# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S117
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SYNOD REPORTS

117

Summary

Securing $69 million in gifts and pledges, Fan into Flame stands as one of the largest, most ambitious, and most
complex campaigns in the Synod’s history. When combined with the sustaining annual mission gifts received during
the campaign’s time frame (Feb. 2005 through this report), the amount contributed over a six-year period to carry out
witness-related work exceeded $150 million. While the financial goal of $100 million was not realized due to a number of significant internal and external challenges, Fan into Flame did strengthen the global witness of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. It is also providing critical information that will enable Synod to wisely evaluate recommendations for future fund-raising campaigns, using lessons learned from this six-year effort.
Fan into Flame is still relevant to LCMS witness and mercy work. The gifts donors continue to provide as they fulfill outstanding campaign commitments (pledge receivables) are still needed and expected in the field. These resources
will carry out and complete the authorized, mission-critical work intended to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the
world through the Synod’s new structure.
Participation

This specific convention report is not intended to provide a detailed listing of every participating household, congregation, group, or district. The final campaign newsletter distributed in April 2012 and available online at the Synod’s
Web site (www.lcms.org/fanintoflame) offers information about participating congregations and district engagement
through April. In addition, the LCMS did not and has not secured permission from participating LCMS households
to publish a donor list.
What is important to note is that at least one campaign gift flowed out of every LCMS district, whether through
a district effort such as that run by the Southeastern and Texas Districts, through related district special campaigns
such as that conducted in the Michigan District, or from LCMS households and congregations within each district
who gave directly to the campaign.
More than 10,000 LCMS households made direct gifts or multi-gift pledges in support of Fan into Flame, including a substantial number of donors giving a first gift-of-record to Synod. Bible classes, local Vacation Bible Schools,
men’s and women’s groups, family foundations, and even some corporations championed the cause of evangelism
and outreach through sacrificial campaign gifts.
LCMS individuals, congregations and districts2
Private and family foundations, corporations
Other (schools, VBS programs, LWMLs, men’s groups, etc.)
Total donors, grantors, and contributors
Direct Participant Congregations
		
Congregations making direct gifts to Fan into Flame:
Direct Participant LCMS Districts
		
Districts making direct gifts to Fan into Flame:

10,474
31
93
10,598
192
16

2
Under Fan into Flame tracking and reporting protocols, a district or a congregation was counted as an indirect participant so
long as at least one gift came from a member household or a group within that congregation or district. The information is accurate
only to the extent that a specific household or group can be linked directly to an LCMS congregation and the congregation’s associated district. In some cases, Synod has no verifiable data to make this type of connection for reporting purposes.

2013 Convention Workbook