Behind the Lines of Discipleship

In late September 1961, as the Peace Corps were making headlines and captivating the nation with its promise of youth, service, and global goodwill, my grandfather stood before his congregation with a different perspective. Reading from Matthew 28, he didn’t dismiss the idealism of the era—in fact, he celebrated it. But he reminded his listeners that the Church had already been running its own "Peace Corps" for thousands of years.

In this sermon, titled "Behind the Lines Discipleship," he weaves together personal encounters with native pastors from South Africa, Rhodesia, Palestine, and China with striking statistics about global faith and mission work in the early 1960s. Beyond the numbers, however, lies a deeply personal invitation: a challenge to move past passive Christianity, throw caution to the wind, and embrace what he calls a "divine madness."

Whether you're drawn to the 1960s historical context or the timeless call to live for something greater than ourselves, this entry offers a vivid glimpse into the heart of his ministry.

Mission Festival Sept 24, 1961

Trinity 17

Matt 28:18–19

Behind the Lines Discipleship

I remember Dlamini, Dlamini is an African pastor, a broad powerful man with a quick laugh and a ready intelligence. Dlamini was a student at Luther Theological Seminary when I met him, and he is going back to his native Zululand to teach theology to Zulu pastors. Dlamini is a result of a miracle, the miracle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for his ancestors 2 generations back were African natives with witch doctors and all the rest. Dlamini's country South Africa is in the midst of great struggle as 9,000,000 Africans try to gain some voice in their country which 3,000,000 whites run with an iron hand, but Dlamini — knowing of segregation, brutal treatment, secret police and poverty is going back to Africa to proclaim Jesus Christ.

I remember Fanuel Kave from Rhodesia — he also is a native African pastor. He is an intelligent, smiling, faithful, looking parts fellow. I also met Fanuel at Luther Seminary and today I believe Fanuel is back in Africa preaching the Gospel to his people, proclaiming Jesus and the love of God.

I could go on and mention many others. I can remember Sam Hares, an Arab from Palestine who is an A.L.C. pastor today. I can remember Pastor Chou, a Chinese pastor, I can remember many from many countries who have been touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and today are living witness to the power of God, and they are also living witness to the fruits of missionary labor — they are the results of the gifts you people have given to proclaim Jesus Christ.

Recently I picked up a Life magazine and read these words: "Against a glowering backdrop of cold tension, the first fresh-faced wave of the Peace Corps began moving to their remote jobs. Already 80 men and women have departed for Ghana and Tanganyika, 17 to St. Lucia, 62 more to Columbia." In the Life article further description was given how these young people are given rugged physical training, lessons in native languages, what to do with a snake bite and other training.

The Peace Corps captures our imagination, think of it — the U.S. Gov't is going to send a few thousand — I am not certain of the exact amount — maybe 2000 or 3000 of our best young people abroad to help backward nations and teach them Democracy — yes the Peace Corps is a romantic venture — our best young men and women teaching democracy to the world — great — we should have had a Peace Corps in this country long ago. But wait, before we get too hyped up about the Peace Corps let us call back to remembrance some final words of Jesus: "All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

Yes, the Peace Corps is a big thing, we are proud of it. But let’s remember the Christian Church has had a Peace Corps since the time of Christ, and our Peace Corps has been our missionary force throughout the world. Kennedy wants to send a few thousand young people out on the Peace Corps — Do you know how many missionaries the Lutheran Church alone has out on foreign fields? 3000 missionaries — and of these there are 1500 missionaries from Lutheran Churches in the United States. I have not been able to find the exact statistics on mission work from all denominations — but it must be somewhat around 40,000.

The Peace Corps sends out a few thousand to teach democracy for a year or two, but the Christian Church has 40,000 people out on the fields spending their, not 1 or 2 years, but entire lives for Christ. Fight Communism we say, but let’s remember, the biggest force against Communism in the world is probably the Christian Church for we must remember Communism is a religion, an ideology with the state as its God and opposed to this Godless religion stands the Christian Church.

I can say I remember Dlamini of Zululand, I remember Pastor Kave of Rhodesia, I remember Rev. Hares of Jordan and I can add many more but these are just a few of the thousands and even millions of native Christians in Africa, Asia, the South Sea Islands, South America — men and women who have been won for Christ and men and women who stand as in many cases with proper education stand against Communism and all the Godless forces in the world.

Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This was the last Commission of Jesus Christ. — We might think of many things Christ could have said before he left this earth. We might think he might have left instructions on how to establish churches, on good preaching methods, on how to educate the young, on how to conduct a Ladies Aid. But He did none of these things — instead.

He left one ringing challenge — one commission, one command — go and make disciples this is the mission of the Church go and make disciples — the Church of all the institutions of the world has this one Divine Commission — go and make disciples. And today we can look at mission fields all over the world Japan, South Africa, Madagascar, India, Bolivia, Colombia — in practically every nation on the globe there are foreign missionaries acting as the most powerful Peace Corps in the world.

But wait, before we get too proud and pat ourselves on the back too much, do you know that of the 2000 languages spoken on earth only 200 have the whole Bible, 200 more have the New Testament and some 1000 languages have no portion of the words of God. Did you know that the world population is increasing by some 40 million a year, and only 4 million are evangelized. There are 10 times as many people being born without Christ than we can evangelize — The world is rapidly becoming more and more non-Christian. Over 2/3 of the world's people do not even belong to the Christian Church — they belong to some other of the world religions — Buddhism, Mohammedanism, Taoism or one or the other. In South Korea — the most Christian nation in Asia — 95% of the people are non-Christian — only 5% are Christian. In India 98% of the people are non-Christian. In the United States — supposedly the most Christian nation on earth, some 30 to 40% of our people don't even belong to the Church — Go and preach the Gospel, make disciples of all nations was the command of Christ, and yet today we find some 3/4 of the world's people without Christ. This, I believe, is a scathing condemnation of our Christian Churches and what we Christians have been doing for Jesus Christ. It is said that in Southeast Asia that the Communists have 20 missionaries for every one sent by the Christian Church — maybe there is a reason for the success of the Communists.

