# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S35 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNOD REPORTS • Shepherd of the Pines, Payson, AZ: planted a satellite congregation in Tanto Basin, AZ. • Faith, Warsaw, MO: purchased weekly broadcast time on the local radio station Judea—Districts’ regional and specialized outreach projects • Pacific Southwest: Mixteco Outreach • Florida-Georgia: Amigos en Cristo Hispanic Outreach • South Wisconsin: French-speaking African Immigrant Ministry • Californian-Nevada-Hawaii: Mosaic Ministry in San Francisco • Texas: Rio-Grande Valley Outreach in South Texas • Missouri: Congregational Revitalization and Refocusing on Outreach • Mid-South: Church Transformation Revolving Loan Fund Samaria—National Mission’s support for expanding outreach initiatives in the United States • Ablaze! in God’s Word Bible Listening Program: 55,000 digital audio Bibles distributed to young people at the 2007 National Youth Gathering and in 260 Lutheran elementary schools. • Ablaze! Covenant Congregations: Currently 197 congregations are committed to planting up to four churches—35 of these congregations are receiving supportive grants. In partnership with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, a revolving Mission Planters Loan Fund is also now available. • Approximately 300 congregations are participating in the Transforming Churches Network revitalization process made possible in part by this funding. Ends of the Earth—International Mission’s support of sister/partner church outreach and missionaries • Ghana: New Seminary in Accra—Fan into Flame campaign efforts provided the funding necessary ($556,000) to build this pastor training facility of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana. • Russia: St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg— the completed restoration project of this historic, multipurpose facility guarantees continuing urban outreach, and the government cannot reclaim the building. • Southeast Asia: New international school is projected to open in August 2010 or 2011. • Worldwide: To date, 28 new career missionaries were called and able to begin their service as a result of Fan into Flame funding and the Network-Supported Missionary model. What’s Next? A handful of districts have elected to raise funds beyond the July 2010 convention. In addition, all congregations will receive a final invitation to participate. Furthermore, there are some remaining individuals and foundations that will be and/or are prayerfully considering their participation in this campaign. Therefore, LCMS World Mission has submitted an overture to the 2010 Synod convention, “To Celebrate the Blessings of Fan into Flame and Commit to Its Completion,” asking for congregations of the Synod to celebrate the formal completion of the campaign on Reformation Day, October 31, 2011. Campaign support mechanisms will remain in place until the remaining districts and congregations of our Synod complete their campaign efforts and all pending gift requests have been closed. The final report of the Fan into Flame campaign will be made at the next Synod convention. Thomas Zehnder, Executive Director Kermit Almstedt, Chairman 35 R1-02 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League “The mission of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is to assist each woman of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in affirming her relationship with the Triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world” (LWML Mission Statement). The LWML is the official women’s auxiliary of the LCMS. The year 2010 marks its 68th year of “Serv[ing] the Lord with Gladness” (LWML motto, based on Ps. 100:2). As “Lutheran Women in Mission” (“doing business as” name, adopted in 1998), thousands of women are daily dedicating their lives to serve the Lord, share the Gospel, and make a difference where He has placed them. All officers, pastoral counselors, and committee personnel serve as volunteers on every level of the LWML. Funds for grants are gathered through voluntary “mite” offerings and other gifts. The 40 LMWL districts receive these funds, of which 75 percent stays in the districts to support grants and administrative costs and the remaining 25 percent is sent to the national LWML organization to finance the grants selected at national conventions and to cover the expenses of running the organization. Significant activities and programs since our 2007 report: • Beginning in the 2007–2009 biennium, the LWML increased its Internet presence through its Web site www.lwml.org. The appointment of an Information Technology Committee resulted in the establishment of a secure member log-in system and other Internet enhancements. • “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). The 40 LWML districts held conventions in 2008, with over 11,000 in attendance, voting for more than $6 million in support for the auxiliary’s mission outreach and focus. • The 2008 LWML Sunday theme was “Opened Eyes … Hearts Ablaze!” with materials written by Dr. Robert Roegner. • During November of 2008, just over 200 women, representing all LWML districts, gathered for the “Assembly of Leaders” and A Time to Lead training event held in St. Louis. • 2009 LWML Sunday materials were authored by Dr. Warren Schumacher under the theme “Look to the Hills … God Reigns!” • At the 2009 LWML convention in Portland, the Heart to Heart Sisters program joyfully celebrated more than 100 participants, women who are leaders in various cultures and ethnic groups. Many have become involved in LWML on the national level, having also started new LWML groups in their areas. • Materials for 2010 LWML Sunday, under the theme “People of God … in the Word” were co-authored by Rev. Kent Wendorf and Rev. Nathan Wendorf. • In February 2010, the LWML debuted a new video-based resource, Faith Talk, developed as an interactive tool to assist women in becoming more comfortable with sharing their faith and the hope they have because of Jesus Christ. • Eleven new sets of Mustard Seeds devotions have been developed, with four additional packs in various stages of completion. • The LWML has continued to publish Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly, a magazine for all Lutheran women and not merely for those who consider themselves to be members of the LWML. The magazine features stories for today’s women, Bible stud2010 Convention Workbook 2010 Convention.indb 35 4/15/10 2:38 PM