LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 2

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God's will that all people be saved and come to the knowledge
ofthe truth. We have a mandate from our Lord to go Forward to
make disciples.

With this confidence, the Synod has set the goal of planting,
under God's grace, 180 new congregations each year during
this decade and has determined to work for a 50% increase in
the membership of the Synod. Many, remembering the past,
say it can’t be done. Others, knowing of God’s love for the lost,
His command and His promise which He gives to us, and
seeing the many open doors, say that this is the least that we
can do under His blessing. We are determined to encourage
evangelistic outreach through planting of churches.

Inflation with its rising price of land and construction
presents a real challenge to our goal. In fact, it is not
financially possible to invest a large sum in the establishment
of each new congregation.

The exciting challenge of these days is to find new ways to.
give birth to new groups of Christians who may develop into
organized congregations. Whata thrill itis to rediscover an old
approach, that of congregations giving birth to.new congre-
gations! What a change is occurring as new congregations are
being born through the efforts and dedication of consecrated
lay leaders! What a change is occurring aS many new congre-
gations are being born without five acres of land and a new
building! What achangeis occurring as the people of God catch
the vision of moving Forward to start new congregations!

Some Districts are encouraging Circuits and congregations
to survey the needs of their area and t to begin new ministries
where necessary. The responsibility is creating enthusiasm for
this type of mission work. In remembrance of God’s love in
Christ Jesus, more committed Christians are helping with the
work of reaching people with the Gospel.

We need new churches in the inner city, in new suburbs, in
communities without a Lutheran church, and in some rural
areas. We need new churches in areas of the country with large
unchurched populations and where there are as yet few
congregations.

Of great help has been Lutheran Brotherhood’s providing
of program grants for church development. Between 1976 and
1981, 110 developing congregatioris have been assisted with

~prants totaling $3,981,000.

We praise God that the Districts report the beginning of
about 100 new ministries in 1980. It is anticipated that more
will be begun in 1981. This is real cause for thanksgiving. By
the middle of the decade, the initiation of new ministries will
multiply to the point that we will move forward through His
open doors and surpass our goal for the eighties.

NORTH AMERICAN VS, LCMS DECADAL GROWTH
IN THE SEVENTIES

Membership Population

State 1v7 Baptized 140 Baptized Change “~ Change
Alabama .......... 12.781 13,448 5.2 12.9
Alaska ............. 2,257 2,560 13.4 32.4
Arizona ............ 11,621 16,710 43.8 53.1
Arkansas .......... 9.152 12,864 40.6 18.8
California ......... 186.713 148,292 - 20.6 18.5
Colorado ........... 44,553 46.694 4.9 30.7
Connecticut ........ 20.918 16,204 - 22.5 2.5
Delaware .......... 1.951 1,998 24 8.6
DC. oe. 2.982 2.024 - 32.1 - 15.8
Florida ............ 45.605 58.949 29.2 43.4
Georgia ............ 6,388 7,005 9.7 19.1
Hawaii ............ 2.108 2.351 11.5 25.3
Idaho .............. 11.235 12,753 13.5 32.4
T]linois ............. 357.317 313,425 - 12.3 2.8
Indiana..........,. 115.461 110,408 - 4.4 5.7
ToWa ..... 2... 126.456 128,244 1A 3.1
Kansas ............ 59.469 58.218 - 2.1 5.1
Kentucky .......... 4.752 5.326 12.1 13.7
Louisiana .......... 22,219 20,429 - 86 15.3
Maine ............. 530 369 - 304 13.2
Maryland .......... 30,575 30,883 1.1 7.5
Massachusetts ..... 13,465 7.826 - 41.9 Ral
Michigan .......... 286.111 258.937 - 95 4.2
Minnesota ......... 227 933 220,316 - 3.3 71
Mississippi ........ 3,310 4,344 31.2 13.7
Missouri ........... 151,832 144,829 - 46 5.1
Montana........... 15,421 16.149 47 13.3
Nebraska .......... 106.968 112.593 5.3 5.7
Nevada ............ 4.142 5,020 21.2 63.5
New Hampshire .... 2.228 1.764 - 20.9 24.8

