# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S126 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 126 SYNOD REPORTS We continue to support full-time mission work among the deaf and Native Americans, two of the highest unchurched populations of South Dakota. Our missionary to the deaf holds regular services in Sioux Falls and periodically in Rapid City. Work among Native Americans is being done on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian reservations. A former church building on the Rosebud reservation has been secured, has had many improvements and renovations completed, and is being used for regular services, Sunday School, and Bible classes. Sioux Falls is a hub for receiving immigrants from many na- tions, including many African nations. Three of our congregations work closely with immigrant groups from Sudan, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, providing sites for worship and working toward ‘closer ties between these communities and The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod. In 2006, a Sudanese evangelist working with one of our district’s congregations was ordained as an LCMS pastor fol- lowing his completion of the Synod’s DELTO program. Our district continues to support a television outreach program entitled Main Street Living. The pastors of our district tape wor- ship services that are broadcast weekly through network and cable channels in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Ne- braska. In addition, these services are provided nationally to the Good Samaritan Homes for viewing by their residents. Thirty percent of remittances received by the SD District from our congregations directly fund the mission of our Synod. In addi- tion, our congregations fund the mission work of Amy Hartwig Kashenov in Kazakhstan through Together In Mission (T.I.M). Recognizing that the Lord of the harvest sends out laborers into the harvest, and that many of those laborers come from South Dakota, our district provides financial support for all students at our Synod universities and seminaries who are preparing for pro- fessional church work. Currently, financial aid is being provided to 33 individuals preparing to serve as teachers, DCEs, dea- conesses, and pastors. In conjunction with our district centennial celebration, a special thankoffering was received with 25 percent of the proceeds funding our district scholarship fund and 75 percent directed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, a partner church of the LCMS, for the purpose of the construction of a sem- inary to train pastors. There are currently 13 preschools and 3 Lutheran elementary schools in our district. In addition, Lutheran high schools are being planned in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. While many students in these schools come from Lutheran families, our congregations reg- ularly report receiving members with no church background who have heard the Gospel message through our schools. For well over 100 years, pastors, teachers, and laypeople have received God’s grace and blessings through His means of grace in our congregations, missions, and ministries. In response, with “courageous faith” and giving “bold witness,” it is our desire until Christ comes again vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and world. Dale L. Sattgast, President R7-05-30 South Wisconsin District In June 2006, Rev. Ronald E. Meyer, who had served the SWD as president for 12 years, decided that he would not allow his name to be placed in nomination for another term. At the convention, the district presented Rev. Meyer with a plaque commemorating his years as our district president. Part of that included the presenta- tion of “The Ronald E. Meyer Seminary Scholarship Fund.” As a district, we give thanks to our God for the 9 years that Rev. Meyer served as SWD stewardship executive and the 12 years that he served as our district president. Recently, Rev. Meyer has taken a 2007 Convention Workbook position with the Lutheran Foundation, working on the Fan into Flame project. At the June convention, the delegates elected Rev. John C. Wille, who served Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Tomah, Wisconsin, to be the next SWD President. Rev. Randy Raasch of First Immanuel, Cedarburg, was elected First Vice-President. Also elected as vice-presidents were Rev. Fred Bischoff of Waterford, Rev. Jeff Meyer of Madison, and Rev. Larry Meyers of Elm Grove. In October, a burgeoning operating deficit of some $890,000.00 necessitated a significant reduction in district staff and services. Though financial restraints were instituted and several wonderful gifts were received, SWD closed out fiscal year 2006 with a sig- nificant financial deficit. The good news is that as SWD enters fis- cal year 2007, we do so with a balanced budget. However, we have made the commitment that the deficit will not adversely affect mission or ministry. We are moving forward with outreach to Hmong in Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Oshkosh. We are adding another full-time worker in the Oshkosh area; work- ing also with French-speaking African immigrants as well as Nigerian and Chinese immigrants in the Milwaukee area. We are also continuing our work with Hispanics in Milwaukee, Racine, Madison, and Manitowoc. Among other things happening include: a board of directors commitment to become one of the two pilot districts for Fan into Flame. The congregations that participated as pilot congregations have been greatly blessed. One congregation is at 450 percent of its goal. Nearly every pilot congregation is well over its goal. At present, First Immanuel, Cedarburg, has commitments for $650,000.00. A little more than half way into the effort, we are now beginning phase one. We anticipate great blessings for our work of reaching the lost. In early 2007, after a series of interviews, we hired a new busi- ness manager: John Ericsen, a Milwaukee native. John comes to us with extensive experience in the business world, especially as a Certified Public Accountant and with skills in computer technolo- gies. Since the 2006 convention, the district staff began process to draft a new strategic plan for the district. The mission statement is: “The SWD connects and resources leaders to equip God’s people for bold witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The mission state- ment is: “In a constantly changing world, the South Wisconsin Dis- trict is...advancing and facilitating progressive and vibrant models for: Mission and ministry, Growing discipleship, Leadership de- velopment, and Wholeness.” Part of that strategic plan includes an aggressive approach to reach those who don’t know Jesus as their Savior; with 12 new mission starts and 60 new ministries by 2009. Serving Our Lord Jesus, His Church, and His Mission. John C. Wille, President Jude 1:22—23: “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them.” R7-05-31 Southeastern District In response to Ablaze! and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Southeastern District (SED) at its convention in 2006 challenged its congregations, schools, and workers to aim at achieving the fol- lowing goals by Oct. 31, 2017: * Enlisting 3,000 mission prayer partners; * Sharing our faith with 2.5 million persons not connected to Jesus; * Beginning at least 100 new congregations and ministries; * Holding regularly scheduled outreach workshops and conferences; ¢ Training and equipping 60 outreach ministry teams.