From: EdwardBrockwell@aol.com
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 9:37 AM
To: Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness
Subject: CLIMB: The Difference One Layman Can Make In A Congregation
Greetings from "currently" sunny Plymouth, England!

Say, I am just filled to the brim with thanks and praise toward our Lord Jesus Christ. I sit in absolute marvel at the power of the Gospel in the lives of God's people. In particular, a man and his wife joined St. Peter's about three and a half years ago. After solid instruction, and boy to I mean solid instruction... this man, whose name is "Les"... God has really used him at St. Peter's!!!  YES! What a difference that one layman can make in a congregation. This man tirelessly confesses the truth in the congregation, privately among members, without hesitation in meetings. He is now one of my elders, where years ago this man was steeped in great darkness... oh but what a difference just one layman has made at St. Peter's.

Yes, I hold the Office in the Ministry in such high esteem... and I seek to be a faithful spokesman of the Gospel, a proclaimer of Law and Gospel so that the Royal Priesthood of God would boldly proclaim God who has called us out of darkness. But, dear friends, when a layman takes what is preached, and carries it on in both word and deed among others, wow, if only you can see what has happened at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Plymouth, England. I thank God for the Royal Priesthood, who like Les, live out what is preached and taught. I can't thank God enough for what He can and does do in the lives of laymen, what glorious things He can accomplish.

One more thing. Last week I happened to be hearing Les speak to another member of the congregation, here at St. Peter's. Les was very unhappy about a certain person in the congregation, who when she doesn't like something in the sermon, well let's say she likes to shut her eyes for a spell. Les asked this other woman, "Would you fall asleep if God were in the pulpit preaching?" The woman answered, "Certainly not!" Les replied, "Well who is it then that we hear when the Word is being preached?" The woman answered: "God!"  Dear friends, I had to swallow hard and hold back tears. Oh, I can't thank God enough for how He givers ears to those who hear, and mouths to confess Him before man. This small band of Brits, among them you will find some of England's finest... above all, you will find saint/sinners that really make a difference. Join with me in the praise of God, and how he has raised up those who hears and doers of the Word. The verse from 1 Thessalonians 2:13 means more to me t
Pr. Ned Brockwell
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Plymouth, England

Habere non potest Deum patrem qui ecclesiam non habet matrem.
He cannot have God for his father who has not the church for his mother.
De Cath. Eccl. Unitate, St. Augustine.