Lucas gives MLK Day address at Concordia

When it comes to love, the church should lead. That love, explained Rev. Glenn Lucas, is inspired by no less than the love of Christ, and it should not be stopped by barriers such as race.  Lucas, a pastor in Lake Forest, Calif., shared his message Jan. 20 in Weller Hall at Concordia. 

“We the church should be at the forefront of loving one another," said Lucas. "We in the church should be in the forefront of showing people what it is to be reconciled to each other through the cross of Jesus Christ and the power that the cross brings to our lives. Through the work of the Holy Spirit that says we have a fellowship that is greater than the color of my skin.

“We can be the people who show the world what it looks like to love one another,” said Lucas, emphasizing the need for Christians to lead the world in breaking down such barriers as race, economic status, education level and developmental ability.

During his presentation, Lucas drew from his experience as a child in the Lapham Park Housing Project in Milwaukee and from his career as a pastor. He currently serves as associate pastor and minister of outreach at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church and School in Lake Forest, Calif. Lucas graduated from Concordia Nebraska and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, before taking his first call at Prince of Peace, an urban inner-city church in Cincinnati. He was then called to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Angeles in 1993 before serving the Pacific Southwest District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as a mission and ministry facilitator in 2001.

In 2005, Lucas accepted a call as director of training at the Center for U.S. Missions where he develops and coordinates training events for mission leaders across the country. In 2009, he joined the Southeastern District of the LCMS as the executive director for mission development. He joined the staff at Abiding Savior on Sept. 1, 2013.

He has helped coordinate the LCMS National Youth Gathering and served on the LCMS Board for Black Ministry Services. He was a regent for Concordia University, Irvine, and was honored with the Spiritus Christi award by Concordia University Chicago in 2012.

Lucas’ presentation is part of the Looking Beyond Speaker Series made possible through an ongoing gift from Martin and Regina Maehr. The series was created to expose Concordia students and the Seward community to diverse speakers and ideas.