LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 90

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90 SYNODICAL REPORTS

one being used by a number of Districts and has been well received
by the Missouri District.

The administrative assistant staff was also reorganized, and new
job descriptions written.

The Board of Directors voted to discontinue publishing our
monthly newspaper, The Voice of Missouri, as an insert in The
Lutheran Witness. Instead, the District now publishes its own sep-
arate newspaper. Lynda Carter was hired by the District to serve
as Media Coordinator and editor of The Voice. With her help and
the assistance of Rev. Harold Rau, a Web site was established.

At its 1997 convention, the District delegates voted to allow the
Board of Directors to decide on the question of moving the District
office. For many years the District office had been located at Con-
cordia Publishing House in St. Louis. A special task force had come
to the conclusion that the office should remain in St. Louis, but
should be moved to a more readily accessible location. When
Lutheran Hour Ministries purchased a building located at 660
Mason Ridge Center Drive (just north of Highway 40 and approxi-
mately one mile west of Highway 270), an offer was made to the
District to lease one wing at a reasonable cost. The Board of Direc-
tors approved. The District office was moved on March 11, 2000.

During this past triennium the District dedicated the new Dr.
Paul Spitz Retreat Center at Heit’s Point Lutheran Camp located
on the Lake of the Ozarks near Lincoln and Cole Camp, MO. The
new facility features motel accommodations, meeting rooms, cafe-
teria, indoor swimming pool, plus other adult and family-suited ac-
commodations. A new bunk house is being built for use by young-
sters in a camping or retreat program. As of the writing of this
report, anew Executive Director for the camp is being sought.

During this next triennium the Missouri District will be setting
its focus on new mission starts and in reaching the many new eth-
nic groups that have been settling in our state, especially in the met-
ropolitan areas. A special offering for this emphasis will be raised
as extra support for the regular work of missions.

The District’s youth gatherings, as well as gatherings for sin-
gles and older adults, have been growing each year under the lead-
ership of Mr. Roger Mailand.

The District finances are becoming stretched with the addition
of new personnel, a new camp director, and support of Heit’s Point.
But our congregations have been faithfully supporting the mission
and ministry of the District. We are sure that this will continue in
the future as we bend our efforts to be more and more “‘servants” to
our congregations and to the unreached people of Missouri “for
Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5).

James W. Kalthoff, President

R7-05-16
Montana District

The population of Montana has increased to almost 900,000 due
to migration to the mountain areas. An increasing number of per-
sons from other states are coming to Montana in order to escape
the congestion of heavily populated areas.

At the same time we are experiencing a decline in the economic
base of Montana, both in agriculture and the development of natural
resources. The result is the lowest average income in the nation.

These developments present a challenge to our congregations
as they reach out to those who have moved into the state, as well as
provide the spiritual resources for people who are struggling to sur-
vive financially.

We have seven Native American reservations in Montana. At
the present time we have two LCMS congregations, on the North-
ern Cheyenne reservation and on the Crow reservation. Most of the
Native American population lives without Christ. In the past
decade there has been a revival of the native religions.

2001 Convention Workbook

We have a unique ministry at Redeemer congregation in
Hardin. This congregation is located in the middle of the Crow
reservation and is conducting a successful ministry to Hispanic
people. Twenty to twenty-five persons attend the Sunday afternoon
services.

We have 64 stations. Thirty-one have less than 100 communi-
cants and are located in areas of declining population. The chal-
lenge is to provide a ministry of Word and Sacrament, especially
when these are located 100 miles from the nearest LCMS church,
which is in many cases already part of a two-point parish. It is es-
sential that the Synod provide for the use of deacons to serve in
these situations.

This past year more than 750,000 acres in the forests of the state
were consumed by fires. We are thankful for the response and as-
sistance that was given by LCMS World Relief. Grace congrega-
tion in Hamilton assisted families in their area at a cost of more
than $25,000. Much of this was borne by the congregation.

The Lord has given us the privilege of serving His kingdom in
the most beautiful and awesome part of the lower 48 states. We are
committed to live in the priestly service of the Gospel (Rom.
15:16).

George Wollenburg, President

R7-05-17
Nebraska District

The theme of the 13th Nebraska District convention was “God’s
Plan ... Our Response” based on Jer. 29:11-14. It was a time for
our District to celebrate God’s blessings over the past three years,
especially the hope and future He has given us in Jesus. It was also
a time to seek His plan and guidance as we look to the future, with
the prayer that we might be bold and courageous in the mission He
has given us to reach the lost with the good news of a sure and cer-
tain hope and future in Jesus.

During the convention we had the privilege of celebrating our
mutually supportive partnership in Gospel ministry with Concor-
dia University, Seward. The celebration included receiving a Dis-
trict thank offering for Concordia and encouragement for congre-
gations to intentionally recruit and support individuals for full-time
professional church work and other kinds of servant leadership
within our church and world. Concordia, Seward, continues to train
the greatest number of church-worker students among all the cam-
puses of the Concordia University System. The convention also had
the privilege of making a special presentation to two former Dis-
trict Presidents, Rev. Dr. Eldor Meyer and Rev. Dr. Frederick Nied-
ner, naming each President Emeritus of the District.

Two hundred forty-five congregations with more than 111,589
baptized members and 85,218 communicant members are engaged
in mission in the Nebraska District. God continues to present open
doors and challenges to reach out with the Gospel, and we see
God’s people responding to those challenges. The challenges in-
clude ministry to a growing Hispanic population, Sudanese immi-
grants, the deaf, the black community, international students, cam-
pus ministry, the Sandhills area of Nebraska, the Native Americans
on the Winnebago and Omaha reservations, and the possibility of
reaching out to an increasing Asian population. Many members and
congregations are also actively involved in supporting special mis-
sion projects beyond Nebraska.

God is blessing Nebraska’s 43 Lutheran elementary schools. |
jr/sr high schools, 3 high schools, and 33 preschools with increas-
ing opportunities to nurture the faith development of young people
and to minister to their familics.

The LCMS Foundation Gift Planning and the Lutheran Church
Extension Fund continue to be special blessings from our Lord.