LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 135

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SYNOD REPORTS
The instruction from God’s Word and Gospel-motivation of the
Consecrated Stewards program has seen significant offering increases
in nearly all the congregations who have used the material. Regarding
financial practices, the NID Board of Directors has for the first time
in many years adopted a balanced budget for FY 2010. Unrestricted
assets owned by the district are still available and used for worthy
mission and ministry items that come up and need funding on a caseby-case basis, but the operating budget itself no longer draws from
these assets. Our unrestricted offerings continue to be divided three
ways: 30 percent unrestricted to the Synod, 30 percent for NID missions, and 40 percent for the ecclesiastical work of the Synod in this
place. Instituting a balanced budget resulted in some drastic reductions in force that affected three rostered church workers and one lay
support staff member. While these changes are personally painful,
the leadership of the NID believes that it is wise and God-pleasing
to live within the means of our regular income while using the assets
entrusted to us to further the mission.
Challenges abound in this post-Christian culture: faith in Jesus
is no longer assumed to be the faith of most people; denominational
loyalty is nearly nonexistent; and Lutherans no longer immigrate into
the U.S and join our churches. But the Gospel is still the power of
God for the salvation of all who believe, the Lord has still entrusted
His pure doctrine to the LCMS, and we still have the God-given
privilege of proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’
name at home, a little farther from home, and to the ends of the earth.
The leadership and many members of the NID are committed to the
preservation of sound doctrine and the proclamation of sin and forgiveness, not just to those who already come to our divine services
but also to those who do not yet do so. We realize that it is false doctrine to expect unbelievers to come to hear the Gospel without being
invited, since they are dead in their sins. So we do good to proclaim
the message in Jesus’ name to those who are not yet in our churches,
and we pray that the Holy Spirit will bring many to faith where and
when He chooses.
The NID is, by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit in
Word and Sacraments, working and praying for “New Starts … New
Believers.”
Dan Gilbert, President
R7-02-23

Northwest District
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2–3

Ministry in the Northwest District has undergone some significant changes. The district gave thanks to God for the ministry of Rev.
Dr. Warren Schumacher, who retired in 2009 after 15 years of inspirational and visionary leadership as president. The district staff also
suffered a significant loss as Steve Henderson, assistant to the district
president, was called to his eternal home in July 2009. The Scripture
passage printed above calls us to keep our focus on our Lord’s leadership and blessing as we seek to share His love with the people of
the great Northwest.
The “Tracking the Spirit” movement began in 2002 with 113
attendees. Sessions continue to gain momentum with over 300 attending in 2009. More sessions have been scheduled thus far in 2010 than
were held all last year. “Tracking I” covers the purpose of the Holy
Spirit, “Tracking II” addresses spiritual gifts, “Sharing Jesus without

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Fear” focuses on evangelism, and “Paradigms” helps attendees look
at their mindsets as they relate to outreach. “The Faith Communities
Project” is an effort to train people to reach into the post-church culture with the Gospel.
Ethnic ministries are an important emphasis in the district. “Alaska
Mission for Christ” has the ongoing mission of bringing the Gospel to
every community in the state of Alaska. Rev. David Sternbeck, pastor
at Makah Lutheran Church in Neah Bay, was ordained in December
2009. There are new leaders and new gatherings of people in all
areas of ethnic ministry including the following. Oromo, Eritrean
(new church in Seattle area), Burmese (eastern Washington), Latino,
Vietnamese, Russian, Sudanese, and Korean missions continue to
reveal themselves. Some are affiliated with existing churches; others
are worshiping in house churches with partnerships being explored.
The “VBS Express,” our traveling ministry bringing VBS into
rural communities through a big rig equipped with climbing wall and
other gathering activities, acquired another trailer formerly operated
by Cross Country Mission Society. Now operating with Trucks I &
II, they grew their service from 18 locations in 2008 with one truck
to 24 locations in 2009 (serving 2,500 kids during the summer of
2009) with two trucks.
The Northwest District LCEF program has been and continues to
be an integral servant-partner of the congregations and ministries in
the district. As the primary funding source for capital expansion in
the district, the district’s LCEF program has seen its loan portfolio
grow by more than $11 million over the last triennium while maintaining a stable investor base. The challenges of supporting more than
260 congregations, schools, and other ministries across four states are
ongoing, but through the grace of God, LCEF will be a servant and a
partner for many years to come, ensuring that funds and services are
available for the creating of space and place for the preaching and
teaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The district LCEF
team was recognized for its outstanding leadership and service.
The Center for Prayer Renewal operates regular prayer retreats
and facilitates a prayer ministry throughout the district. Prayer partners receive weekly e-mails encouraging them to bring people and
concerns to the Lord for His blessing.
The Northwest District is blessed with 100 early childhood centers. Through networking, onsite visits, conferences, and monthly
Webinars, we are encouraging reconnecting congregations with the
early childhood centers. We believe God is sending children and families to us that do not know Him or have a church home.
The district received a grant for a three-year project called
“Sustainable Lutheran School Initiative.” The initiative includes three
modules: (1) Financial and strategic planning, (2) Significant staff
development, and (3) School accreditation. The project has as its centerpiece the coaching and mentoring of the school leader. Webinars
are held for pastors, board members, and admission counselors.
The development of the Center for Applied Lutheran Leadership
(CALL), a ministry partnership with Concordia University, Portland,
continues to take shape. CALL is intended to be a research and training center for the purpose of bringing the Gospel into the post-church
culture.
The Northwest District’s Ministry to Military Personnel,
Congregations, and Families provides resources that equip fellow
Christians to reach out to military members and their families with the
love of Christ. The District Disaster Response effort utilizes teams in
Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington for training in congregational
preparedness. District coordinators are volunteers, in partnership with
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