# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S116
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

116

SYNOD REPORTS
R6-03-02

Fan into Flame Final Report
Introduction

Fan into Flame, an audacious five-year campaign to raise $100 million in support of the Synod’s Ablaze! mission
goal of reaching 100 million people with the Gospel by Reformation Day 2017, concluded its active fund-raising
phase on October 31, 2011. Delegates to Synod’s 2010 convention voted to extend the campaign eight months past
its original timeline in order to conclude work in the 35 districts of the LCMS.
The campaign is now in a passive phase, wherein contributors who made significant multi-year commitments continue to fulfill their pledges through periodic gift installments.
At the Synod’s 2010 convention in Houston, delegates approved Res. 1-01*, which required that “a final report on
the Fan into Flame campaign be provided to the next Synod convention.” This report is intended to fulfill the 2010 convention’s expectation, as well as the expectation of all those who prayed for and took a personal interest in this endeavor.
It has been said that fund-raising campaigns can have very long “tails.” To illustrate, the most recent gift for the
Synod’s two-year Forward in Remembrance campaign (1979–81) was this past February, as the 2013 Convention
Workbook and this report were in final editing. So while Res. 1-01 of the 2010 convention calls for a “final report,”
the reality is that the impact of Fan into Flame through the many gifts and contributors who participated will not be
fully realized for several years, if not decades. The true final report will likely be read in the historical logs of the
Synod and its missionaries, and in the lives and legacies of those who heard the precious Gospel of Jesus and were
called to faith by the Holy Spirit.
REPORT COMPONENTS
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Campaign Overview
Participation
Financial Overview: Revenues, Disbursements, and Expenses
Campaign Breakdown: Restricted and Unrestricted Support
Expense (Cost) Ratios
Current Status and Activities
Attachment—2010 Res. 1-01
Campaign Overview

The Synod’s Fan into Flame campaign was historic and unprecedented in its scope, vision, and design. It provided
substantial resources in support of the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to “vigorously make known
the love of Christ.” People in our neighborhoods and around the world are hearing the Gospel through the efforts of
the Ablaze! movement because of the support LCMS members and households gave through Fan into Flame.
Genesis of the Campaign

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Fan into Flame campaign was officially adopted at the 2004 Synod
convention (Res. 1-04) to develop $100 million in financial support for the Ablaze! movement, an effort to reach 100
million people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by 2017.
Components and Distribution Plan

Fan into Flame was designed as a unique approach to partnering with LCMS households, congregations, and districts. For the first time, a portion of funds raised would be returned to participating congregations and districts as
support for local and regional outreach efforts. The model for the distribution of raised funds was centered around
Acts 1:8, “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The
verse framed a case for raising funds intended to benefit evangelism and outreach efforts by local congregations
(Jerusalem), districts (Judea), and coordinated nationwide programs (Samaria), in addition to international mission
and outreach efforts (the ends of the earth).
Focus Areas				
Defined Goals
%		
Congregations (Jerusalem)		
$15,000,000
15%		
Districts (Judea)				
$15,000,000
15%		
National (Samaria)			
$20,000,000
20%		
International (the ends of the earth)		
$50,000,000
50%		
Fund-Raising Expenses/Recovery						
Total			
		
$100,000,000
100.0%		

Disbursements Plan1
$ 13,500,000
$ 13,500,000
$ 18,000,000
$ 45,000,000
$ 10,000,000
$100,000,000

Figures in this column reflect disbursement goals, including those to cover fund-raising expenses.

1

2013 Convention Workbook

%
13.5%
13.5%
18.0%
45.0%
10.0%
100.0%