LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 95

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WITNESS AND OUTREACH 95

1. Goal: 10 new overseas mission fields opened (1 per
year)
Actual: Work initiated in 35 new nations
2. Goal: 10 Bible translation projects begun on 10 spo-
ken unwritten languages
Actual: 7 new—Moba, Togo; Kalanga, Botswana; Bako,
Mbe, and Gokana, Nigeria; 2 cooperating with
Lutheran Bible Translators—Kono, Sierra
Leone; Kisi, Liberia
3. Goal: 600 new missionaries serving partner churches/
mission fields
Actual: 186—change in philosophy reduced number
needed; 27 positions await filling;

and

Wuereas, In other areas we are compelled to admit our
lack of zeal and commitment to telling our neighbors what
He has done for us:

1. Goal: New churches planted, 180 average per
year,including 10 black, 5 Hispanic, 2 Native
American, 2 Asian American

Actual: Average per year of 73 Anglo, 5 black, 3 His-
panic, 1 Native American, 7 Asian American

2. Goal: 50 percent growth (5 percent per year) in bap-
tized membership

Actual: Negative growth average for 10-year period of
.05 percent; and

Wuereas, The Lord continues to set before our church
new challenges and open doors in this country and
throughout the world in order that we may continue to tell
everyone what He has done:

1. Three new nations in West Africa
2. Unique opportunities in Asia
3. The people from nations from around the world living
in this country
4. The 42 percent unchurched in this country; therefore
be it
Resolved, That we admit our unwillingness to “make
the most of every opportunity” to tell our families, friends,
and coworkers what He has done for us personally, and
for Christ’s sake ask the Lord of the harvest to forgive us;
and be it further
. Resolved, That we lift our voices in praise to our God
for the doors through which He has led us and for His rich
blessing on the Word used to tell everyone behind those
open doors what He has done; and be it further

Resolved, That with and under the Spirit’s blessing we
rededicate and recommit ourselves to the attainment by
1993 of the challenges, opportunities, and open doors the
Lord sets. before us as described in the mission goals
adopted by the 1986 convention:

1,800 new churches planted in this country, to include
each year 10 new black, 5 new Hispanic, 2 new Native
American, and 2 new Asian American

25 percent growth in baptized membership

200 new campus ministries

200 new deaf ministries

300 percent increase in number of blind people served

work initiated in 7 new unreached nations
work begun in 7 new spoken unwritten languages

increase in missionary force from 148 to 500;
and be it finally

Resolved, That our reaffirming of these goals be a clear
witness to our united determination to continue above all
else to tell everyone what He has done.

Action: Withdrawn (15).

(Discussion of the resolution was begun in session 5 but was
not completed.)

To Challenge Congregations
in Evangelism

RESOLUTION 1-03
Report R1-03 (CW, pp. 16-19)

Wuereas, The Lord of the church has given us the mis-
sion to make disciples; and

Wuereas, We desire to accept the challenge from our
Lord to become once again a growing church; and

Wuereas, Many of the factors influencing the growth
of the church are under the control of the local congrega-
tion; and

WHEREAS, The vision of ministry to the world begins at
the local level; therefore be it

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to put
in writing its mission statement, setting forth its reason
for existence as a congregation, and develop a plan to carry
out its mission which incorporates the following:

a. Emphasize the outreach dimension of every function
and activity

b. Become a more caring, loving, friendly, warm
congregation

°

Provide ways to help members learn witness skills

d. Train groups to make various types of calls (e.g.,
visitors, referrals, newcomers, etc.);

e. Develop an ongoing program of intentional
assimilation;

f. Find a way for early identification and caring for

inactives;

and be it further

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to fin-
alize such plan within one year of adoption of this reso-
lution, and that such plan be shared with its Circuit
Counselor and District evangelism board/committee; and
be it finally

Resolved, That we pray for the power of the Spirit to
enable us to grow in a positive attitude toward outreach
and to find and use those resources available to us to tell
everyone what He has done!

Action: Adopted (10).