Author: Peggy Hoppes

How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Habakkuk 1:2b (NIV)

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg was born in Germany in 1711 and he was a Lutheran pastor by the time he reached thirty years old. It was then that he was called to become the pastor of three struggling German Lutheran congregations in the New World. German immigrants were arriving in America and they needed the ministry of their own church in their new home, but there were no ordained ministers. They tried to establish congregations around the colonies, but they faced so many difficulties. They sent letters and delegates to Germany to find someone to serve in America. They found Henry Melchior Muhlenberg.

Henry came to America in 1742 to lead three congregations and immediately set to work. The work was difficult because he found the congregations were unorganized and confused. Heretical beliefs were rampant. Henry worked with his congregations, preached the Gospel and taught the Bible, established a solid constitutional model and reached out to other Christians. His impact reached as far south as Georgia and as far north as the Hudson. He sent for more leaders and he organized the first Lutheran Synod in America. He even reached beyond his own denomination. He spoke several languages, so was often invited to preach and speak to fellow Christians.

He impacted the world in which he lived and the church which he loved but his legacy went beyond his own lifetime. Most of his eleven children made names for themselves in church, politics, the military and education. He died on October 7, 1787 and he is still remembered by the Lutheran church on that day. His life was not easy. He traveled extensively to preach and to assist his colleagues with disputes. He had to fight heresy and stubbornness, ignorance and persecution. He stayed neutral during the American Revolution, which did not sit well with either side of the battle.

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg is known as the father of American Lutheranism because it was he who established the organization that brought together the German Lutherans who were struggling to survive in the New World. Though Lutherans are necessarily known today for missionary work or church planting, Henry Muhlenberg was exactly that - a missionary and church planter. By the time he died he had helped establish dozens of congregations and helped bring many trained pastors to lead the congregations. He also helped train colonists to be strong and informed leaders in their congregations. During his time in America, he never lost touch with his home and the people who had shared their faith with him in Germany. They supported his career and helped him with funds and with people. He fought the good fight and God made great things happen through him in the New World.

The scriptures show faithful men crying out to God in their times of distress. Habakkuk was concerned for his people and he cried, "How long, O Lord?" I wonder how many times Henry struggled under the difficulties he faced or doubted his ability to accomplish the work God that brought him to America. We worry and doubt because do not know the whole story. We can not see what God has in store for us or for the world. We can only go forth in trust and hope knowing that God is faithful. When we cry out "How long?" we do so from the humble position of being a servant to the One who does know.

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg could not have known how his life, or the church, would turn out when he was finished his ministry. He only knew that God called him to America to share the Gospel and build up the church.

We may face persecution, heresy and other problems that will take perseverance and trust. Our strength is not in our ability to make anything happen, but in God's grace. As we take on the world in which we live, sharing God's love and mercy with all - especially His forgiveness - we won't necessarily know where it is leading. However, God is faithful and He knows the purpose for which we have been sent. It is to continue doing the work of Christ in this world, bringing restoration and peace to the people with the Gospel, sharing faith and planting God's love in the world.

Peggy's daily and weekly devotions are found at www.awordfortoday.org.

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