# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S132 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 132 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS hearing of Jesus for the first time; and each agency as the love of Christ is shared by being His hands in everyday lives. To meet the challenges we encounter, we rejoice in the various opportunities and training for people to serve the church. We have men training in EIIT, SMP, CHS, and traditional routes. There are men and women training through various routes to become rostered commissioned workers to meet the challenges we face. The Atlantic District, in partnership with other East Coast districts, has partnered to train leaders to assist local congregations in a variety of tasks to serve the church. The congregations of the Atlantic District continue to gather together for worship and celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly. We rejoice in the freedom of cultural expression that ties together the components of the Divine Service. The Atlantic District continues to give thanks for the Koinonia project as we explore our life together. This has continued through discussions locally and throughout the district. The Atlantic District schools are an incredible mission field. It is the teachers and administration that encourage the faculty and staff to Engage the students and families they serve with the Gospel of Hope. They live out the Lutheran ethos in their daily lives and teaching. We pray continually for the wonderful work they do amidst a changing culture. The Atlantic District does its best to adapt to the new, changing world. As people and culture have changed, the district has strived to continue to meet the challenges of this new world without watering down or compromising the Gospel. The Atlantic District continues to seek out new opportunities to support and grow the mission and ministry of the church in the district. This is a challenging task in an environment where normal giving patterns seem to be changing. The challenge for the Atlantic District is not only supporting ongoing ministry, but assisting struggling congregations; starting new missions; and identifying and training diverse leaders of the church. We continually give thanks as we walk together in common mission especially here in New York. Derek G. Lecakes, President joins Him in planting the Gospel among those outside of Christ’s church. Pray, remembering and asking that He be powerful in this, His work and we A.) equip for Gospel witness in our communities B.) provide missionary training for professional and laity C.) encourage new starts for the sake of connecting new believers Undergirding this we work to encourage multiplicative disciple-making. Spring of 2019 marks the 6th annual CNH mission conference. Ministry plants include. 1. The launch of LINC Bay Area and the full-time funding of City Director Aaron Putnam. This important partner is the primary leadership development and church planting partner for the CNH in the Bay Area. 2. The organization of Addis Kidan as a full congregation. This multilingual parish is focused upon church planting for East Africans in the greater Bay Area. 3. The readiness of St. Matthew’s Kauai to apply for Synod membership. 4. In addition there have been five new language starts in the Oromo, Hmong, and Spanish language groups. Our district has been guided for the past fifteen years by the vision that all of our churches and schools be equipped to serve as missionary outposts in their communities. Outcomes include 1. A. There is a district-wide culture that facilitates the overall wellness and equipping of leaders. B. 2. R22 2019 Convention Workbook Identify and utilize leaders across the district to assist others in mission for both congregations and schools. Congregations have a positive mission direction. A. Congregations have hope with a vision for the future. California-Nevada-Hawaii District Under the theme “Hearts Burning with Christ for the World,” based on Luke 24, the CNH District Convention celebrated the transition of leadership from long-term president Dr. Robert Newton (15 years) and two staff members, Pastor Ted Hartman (14 years) and Joel Koerschen (29+ years). President Michael Lange was elected to a first term and First VicePresident Tom Zelt of Fremont, CA, was re-elected as First Vice-President. This past triennium also marked the transition of the CNH District’s long-term CEF wrapping its assets into the national LCEF. Mr. Bill Swift serves as the LCEF representative. Over $1.2 million of retained earnings were awarded to CNH congregations and ministries for the sake of God’s mission in grants. The CNH District’s Mission Agency has been active assisting in the planting, re-planting, and cultivation of new mission starts. The CNH Mission Agency together with Jesus … The CNH District consists of well-equipped, healthy, missionally committed leaders. B. 3. Cooperative ministries between congregations are fostered and enabled. Basic congregational and support services are provided in an efficient and cost-effective way. A variety of grants are made available through the generosity of donors and in the district grants. The CNH makes church work education grants but also offers a variety of incentive grants for congregations and their leaders to engage in mission work with their community and to engage in practical individual and group experiences to enhance missionary learning and practice. The CNH District intentionally formed a mission agency to catalyze and organize the district’s mission work together. We believe the CNH District and its Mission Agency is not merely an office or an organization, but each and every “called out” missionary person of God scattered in and around our region, both within and sent beyond our congregations.