Forward in Christ caught up with several delegates at the synod convention to discover what they thought about the convention, the new synod theme, and about being Lutheran. Here’s what they had to say . . .

Layman Daren Matthew-Ward, St. John’s, Antigua, West Indies
“To me [the new synod theme] brings home how significant what the Lord has done for me as an individual and for my family and how I can demonstrate that love in how I live and how I relate to my fellow human beings.”

Pastor Nathan Strobel, campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee
“I think that our synod president and praesidium has done a great job of laying the groundwork [at the convention] through the Word of God to get us thinking on the same page regarding the work of the Spirit among us through the Word so that now we’re prepared to deal with the tough issues.”

Layman Robert Slattery, Living Hope, Redmond, Wash.
“Christ’s Love, Our Calling serves as a reminder that God is in control. He knows everything that’s going on. He knows how everything will work out. He has tested us with these challenging times, but through it all, that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve him, to work through these issues, and to seek guidance.”

Teacher Ron Wels, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, New Ulm, Minn.
“Our calling is living in the understanding of Christ’s love. When we know Christ loves us and he’s working in us as we learn more about how much he loves us, we just tell others. We can’t keep quiet.”

“One of the things being WELS Lutheran means to me is that I can go so many places in the United States or the world for that matter and know that I can find a church that will teach and show me God’s will. . . . So it’s a heritage of using the Bible as a source of information about what God has done for me.”

Layman Stephen Ludwig, Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis.
“I think [Christ’s Love, Our Calling] is a great theme because it starts with the right motivation—that’s Christ’s love . . . Even in the state of being his enemies, Christ has redeemed us. He came and loved us so much that he saved us. The Creator dying for his created is just such a wonderful picture. Starting from there—because God loved us first—we want to go out and do what he asks us. We want to obey his commands. We want to spread his gospel and tell everyone else how much God has loved his whole world.”