Word of Life LBC - Who We Are

We believe that the Bible is God's Word and is the only source and guide for faith, doctrine and life.

We accept the Lutheran Church's Confession of Faith as being in conformity with God's Word.

We believe that a congregation is an assembly of believing Christians where the Word of God is preached in truth and purity and where the sacraments are administered in accordance with the Lord's institution.

Recognizing the clear distinction made in the Scriptures between the children of God and the children of the world, we believe in a personal experience of salvation in Christ.

We conduct our services using a simple order of worship where the sermon, based on the Word of God, occupies the most prominent place in the service.

We encourage the use of lay persons in spreading the gospel and furthering the work of the kingdom of God.

We seek through the teachings of our Christian education ministries for children, youth and adults to be followers of Jesus Christ.

We believe in a strong evangelistic emphasis and with other congregations support mission work in Canada and the United States and Cameroon, Chad, Japan and Taiwan.

We are aware of the value of Christian education and with other congregations sponsor Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Lutheran Center for Christian Learning and Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Finally, we are actively interested in giving persons of all ages an opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

For More Information:

www.clba.org

www.lbs.edu

www.ffhillcrest.org

A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST

Word of Life Church is people - people who have by God's grace received new life in Jesus Christ. As you come to Word of Life, you will see people who have been touched by God. Each one has a special place. Together we are a family of faith through a common bond in Christ. We are members of God's household, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name, and built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20; 3:15).

We are Word of Life Church because God has called us together by the Holy Spirit through His Word which gives life. We are called to be God's prepared people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God," (Ephesians 4:13).

At Word of Life Church, we are drawn together as we worship God in all His majesty, as we participate in the ministry of proclaiming and teaching His Word while serving and caring for each other, and as we witness through our mission of sharing Christ's love with others in Le Sueur and the surrounding communities in the Minnesota River Valley. We are a growing church where there is plenty of room for more in the family of God's househould. Our prayer is that God will continue to grow His family through the worship, ministry, and mission of Word of Life Church.

CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN BRETHREN

Who are the Lutheran Brethren?

We are a Protestant church with an evangelistic Lutheran tradition. There are about 110 Lutheran Brethren congregations in the United States and Canada and 1,535 churches and chapels in Cameroon, Chad, Japan, and Taiwan. In addition, 15 independent congregations and Bible study fellowships in Canada and the United States are served by Lutheran Brethren pastors.

Is the Lutheran Brethren a new denomination?

No. Our synod was organized in December of 1900 when five independent Lutheran congregations met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to join together for mission projects which were larger than one congregation could handle.

What does the Lutheran Brethren stand for?

A Gospel-centered ministry where salvation by grace alone is proclaimed and where godly living, patterned after the principles of Scripture is encouraged. We believe that Christianity is not only a creed to confess but that it is a life to be lived for God in holiness. For that reason we seek to cultivate a sensitive spirit toward those who have spiritual struggles and try to minister God's grace to those needs.

How would you describe your worship services?

People are often surprised when they attend our services. The pastor does not wear vestments and the ritual of the Common Service is not used. Recognizing the freedom for different forms of worship allowed by the Lutheran Confessions, and believing that the New Testament worship forms were simple, we center our worship around the singing of praise and worship music, traditional hymns, and the sermon which is based on God's Word.

I see that you have more members overseas. That must mean you have a strong mission program?

Yes. From the very beginning, over 100 years ago, our synod has had a vision for world missions, first in China, then in Cameroon, Chad, Japan, and Taiwan where we now have teams of church planters, teachers, Bible translators, and health workers. All of the national churches are independent of the quest. It has been gratifying to see the Lord extend His kingdom through our sister churches overseas.

In addition to this overseas mission emphasis, our people also sense a burden for people in Canada and the United States. Many new congregations are being planned for North America.

What about Christian Education?

We have a seminary, Bible college, and high school located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The Lutheran Brethren Seminary offers the M.Div. and M.A.R. degrees. The Lutheran Center for Christian Learning is a program which takes biblical teaching into the local congregations. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is a four year boarding high school and regional junior high school accredited by the state of Minnesota.

On the congregational level, our churches conduct Sunday schools, Bible studies, and weekday programs which meet their needs. Confirmation instruction is offered to young people when they reach grade seven or eight. This two year course of instruction is based on the Scriptures using Luther's Small Catechism as the outline.

Can I attend, even though I'm not a member?

Absolutely! You are welcome! Call a nearby church and find out the times of the services, Bible studies, or Christian education classes.

During the summer of 1978, seven families felt the leading of the Lord to become involved in a closer Christian fellowship. A fellowship which placed more emphasis on the great commission and the inerrant Word of God. This prompting led to meeting weekly in the homes of the individuals for study and prayer. In these meetings, discussions evolved to the point that consideration was given to starting a new church. At the time it seemed a bit formidable to think in these terms with such a small group of people, however, the possibility of this seemed to be more and more confirmed. After much deliberation and prayer, it was decided to contact the synod of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren for a possible affiliation with them. Discussions were held with the Home Mission Department and a decision was made to become a Home Mission congregation of that body.

It was decided to move from the informal setting of people's homes to a more formal meeting format and location. The Merrick Room of the Le Sueur Community Center was rented and Sunday School and worship services began. Supply pastors were obtained from the synod. The first pastor, Timothy Ysteboe, was called in February, 1979. The Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church charter was signed in July, 1979. In the summer of 1980, the First Lutheran Church of Le Sueur decided to build a new facility and Word of Life purchased their church on Second Street. Pastor Craig Jennings replaced Pastor Ysteboe in September, 1985, and served until July, 1991. Pastor Dan Christenson replaced Pastor Jennings in September, 1991, and served until December, 1996. Pastor Mark Tungseth accepted a call and moved to Le Sueur in September, 1997, and served until September, 2007. The current pastor at Word of Life is Ed Nugent, who began his service on July 1, 2008.

During the sixteen years of worshipping at the Second Street Church, the Lord continued to bless the work. It then became evident it was going to be necessary to make extensive changes to the existing facility or give thought to building a new facility. The church had grown to an attendance of over one hundred and it was impossible to minister properly to all the children in the congregation. Going to two services each Sunday solved the problem of worship service space but the problem of Sunday School space persisted. (What a great problem!) After much prayer and evaluating possible alternatives for adding to the existing facility, a site selection committee evaluated over a dozen potential sites, and a ten-acre parcel on Kingsway Drive was purchased. A building committee was formed, an architect was retained, a local builder selected, and construction on the new facility began in the spring of 1995.

In February, 1996, we moved into a beautiful new church facility. The Lord has been faithful. He continues to honor the work. The church family has grown to an average Sunday attendance over 200. We have a very active youth ministry and the Lord has entrusted many children to our care. We have a music ministry that is a great blessing to us all. Our people have a good understanding of God's calling on their lives, and are developing a greater awareness of the full meaning of ministry. The inerrant Word of God continues to be preached in Spirit and in Truth. The full counsel of God is heard. New people have come to faith and believers are challenged to mature in the faith.

In the spring of 2007, we completed work on our Christian Education expansion wing. We now have an expanded and updated nursery, library, larger classrooms and youth room complete with sound system, games, and refrigerator.

As we look to the future, we know the need to remain focused on the Lord. We acknowledge the need to be dependent upon Him. We want to be obedient to His will. We praise Him for His protection, for His directions, and for His mercy and grace. May we continue to glorify His name in the days and years ahead.