LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 92

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92 SYNODICAL REPORTS

The Board has organized four Councils to work toward these
outcomes: the Congregation Growth Council, the Congregation
Outreach Council (missions), the Congregation Services Council,
and the District Operations Council.

The challenge facing New Jersey District congregations is that
about one-third have aging memberships with decreasing worship
attendance. Another third have plateaued, and another third are sta-
ble or growing. The Congregation Growth Council has organized a
revitalization team to assist struggling congregations. One success-
ful model to assist struggling congregations has been that a subur-
ban congregation partners with a neighboring congregation in a
changing community to provide shared pastoral staff. This venture
has proven to be a blessing to both congregations.

The Congregation Outreach Council continues to reach the di-
verse population of New Jersey through an African immigrant con-
gregation, a Spanish language congregation in West New York, a
deaf congregation in Clifton, and a mission to Japanese in Bergen
County. We are blessed with a missionary from the Japan Lutheran
Church working in Bergen County. The mission is to reach resi-
dents from Japan who have moved to New Jersey in order to work
for Japanese corporations. It is indeed an honor that when the Japan
Lutheran Church sent out its first overseas missionary it was to
New Jersey. First to arrive was Dr. Chizuo Shibata, who after one
year was succeeded by Pastor Shozo Osawa in a three-year en-
deavor to bring the light of Jesus Christ to Japanese people. The
Gospel has touched the hearts of friendship groups in three con-
gregations. Bible Study groups were formed. A number of baptized
Christians have returned to Japan and are connected with congre-
gations there. The Outreach Council is addressing the goal of plant-
ing one to three new congregations in the state before the next Dis-
trict convention.

We thank the Lord for the many members of the New Jersey
District who have grown up to that maturity of faith where they
willingly sacrifice their time and expertise in service through the
New Jersey District. There are only three full-time staff: the presi-
dent, the administrative assistant, and the congregation resource
counselor. We thank God for the many volunteers who carry out
their daily tasks as pastors, teachers, and other church workers
along with those who are officers of congregations and continue to
serve as officers and members of councils of the District. Their sac-
rifice of time is a sign of their commitment to sharing the Gospel of
Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him. We are com-
mitted to reaching the lost and nurturing the faithful so we may all
“grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

William R. Klettke, President

R7-05-20
North Dakota District

“Lift High the Cross of Jesus Christ, Until All the World Adores
His Sacred Name” was the expanded theme that guided the most re-
cent convention of the North Dakota District. With North Dakota's
reputation for being a cold, flat, treeless prairie, one could quip that
you wouldn’t have to lift the cross very high for everyone in the
state to see it! With North Dakota’s low population of less than a
half million residents, one could more accurately say that there
wouldn’t be very many people who would be looking at any cross-
lifting activity. Not only do the residents of North Dakota have to
dea] with these kinds of reputations and statistics, the members of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who are lifting that cross
in their daily witness also have to deal with some unfortunate facts.

There is an ongoing crisis caused by the exodus of our people
from nearly every rural community in the state. This covers com-
munities where we once had thriving congregations. Pews with var-

2001 Convention Workbook

nish once worn off by the large farm families that filled them are
cleanly polished now, but glaringly empty. Some of our beautiful
church buildings have closed because there are no longer enough
members to support a pastor. Even after the building closes, those
few members are left to wonder how their spiritual needs will be
met by a pastor in a similarly struggling congregation in a distant
town. When the cross is lifted up for them, however, that powerful
Good News gives them hope even in this situation. Renewed and
refreshed, those faithful few are working to find new ways to keep
telling the Good News of Christ. Together, we strive to keep lifting
the cross over God’s often barren but always beautiful prairies and
over God’s often beleaguered but always blessed people.

When counting God’s blessings, we see that God has given us
the gift of hardworking and traditional people. They still consider
their local congregation to be an important part of their lives. Our
close-knit and conservative communities still look to the church for
leadership and moral guidance. The 93 congregations of the North
Dakota District, supported by a staff of two Executive Assistants, a
Gift Planning Counselor, an Executive Director, and the District
President, keep working to bring the unchanging Gospel of Christ
to a changing countryside. Traditional single and dual parish
arrangements are forming “hub” ministries where one or more pas-
tors travel from a central site to serve several smaller groups of be-
lievers. In some cases, the historic concept of the “Circuit rider” is
being brought back with modern travel and communication equip-
ment that will allow one pastor to cover the spiritual needs of many
scattered members.

The departure of people from the rural areas means that some of
the cities are increasing, and the congregations of the North Dakota
District are anticipating this growth and making plans for new min-
istry starts. Even these new starts are being framed with much dif-
ferent dimensions than those used in the traditional mission con-
gregation of an earlier era. While the fine public schools of our
state are seeing decreases in enrollment, our Lutheran schools are
actually looking forward to growth and expansion. Our auxiliaries
and social ministry organizations also continue to provide addi-
tional ways for us to reach many other people outside the bound-
aries of our communities.

While this report notes the departure of many people from our
state, any recent accounting of activity in the North Dakota Dis-
trict would not be complete without mentioning the departure of
one person: Rev. Dr. N. C. Sincebaugh. After seventeen years as
Executive Director and the maximum nine years as District Presi-
dent, Rev. Sincebaugh returned to parish ministry in a neighboring
District. One would be hard-pressed to find any area in the North
Dakota District that has not been affected by his people-centered
vision and his keen leadership abilities. The foundations he built
and the ideas he implemented will continue to be an important part
of the North Dakota District. We thank God for the blessings He
provided through this dedicated servant.

Someone once said, with tongue in cheek, “North Dakota isn’t
the end of the world, but you can see it from here.” If we are that
close to the end of the world, then we will rejoice in being here. for
God’s Word has gone out to the ends of the earth. That Word of God
has brought us to adore the sacred and saving name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. That Word of God still strengthens us to “Lift High the
Cross” that many more may worship and adore Him along with us.

Larry S. Harvala, President

R7-05-21
North Wisconsin District

The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, be-
cause our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The
night is nearly over; the day is almost here.” (Romans 13:1 1—-{2)