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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 22

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

22 MISSIONS

planned not only in consultation with established Lu-
theran ministries but with all existing Christian min-
istries. Where a new ministry can enhance God’s mission,
it should be opened. Forty-nine new ministries were
begun in North America in 1968.

In the meantime expansion of the mission should
occur particularly where congregations can reach out
into their communities with the Gospel of forgiveness
in a total-life context. Each of the 6,000 congregations
of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod needs to be-
come a real mission agency, each serving its community
with ministry reflecting Christ’s. Outreach to all in a com-
munity, including blacks and Latins as well as other
racial minorities, dare not be a matter of simple tolera-
tion. In other words it is not enough to say, ‘They are
welcome.” Serious and sustained attempts must be made
to reach all. Likewise, the first responsibility for serving
all needs of a community (hospitals, campuses, etc.), lies
with the local congregation. Perhaps less time should be
spent in administering a congregation and more in min-
istering to people in their various needs. Only when the
demands are greater than the resources should another
level of church (circuit, District, etc.) be called on for help.

e. Relationship with Other Christians. The Board for
Missions has worked within the framework of the Di-
vision of Mission Services, Lutheran Council in the
U.S. A., in correlating Missouri Synod efforts with those
of other Lutherans to prevent overlapping and to con-
sult on changes in existing ministries. One area that
demands more attention is the relocation of ‘non-
subsidized” congregations. If moves are planned with-
out regard for other congregations, comity is violated,
and wasteful duplication can result. Under the auspices
of the Lutheran Council, an institute for planning for
District and regional mission executives was conducted
in 1968.

f. Training for Evangelism

1) Evangelism, the Cutting Edge. As the Mission Affir-
mations have moved into the life of the church, we have
encouraged one another to no longer “regard our local
congregations or our Synod as ends in themselves” but
to move forward with a new missionary zeal—to live and
proclaim Christ in the totality of human history, to speak
the Word of Life and live the words we speak.

Evangelism is not an optional feature of a church’s
program. It is the very heart of the church and becomes
the organ that measures the health or debility of the
entire body. It is the church’s conscience, insuring that
the Word of God is central in all its activities as a living
and dynamic witness in word and deed that God is pres-
ent and active in and through His people.

Evangelism is the ‘“‘cutting edge” of the church. It is
the one ingredient that precludes the church from self-
entrenchment and self-perpetuation for its own sake.
It calls upon the church to risk the Word of God in the
world with total confidence in the power of that Word to
conquer and overcome and not be diminished in the
process.

Evangelism does not really send people into the
world; they are already there. The specific role of the
Directed Programs of Evangelism section of the Board
for Missions is to help equip the people of God in order
that God’s good Word may be applied in vastly changing
circumstances to point a world toward the God who has
redeemed them. During the past biennium, evangelism
staff on the Board for Missions have continued their
attempts to equip people in North America through the
various devices at their disposal.

2) Evangelism Contact Men and Evangelism Com-
mission. Much of the ongoing activity in directed pro-
grams of evangelism has been conducted on the District
level through the leadership of 35 evangelism contact
men. These men serve as evangelism catalysts in their
respective Districts and form a vital link in training the
people of God for their evangelism task.

The Evangelism Commission met 12 times during the
past biennium and offered invaluable assistance and
guidance for evangelism activities. In addition to serving
on the commission, members have made themselves
available on numerous occasions to serve as leaders of
various evangelism programs throughout the Synod.

3) Evangelism Festival. In 1964 leaders recognized
the need for an annual emphasis on evangelism through-
out the church and launched the first “Evangelism Fes-
tival.” The number of congregations participating in the
annual Evangelism Festival has grown from 1,800 in 1964
to more than 3,000 in 1968, to nearly 4,000 in 1969.

The fourth Sunday in January is normally suggested
for the festival. However, materials are undated so that
congregations can participate anytime during the course
of the year. The theme of the 1969 Evangelism Festival
was “You, Too, Can Witness,” and the mailing to pastors
provided resources for training individual members in
the art of witnessing to the Gospel wherever they
might be.

4) Campus Evangelism Workshops. Evangelism staff
have offered weekend evangelism workshops to the
Synod’s preparatory and terminal institutions, involving
both students and faculty members in Bible study, Scrip-
tural instruction on witnessing, inspirational lectures,
and actual in-service experience in calling on members
of the community. Eight workshops were conducted
during the past biennium.

5) Summary of Directed Evangelism Programs. Since
1955, evangelism staff have provided frequent assistance
through a host of directed training and outreach pro-
grams. These programs now include eight basic ap-
proaches that are offered to congregations, areas, or
entire Districts. These include:

225 Preaching-Teaching-Reaching Missions
65 Spiritual Life Missions
18 Families for Christ Programs
14 Ambassadors for Christ Programs
41 Pastors’ Evangelism Workshops
16 Teachers’ Evangelism Workshops
57 Lay Evangelism Workshops
8 Campus Evangelism Workshops