McMiller_Italy_Sept-Oct2024.pdf
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Rev Tyler McMiller Sept/Oct Newsletter
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Nine years ago, when I was an LCMS lay missionary in Mexico City, I began “dabbling” in French. Growing up in Latin America, I didn’t feel like I needed to improve my Spanish. I was single and had a 3-hour commute one-way on standing-room-only public transportation… how else was I supposed to pass the time without losing my mind?
In some ways, it felt like a guilty pleasure. How could this serve the church in any way? Once I got the call to Italy, however, having studied French greatly facilitated my learning of Italian… and then, a few months ago, I was contacted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church- Synod of France (EELSF). They had heard about the work that Christ was doing in Italy and wanted me to present at their annual mission festival.
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What an honor! I would like to take this newsletter, therefore, to talk about our brothers and sisters of the EELSF. While the Confessional Lutheran Church of Italy is a mission, the EELSF is a well-established church body, with a rich history. Though it was a short trip, we were able to inspire and encourage one another.
On Friday morning, I was able to sit in on a theological interview (all in French) for a pastor coming from the liberal protestant church. I was impressed by the theological weight of the questions and how serious the candidate had been required to study. On Saturday, we had the joyful ordination of Rev Frédéric Stilmant into the congregation at Zion in Schillsdorf, France (see picture above). Finally, on Sunday, I presented at the national mission festival on the fantastic work Christ is doing in Italy.
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This visit gave the opportunity to build bridges with a historic church body. Although certainly not as well-known as our confessional Lutheran churches in Germany or Russia, the EELSF is a faithful bastion of Lutheranism in a very liberal country. Please join me in praying for Confessional Lutheranism in France, in Italy, and in all of Europe!
Rev Tyler, Yanela, Lia, and Alessia McMiller
Italian phone number: +39-346-327-0882
tyler.mcmiller@lcms.org
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LCMS in Italy · 433 Bethany Ct · Valley Park, MO 63088-2307 · USA
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