My post to David Strand

Well who knows if these people will listen. If they are going down the church growth road, they are instructed to 'damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead' because they are convinced their 'vision' is from God.

Let's pray that is not the case. But I have my doubts.

Here is what I wrote to David Strand and also to the LCMS synod information email address provided on several other sites regarding this event.

One correction - I accidentally posted that our previous church was Evangelical Free -- whoops no, wasn't thinking. Evangelical Covenant. But the E Free is also a tossup whether you will get a good one or one that has gone down the Purpose Driven Primrose Path.

This is my take:
Issues, Etc has been abruptly cancelled.

When a few years ago I became aware of the purpose driven fraud being perpetrated on the evangelical church at large I remember talking to an LCMS member who had just fought long and hard to have a purpose driven pastor removed from their church in California. This person seemed to think the leadership (the LCMS president in particular) was trying to push church growth on the denomination. I don't know how credible that is but if it is true, it would make more sense of why they don't want a discernment ministry being so popular.

I also noticed an ad for "Contemplate" -- a seminar for pastor and deaconness "formation" -- I wrote to express my concern that the LCMS is borrowing New Age spiritual terminology. I think there is trouble brewing and it is not the fault of Todd Wilken and Jeff Schwarz. It is the fault of the leadership who are intolerant of Biblical teaching and the exercise of discernment.

I was purpose driven from my Evangelical Free Church about 3 years ago. I could not bring myself to go to an LCMS church because of this very kind of thing that I heard was brewing in the leadership... embracing the very apostasy I fled. Issues Etc gave me great hope for the LCMS and was a great source of encouragement for me and my family. I am so grieved that the leadership of the Synod thumbs their nose at God when he blesses them with good true pastors like Todd and Jeff and those good pastors who help support the show.

I really appreciate their making known the popular heresies parading around out there in the name of Christ. Without people like Todd I would still be depressed and oppressed by a legalistic church, and unable to appreciate the freedom for which Christ has set us free.