# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S48
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

48

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
o

Being wise stewards of our resources while keeping up with the pace
of communication technology in ways that serve the church well

Opportunities
o

Create a strong confessional Lutheran voice worldwide through joint
communication efforts with our 37 partner church bodies
o Collaborate with counterparts in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran
Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Synod to raise the confessional
Lutheran voice in the United States
o Mark and celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in ways
that grow national and global awareness of Luther and the Reformation
and help us expand our audience base
o Continue to grow interest—both within and outside the Synod—in
our online venues of communication. Over the past triennium, total
page-visits to the Synod’s website and its various domains numbered
nearly 36 million. In the not-so-distant future, under God’s blessing,
we hope to crack 50 million … and beyond.

Resources
o Ever-increasing ways to communicate online through free and lowcost platforms
o Our confession of faith and wondrous stories of God’s blessing the
Synod’s missions and ministries at home and around the world.
Without these stories, there would be nothing of value to communicate to the church and the world.
o Finally, at the risk of sounding immodest, the 27 members of the
COMM department bring an impressive depth of skill and experience, coupled with joy and passion, to the tasks we are given to do on
behalf of the church. Since 2013, in the areas of publications, story
writing, graphic design, marketing, Web, and photography, the staff
has won 38 national awards from the Associated Church Press and
Evangelical Press Association.

2016 Convention Workbook

CONCLUSION
The sentiments that I shared with the LCMS Board of Directors
soon after my arrival at the International Center last summer still very
much “ring true” today:
As new CMO, I am very thankful for all the LCMS personnel in the
Office of the President, at the International Center, and in various fields
around the world who have offered a gracious welcome, offered assistance, and made many supportive efforts toward a smooth transition.
And I truly appreciate the privilege of serving the Church in this unique
capacity. As one “coming in” from the parish, I’ve been struck by the
manner in which our faithful, passionate team consistently exudes optimism and inspires genuine confidence and hope as they talk about
the delights, opportunities, challenges, and frustrations (including the
oft-perplexing, complex nature) of their vocational tasks. We are in the
midst of a great battle; yet, we already know and anticipate the outcome—sealed in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior—and we
have been blessed with all the resources necessary to do our jobs now in
accord with God’s good and perfect will.
“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power
of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has
given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we
are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and
eternal life” (1 John 5:18-19).

Dear delegates, it is my fervent prayer that your work at this
convention abide to the glory of our gracious God. Be “steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Rev. Kevin D. Robson, Chief Mission Officer