[m-m-online] President Bush Addresses Convention

[Minister to Minister online]

President Bush Greets LCMS Members at Convention
Bush: ‘You Provide Light in Times of Darkness’

HOUSTON, July 15, 2007—Thanking members of the St. Louis-based Lutheran 
Church—Missouri Synod for their Christian witness and “good works and 
all the comfort for those suffering around the world,” U.S. President 
George W. Bush provided a videotaped greeting on July 15 to the 63rd 
Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Houston.
Bush, a former Texas governor and a native of Crawford, cited the 
convention theme, “One Message: Christ — His Love is Here for You!” He 
said the Synod has shown the love of Christ by building new homes for 
tsunami survivors in Southeast Asia, aiding flood victims in Indonesia , 
and treating those who suffer from HIV/AIDS or malaria in Kenya . In the 
United States , he said, the Synod is helping nursing homes and 
hospitals in communities struck by tragedies and natural disasters.

“You are providing light in times of darkness and making our world a 
better place,” Bush said.

“I thank the Missouri Synod for supporting our troops in harm’s way,” he 
said. “Today, more than 90 chaplains from the Synod are serving the 
needs of our brave men and women in uniform in places like Afghanistan 
and Iraq . Your members have sent our troops ‘care packages’ and 
provided support for their families here at home. I know they appreciate 
your ministry — so does their Commander in Chief.”

President Bush also extended his thanks for the Missouri Synod’s 
devotion to family, faith, and freedom and to defending the sanctity of 
marriage. He expressed his best wishes for the Synod’s “ambitious 
Ablaze! program,” which seeks to reach 100 million people with the Good 
News of God’s love in Jesus Christ by the year 2017. He thanked the 
members of the Missouri Synod “for all you do to love your neighbor as 
yourself.”

The theme of the LCMS triennial convention – meeting July 14-19 at the 
George R. Brown Convention Center here – is “One Message – Christ! His 
Love is Here for You!”