College students gain tools for evangelism at LCMS U ‘Witness’ conference

The Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, director of LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry, leads a session at the LCMS U “Witness” conference in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Michael Schuermann)

By Jayne Sheafer

The thought of college students on winter break tends to call up images of ski trips or warm-weather getaways, but 330 students, campus ministry pastors and workers from over 80 campuses spent part of their break at the LCMS U “Witness” conference in Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 2–5.

In addition to learning about a framework and tools for sharing the Gospel, they gave $1,404 in support of The Shepherd’s Hand, a community-outreach initiative of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church, east of downtown Fort Wayne. Shepherd of the City is also home to an LCMS U chapter for students attending neighboring Indiana Tech University.

The importance of witnessing to the hope that is in Jesus Christ can give rise to some anxiety. But that is exactly the reason many of these college men and women chose to attend LCMS U “Witness.”

Much to learn

“Being a witness for Christ is no small or comfortable task, so learning as much as possible is a must,” shared Ben Harsin, a senior at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill. “And what better way to do so than from theological experts and among Lutheran friends? I cannot think of one.”

The conference, which took place on the campuses of Purdue University Fort Wayne and Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, offered dozens of sectionals, plenty of opportunities for fellowship, and worship at CTSFW and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne.

The foundation of the conference was several sessions with keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, director of LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry. Wood built his presentations around Every One His Witness®, a Lutheran evangelism tool developed by the LCMS Office of National Mission and available from Concordia Publishing House.

“The focus of the plenary sessions was to give the attendees greater insight into what went into the development of Every One His Witness. I hope this will encourage those who haven’t participated in a workshop to do so and that it will give those who have participated in a workshop a greater depth of knowledge,” explained Wood.

“Mostly,” he added, “I wanted to encourage the students attending the Witness Conference to find joy in their calling to be Christ’s witnesses where they are now and throughout their lives.”

(Learn more about Every One His Witness® at lcms.org/witness-outreach.)

Nathaniel Prather, a junior at Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., thinks the LASSIE approach (Listen, Ask, Seek, Share, Invite, Encourage) from Every One His Witness will be a great tool for his own witnessing efforts.

“College students are blessed to have the unique opportunity to share the Gospel with people of very diverse and interesting backgrounds,” said Prather. “There is no other place on earth that I know of where an individual can step outside his or her door and find people from all around the world waiting to hear the Good News.

“By listening in a loving manner, I plan to use the LASSIE approach to truly understand where any individual I speak with is coming from and hope to effectively communicate the message of the Gospel.”

Attendees at the LCMS U “Witness” conference learned about the LASSIE (Listen, Ask, Seek, Share, Invite, Encourage) approach to witnessing. (Michael Schuermann)

All are sinners

The sectionals at the conference covered topics concerning witnessing to those with varying worldviews, witnessing and dating, and spiritual warfare. One theme that hit home for many of the participants was witnessing to those in pain.

“Although every sectional I attended impacted me in a wonderfully different way, the sectional that gave me exceptional help was from Rev. Seth Mierow’s session titled ‘The Problem of Pain: Witnessing to Suffering Agnostics,’” said Emily Kleman, freshman, Indiana University, Bloomington.

Kleman explained, “A question I have received many times and often wondered about myself is, ‘If God cares for us, why does He make us suffer?’ We may have recently lost a loved one, have been struggling to keep our head above the papers, homework and demands of school, or even have asked God, ‘Why me?’

“Rev. Mierow explained that as Christians we wrestle with the same temptations and evil in this world as unbelievers. God sent His Son to save all people. As witnesses, we can reach out to agnostics surrounding us and share charitable compassion and empathetic care with them because we are in fact all the same, sinners.”

Mierow, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, serves Butler University along with other university campuses in the city.

Worship for the “Witness” conference took place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind. (pictured), and Concordia Theological Seminary. (Michael Schuermann)

With so much teaching, learning and sharing packed into just a little over 60 hours, what’s the takeaway from LCMS U “Witness”?

“I do think Christians in college want to be a witness for the hope that they possess; they simply may not be equipped with the knowledge, tools or confidence to do so,” offered Harsin. “I know this is true of me.

“The lessons I have learned at this conference will embolden me to be a witness for Jesus Christ beyond the scope in which I have proclaimed my faith in the past. Being surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses and mentors at this meeting has shown me the opportunities that are awaiting me by the Lord’s design.”

The Rev. Marcus Zill, director of LCMS Campus Ministry and LCMS U, said, “The college context can be edgy, difficult and complex. I am proud of the desire of our college students to not only confess their faith in the toughest of circumstances but also to witness to those they encounter on campus.”

“Witness” was the fourth biennial conference hosted by LCMS U, with the fifth being planned for January 2021.

To learn more about the campus ministry of LCMS U and future conferences, visit lcmsu.org and facebook.com/lcmsu, or send an email to marcus.zill@lcms.org.

Jayne Sheafer (sheafer88@gmail.com) is a writer and editor in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Posted Jan. 30, 2019