LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 114

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114 SYNOD REPORTS

stand-alone early childhood centers. A newly formed commission
will give assistance to congregations who are seeking to improve
early childhood ministry in their preschool and day-care ministries
through the NLSA accreditation process. The district continues to
train congregational leadership teams through the Family Life
Academy; an intentional development process designed for con-
gregations whose mission and vision includes family ministry.
Lutheran Youth Fellowship has renewed its commitment to the
equipping of young people for leadership through the training at
the annual CLYFR event in St. Louis. LYF representatives accom-
plish their goal through sharing at the Teen Leadership Retreats.
Similarly, the Youth Ministry Academy equips adults working with
youth for ministry in the local congregation. An annual district
youth gathering is conducted in November. Strong support for the
National Youth Gathering is provided through the district Youth
Ministry Team. The 2006 Kansas District convention adopted a
resolution focused on adult Christian education. A subcommittee
will begin its work in identifying needs and offering strategies for
congregations as they consider adult Christian education.

The mission of the church is still the heart and spirit of the peo-
ple of the church of Kansas. The vision Jaid for us by those who
prepared the way is an important part of our mission today. In the
interim time of the vacancy of the office of Executive Director of
Mission and Stewardship, the district has acquired the services of
former District President Eugene Schmidt, who had also served in
this office prior to becoming president of this district. The ministry
of the Lay Leadership Training Program and the Family Life Acad-
emy continue to equip and empower men and women throughout
the ministries and congregations of Kansas. At the same time that
the dollars we receive from congregations continues to decline, we
have endeavored to remain a district that gives support to our mis-
sion both at home and outside of Kansas. At our last convention,
we renewed our agreement with LCMS World Mission to give sup-
port (both prayer and financial) to work in Guinea, West Africa.
Kansas District also continues to try to provide at least three groups
a year to support this ministry on-site, including teachers groups,
pastoral support, and agricultural trips. We continue to desire to ex-
pand the mission of our Lord in ethnic ministries in Kansas and
have taken initial steps in both Hispanic and Black ministry, most
often by offering encouragement and support to local congrega-
tions and ministries who are engaged in those ministries. At the
same time, we give attention to other congregations through our
Rural and Small Town Ministry Task Force. One of the critical tar-
gets of our district was set to keep our eyes on the mission before
us both across the ocean and across the fence. We are being en-
gulfed in Kansas by a mission field that has a spiritualism that is
devoid of Jesus Christ, as well as religions that discredit both His
sacrifice and His character.

We began a cycle of what we have called Kansas Ablaze! Con-
vocation using something called open space technology. Our event
in Wichita last October has opened new doors for local ministry. I
believe God’s Spirit will use this to put new tools in our hands and
renewed spirits within us.

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you
also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the
Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). In all of these
things we seek to pray that Christ move us beyond our vision, and
that our new theme become the banner under which we gather and
advance, “Kansas Ablaze! Proclaiming Christ Today, Tomorrow, for
Eternity,” that He would lay upon our hearts, and provide the gifts to
our hands, in order to continue to be about His plan as one people,
confessing and proclaiming together one message, united in one mis-
sion to the ends of the earth. Toward that end, bless us, dear Father.

Keith E. Kohlmeier, President

2007 Convention Workbook

R7-05-11
Michigan District

Philemon 4-7, 20—‘I always thank My God as I remember you
in my prayers, because | hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in
sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of
every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great
joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the
hearts of the saints... I do wish, brother, that | may have some ben-
efit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.” Under the
theme “Celebrating God’s Faithfulness: Redeemed ... Refreshed
... Ready” the 2006 Michigan District convention celebrated God’s
faithfulness for 125 years of Michigan District ministry.

The celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Michigan Dis-
trict includes an anniversary thank-offering entitled The Future is
Now. It is an opportunity given to members of the Michigan Dis-
trict to express thanks to God for His faithfulness. The goal of The

“ Future is Now campaign is to directly support two of the district’s

major outcomes: “Intentional Mission Development” and “Re-
cruiting, Supporting, and Deploying Professional Church Work
Students.”

With the goal of building relationships, two ethics documents
have been presented to the Michigan District for consideration and
study. After they have been studied by the church workers and con-
gregations, prayerfully considered, and possibly amended, they will
be presented to the 2009 convention for action. The two documents
are Partners in Ministry: Ethical Conduct for Congregations and
Partners in Ministry: Ethical Conduct for Professional Church
Workers. Study guides for each of the documents have been pre-
pared. Together with the documents, they were distributed to all
the congregations and professional church workers in the Michi-
gan District. This is undertaken in the hope that relationships will
be strengthened between and among congregations and workers in
circuit, district, and the Synod. ;

Within the next three years, the Michigan District looks to call
mission developing pastors as well as partner with district congre-
gations to plant new missions in specific communities in the state.
Through the LCMS Ablaze! Initiative, the Michigan District will
also seek to plant new urban and cross-cultural mission-minded
congregations.

During the past triennium the Michigan District has continued
its involvement in the Synod’s Ablaze! movement. The focus of the
Michigan District Ablaze! Task Force is upon the concept of
Ablaze! as a movement. The invitation and encouragement is to
read through Scripture in a year, pray a half hour a day, give Jesus
10 percent of one’s income, intentionally develop relationships
with up to four unbelievers, and invite up to seven others to take
up this challenge. It is also to encourage congregations to focus on
Gospel contacts, to encourage congregations and individuals to de-
velop an environment of greater spiritual discipline, and to provide
congregations with Ablaze/-related information and activities.

Michigan is blessed by Concordia University—Ann Arbor as
part of the Concordia University System to train future church
workers and laypeople for Christian service. Regarding high school
education, there are eight high schools in Michigan where students
are challenged academically, physically, and most important, spir-
itually, during the high school years. Our elementary schools num-
ber 88 with 827 teachers. There are over 160 early childhood
education centers throughout the state that help families in teaching
their children about God’s world. A continuing challenge facing
congregations with schools is funding.

A new Web site was launched that enables congregational lead-
ers to gain information on district ministries, outreach, resources,
news, and online registration for events and seminars. There are
opportunities to link with directories from Synod and other min-