On August 2nd, the Church of the Lutheran Brethren will kick off its biennial convention in Fergus Falls, MN. Traditionally held every year, the national convention will now take place every two years, with regional conventions taking place during the off years.

The theme is "Abounding in Hope," inspired by the Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (ESV).

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Christ’s Revelation,
  Your promised Hope

Christ’s Resurrection,
  Your living Hope

Christ’s Residence,
  Your enduring Hope

Christ’s Return,
  Your blessed Hope

Copied from the 2011 Christmas Card from the Office of the President
(Photo: President Joel and Barbara Egge)

Holy Scriptures for further reflection on the Gift of Hope...

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
1 Peter 1:3

...God has chosen to make known...the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27

We wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:13

Christmas 2011 • Design by Faith & Fellowship Publishing

The CLB Focus kicked off last month with a newsletter, focusing on the future of church planting. It is meant to keep us in touch with the mission and vision of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. This month saw the release of the first official video in the CLB Focus series. The video hears from three congregations who formed a cluster around the idea of reaching an unreached people group in Chad, Africa. International Mission helped guide the congregations during the "adoption" process. The next step is to call a missionary couple to live among the Bagirmi people starting next year. It is an exciting time. View the video below.

The staff of Our Redeemer's Church in Minot, ND share about flood relief in Minot. This video will be sent to all of our congregations as a DVD. You will find more information and resources below the video.

Our Redeemer's Lutheran Brethren Church asks for your prayers and support. This video is an honest testimony from some of the staff at the church. Minot is still in shock. They are still working through the reality and size of this natural disaster. As we visited them to record this video footage, they had smiles on their faces and they made us feel welcome, but as we walked into their homes we felt a sense of the helplessness that they must be feeling every day. Every home is at a different stage in the cleanup process, yet every home is a place of loss and confusion.

God is working in the midst of this disaster, but the overwhelming reality of how this flood affects the lives of the people in Minot is a daily spiritual hurdle for the Christians in Minot. Please pray for them, that God will give them clarity and strength. Some of the staff have lost their homes in the flood, as well, and they have families to care for, so remember them in your prayers. They need time to care for their wives and children, and the urgency of this disaster relief can sometimes pull them in many different directions. We encourage you to visit Our Redeemer's Church if possible, and walk alongside them as they help rebuild a broken community by caring for the hurting, encouraging the helpless, and sharing the Gospel with those around them.
Visit Our Redeemer's Church's relief effort website for more information: www.missionminot.com

Some quotes from those who visited Minot:
"I don’t know exactly why I felt the way I did in Minot, but as the days wore on I felt at times a sense of hopelessness." - Rev. Shawn Bowman

"They said they didn't want pity and they didn't want folks feeling sorry for them, but they DID cherish prayers and people coming to help when they can, and especially knowing that they are not alone and not forgotten." - Rev. Scott Dempster