In partnership with the Lutheran Ministry Foundation, the Nebraska District held the first Mission Ignition event on September 27, 2025. During this Saturday morning event, five ministries shared innovative mission opportunities in their community. Each of these grant requests received funds in varying amounts. Car Care Day presented by Peace, Grand Island, received $500; HarvestFields Campus Ministry at St. John’s, Curtis, received $2,500; Omaha Youth, shared by several Omaha congregations, received $6,000; Raising Up Workers for the Harvest, presented by Mt. Calvary, Holdredge, received $6,000; and Run of Many Colors presented by the Syracuse, NE church planting team received $7,500. We are thankful to Lutheran Ministry Foundation for the $22,500 grant that was shared with these five finalists for mission in their communities.

Each of these groups shared their mission plans and received feedback and encouragement from one another. This was both practical and enjoyable as those gathered celebrated and shared new ideas. I was also struck by the reality of our mission being lived as I witnessed their interaction. The mission of the Nebraska District is summarized in this way: “God’s family together—joined in His mission.” These forgiven saints of God were living it with each other and encouraging each other to continue to live in mission in their own unique way.

Together we pray “Your kingdom come” in the Lord’s Prayer. We sometimes speak the words without reflecting on their meaning. Today, I would like you to take an extra moment to read this explanation (from the Large Catechism) two or three times: “We ask here at the outset that all this may be realized in us and that His name be praised through God’s holy Word and Christian living. This we ask, both in order that we who have accepted it may remain faithful and grow daily in it and also in order that it may find approval and gain followers among other people and advance with power throughout the world.”

Christ our Lord has indeed come into our world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, to bring us to Himself, and to rule us as a King of righteousness, life, and salvation against sin, death, and an evil conscience. This group that gathered at Mission Ignition was indeed living it, here in time, through Word and faith as they gathered together as His Kingdom people and as they interact with others in their community proclaiming and living in the redemption of Jesus Christ.

You are a member of His forgiven family. By God’s grace may you remain faithful and grow daily in it. Live in the joy of your salvation in order that it may find approval and gain followers among other people and that His Kingdom would advance with power throughout the world.

A financial grant may provide some value to your mission efforts, and you may seek to apply for a future Mission Ignition opportunity. A greater value lies in the Kingdom people that surround you as fellow members of your forgiven family. Talk with them, walk with them, share ideas with one another, and live it in your community in your own unique way. The greatest value is yours, as God Himself invites you to pray “Your Kingdom come.” And indeed He comes—He lives and He comes among us bringing eternal priceless treasure. Today and each day may we live in it.

Peace—His Kind,
Rev. Lonnie Jacobsen