2023-2026 National Offering

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

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This triennium, support the translation and production of meaningful Lutheran resources in languages other than English through the LCMS National Offering.

 

Nous prêchons Christ crucifié pour tous les gens.

ما مسیح مصلوب شده را برای تمام انسان ها اعلام می‌کنیم

Tunamhubiri Kristo aliyesulubiwa kwa ajili ya watu wote.

Nosotros predicamos a Cristo crucificado para todas las personas.

我們宣講為萬人釘十字架的基督

We preach Christ crucified for all people.

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“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:18–25).

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Ever since the days of Genesis 11, the idea of “all people” has included different languages and dialects. Because the Scriptures were written in Greek and Hebrew, most of us have heard the Word thanks to the diligent work of translators and interpreters.

God has blessed us with His Word in our native language. It’s easy to forget that God did not reveal Himself in English. Even Luther did not speak English. Yet our lives are thus enriched by all of the English materials and resources that we read each day, especially those that bring to us God’s Word.

As the church exists throughout the world, so the Gospel goes forth to all people in all languages. The purpose and goal of the 2023–2026 LCMS National Offering is to produce meaningful Lutheran resources in other languages so that all may read, hear and speak the Good News of Christ crucified.

Help share the Good News of Christ crucified for all people

Contributions will go out alongside the generous offerings of your brothers and sisters in Christ. As the 2023 LCMS National Convention in Milwaukee concluded in early August, God’s people in the LCMS had already given nearly $315,000 to this effort toward an initial three-year goal of $500,000. As of Aug. 17, that total had grown to nearly $348,000.

Gifts to the National Offering will be accepted through 2026, and all are invited and encouraged to participate, as the Lord allows, at any time.

Congregations are encouraged to promote the National Offering. To keep related promotion and material costs as low as possible, the LCMS is not mailing National Offering packets or kits to each of our 5,900-plus congregations this year. Any congregation that is unable to use the digital resources is welcome to contact LCMS Mission Advancement to arrange for printed materials to be shipped.

For congregations collecting a combined National Offering gift:

• An instruction sheet for receiving and sending congregational gifts

• A bulletin insert that includes a letter from President Harrison and prayer suggestions

For congregations not collecting a combined National Offering gift:

• A bulletin insert for a congregation’s individual members

• Prayer suggestions for introducing the National Offering

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Individuals and families can participate in several ways:

 

Note: Individuals with a history of supporting LCMS work with voluntary charitable gifts will receive a special appeal mailing in April. For those not in a position to respond before the convention, please hold onto that resource for a time when God makes a personal contribution possible.

 

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