# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1989_S95 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) WITNESS AND OUTREACH 95 1. Goal: 10 new overseas mission fields opened (1 per year) Actual: Work initiated in 35 new nations 2. Goal: 10 Bible translation projects begun on 10 spo- ken unwritten languages Actual: 7 new—Moba, Togo; Kalanga, Botswana; Bako, Mbe, and Gokana, Nigeria; 2 cooperating with Lutheran Bible Translators—Kono, Sierra Leone; Kisi, Liberia 3. Goal: 600 new missionaries serving partner churches/ mission fields Actual: 186—change in philosophy reduced number needed; 27 positions await filling; and Wuereas, In other areas we are compelled to admit our lack of zeal and commitment to telling our neighbors what He has done for us: 1. Goal: New churches planted, 180 average per year,including 10 black, 5 Hispanic, 2 Native American, 2 Asian American Actual: Average per year of 73 Anglo, 5 black, 3 His- panic, 1 Native American, 7 Asian American 2. Goal: 50 percent growth (5 percent per year) in bap- tized membership Actual: Negative growth average for 10-year period of .05 percent; and Wuereas, The Lord continues to set before our church new challenges and open doors in this country and throughout the world in order that we may continue to tell everyone what He has done: 1. Three new nations in West Africa 2. Unique opportunities in Asia 3. The people from nations from around the world living in this country 4. The 42 percent unchurched in this country; therefore be it Resolved, That we admit our unwillingness to “make the most of every opportunity” to tell our families, friends, and coworkers what He has done for us personally, and for Christ’s sake ask the Lord of the harvest to forgive us; and be it further . Resolved, That we lift our voices in praise to our God for the doors through which He has led us and for His rich blessing on the Word used to tell everyone behind those open doors what He has done; and be it further Resolved, That with and under the Spirit’s blessing we rededicate and recommit ourselves to the attainment by 1993 of the challenges, opportunities, and open doors the Lord sets. before us as described in the mission goals adopted by the 1986 convention: 1,800 new churches planted in this country, to include each year 10 new black, 5 new Hispanic, 2 new Native American, and 2 new Asian American 25 percent growth in baptized membership 200 new campus ministries 200 new deaf ministries 300 percent increase in number of blind people served work initiated in 7 new unreached nations work begun in 7 new spoken unwritten languages increase in missionary force from 148 to 500; and be it finally Resolved, That our reaffirming of these goals be a clear witness to our united determination to continue above all else to tell everyone what He has done. Action: Withdrawn (15). (Discussion of the resolution was begun in session 5 but was not completed.) To Challenge Congregations in Evangelism RESOLUTION 1-03 Report R1-03 (CW, pp. 16-19) Wuereas, The Lord of the church has given us the mis- sion to make disciples; and Wuereas, We desire to accept the challenge from our Lord to become once again a growing church; and Wuereas, Many of the factors influencing the growth of the church are under the control of the local congrega- tion; and WHEREAS, The vision of ministry to the world begins at the local level; therefore be it Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to put in writing its mission statement, setting forth its reason for existence as a congregation, and develop a plan to carry out its mission which incorporates the following: a. Emphasize the outreach dimension of every function and activity b. Become a more caring, loving, friendly, warm congregation ° Provide ways to help members learn witness skills d. Train groups to make various types of calls (e.g., visitors, referrals, newcomers, etc.); e. Develop an ongoing program of intentional assimilation; f. Find a way for early identification and caring for inactives; and be it further Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to fin- alize such plan within one year of adoption of this reso- lution, and that such plan be shared with its Circuit Counselor and District evangelism board/committee; and be it finally Resolved, That we pray for the power of the Spirit to enable us to grow in a positive attitude toward outreach and to find and use those resources available to us to tell everyone what He has done! Action: Adopted (10).