Dear friends in Christ at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, MI,

Greetings in the name of Jesus! In January you invited me into a journey as you sought a fellow disciple to serve along side you as Minister of Discipleship at St. Luke. I thank God for the opportunity to have participated in your Call process, knowing that through it God has formed all of us to be even more like Jesus.

Throughout the journey, I have been blessed to learn about the ministry that Jesus is working through all of you in the Ann Arbor area. I join with Saint Paul in saying, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in the word of truth, the Gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing – as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Col. 1:3-6)

It has been exciting to see the fruit of the Gospel being borne among you and I am confident that Jesus is not through causing His grace to flourish at St. Luke, Ann Arbor!

This process of considering the Call for the Minister of Discipleship position has not been easy for me or my family but ultimately has drawn us closer to Jesus. We have wrestled in prayer, seeking God’s face and asking for His will to be done.

Many people have prayed that we would have peace and clarity as our journey through this Call process came to an end. That prayer has been answered and, by the Holy Spirit’s power, peace and clarity have come.

After much prayer and discernment and with a clear sense of the Holy Spirit’s leading, it is with joy that I accept the Call to serve as Minister of Discipleship at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, MI. My family and I look forward to joining you as we follow Jesus together and endeavor to make disciples who will join us on the journey of following Him.

I would ask you to pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in New Richmond, WI, our family and partners in the Gospel for the past 4+ years. Our hearts are heavy as we wrestle with the reality of leaving that ministry.

We have been blessed with many significant relationships there and leaving them will be difficult. However, we know that we are all part of one Church that belongs to Jesus and He holds us together as His family no matter where we are located. Pray that He would guide and direct St. Luke’s, New Richmond as they transition and continue to proclaim Jesus Christ.

May God bless and keep us all in His grace. We look forward to our transition and are eager to begin our discipling relationship with you! As you move through Holy Week and celebrate Jesus’ victorious Easter resurrection, know that you are in our prayers.

In Christ,

Rev. Matthew C. Hein