Feature Story: Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition assigns local pastor to cross-cultural mission staff

Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition assigns local pastor to cross-cultural mission staff

The Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition (LINC) of Dallas Ft. Worth has added the Rev, Gerald Nichols of Richardson as a volunteer staff member.

Nichols, whose experience includes planting several mission churches during 46 years in the ministry, will plant a new cross-cultural mission church in Richardson.

Nichols has lived in the city for 26 years.

LINC also has assigned a student from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis as Nichols vicar. He is Abu Thampan, and Asian-Indian, with Cross-cultural ministry experience.

Both Nichols and Thampan were commissioned as church planters for LINC at Messiah Lutheran Church in Plano June 18. Rev. Victor Kollmann, pastor of Messiah, was in charge of the commissioning.

Messiah s support for the mission has included office space for Nichols and Thampan. Messiah draws its members from northern Dallas County and Southern Collin County.

The new Lutheran mission for which Nichols is responsible is named Living Water Community Church, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The church formally will start worship services Aug. 27, at the Springhill Retreat Center, 3911 Renner Road.

However, a core group of 15 people already meets a Nichols home, 2005 Portsmouth Drive in Richardson.

Nichols and Thampan are leading the core group in a Bible study titled Experiencing God and will soon conduct a leadership training class in cross-cultural ministry.

Charter Sunday is scheduled for Dec. 18.

For more information on the Richardson mission, phone 972-623-8458.