Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
At Messiah's special voters meeting held on Sunday, February 7, the assembly unanimously voted to call the Rev. Martin Kaufmann to serve as our next pastor. Rev. Kaufmann currently serves Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn, Illinois.
After the meeting, we spoke with Pastor Kaufmann by phone and sent him the official call documents (along with further information about Messiah and the Grand Rapids area). Pastor Kaufmann has replied as follows:
“Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am humbled to have received the Divine Call to serve as your pastor, and am grateful for the opportunity to consider how my gifts may best serve the kingdom of God. I have received your materials and look forward to learning more about your congregation. As I prayerfully consider this Call to serve as your undershepherd, I ask that you keep me, my family, and our congregations in our prayers, as you will be in mine. The Lord bless us all as we seek to serve Him in His kingdom.”
We'll inform you of further developments as they occur. In the meantime, our Lutheran Service Book provides us with a model for the prayers that Pastor Kaufmann has requested:
Lord Jesus Christ, You instituted the office of the public ministry and instructed Your Church to call ministers of Your Word. Having prayed for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, we have called a pastor, the Rev. Martin Kaufmann, to proclaim Your saving Gospel among us. Assist him to recognize the needs of this congregation and the welfare of Your kingdom and, if it be Your will, grant that he accept the call to serve among us. Hear us for Your own sake, as You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Dave Ahrens, President
Mark Altemann, Chairman, Call Committee
