“When the Lord and His Church ask, you need to be ready to answer.” March 9, 2018, Rev. Allan R. Buss was elected the President of the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, a moment he called “humbling… almost numbing.”
Reflecting back, Pastor Buss says those first days after election were “a whirlwind.” There is much to learn, and there are many emotions and transitions to come. As he steps out of his role as senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, a church he “grew up in” learning more each day about being a pastor, Pastor Buss says simply, “we stay rooted, because it’s all about Jesus and his ministry anyhow.”
Raised in Lutheran schools in Wisconsin, Pastor Buss came from a community which encouraged him and planted the seed of pastoral ministry in him from a young age. A life-long learner, Pastor Buss loves planting seeds in others: discovering their passions and interests, seeing how they can be connected and how their gifts can be utilized to serve the Lord.
We are a district, a Church, of many individuals, but we are one body united under one baptism, “we’re in this together, and we need to stay connected through the unity and bond of peace.”
When asked what one thing everything we do will serve, Pastor Buss responded, “we will keep the main thing the main thing,” faithfully serving the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing it in our community and world. Together, we will foster health for our workers and congregations in body, mind, and soul. We will ask the hard questions and stand with one another when times are difficult. We will encourage one another and bring out the best in each other. We will be leaders: following Jesus where He leads, vulnerable, and servant hearted. Above all, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus.”
Courage
Immanuel, Belvidere recently studied Joshua, delving into the meaning of courage. As we walk through each day, we have a choice to focus on fears, sins, and disappointments, or we can focus on Jesus. The world can overwhelm us and make us want to go back, but “the Lord always leads His people forward.”
Together, we will do just that. We will walk forward in the courage and joy of the Lord.
This is Our Northern Illinois District! #OurNID