Who we are
Word of Life proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ so people can come to a personal relationship with Him, mature as His followers, and live in unity with other Christians.
Word of Life, a Lutheran Brethren Church, is a family oriented congregation that seeks to connect people to Christ, and to each other. We are real people who come together to worship the Triune God, learn from the Scriptures, receive the sacraments, serve our community, and enjoy one another's company while bearing each other's burdens. We don't always do all of that perfectly, but we know that with the Bible as our light and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we live in God's grace. We take our mission and faith seriously, but we also have a lot of fun. Fundamentally, we exist to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world condemned in sin and to speak Good News to all people.
Theologically, we are Lutheran and ascribe to Lutheran Theology. But we see this as a gift and lens by which to read Scripture, not as a means to exclude others who aren't Lutheran. In fact, our congregational body is made up of an extremely diverse theological background. Maybe that's for two reasons:
First, the Lutheran Brethren was founded at the turn of the 20th century by Scandinavian immigrants who fled their native shores to start churches in the American Midwest. They were upset that the Scandinavian state-sponsored churched had lost touch with the Gospel and had become, in their opinion, tombs. The joy and love of Christ seemed distant and the theology wooden, stale, and misinformed. The Church of the Lutheran Brethren was founded on the theology of traditional Lutheranism, but with evangelical roots and worship style. We are sometimes called "Billy Graham Lutherans." That makes us an odd mix. But our people appreciate our deep respect for theology with a down-to-earth worship style that is personal and friendly.
Secondly - and it's no small thing - we really love each other. Like any family, we can get on each other's nerves at times, but we practive forgiveness and look to Christ as our example. What does this mean? It means we're not looking for perfect people. Jesus didn't want perfect people. We want imperfect people to join us in God's perfect mission. We would love to meet you and your family, and for you to visit us and become part of our church family!
Word of Life, a Lutheran Brethren Church, is a family oriented congregation that seeks to connect people to Christ, and to each other. We are real people who come together to worship the Triune God, learn from the Scriptures, receive the sacraments, serve our community, and enjoy one another's company while bearing each other's burdens. We don't always do all of that perfectly, but we know that with the Bible as our light and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we live in God's grace. We take our mission and faith seriously, but we also have a lot of fun. Fundamentally, we exist to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world condemned in sin and to speak Good News to all people.
Theologically, we are Lutheran and ascribe to Lutheran Theology. But we see this as a gift and lens by which to read Scripture, not as a means to exclude others who aren't Lutheran. In fact, our congregational body is made up of an extremely diverse theological background. Maybe that's for two reasons:
First, the Lutheran Brethren was founded at the turn of the 20th century by Scandinavian immigrants who fled their native shores to start churches in the American Midwest. They were upset that the Scandinavian state-sponsored churched had lost touch with the Gospel and had become, in their opinion, tombs. The joy and love of Christ seemed distant and the theology wooden, stale, and misinformed. The Church of the Lutheran Brethren was founded on the theology of traditional Lutheranism, but with evangelical roots and worship style. We are sometimes called "Billy Graham Lutherans." That makes us an odd mix. But our people appreciate our deep respect for theology with a down-to-earth worship style that is personal and friendly.
Secondly - and it's no small thing - we really love each other. Like any family, we can get on each other's nerves at times, but we practive forgiveness and look to Christ as our example. What does this mean? It means we're not looking for perfect people. Jesus didn't want perfect people. We want imperfect people to join us in God's perfect mission. We would love to meet you and your family, and for you to visit us and become part of our church family!