LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 22

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22

SYNODICAL REPORTS

executive and consultant conference took place in 1998,

. Children’s Ministry for the first time was designated as a

synodwide monthly emphasis during March 1998.

. Windows Ministry: Seeing Jesus through the Windows of the

Home—a mentor/coach ministry for families with children
from the third trimester of pregnancy through age 2 was
developed.

. The department served as project associate in The Children

in Worship Study conducted by The Center for the Study of
Children’s Ethical Development (CenSCED).

. A Children at Risk Symposium was collaboratively sponsored

by the Department of Child Ministry. Human Care Ministry,
Wheat Ridge Ministries in 1997.

» Church Plant with Child Care Center Conferences were

conducted with North American Missions in 1997 and 1998.

. New resources include The Early Childhood Mailing—10

monthly packets for persons who work with children, ages 0-
8; “CM Connections”—a quarterly newsletter for
leaders/workers in children’s ministry; Hand in Hand—a
manual for strengthening early childhood centers through
congregational partnerships: Developing Children’s ministry
for the 21st Century; Growth and Development of the Young
Child; Family Bible Hour; Toddlin’ to Jesus; Children Are
Members!; annual Christian Education Month materials, and
Rally Day service folders.

- Lori Aadsen was installed as associate director in 1997. Jane

Haas serves as part-time editor. Jennifer Huecker and June
Waters joined the department as assistants to the director and
associate director in 1997,

. Directors of Children’s Ministry were identified, interviewed,

and listed in a directory that was mailed to each director and
District.

VI. Evangelism Ministry Department

Jerry Kosberg is director and Ralph Geisler is associate director.
The department is an advocate for sharing the Gospel with the

unchurched.

Significant Accomplishments

1.

to

10,

We continue to challenge the congregations of the Synod to
encourage and equip their members in sharing their faith in
their everyday settings with their friends, family. and acquain-
tances.

. Staff continues to visit District evangelism leaders, to build

trusting relationships and partnership activities with District
workers.

. Staff provides a variety of evangelism workshops for

Districts and congregations.

. The Evangelism Department provided support and resources

for the Great Commission Convocation.

. A new project called “Harvesters for Christ” was developed

which trains evangelism teams that go to a congregation for
four to six weeks to help them begin or refocus their evangel-
ism. ministry.

- The department developed annual listening posts to hear

from congregations their Joys, challenges, and needs in
evangelism. These listening posts assist in the planning and
development of resources and priority of effort.

. During this triennium there has been a growing partnership

with the other departments of Congregational Services as
well as with the Board for Black Ministry, North American
Missions, and the Board for Human Care Ministry.

. The staff continues to have Opportunity to visit and Jearn on

the campuses of the colleges and seminaries of the Synod.

. There has been growing dialog with the Commission on

Worship, particularly through joint work on the catechumen-
ate process.

There has been increased work in multicultural evangelism,
including work with various ethnic groups, urban, and rural
congregations,

Significant Resources

l

I.

0.

. A new congregational resource for

Our annual evangelism mailing continues to provide every
congregation (at no cost to them) with evangelism material.
The emphasis remains Friendship Evangelism and “Friend-
ship Sundays,” though additional material for evangelism
training and evangelism activities have also been developed
and shared.

. A new congregational resource for planning an assimilation

ministry has been developed. Called “Welcoming: Church As
Home,” it helps a congregation examine their present
assimilation efforts and plan ways to enhance this important
aspect of congregational life.

planning ministry among
inactives has been developed. Called “Re-Turning: Church
As Home,” it helps congregations understand types of
inactive members, the roads to inactivity, how to recruit and
train people to build relationships and share faith with
inactive members.

- A booklet called “The Community Canvass” gives practical,

step-by-step tips on how to conduct a community canvass.
Canvasses are still a great way to find out what the neighbors
think. This guide will help congregations do them.

. The Evangelgram magazine is published quarterly. It tells

stories of how congregations are doing evangelism. Congrega-
tions can subscribe to this magazine. It is sent once a year to
every congregation.

. The department has developed an evangelism e-mail list

service. People from all over the world take part in this
interesting and helpful sharing of questions, ideas, and
encouragement. Also, the evangelism department Resource
Catalog is now on our web site home page.

. Working with pastors from the Korean Ministry Conference,

a series of six new evangelism tracts have been developed for
use in the Korean communities of our nation.

. Fifty percent of all “backdoor losses” in the LCMS occur

when someone moves. Congregations need to grow in
Supporting people when they move and need to grow in
sending them to their new home with blessings and
information to help them connect with a new church home.
Congregations also need to grow in receiving and supporting
Prospective members in their new home. A major
membership referral resource was developed and sent to each
congregation.

. A “Media Evangelism Training” resource has been produced.

How do congregations speak with and create an identify with
the unchurched in their community? How do they use the
community’s media to do that? This resource is a workshop
to train congregations in how to use everything from their
church sign to TV to speak to their community.

The department and CPH are cooperating to produce a new
series of Bible studies on lifestyle evangelism.

Significant Goals
l.

2.
3.

. As Districts restructure their staffing,

Assist congregations in training and encouraging their
members in lifestyle evangelism

Provide support for Dr. Barry’s 3/10 evangelism thrust

Recruit and train more Harvesters for Christ teams to work
with congregations to help them begin or refocus their evangel-
ism ministry

we will work to support
them in the way they will find most helpful. This will require a
variety of models in partnering with Districts

. Work with all departments in coordinating and streamlining

effort and communication as Districts and congregations will
find most helpful

. Provide training for District leaders who wish to grow in

consulting skills in working with congregations in the area of
evangelism

. Grow in relating to the various ethnic mission fields of our

Synod and supporting them in evangelism

. Continue to provide support for rural evangelism efforts

through resources and training for rural congregations and
workers