Many people have asked about the name of this movement. Are we elitists, putting ourselves in opposition to others who we believe put Jesus "second"? Are we even Lutheran? Perhaps the "straight story" will give better insight into the naming of the movement.

In August 1998 25 or so concerned leaders of congregations, districts, lay organizations and clergy groups met in Chicago. All were disappointed at the results of the last convention. We were concerned that Missouri had forsaken its unique congregational diversity and freedom for conformity and regulation.

To a person we regretted that our church could remove "winning souls for Christ and His kingdom" from the proposed mission statement of the LCMS. Other convention and administrative decisions concerned us, too. We grieved that the voice of the Gospel and freedom in the church built by our grandparents was quietly being bound and silenced by this generation of leadership.

But we were not without hope. We talked about our dreams for the future. Our lay leader of a national Lutheran organization put it best: "I want to be part of a church where, when my grandchildren come to worship the Lord, they see Jesus first." The phrase caught our imagination. Simple. Direct. Descriptive. And faithful to the Word of God and the heritage of our church. 

Is that what you want  your grandchildren to see? We hope so. And we hope you will join the effort to make that possible. We can recapture the mission-driven, Gospel-centered heart of a century ago. We need Jesus First leadership. Today. For tomorrow.