If you have not seen the videotape produced by Our Savior Lutheran Church
in Houston, Texas, I guarantee that you will see the most effect evangelism
videotape for a Lutheran Church ever produced.
In one tape, the viewer witnesses a unified presentation of what
Lutheranism is, and why Our Savior has it, and why the viewer should join it.
In one presentation, they merged a magnificent building program with history,
art, music, purpose and authenticity.
Before earning a Master of Divinity and enrolling at Fort Wayne in 1977, I
earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from South Illinois University at
Edwardsville, Illinois. After eight years of college education, three degrees,
280 undergraduate and 110 graduate quarter hours, I served on the staff as an
Assistant Professor of Art at Southern Indiana State University in Evansville,
Indiana. I served on the University Faculty for three years before seeking a
higher income as an account executive at an advertising firm in Bloomfield
Hills, Michigan. I entered the Fort Wayne Seminary at age 30 in 1977.
This brief biography is given to add further emphasis when I say that Our
Savior Lutheran Church in Houston has put together the most complete and
unified evangelism presentation I've ever witnessed from any Lutheran Church.
My first reaction to the tape was, it was so overwhelming I couldn't keep
on looking. They brought a lot of things together. First, they built one of
the most architecturally significant Lutheran church buildings in the
Americas. Then, they decorated it with more of the finest imported works of
art in any Lutheran Church outside of Europe. Then, they explain why all of
this is relevant to the Reformation. Then, they finish it all off with an
interview of children who love to worship there because there is so much to
see and it is so beautiful. My mouth dropped. I haven't seen such a total
marketing approach since we pitched the Detroit Area Chevrolet Dealers with
storyboards and music in 1977.
One word covers the entire videotape, "relevance."
Let the LCMS pastor, who has the courage, show this video to his Bible
classes or church officers. As it circulates some pastors will be fearful that
their members will see this video in someone else's home.
The following is just the script of the opening statement on the video
given by Rev. Laurence White, pastor of Our Savior:
In the year of our Lord, 1779, three years after America's Declaration of
Independence, a group of Christians in the Saxon village of Sieffen
completed a new church. The inscription on the cornerstone of the Sieffen
Church dedicated the building 'To the Glory of God and the Salvation of
Men.'
In the year of our Lord 2000, another group of Christians in the modern
American City of Houston, also completed a new church. Once again, the theme
of the dedication was 'To the Glory of God and the Salvation of Men.'
What unites these two congregations and their churches, separated by more
than two centuries and halfway around the world from one another, is a
steadfast commitment to the historic faith of the Lutheran Reformation and
the resolve to embody that faith in the glass, metal, wood, and stone of our
church buildings.
There is an indissoluble connection between what we build and what we
believe. A sermon lasts only for a few moments; a building lasts for
generations, a message in brick and wood and stone that reaches across the
decades as a statement of faith that spans generations. That is why the
connection between theology and architecture is so important. That is why
church architecture is always a matter of the Gospel. There is no such thing
as a theologically, neutral, church building.
The generic church architecture that predominates in much of modern
Christianity is indicative of the empty generic theology that predominates
in much of modern theology.
When the people of Our Savior Lutheran Church began this building
process, we resolved to build a church that was expressive of our firm
commitment to the doctrine and practice of historic Lutheranism and
consistent with architectural expressions of that theology in Europe, and in
the United States. That commitment led us on a journey through the heartland
of the Reformation in Central Europe.
Following the introduction comes the presentation. Then Rev. White handle's
objections, and then goes for the close. After seeing the video, I want to
join Our Savior Lutheran Church. The only thing Our Savior hasn't claimed to
master is the church supper.
This writer's review of the video produced by Our Savior Lutheran Church
was written two days after reading that the publication called "The
Michigan Lutheran" is changing its name to "Michigan In Touch."
The presumption is that "Lutheran" doesn't sell. The question is,
"In touch with what?" Obviously, they don't want to answer that
question. In the centerfold of the November 2001 issue is a picture of new
members joining, "NewLife Community Church," the word
"Lutheran" is not stated.
The Church Growth Movement in the LCMS is proving to be a fiscal and
statistical failure because its major premise is that people don't want to
hear about "Lutheran." Of course, when you have no product, you are
eventually out of business. But the tenacity of promoting contemporary worship
in the LCMS is like the bleeding of George Washington. When Washington didn't
get better after the first bleeding, his doctors bled him again. Naturally, he
died.
Our Savior is promoting more than itself. It is promoting 500 years of the
Reformation as a total package of theology, purpose, meaning, and life. They
aren't looking for an audience or spectators. They want members. In other
words, Our Savior Lutheran Church is taking on the unheard of approach of
marketing the words, sounds, and sights of the Lutheran Reformation as the
most significant and attractive religion in the world.
You can order this videotape for $25.00 from:
Our Savior Lutheran Church
5000 W Tidwell Rd.
Houston TX 77091-4633
713-290-9087
church@osl.cc
In the midst of American contemporary uncertainty and ambiguity about God
and worship, Our Savior presents the certainty and clarity of what it believes
and practices and why.
We recommend you give your pastor this tape as a Christmas present, one he
will never forget.