# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S91 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 90 SYNODICAL REPORTS one being used by a number of Districts and has been well received by the Missouri District. The administrative assistant staff was also reorganized, and new job descriptions written. The Board of Directors voted to discontinue publishing our monthly newspaper, The Voice of Missouri, as an insert in The Lutheran Witness. Instead, the District now publishes its own sep- arate newspaper. Lynda Carter was hired by the District to serve as Media Coordinator and editor of The Voice. With her help and the assistance of Rev. Harold Rau, a Web site was established. At its 1997 convention, the District delegates voted to allow the Board of Directors to decide on the question of moving the District office. For many years the District office had been located at Con- cordia Publishing House in St. Louis. A special task force had come to the conclusion that the office should remain in St. Louis, but should be moved to a more readily accessible location. When Lutheran Hour Ministries purchased a building located at 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive (just north of Highway 40 and approxi- mately one mile west of Highway 270), an offer was made to the District to lease one wing at a reasonable cost. The Board of Direc- tors approved. The District office was moved on March 11, 2000. During this past triennium the District dedicated the new Dr. Paul Spitz Retreat Center at Heit’s Point Lutheran Camp located on the Lake of the Ozarks near Lincoln and Cole Camp, MO. The new facility features motel accommodations, meeting rooms, cafe- teria, indoor swimming pool, plus other adult and family-suited ac- commodations. A new bunk house is being built for use by young- sters in a camping or retreat program. As of the writing of this report, anew Executive Director for the camp is being sought. During this next triennium the Missouri District will be setting its focus on new mission starts and in reaching the many new eth- nic groups that have been settling in our state, especially in the met- ropolitan areas. A special offering for this emphasis will be raised as extra support for the regular work of missions. The District’s youth gatherings, as well as gatherings for sin- gles and older adults, have been growing each year under the lead- ership of Mr. Roger Mailand. The District finances are becoming stretched with the addition of new personnel, a new camp director, and support of Heit’s Point. But our congregations have been faithfully supporting the mission and ministry of the District. We are sure that this will continue in the future as we bend our efforts to be more and more “‘servants” to our congregations and to the unreached people of Missouri “for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). James W. Kalthoff, President R7-05-16 Montana District The population of Montana has increased to almost 900,000 due to migration to the mountain areas. An increasing number of per- sons from other states are coming to Montana in order to escape the congestion of heavily populated areas. At the same time we are experiencing a decline in the economic base of Montana, both in agriculture and the development of natural resources. The result is the lowest average income in the nation. These developments present a challenge to our congregations as they reach out to those who have moved into the state, as well as provide the spiritual resources for people who are struggling to sur- vive financially. We have seven Native American reservations in Montana. At the present time we have two LCMS congregations, on the North- ern Cheyenne reservation and on the Crow reservation. Most of the Native American population lives without Christ. In the past decade there has been a revival of the native religions. 2001 Convention Workbook We have a unique ministry at Redeemer congregation in Hardin. This congregation is located in the middle of the Crow reservation and is conducting a successful ministry to Hispanic people. Twenty to twenty-five persons attend the Sunday afternoon services. We have 64 stations. Thirty-one have less than 100 communi- cants and are located in areas of declining population. The chal- lenge is to provide a ministry of Word and Sacrament, especially when these are located 100 miles from the nearest LCMS church, which is in many cases already part of a two-point parish. It is es- sential that the Synod provide for the use of deacons to serve in these situations. This past year more than 750,000 acres in the forests of the state were consumed by fires. We are thankful for the response and as- sistance that was given by LCMS World Relief. Grace congrega- tion in Hamilton assisted families in their area at a cost of more than $25,000. Much of this was borne by the congregation. The Lord has given us the privilege of serving His kingdom in the most beautiful and awesome part of the lower 48 states. We are committed to live in the priestly service of the Gospel (Rom. 15:16). George Wollenburg, President R7-05-17 Nebraska District The theme of the 13th Nebraska District convention was “God’s Plan ... Our Response” based on Jer. 29:11-14. It was a time for our District to celebrate God’s blessings over the past three years, especially the hope and future He has given us in Jesus. It was also a time to seek His plan and guidance as we look to the future, with the prayer that we might be bold and courageous in the mission He has given us to reach the lost with the good news of a sure and cer- tain hope and future in Jesus. During the convention we had the privilege of celebrating our mutually supportive partnership in Gospel ministry with Concor- dia University, Seward. The celebration included receiving a Dis- trict thank offering for Concordia and encouragement for congre- gations to intentionally recruit and support individuals for full-time professional church work and other kinds of servant leadership within our church and world. Concordia, Seward, continues to train the greatest number of church-worker students among all the cam- puses of the Concordia University System. The convention also had the privilege of making a special presentation to two former Dis- trict Presidents, Rev. Dr. Eldor Meyer and Rev. Dr. Frederick Nied- ner, naming each President Emeritus of the District. Two hundred forty-five congregations with more than 111,589 baptized members and 85,218 communicant members are engaged in mission in the Nebraska District. God continues to present open doors and challenges to reach out with the Gospel, and we see God’s people responding to those challenges. The challenges in- clude ministry to a growing Hispanic population, Sudanese immi- grants, the deaf, the black community, international students, cam- pus ministry, the Sandhills area of Nebraska, the Native Americans on the Winnebago and Omaha reservations, and the possibility of reaching out to an increasing Asian population. Many members and congregations are also actively involved in supporting special mis- sion projects beyond Nebraska. God is blessing Nebraska’s 43 Lutheran elementary schools. | jr/sr high schools, 3 high schools, and 33 preschools with increas- ing opportunities to nurture the faith development of young people and to minister to their familics. The LCMS Foundation Gift Planning and the Lutheran Church Extension Fund continue to be special blessings from our Lord.