Cortright (Latvia) Update – December 2022

Silent Night, Holy Night

Blessings to you as we celebrate Christmass!

May your worship of the incarnate Word come down from heaven bring you joy and peace during this holy season.

Thank you for your kindness, prayers, and readership over the past year!

Rev. Charles and Connie Cortright, Eurasia Mission Region

Painting: Mary and Jesus –  Henry Ossawa Tannner (1859-1937)

Our December news…

Dear friends and supporters,

As 2022 draws to a close, we again want to thank you for your prayers and support across the miles and the months of 2022. Compared to the “COVID-years” of 2020 and 2021, this past year has been one of steady, solid progress at the Rīga Luther Academy. Since I reviewed the highlights of the year in last month’s newsletter, I won’t repeat that report here except to note how richly blessed we have been personally and in terms of the mission work God has privileged us to do.

I was recently reminded of this when I had the opportunity to explain these blessings in greater detail to a parishioner at my son’s congregation in central Wisconsin where we were visiting. Being introduced as a missionary to this gentleman, he had the impression that I was involved in evangelizing and planting churches directly in the countries where we have lived. “How did you learn to speak the languages of all those countries?” I explained that my work is essentially that of a teacher. My colleagues and I serve students who are able to work in English (a great

—Charles +

advantage!). We do this online for the most part, which is how we can reach and teach students across Eurasia.The great thing is this: the students we are teaching are being formed as solid, confessional Lutheran pastors without having to relocate or leave their jobs. Moreover, they will be able to serve upon graduation in Word and sacrament ministry in their own languages and cultures—something that would take me years and years to prepare to do as an expatriate.I had to tell him that the online format is certainly not ideal—all of us whom COVID forced online for meetings and the like are familiar with the limitations of online work—but it is succeeding under the blessing of our Lord. And that is the important thing. 

St. Paul told the Corinthians (2 Cor. 4:7) that he was just a “clay pot”—the 1st century equivalent of today’s styrofoam box: the valuable thing is not the box but the treasure inside. Likewise here and now. God has entrusted the priceless gift of the Gospel to us—mere styrofoam boxes—to show that the surpassing power of the Gospel is His! 

Pastor Charles and Connie Cortright serve the Lord in the Eurasia Region of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

charles.cortright@lcms.org

Our mailing address is:

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