LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 113

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SYNOD REPORTS 113

our hearts Ablaze! Each of us has a story to tell of what we have
seen, heard, and believe about Jesus. We must boldly tell it in our
daily walk.

We journey together as a Synod on one mission...with one mes-
sage...as one people! We are Ablaze! as part of a worldwide move-
ment to share the Gospel with 100 million people so that the Spirit
might call them to join us in the journey!

We have journeyed together as Iowa District West for 70 years.
It leads us through rich fields, mission fields...down country roads
and the highways of Iowa. We are 175 congregations strong in the
heart of the LCMS in the heart of the United States, the third largest
mission field in the world! We celebrated our anniversary with an
offering of thanks in support of our seminaries.

Along the way, we can expect hardships that could rob us of
our joy. The population in our rural communities is declining,
changing, and aging. Our congregations face financial difficulties.
Conflicts sap our energy.

We must be bold! We must be prepared. Our congregations
joined in a districtwide spiritual campaign—‘“50 days of Ablaze!”
to refocus our attention on seven mission responses and to equip
us for the journey.

Among us are children, youth, families, older adults, and broth-
ers and sisters of the LWML and LLL. Together, we made and dis-
tributed 35,000 witness bracelets to our neighbors at our state and
county fairs. Two new congregations among the Sudanese and
Laotians joined us. Some of us are Hispanic, deaf, and university
students from around the world. We are preparing to plant new
congregations in our suburban and rural communities.

The journey takes us to the inner city of Los Angeles. At our
convention, we installed our missionary, Dr. Arthur Porter, execu-
tive director of Los Angeles Nehemiah Project. Teams of our mem-
bers travel there every year to canvass, to teach VBS, and to
encourage and assist our brothers and sisters.

It continues on to the Gulf Coast where we have journeyed to
help those ravaged by hurricanes, then on to tsunami-devasted In-
donesia, where our members have taught and shared the love of
Jesus. It moves through Mission Central, our special “barn,”
through which we have sent and supported missionaries to repre-
sent us on the journey to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

The journey continues on! We must always remember where
our Savior is leading us. He promised that we are going home to
our Father’s house where our joy will never end. He assured us that
He is the way!

Paul G. Sieveking, President

R7-05-10
Kansas District

“Where there is no vision the people perish” (Prov. 29:18).
“Christ Be My Vision” served as the theme for the first portion of
our district’s work over the last triennium and is an appropriate
place for this report to begin. We are people who celebrate the
promise of our God, who says, “For I know the plans I have for
you,” declares the Lorp, “plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:1 1-12).

Our Lord is more. than a vision caster. He is the very One to
whom we turn to be the vision and focus for our work together.
Without confidence in that truth, we would be no more than wan-
dering children in search of truths. But within that reality, we are
truly one people who are Ablaze! with one message and one mis-
sion and a passion to share all this with those who do not yet know
Him as their Savior. Without His vision and plan, we surely would
fail. But under them these have been years of growth and blessing
even amidst our struggles and setbacks. From that vision we set our
sights on the present triennium at our recent convention under the

theme “Kansas Ablaze! Proclaiming Christ Today, Tomorrow, for
Eternity.” The mission statement of our district:

The Servant mission of The Kansas District is to equip, em-
power and encourage each congregation in its mission vision and
Christ-care ministry.

We have refined the focus and listed five critical targets for our
work together in our district. They are as follows:

1. Pursuing the Kansas Mission

2. Equipping the Church

3. Networking Congregations to One Another and the Church at
Large

4. Building Relationships to One Another

5. Connecting with Congregations

“The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of
the Lord.” Staffing changes on our district level continue to change
the team that serves the Lord in Kansas as district leaders. After
the sudden death in December 2003 of Mr. Al Gunderman, Edu-
cation and Youth Executive for the district, Mr. Jim Bradshaw ac-
cepted the call to that position in June 2005. In addition, in
November 2005, Rev. Gary Reuter, Mission and Stewardship Ex-
ecutive, was moved to consider and accept a call to a mission con-
gregation in Landover, Maryland. Mrs. Debbie Crites, of our
office, was moved to the position of Business Manager by our
Board of Directors. Also in that year, Marvin Kohlmeier, Mission
Developer for Kansas, semiretired. He continues to serve the dis-
trict on a part-time basis.

“IT always pray with joy because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:46). During the last three years,
we have strived to “equip, empower, and encourage each congre-
gation in its mission vision and Christ-care ministry.”

A major focus for the Kansas District Board of Caring Ministry
has been our targeted district response to the victims of Hurricane
Katrina and Hurricane Rita. We have partnered with the Oklahoma
District to raise over $100,000. Mr. Mark Brewer, licensed deacon
of Kansas, filled the office of coordinator for volunteers for service
as a volunteer for one year. We have sent about 500 volunteers. We
have maintained a continuous presence with Bethany, Lamb of
God, and Good Shepherd Lutheran churches and their staffs. We
have encouraged congregations to raise them up in prayer. And we
have been an advocate for these congregations and their commu-
nity. Our volunteers have experienced what a great Ablaze! oppor-
tunity it has been to reach to people who need to experience the
hope we have in a risen Savior.

A special word should be said about our retreat centers for
church workers and their families. By action of the board of direc-
tors, the two retreat centers (one in Arkansas and one in Kansas)
were sold and the money put into a dedicated account. A special
task force has worked with the professional workers of Kansas to
identify the location, the amenities, and the focus of a new retreat
center in Kansas. Property has been bought on a lake in Kansas,
and construction should begin this year.

The Education Department assists the work of the district pres-
ident as it serves congregations and schools in the following min-
istry areas: elementary and early childhood education, adult
education, youth ministry, family life ministry, singles ministry,
and media library resources. There are presently 16 Lutheran ele-
mentary schools operating within the Kansas District. There are
122 commissioned teachers serving in the district. The 2005-06
school year reflected 1,290 students enrolled K-8. Our schools are
a part of KAIRS, the organization representing nonpublic schools.
This group is instrumental in assisting our schools with the State
Department of Education. There are currently 13 early childhood
ministries connected with our day schools and an additional 37

2007 Convention Workbook