Over the past few years, I’ve found great joy in worshipping alongside people who look nothing like me. My home congregation is complemented by people of different cultures and ethnicities, various ages and generations, contrasting backgrounds and experiences, and with a range of abilities and disabilities.
Many of us were once strangers to this gathering of believers but today we are a faith family. And I hope and pray that every time a ‘stranger’ visits, we will continue to welcome them with the love and hospitality of our Lord and Saviour.
The make-up of my congregation wasn’t always this way. Indeed, the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand is more diverse in its membership than ever before – particularly in terms of race, ethnicity and culture – and what a blessing that is! After all, Jesus doesn’t say to ‘Go and make disciples’ of ‘one or two nations’ or of ‘this or that ethnicity’ (Matthew 28:19).
And, if our churches don’t reflect the changing faces of our cities and towns, it may be that we are missing the ‘Go’ part of our call as Christians.
In this edition, we are privileged to share stories from our Lutheran family members who are welcoming ‘strangers’ by inviting, hosting, engaging and building relationships with people in congregations, church groups and schools. You will read about ways in which multi-ethnic or cross-cultural ministry in the LCANZ – whether through planned programs or incidental acts of kindness and friendship – are enriching us as a church as we learn from those different to us.
As well as our themed and regular columns and resources, this edition contains two special features which prioritise care for others. One is about the warning signs of leadership burnout, while the other highlights our LCANZ Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts campaign as part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month in May.
Of course, in May we also thank God for mothers or our treasured memories of her, and we pray for mums who have lost children and those who wished to be mothers.
We pray, too, for unity and healing among First Nations peoples and other Australians as we mark National Sorry Day (26 May) and the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum leading into National Reconciliation Week from 27 May.
These special events are further reminders that no matter who we are or where we come from, we know whose we are, as God wants us all as part of his family. And, so, may he richly bless our efforts to welcome the stranger in whatever way we are called to do so.
Lisa
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