Christmas 2022
Dear Friends in Christ:
Greetings to you as you prepare for the coming of the Christ Child and the return of the King! May God bless your household this Adventide with ever greater faith and confidence in the Gift that is Jesus.
As you know, Scripture teaches God is love. As you also know at the very heart, the core of love is grace. An alternate way to express the word grace is gift. So indeed, from the love of God we receive the gift of Jesus and the Kingdom He gives.
In our work together in the Michigan District, a top priority must be raising up future workers and leaders for Kingdom outreach. To that end, I want to ask you to consider making a year-end gift to our District’s church worker scholarship fund. Certainly, you are fielding many such appeals as 2022 draws to a close. As you prayerfully decide where you might direct such a gift, let me point out the lasting—even unto eternity—impact of a gift to our church worker scholarship fund. Your contribution will serve to prepare young people to devote their lives for Gospel ministry.
This fund is already doing much. Over the past ten years, we at the Michigan District have been able to increase our scholarship levels from just a few hundred dollars a year to $3,500 for seminary students and $2,800 for students at Concordia University Ann Arbor or Wisconsin who are in a church worker degree program. Students attending other Concordia University System schools receive $2,100 for the school year. In total, the Michigan District Professional Church Worker Scholarship Program gave $200,025 in scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year, helping a total of 71 students.
Here are comments from a few of them …
“Thank you so much for your continuing support … I am excited to go into Lutheran teaching and serve our little ones in their learning and growth in faith. I love being at Concordia (AA) because of the wonderful staff and opportunities that one can only find at a small school like this. Your contributions make it possible for students like myself to go to such an amazing school and get the preparation we need to enter the mission field. I hope to be able to make an impact on my future elementary students.” — Annalyse Auxter
“With my husband and I both being students at CTSFW, we want to thank you for the financial support that we’ve received. It’s truly a blessing to have the assistance as we follow God’s call. May God continue to bless our district as you are also blessed.”— Dan and Melissa Harrington and family
“Thank you for blessing me with a scholarship. I am extremely grateful for the assistance it provides in paying for my education. God has truly shown me that, when I trust in Him, He will provide for me. The gift you have given me is a part of that blessing. I am studying Family Life Ministry because of the impact the Director of Family Life Ministries at my church has had on my life. I was blessed by his wisdom and guidance throughout high school. I believe that God is calling me to share that blessing with the next generation and bring the good news of Jesus to as many families as I can. With each gift I receive, this calling becomes more evident and attainable for me. Thank you for your support.” — Zane Simon
“Thank you for your continued support of my seminary education. This year [2020] has brought a lot of changes, but our Lord Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. May God bless you and keep you safe and healthy.” — Brandon Bettcher
While we are grateful that together we have been able to do much, our goal is to do more. With your help in responding to this appeal, we will be able to give more and larger scholarships in the future.
And celebrate the greatest of all gifts:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it” (Isaiah 9:6–7).
… eyes on Jesus…
Rev. David A. Davis, President
Michigan District, LCMS
Download Printable Christmas Letter
