# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S161
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

GOALS AND RESOURCES 161

To Thank God for the Blessings
of Alive in Christ

RESOLUTION 4-25

Wuereas, Our good and gracious God calls each person
in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to tell the entire
world that “The Son of man is come to seek and save that
which was lost” (Luke 19:10); and

Wuereas, Generations of Missouri Synod Lutherans
have with joyous hearts accepted this great responsibility
and have sacrificed time, treasure, and talent to discharge
it honorably and effectively; and

Wuereas, They have, thanks to the blessings of God,
left us a great tradition of sharing the Gospel and aiding
the suffering; and

WHEREAS, We, too, in our time strive to do well the work
of proclamation and service that He sets before us and to
leave for those who follow an even stronger tradition of
outreach and care; and

WHEREAS, This requires that we train well the full-time
church workers who play such a vital role in all our en-
deavors; and

WueEREAS, This means that we seek constantly new and
expanded opportunities to tell others of Him and respond
to their needs; and

WueEreas, This demands that we use the latest com-
munications technologies available, conduct the work of
our Synod according to sound fiscal practices, and aid
those, now retired, who have served us so well as full-time
church workers; and

WHEREAS, God’s people responded to the many mission
possibilities of the 1980s and the conditions caused by high
rates of inflation by conducting Forward in Remembrance
and through it providing over 70 million extra dollars for
outreach and higher education; and

WHEREAS, God’s people responded again to the mission
possibilities of the 1990s and the need to gather material
resources to fund them by conducting ALIVE IN CHRIST
and through it committing more than 50 million extra dol-
lars for outreach and higher education; therefore be it

Resolved, That the delegates to the 56th regular con-
vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod thank
God that He moved God’s people to provide these addi-
tional funds for this work through ALIVE IN CHRIST; and
be it further

Resolved, That we thank God for allowing us, through
these acts of love by His faithful people, to strengthen both
our world and North American mission programs, better
train future full-time church workers, eliminate the syn-
odical operating deficit, acquire modern communications
technologies, and help retired veterans of the Cross; and
be it further

Resolved, That we acknowledge before our heavenly Fa-
ther the time, energy, and skill that so many faithful people
in our church body gave to this important venture in mis-
sion and ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That we express our gratitude to Him for lead-
ing so many laity and clergy to assume leadership roles
for the appeal in their congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That we thank God for giving us such dedi-
cated district directors, associate district directors, major
gift chairmen, ministry group leaders, and national syn-
odical leaders whose labors did so much to explain the
appeal and to provide the organization that enabled our
people to respond to it; and be it further

Resolved, That we recognize before God the valuable
assistance given to ALIVE IN CHRIST by the leaders of
our colleges and seminaries; and be it further

Resolved, That we request ALIVE IN CHRIST leaders
to continue to share the joys and blessings of the use of
these funds; and be it finally

Resolved, That we give praise and thanks to God for
His grace and blessing bestowed upon the Synod through
Alive in Christ by rising and singing the first verse of the
Alive in Christ hymn:

We are alive in Christ!

He came when we were dead;

He broke the chains of Satan’s power
And made us His instead;

He set us free to serve,

We'll serve Him then in love

Until that day when He returns
To take us home above.

Action: Adopted (3).

(Following adoption of the resolution, the following regional
Alive in Christ directors were introduced: Elvin Harms, Milton
Rudnick, Hans Tornow, Frank Belden, and Norman Walter.)

To Thank God for the Leadership
of Rev. Immanuel Janssen as
Synodical Director of ALIVE IN CHRIST
RESOLUTION 4-26

Wuereas, God continues to bless The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod with outstanding leaders; and

Wuereas, God has blessed the ALIVE IN CHRIST ap-
peal under the capable leadership of Rev. Immanuel Jans-
sen; and

Wuenreas, He has given of his time and talents directing
ALIVE IN CHRIST since April 1984; and

Wuereas, Through ALIVE IN CHRIST the Synod will
be able to expand its mission and ministry in many areas;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we give praise and thanks to God for
His grace and blessing bestowed upon His beloved church
through the leadership of Rev. Immanuel Janssen; and be
it further

Resolved, That we show our thanks and appreciation to
Rev. Immanuel Janssen for his faithful service by a rising
vote of thanks.

Action: Adopted (3).