"Go and make disciples of all nations" was the command of Christ and today we have this Annual Mission Festival in many of our A.L.C. And today lets for a moment review briefly what our A.L.C. Church plans to do and what. It plans to establish some 80 new Home Mission Churches here in the United States alone.

Here we might ask why Home Mission Churches and we must remember there are some 80 million Americans or more not associated with a Church. I have seen Home Mission Churches in California grow from no members to 1500 members in Sylmar after the church was established because rather fast. It takes some 60 to 100,000 just to establish a Home Mission church out in California. I have knocked on door after door on the West Coast where the answer is — we don't belong to a church — we did 3 years ago back in Minnesota or Iowa or the Dakotas — but we don't anymore. What else does our Church plan to do? Well, there are 35 new A.L.C. missionaries leaving for foreign fields this year — they will be part of the 565 missionaries out on the field in Africa, Asia, South America. Our Church plans to give close to 3,000,000 dollars for foreign mission work as well as some 3 million for home mission. In addition, our Church has 149 institutions of mercy such as old people’s homes, there are 13 colleges which our Church supports, we have 4 Theological Seminaries, we have 13 mission fields. All in all, it will take some 17 million dollars to support all phases of our church's mission, education and works of mercy programs.

Maybe it's a U.N. member trying to arrange peace between African tribes, maybe it's a U.N. member working in some relief center giving food to the starving. Have you ever seen or heard of this and then thought — Boy I wish I were there.” Have you ever sat alone and thought "What am I doing in this world — What will be said about me after I am gone? What does my life amount to? I work, I eat, I sleep, I have recreation, maybe I even win a prize now and then — but really — what am I doing in this world — Have you ever felt a little melancholy, and disappointed wishing you could really do something for this world — really make a contribution in this world.

Well today, Jesus Christ stands before you and challenges with a divine madness. He challenges you to a life of behind the line’s discipleship. Today, Jesus Christ challenges you with the fact that the world mission of the Church depends on you. Of this I am certain, the Church can get more missionaries, the Church can get more medical doctors, the Church can get more nurses to work on mission fields if the Church can get more cold hard cash. Today, Jesus Christ stands before you, Jesus Christ tells you that this mission program of the

Church depends on you and your giving, not your neighbor's but yours. You wish you could be on the U.N. You wish you could really do something for this world — Well I say that today Jesus Christ challenges you to a divine madness — He challenges you to throw caution to the wind and give freely, to give sacrificially. The Lord has blessed many of you greatly — abundantly — we are the richest people on earth and we have been blessed for a purpose — that we could serve with our gifts — and our prayers — and our efforts here in our community — for let's remember — missions is as close as across the road to your neighbor who may not know Jesus Christ.

We hear about missiles and shots for the moon — but let's remember the best missiles in the world are our missiles of love for when given to penetrate the hearts of men so that they might be won for Jesus Christ.

I say I remember Dlamini the broad powerful smiling African pastor, I remember Fanuel Kave the pleasant highly intelligent pastor witnessing for Jesus Christ today in Rhodesia — But there are just a few, far too few men like this, for there still remains hundreds of millions throughout the world calling out without Jesus Christ, India a nation of 400 million twice as big as the U.S. Today Jesus Christ challenges you and I to do something about this situation — Today Jesus Christ challenges you and I to a life of discipleship — maybe not as Probably not as a U.N. observer, not as a member of the Peace Corps, not as a lonely missionary in some far off out post — though this also might be your calling, but for most of us Jesus calls us to a Discipleship which might in many ways be the toughest kind. The behind the lines discipleship which is often unseen and unheralded and yet is of utmost weight — a discipleship praying and giving supporting those in the front line. — they not in Peace Corps out world or brave miss. — But we are needed & they are needed.

Lord, thank You for the reminder that You call each of us to play a vital part in Your work across the globe. Forgive us for the times we settle for passive faith or comfortable routines. Ignite in us a spark of "divine madness"—the courage to throw caution to the wind, to give generously, and to support those serving on the front lines of Your mission. Whether You call us to go far or stay near, help us live purposefully right where we are. Amen.

Summary & Key Takeaways

In this sermon from September 24, 1961 (Trinity 17), preached at the Annual Mission Festival, my grandfather reflects on the nature of Christian service and global mission work:

Personal Encounters with Global Faith: He begins by recalling inspiring native pastors he met at Luther Theological Seminary—including Pastor Dlamini of Zululand and Pastor Fanuel Kave of Rhodesia—who returned to their home countries to preach despite severe social, political, and personal hardship.

The Original "Peace Corps": Contrasting the newly formed U.S. Peace Corps with the global mission of the Church, he highlights that thousands of Christian missionaries were already serving worldwide, dedicating their entire lives—not just a year or two—to faith and service.

The Great Commission: Drawing from Matthew 28:18–19, he emphasizes that Christ's final command before leaving earth wasn't about administrative structure or church routine, but a single ringing mandate: "Go and make disciples."

A Challenge to "Behind the Lines" Believers: Addressing the quiet discontent many feel in everyday life—the longing to make a meaningful contribution to the world—he calls on the congregation to support global and local missions through sacrificial giving, active engagement, and living boldly for Christ right where they are.