LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 98

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98

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

Generation to other congregations. The G2G project was presented
to the Council of Presidents in February 2022 for its final report
to the 2023 Synod convention. Three other LCMS districts have
requested presentation of the study results.
With the conclusion of 2016 Synod Resolution 13-02A, the
transition from deacon (LLD) to ordained pastor in the Mid-South
District is completed. There were 14 men who were certified for
ordination in accordance with Synod guidelines, which allows for
Word and Sacrament in their specific location. Praise God for His
calling of workers for the harvest!
The CAR (Congregation Assessment Resources) and COMPASS
programs, services to the congregations of the Mid-South District,
assist congregations, schools, and ECCs to compare vital ministry
information with other congregations. The COMPASS visitation
provides strategic information for participating congregations and
has a proven outcome for growing ministry outreach and operational efficiencies. Over 80 congregations have utilized the CAR
information for their strategic efforts. Eight other districts have utilized the COMPASS visitation teams.
The Mid-South District offered basic Greek classes to the SMP
and SMP-colloquy pastors, under the direction of Rev. Gregory
Bauch and video presentations by Rev. Dr. James Voelz. Additionally, the district continues to offer a weekly discussion Zoom meeting for all pastors on an in-depth study of the upcoming lessons
from the lectionary. A variety of pastors lead the discussions for
possible sermon presentations.
In December 2021, tornadoes ripped across Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation
over 200 miles long and 10 to 14 miles wide. Through the efforts of
LCMS Disaster Relief, our Mid-South District disaster coordinator, Ms. Jan Simko, and Rev. David Appold of St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Paducah, the district distributed disaster-relief grants totaling $585,000 to those in need. These funds were received from
fellow Lutherans across the entire nation who were touched by the
devastation.
The Mid-South District was blessed to partner with Soldiers of
the Cross and offer assistance to many in our district who suddenly
found themselves out of work or struggling to make ends meet.
Over $58,000 was awarded in the form of grants to all who applied
for assistance.
The Mid-South District remains committed to providing financial support to students from our congregations who attend Synod
universities and seminaries. Over the past three years, financial aid
in the amount of $241,000 has been provided to 51 students; this
averages out to $4,725 per student per year. Special thanks goes
to the Mid-South District LWML for the faithful support of this
program through significant annual grants as well as their assistance with Each 1 Reach 1 as we continue this important initiative
throughout the district. Each 1 Reach 1 includes information from
Synod’s Every One His Witness program.
With the help of our annual earnings distribution from LCEF,
the Mid-South District was able to implement an initiative titled
GROW Grants, which offers a one-time financial outlay of up to
$15,000 for each ministry or program that will be an ongoing and
self-sustaining mission and ministry. Examples of such programs
or initiatives include new ethnic ministries, outreach to college students, a community food pantry or clothing closet, a ministry for
the homeless, or any ongoing program that provides unique opportunities for Gospel-sharing with the community at large. Through
2023 Convention Workbook

these grants, the district will encourage and support innovative
ministry programs that emphasize the Gospel Reaching Our World
so that the knowledge of God’s love, grace, and mercy may grow.
The Mid-South District is in discussions with Jack Preus to develop micro-schools in at least six different locations across the
district. One objective of micro-schools is to make use of underutilized congregation space to make connections to the general
community where it resides.
The church worker initiative of the LCMS, Set Apart to Serve
(SAS), has been launched in the Mid-South District to help respond
to the growing number of vacancies created by retirements of professional church workers. The Mid-South District has assembled
a special task force to generate information and cultivate interest among the young people of our member congregations. With
the decline of applicants in our Concordia University System and
seminaries, we need to be more proactive about actively recruiting
members. The Mid-South District has 15 young people in our Concordia University System settings and seminaries. Seven men are
in the process of completing their seminary education, while five
more have been approved for admission in fall 2023. This means
that the Mid-South District has one seminarian for every 3,600 baptized members. Given that there are 1.8 million members in the
LCMS, our Synod could have 500 men in seminary at that ratio.
Given the number of small and rural congregations along the
border of the Mid-South and Missouri Districts, conversations are
taking place regarding the possibility of circuit riders to help serve
existing congregations. On their own, these congregations cannot
afford full-time pastors. Our districts will provide essential services
to our members in this cooperative effort.
The Mid-South District has continued to strengthen the financial position of the district through controlled spending and implementation of development programs such as IMPACT and Funding
the Ministry. By God’s grace and the generosity of the people of
the Mid-South District, I am pleased to share these development
highlights, which have been instrumental in helping support the
district’s strategic plan:
•

IMPACT-awareness events have been held around the district to increase visibility of the district’s work.

•

There has been an increase of over 40 percent of current giving donors.

•

Over the eight-year period since the IMPACT strategic plan
was initiated, $2,384,500 has been committed and over
$2,431,300 received for ministry in the Mid-South District.

•

In addition, 14 Funding the Ministry campaigns have been
conducted in congregations, resulting in nearly $3 million
being committed for ministry in the congregations.

Through our faithful stewards, over $5 million dollars has been
committed for ministry since 2013. These dollars are over and
above the tithes and offerings to the local congregations.
Praise God for His people in the Mid-South District!
It is a great honor to serve as the president of the Mid-South
District. I pray that God would continue to lead and guide us together in a partnership where the “talents” given to our members
and leadership can be about the work of the Great Commission.
Roger C. Paavola, President