LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 141

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SYNOD REPORTS
The planting of 100 new ministries and congregations in many
different settings throughout the five-state region and the resourcing
of these efforts has occupied much time and energy during this triennium. Since the setting of this goal, 38 new mission starts have been
initiated and are at one stage or another of development. Of our 21
circuits, 14 are actively involved in supporting a new mission project. By agreeing to become “Ablaze! Covenant Congregations,” 32
congregations will start or assist in starting at least one new mission
between now and 2017.
In addition, a new staff position focused on providing resources
and oversight in this area was developed. Rev. Glenn Lucas joined
the district staff as Director of Mission Development and is working
with new and emerging missions.
Renewal is the term that is being used when established congregations become interested in church transformation or revitalization.
Their number in the SED appears to be on the increase, and Dr.
William Seaman has written a strategic model for this work and has
equipped a team of persons who are piloting this effort with four
congregations.
During this past triennium, the SED completed a special funding effort in partnership with our Synod’s Fan Into Flame campaign.
Ablaze For God’s Mission is the name we gave to it, and the goal of
enlisting $6 million in gifts and commitments was a very bold one.
The “witnesses” Jesus called upon His disciples to become in Acts
1:8, first “in Jerusalem,” then “in all Judea and Samaria,” and finally
“to the ends of the earth” provided the terms of this funding partnership with the Synod. After the deduction of campaign expenses (10
percent) by the LCMS Foundation, 15 percent (Jerusalem) of all the
remainder of unrestricted gifts and commitments, as they are received
or paid off, are set aside for mission projects of the circuits in which
the donors reside; 35 percent of the same (Judea and Samaria) help to
support SED mission partnerships; and 50 percent (ends of the earth)
are being directed to LCMS World Missions.
As of December 31, 2009, major donors, individuals, and congregations made total commitments of $6,008,068. We praise and thank
God that the goal of $6 million has been met and surpassed.
To God be the glory! He has taken the work and gifts of His
people and multiplied them for ministry in ways we could not have
anticipated. We pray for the continued work of the Gospel within the
communities of the SED, the LCMS, and the world.
Jon T. Diefenthaler, President

141

“Spirit Kindle” is also a power given to us from God Himself.
Whenever we hear the Word of God or speak it to others, it is the Holy
Spirit alone who unleashes His power to bring into being the fire of
faith and keep it burning eternally.
Many have predicted that converging world trends will produce
“the perfect storm,” bringing rough sailing for the church. To aid
us in our “storm” preparedness, our convention spent time focusing
on the lessons we have learned from our own “storm” experience.
Our first lesson was that storms bring clear focus to one’s core purpose when forced to answer the question, “What are you willing to
die for?” Other lessons we learned were that everything with value
is not always useful; that none of us are as strong as all of us; that
everyone has a storm story that needs to be heard; that everyone has
a rescue story that needs to be told; that storms prepare you to hear
more clearly the voice of God; and that storms bring renewal.
Clear regarding our core purpose, the convention adopted resolutions “To Establish a Goal of at Least 200,000 Critical Events in the
Next Triennium,” “To Commit to a Minimum of Five New Church
Plants,” and “To Establish a Ministry Task Force for New Orleans.”
In order to make our “valued” district resources more “useful” and
to build on the strength of “all of us,” the convention put into place
new election procedures. Moving from two at-large vice-presidents to
four regional vice-presidents and having every circuit represented on
the district board of directors has produced one of (if not) the strongest Southern District Board of Directors.
Plans are now underway to consider moving from district-wide
committees, which tend to work as silos, to regional mission and ministry task forces that will partner with each other. In order to maximize
available resources for missions, avenues of greater partnering with
neighboring districts as well as self-funding of district office expenses
are being explored. Our goal is to commit 100 percent of congregational offerings to new mission work.
We are thankful for the clarity of the Word of God that is spoken
to us in His Son, Jesus, who continues to renew us.
We continue to pray “Spirit Kindle,” praying that in all things, as
He has promised, God the Holy Spirit will kindle in us through His
powerful Word His own passionate heart for the fulfilling of His loving core purpose in and through us.
Kurtis Schultz, President
R7-02-33

Southern Illinois District

R7-02-32

Southern District
The need for the church to be empowered by God’s Word in
order passionately to fulfill its core purpose is what gave birth to the
Southern District’s 2009 convention theme, “Spirit Kindle.”
“Spirit Kindle” is a prayer that the people of God would burn
with the gracious love of Christ, become animated, and illuminate
the world with the light of life they have received. This is a prayer as
old as faith itself, reflected in the ancient prayer of our church fathers:
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful people and kindle
in them the fire of Your love.”
“Spirit Kindle” is a promise from God that when we live in oneness with Jesus Christ and His will, “all men are to be saved and to
come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). Our witness will
glow from the fire of His faithful presence in our hearts.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to
a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
(1 Peter 1:3). This Scripture informed our theme for the triennium:
Christ: Our One Sure Hope!
Our district includes 96 congregations, one new mission start, 3
high schools, and more. We are 100+ colonies of the future, where
Christ gives sure hope and eternal life in His Word. The Synod in
Southern Illinois, we walk together—congregations, pastors, and
commissioned ministers—toward the future God has provided. God
gives great blessings, challenging opportunities, and always His abundant resources.
While 80 percent of our congregations are within 75 miles of St.
Louis, they are surprisingly diverse. Besides English, two other languages are spoken in weekly worship and Bible study—Mandarin
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