Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan was host to
the January regular meeting of the United Lutheran Mission
Association (ULMA). ULMA has two regular meetings of their Commission
and Mission Representatives each year. Redeemer is a member
congregation of the ULMA.

Rev. James Behling and Mr. Patrick Schiefelbein reported on the work
of Sola Scriptura Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa,
Wisconsin. They continue in their Gospel outreach to their community.
Numerous visitors come by to hear the Word. A Lutheran pastor spotted
their church sign and commented on its reference to the U.A.C.
(Unaltered Augsburg Confession). He said you never see that anymore!
Sad if true. It is joyous that Sola Scriptura confesses and promotes
the Unaltered Augsburg Confession. The congregation and ULMA are
working together to design further outreach efforts in the Milwaukee
area. Information on these efforts will be provided as it becomes
available.

John Perryman, Dan Heitman, and Rev. Jerome Kingsbury reported on the
work of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Escanaba, Michigan. They, too,
have faithfully been reaching out to their community with the saving
Word of Christ. As with Sola Scriptura, Gloria Dei has been blessed
with numerous visitors since opening their doors. Sadly, there were
two souls called home in the past six months. Thank the Lord for the
promise of the Resurrection. The congregation is blessed with an
upcoming baptism (their second) in the next month or so. They will
soon be engaged in canvassing their neighborhood inviting people to
church. The church building they're renting (built in 1912), has
worked out well for the congregation.

In addition to the regular attendees some out of state visitors
attended the meeting. The Commission heard from a layman from
Virginia representing a group who read about us on our website.
Representatives of the ULMA visited them in December. They have
already obtained use of a church building to hold devotions and a
study of Luther's "Small Catechism". ULMA will be working with this
group to place a Missionary at Large in their midst to serve in
regular Divine Worship services, Bible classes, and community
outreach. Details about our Missionary at Large endeavor can be found
on the ULMA website at: www.unitedlutheranmission.org/MatL.htm

The traffic to our website has continued to grow. It's been a real
positive way to help people find us. Visitors can read our material,
examine our doctrinal stance, structure, and contact us for mission
work. We reported in July how the people in Escanaba found us. The
same happened this autumn in Virginia. Inquiries continue to come in.

The member congregations of the ULMA again renewed their strong
commitment to spreading the Gospel. Support of time, talents, and
treasures were increased for 2008 to meet the needs of the mission
field for an increased number of traditional, confessional Lutheran
congregations.

The current Commission officers were reelected for another year of
service. This group of dedicated Christian laymen is a real benefit
to the mission work the member congregations have undertaken.

Interested members of Redeemer Lutheran Church, as well as some LCMS
pastors, attended the meeting to see how they could help us in our
work. We are actively looking for other congregations to join ULMA as
the mission field continues to grow.

Be sure to share this news release with other interested laymen and
pastors. As we approach the Feast of the Resurrection, please
continue to keep us in your prayers. It's a privilege to be of
service.