To Inspire Training for Witness

WHEREAS, Jesus Christ commands His people to make disciples by Baptism and teaching (Matt. 28:19–20); and

WHEREAS, Christians as God’s people are to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9) and to maintain constant preparation “to makeadefenseto anyone who asks you for areason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15); and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther observed, “We live on earth for no other purpose than to be helpful to others. Otherwise it would be best for God to take away our breath and let us die as soon as we are baptized and have begun to believe. But He lets us live here in order that we may lead other people to believe, doing for them what He has done for us” (What Luther Says [CPH, 1959] §3021; WA 12:267), and “The godly rejoice when the Gospel is widely spread, many come to faith, and Christ’s kingdom is increased in this way” (What Luther Says [CPH, 1959] §3013; WA 40:II:18); and

WHEREAS, We teach “that the kingdom of God would come among us, and so we pray that …God’s Word would be proclaimed throughout the world—also by us—that His Spirit might bring others under His gracious reign” (Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation [CPH, 2017], 249); and

WHEREAS, Christians know and interact with many non- Christians and un church ed people through their vocations and daily lives (e.g., family, coworkers, classmates); and

WHEREAS, Most people who attend church for the first time or for the first time in a long time do so at the invitation of a member who has a relationship with them; and

WHEREAS, In this sinful world, Christians are often hesitant or fearful to speak of Christ with others; and

WHEREAS, Such hesitancy and fearfulness can be addressed through teaching and learning not only the biblical message of the Gospel but also particular ways to become conversant concerning it; and

WHEREAS, There are resources for learning how to share the faith, such as Synod’s Every One His Witness, Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ, Jesus Door-2-Door, Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Spiritual Conversations workshops, and so forth, that help prepare Christians for witness to people from various specific backgrounds; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Oklahoma District continue to preach Christ crucified for sinners so that all might believe and be saved; and be it further

Resolved, That the district encourage its pastors and other church workers to inculcate a desire in people to witness, consistent with the Lutheran Confessions, particularly to un church ed people; and be it further

Resolved, That the district in convention encourage all the baptized members of her congregations to recognize they are Christ’s witnesses wherever they are; and be it further

Resolved, That the district in convention direct its circuit visitors to include program time during a minimum of one circuit meeting each year to discuss outreach; and be it further

Resolved, That the district direct the evangelism executive to resource a self-assessment tool that will be sent to the evangelism chair (or equivalent) in each congregation in order to facilitate congregations taking serious and realistic stock of how often and how well they employ recurring parish education opportunities (including, but not limited to, Bible and catechism classes, youth ministry, retreats, etc.) to teach church members key witnessing skills (e.g., listening discerning ly to un church ed people, beginning a spiritual conversation, making a simple statement of the Gospel, defending the resurrection), including the provision of opportunity to practice such skills; and be it finally

Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the Synod to do the same as the above at the 2026 Synod convention.