by Rev. Bart Day
Life Together begins in Christ. “There is no life apart from the One through whom all things were made” (John 1:3). The life of Christ is the life of the world, our life together. The miracle of the Incarnation is that our Lord descended to take up our life. He wears our fallen human flesh that He might bear our sin and be our Savior. In His bloody enthronement at Calvary, He draws all creation to Himself. Here is our salvation. Here is our life together.
The LCMS Office of National Mission (ONM) works to foster healthy Lutheran congregations that bear witness and have mercy in that same life together. We come alongside congregations, schools and districts with advocacy, expertise, funding grants, partnerships and education to help change lives and save lives through the Gospel of Christ.
The living Christ creates fervent love toward one another. The work of the Church in witness, mercy and life together flows from and to the cross. What joy and freedom we have in serving our Lord and His holy bride, the Church. We are no longer burdened by the Law’s requirements. The Gospel, Christ in us, compels us to share His Word to the ends of the earth, to share the mercy and love of Christ with those in need, and to share in the corporate life of the Church. Life together is the best living.
The ONM exists to serve your congregation, school or district as you bear witness and mercy through Worship, Youth and Campus Ministry, Schools, Outreach, Stewardship, Recognized Service Organizations, Hispanic Ministry, Black Ministry, Urban and Inner City Ministry, and Rural and Small Town Ministries. We also stand at the ready with our Mercy Operations — Disaster Response, Life and Health Ministries, Church and Community Engagement, Specialized Pastoral Ministry, Deaconess Ministry and Mercy Grants. Life Together begins in Christ. As the Office of National Mission, we are eager and anxious to come alongside your congregation so that we may work ever more fervently in service to our Lord, to His Gospel and to one another.
—Rev. Bart Day, Executive Director
Office of National Mission