MISSIONS

New Jersey ........ 38,027 30,401 - 20.5 27
New Mexico ........ 5.805 5,543 - 45 27.8
New York .......... 137.322 102,099 - 25.7 - 37
North Carolina .... 14,833 17.451 7.7 15.5
North Dakota ...... 27.952 27,801 - 5 5.6
Ohio ............... 97,095 87.051 - 103 1.3
Oklahoma ......... 21,850 21,906 3 18.2
Oregon ............ 30,419 28,537 - 6.2 25.9
Pennsylvania ...... 29.844 26.596 - 10.9 6
Rhodelsland ...... 1,645 1,215 - 26.1 3
South Carolina ..... 1,603 2.146 33.9 20.4
South Dakota ...... 34,892 33.773 - 32 3.6
Tennessee ......... 9,102 11,157 22.6 16.9
Texas .............. 104,364 117,074 12.2 27.1
Utah 00.00.00... 3,436 4,480 30.4 37.9
Vermont ........... 392 301 - 23.2 15.0
Virginia ........... 12,344 14,290 15.8 14.9
Washington ........ 45,230 44.126 - 24 21.0
West Virginia ...... 621 645 3.9 18.8
Wisconsin ......... 265.469 254,683 - 41 6.5
Wyoming .......... 9,540 10,640 11.6 41.6
Alberta ............ 18,838 19,037 1.6
British Col. ........ 11,106 11,815 6.4
Manitoba .......... 5,367 6,683 24.5
Ontario ............ 42,743 38.884 - 91
Quebec ............ 763 720 - 356
Saskatchewan ..... 18,030 17,676 - 2.0

Total .......... 2,875,082 2,717,662 - 5.5

Forward in American Indian Ministry

The 1979 St. Louis convention, in Res. 1-14A, resolved “‘to
intensify its mission outreach programs among Indian peo-
ple.” The convention also adopted the mission challenge for
the’80s to recruit, train and place 50 full-time workers in Indian
ministries in the Synod. In order to provide indigenous leader-
ship for this program, the Board for Missions was authorized to
establish an American Indian Advisory Council consisting of
LCMS Indians “‘to be responsible to and provide counsel for the
Board for Missions.” The council is also “advisory to all other
boards and commissions” in the Synod that are involved in
work among American Indians.

Four new mission projects have been adopted since the 1979
convention. The Northwest District has resolved to call a
pastor for La Push, Wash., a mission begun among the
Quileute Indians by Rev. Donald Johnson of Neah Bay. The
work in La Push received considerable impetus during the past
several years from the ministry of Dr. William Heinecke, who
assisted in establishing a school for the Quileute people in the
La Push community.

The Colorado District has called a pastor to develop a new
Indian mission among the Navajo peoplein Crownpoint, N.M.
The site of the new mission is 80 miles east of the town of
Navajo, N. M., where Rev. Douglas C. May serves as the pastor
of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, our Indian
congregation in Navajo.

The Wyoming District has resolved to divide its Indian
ministry program on the Wind River Reservation. Rev. Donald
J. Bren, who has initiated the work at Fort Washakie, while
also serving Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Dubois, will
initiate new work in the Crowheart area on the upper Wind
River Reservation. A second pastor has been called to take over
the ministry at Fort Washakie.

The English District has resolved to support a new Indian
mission, the work of former Philippine national pastor, Rev.
Simon Bilagot, on Walpole Island in Ontario. Rev. and Mrs.
Bilagot moved to America because of ill health and in order to
be near their children. Settling in Sarnia, Ont., Rev. Bilagot
made contact with Indian people living on the Walpole Island
Indian Reservation and began an Indian ministry program
among them. Work consists of religious education, Bible study,
worship services, and a project of providing Christian words
for the many songs and chants which are part of the Indian
heritage but for which words are no longer available. Walpole
Island is located northeast of Detroit, Mich., on the St. Clair
River, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Erie.

In addition, the Montana District is presently considering
the establishment of a new Indian mission on the Northern
Cheyenne Reservation in central Montana. The Montana
District has also worked very closely with the Center for Indian
Ministries and Studies (CIMS) at Concordia Teachers College
in Seward, Nebr., since its inception in 1973. Most of the Indian