Less than 20 of us were gathered together on a Saturday evening in a living room/dining room area. We were in Santiago, Chile, having a worship service in the home of Pastor Patricio and praying about the start of a new Free Lutheran congregation there. Earlier in our trip we had visited Santiago’s Metropolitan Cathedral. Our setting on Saturday evening didn’t resemble that impressive structure. And yet the Lord Jesus was there.

We celebrated Holy Communion that evening. The elements were simple but the experience was special. As Lutherans we believe in the “real presence” of Christ when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord is present in the elements for He said, “This is my body … This is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28). We can be encouraged that the Lord who died for our sins, who defeated death and lives forever is really present. He was present with our small group, in that simple setting in Chile.

In the context of teaching about the church’s authority to declare the law and the good news of forgiveness Jesus promised, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). He was there in Chile. As they begin a new congregation, they are far away from other Free Lutheran congregations. They might seem like a small group that is all alone. But the Lord Jesus is present and with them.

As we live our daily lives, we are rarely, if ever, in ornate cathedrals doing impressive religious deeds. But, as we care for our families and friends, as we gather around God’s Word, as we have simple worship services, often with a relatively small number of people, the King of kings and the Lord of lords is really present. The world might not be impressed with our numbers or our settings, but that doesn’t matter so much to the Lord. He delights in being with His congregations. He graciously comes and lives with and among His people. Congregations that are trusting in Jesus, no matter where in the world they are or how large or small they are, go forward with confidence and hope knowing that the Lord is with them.