King, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Reformation 2023 in Pakistan!

Give praise and thanks to God for the power of His Word and the free grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord!

On October 29, five adults and twenty-two children (ranging from infant to age 17 years old) were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

Continue to keep The Lutheran Confessional Church of Pakistan in your daily prayers so that the Gospel may continue to spread across the land!