[Rev. Brock Abbott of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois
wrote the following article.]

Rev. James R. Shaw was installed as Missionary-at-Large of Pilgrim
Lutheran Church on Sunday April 13, 2008. Rev. Shaw chose to resign
from the roster of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) in
order to work at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Virginia. Agnus Dei is
the third mission congregation of the United Lutheran Mission
Association (ULMA). Nearly 600 people packed the sanctuary of Pilgrim
for this blessed service! Pastor Shaw was formerly pastor of Grace
Lutheran Church, an LCMS congregation located in Lexington, Missouri.

Several families approached the Southeastern District of the LCMS to
form a traditional Lutheran congregation in the Spotsylvania,
Virginia area. The district office refused, indicating that they had
no desire to form such congregations within their district. Turning
to the ULMA, the families formed Agnus Dei and requested a Missionary-
at-Large to help them. They also hope to establish other Lutheran
congregations in the surrounding area. Rev. Shaw will preach his
first sermon at Agnus Dei on Sunday, April 20th.

The United Lutheran Mission Association (ULMA) was formed in 2005
when the voters of Redeemer Lutheran Church of St. Clair Shores,
Michigan, and Pilgrim Lutheran Church of Decatur, Illinois,
unanimously voted to form the Association after leaving the LCMS. The
ULMA is comprised of committed Lutheran laity and pastors who are
zealous for God's Word and getting that Word out. Members of the ULMA
are committed to using mission contributions to effectively and
efficiently support confessional, Lutheran mission work. Both laity
and pastors together strive to eliminate bureaucratic waste and work
to establish congregations that are Lutheran. Laity and pastors
volunteer their time and resources.

Before the installation service, Rev. Shaw taught the Sunday morning
Bible class at Pilgrim. It was attended by almost 200 people. In the
class, he described how he was amazed and surprised at how God used
the circumstances and people in his life to bring things along so
that he would leave the LCMS and accept the divine call from Pilgrim
to serve in Virginia. He reminded the class that "We are a Word of
God church... Hearing it, believing it, and telling others." The
people were greatly encouraged by his faithfulness to the Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions and his burning desire to care for the
remnant and reach out to the lost.

In the sermon for Sunday, Rev. Brock Abbott preached on the appointed
Gospel lesson John 10:1-10. He reminded the people at Pilgrim: "Today
is a glorious occasion for us as we celebrate the installation of
Pastor Shaw. Jesus Christ has given to his flock a gift, and has
called this man through Pilgrim to go and gather a flock in another
place. Just as the church in Antioch, by the direction of the Holy
Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for work, so does this
congregation by the Holy Spirit set apart James Shaw to do work in
another place (Acts 13:1-3). In this whole process, the Good Shepherd
[Christ] is being the Good Shepherd that he is. And Pastor Shaw is a
shepherd because Christ is exercising his shepherding through him."
After the sermon, he was installed by Rev. William K. Abbott.

For further information you can check out the following websites.

United Lutheran Mission Association
http://www.unitedlutheranmission.org

Pilgrim Lutheran Church
(217) 877-2444
http://www.pilgrimlutherandecatur.org

Redeemer Lutheran Church
(586) 294-0640
http://www.redeemerlutheranchurch.org

Agnus Dei Lutheran Church (our newest mission)
(540) 446-0777
http://spotsylutheran.googlepages.com