Martin Luther did not set out to organize a church under his name.

He was born in Eisleben, Germany on November 10, 1483, 9 years before Columbus sailed to the New World. He studied law at age 21, became a priest and Doctor of Theology at age 28, took a stand on reform at age 33 as a Roman Catholic monk, was excommunicated and became a fugitive at age 38, translated the Bible to German at 40, and died in Eisleben at age 63 on February 18, 1546. He stressed the teachings of justification by faith, priesthood of all believers, and the supremacy of God’s Word. Luther loved music, making it an integral part of the worship service. Of the many hymns he composed the most famous is “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”.

October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed a critique of the sale of indulgences by the church on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. The experience with the challenge to the church began the Protestant Reformation and changed the way that the Scripture was viewed…the proclamation of God’s mercy. The Lutheran Church was born in the fire of the Bible. The basic belief is that a person is saved only by the grace of God through faith in Christ.

A cross on a heart, resting on the center of the Messianic Rose and surrounded by a circle to symbolize eternity, was adopted by Luther as his own coat of arms and as an expression of trust in God.