# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S143
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
tion ministries to retain the focus on Word and Sacrament; resourcing, equipping, and strengthening existing congregations
and schools for Kingdom effectiveness; recruiting, supporting,
and mentoring professional church workers; planting churches;
achieving financial stability and long-range fiscal accountability; and staffing for effective ministry support. Despite the closing of some congregations, active congregations were planted,
and cooperation with the district LWML to implement “Each
1 – Reach 1” initiative that produced an increase the district’s
baptized members in the last three consecutive years. E1-R1 is
meant to “Equip, Enable, Encourage, and Empower” our members to be the “salt and light” to a dark world.
Additionally, the Mid-South District’s mission includes direct support to the South of Lake Victoria Diocese Lutheran
Church in Tanzania, their seminaries, and the Malagasy Lutheran Church and their college for young Lutherans. Our work
with Trinity/Hope missions in Haiti supports schools and daily
meals for over 25,000 children for less than 30 cents a meal!
The district developed the COMPASS and C.A.R. programs that help congregations and education ministries define
their ministries and missions activities. C.A.R. (Congregational
Assessment Resource) comparatively defines common indicators of congregation activity with other congregations to assist
in strategies and planning. COMPASS offers a team of surveyors to gather information about a congregation’s mission and
ministry opportunities. The results have assisted congregations
in strategic planning, outreach activities, and operational optimization.
The district, through its supporting congregations and
members, provides financial support for students in church
work tracks in the Concordia University System and our seminaries. The district’s Scholarship Committee awarded $80,000
in financial aid for Mid-South students. The district also provided $6,000 for district professional church workers debt relief
assistance.
The district continues its commitment to making disciples
of all nations. For 52 years, church planting has been a hallmark of the district. Our former investment of 102 percent of
our congregation commitments to missions for plants did not
achieve the result of a self-supporting congregation. The district’s church planting efforts now focus on “mothering” church,
auxiliary, campuses, joint congregation efforts, or circuit initiative.
Consistent with biblical stewardship and catechesis, the
district sponsored a program for congregations to offer the Financial Peace University program, taught from a Lutheran perspective for Mid-South District families. At the end of completion of FPU, the Mid-South District rebates the entire program
cost. Further, the district offers Tuesday Sermon Studies for assistance and discussion around God’s Word.
Our future is bright. We will endeavor to continue mission
support and outreach—to engage, equip, encourage, and enable
each member of our district. We will establish a Lutheran Identity Task Force that will develop materials and information to give
members that can share our Lutheran heritage with confidence
and boldness. Through the SMP Colloquy, financial assistance
to the SMP track in our seminaries, and further training of laity
to be supports of the pastoral ministry, the Mid-South District
will provide every possible opportunity to meet the needs of
each congregation in our district. We will expand the resources

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and content of our small and rural ministry support by offering
“Best Practices Forums” that highlight and offer helpful information on what other successful ministries in the RSTM can
share with other congregations and schools.
We will continue to expand and promote the district’s strategic planning instrument, COMPASS, along with the revised
Congregational Assessment Resource, that offers detailed information on the current operations of every congregation, compared to the other congregations in the C.A.R. pool; and expand its use beyond our district. We will increase our activity to
Identify Future Church Workers from the district congregations
who show aptitude and skills to serve in the Church. Providing additional Student Scholarships and assistance in Education
Debt Relief will help remove much of the deterrent facing potential servants of the church.
We will, because of the influx of multi-cultural ethnic
groups moving into our district, identify additional opportunities to Expand Ethnic Ministries in partnership with our local
congregations. We will refine and assess the matrix of Church
Planting in order to maximize the potential successful planting
opportunities in accordance to the will of God. We will partner
with congregations and schools that have excess facility capacity
to Plant Schools, Early Childhood Centers, and possibly Virtual
Schools.
I must thank our staff, board of directors, and the supportive and dedicated people in our district who make our district
the best it can be for this time, and in this place with which God
has blessed us.
Roger Paavola, President

R33

Minnesota North District
REJOICE:
The 195 congregations, 7 elementary schools, 19 preschools, 332 rostered church workers, 48,107 baptized, and
38,190 communicants along with various ministries such as Lutheran Island Camp and Christ Serve Ranch and Creation Science Environmental Learning Center, Good Shepherd Lutheran
Community and Shepherd of Grace Lutheran Living Centers,
Breezy Point Chapel (Summer Preaching Station), Deaf Ministry, College and University Campus Ministries, Anyuak African
Ministry, Parish Nurses, District Lutheran Laymen’s League
and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League of the Minnesota
North District, rejoice in the Lord and the work He has sent us
to do with “Joy:fully Lutheran” in sharing the Good News of
Christ crucified and risen.
We rejoice in the blessing of celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017 with special events
and worship services including A Festival Service at Concordia
University in St. Paul which was a cooperative effort of the university and the Minnesota North and South Districts.
We rejoice in the launching of Main Street Living Broadcast Ministry which now encompasses the State of Minnesota.
This is a network TV program which includes a 30-minute worship service led by pastors from the Minnesota North and South
Districts along with North Dakota, followed by a remastered
This is the Life program. This outreach endeavor was made pos2019 Convention Workbook