Few historical figures are as controversial as Dr. Martin Luther is. His supporters regard him as a wise and insightful churchman. His detractors label him a rebel. Luther considered himself a simple Christian. Yet, Martin Luther and his conscience ‘held captive to the Word of God’ ignited a religious awakening, which would indelibly change the course of Western history.
Born 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, to a copper mining family, Martin’s father planned for him to become a lawyer and sent him to the University of Erfurt. Wearying of his studies Martin took interest in the study of the Scriptures. On 2 July 1505, returning to university on horseback after a trip home, he was caught in a fierce thunderstorm. Knocked from his horse by a lightning strike, the terrified Martin cried out, “Help! Saint Anna, I will become a monk!”
Faithful to his vow, Martin sold his books and entered a closed Augustinian friary in Erfurt on 7 July 1505. In 1508, being an ordained priest, he was sent to the University of Wittenberg where he lectured on philosophy and the Scriptures and served as a professor of exegetical theology. At the Castle Church, Martin became an influential preacher.
When in 1515, the young Albrecht von Brandenburg purchased the position of Canon in Mainz–Trier and Archbishop of Magdeburg upon a bribe the Papal Court. He also promised to sell letters of indulgence (for the forgiveness of sin) for eight years in his domains to help finance the building of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. He employed the Dominican priest, Johannes Tetzel, as Papal Commissioner for Indulgence in Germany. With Tetzel’s arriving in Brandenburg in April 1517, many from Wittenberg crossed the border to purchase indulgences, eroding the moral fabric of the Saxon people.
Luther's indignation at the brazen retailing of eternal forgiveness motivated Martin to preach robustly on the doctrine of salvation by faith rather than works. On “All Hallowed’s Eve” 31 October 1517, Martin composed a list of 95 theses (points for discussion) on indulgences, which denied the pope claim to forgive sins for money. These he nailed on the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg unintentionally igniting the Reformation of the Church.
Public criticism of the misuse of indulgences resulted in a papal court of Inquisition, which ultimately excommunicated Luther for political reasons following the Imperial Diet of Worms in 1521. With a death sentence upon him Luther’s sovereign, Duke Friedrich the Wise, secretly hid Luther for nearly a year in the disguise of Knight George on the Wartburg Castle. It was here that Martin began the German translation of the New Testament (and later the entire Bible).
In June 1525, Martin married Katharina von Bora, a former nun. In 1529, Martin defended Christ’s presence in the Eucharist in the famous Marburg conference, attended by Zwingli and other Swiss theologians. Moreover, in 1530, in association with his close associate Phillip Melanchthon who ably represented him at the Diet of Augsburg, Martin committed his theological views to paper in the Augsburg Confession marking the high point of the Reformation.
When Martin died at Eisleben, 18 February 1546, he was buried in the Castle Church at Wittenberg by order of the Elector of Saxony. A brilliant theologian, Luther’s simply explanation of the fundamental truth of “grace through faith” restored the full Gospel to the Christendom. His translation of the Bible into German officially unified of the German language. Today some 70 million Christians on all five continents are associated with what has become known as Lutheranism.
Lutheran Student Fellowship (LSF) is the national organization of the LCMS for college students of all faith backgrounds. Moving away from home does not mean you should move away from your relationship with the Lord. Our mission is to connect students with college ministry programs and provide students a church home away from home.
Christ on Campus (ConC) is a Non-Denominational Christian Community. We come from different places and different backgrounds.
What do we have in common?
-A desire to know God in a deeper way.
-A desire to be part of a community of people who are genuine
and compassionate.
-A desire to make a difference in our world.
-A desire to honor Jesus through what we do, what we say, and who we are.
Christ on Campus has been around for more than 25 years, working with God to turn students into Christ-centered laborers.
We do that through large group meetings as well as our small group communities. Also, we believe that faith in Christ is not simply an intellectual endeavor, that being a Christian involves our entire lives. As a result, we encourage everybody to be involved in serving not only the on-campus community, but the community in general. Whether that means visiting the elderly, serving meals to the homeless, or other community projects, people from Christ on Campus are trying to make God's love a reality.
Rev. Mark A. GefallerSenior Pastor
Crysten SanchezDirector of Family Life
Tracy SchmidtOffice Administrator
Jim SchmidtFacilities Coordinator
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