LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 118

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118 SYNOD REPORTS

Synod levels. God has graced few men with the faithful, biblical,
and confessional voice that He gave to President Wollenburg. Dur-
ing some of the most difficult times our Synod ever faced, God
gave George Wollenburg strength to pastorally speak the truth.
Hopefully, his strong voice will continue to be heard in Montana
and in the LCMS as he retires to study and write.

In Montana, we look forward to proclaiming the wonders He
has done to succeeding generations. Our Missions Committee is
assisting at least three congregations to investigate sponsoring three
new congregations. We rejoice at the prospect of these new out-
posts to speak the truth of the Gospel to the lost and dying. We also
rejoice and pray for God’s guidance as at least three of our congre-
gations have committed to beginning new day schools. This growth
will help many more generations to know His wonders. We are also
in the process of investigating the development of the first and only
parochial high school in the Montana District.

The greatest challenge under which we labor, and for which we
pray God’s guidance, is how to continue Word and Sacrament min-
istry in small and declining communities. Many of our congrega-
tions are in such circumstances. We are reluctant to close
congregations as long as there is any opportunity to hold out a light
for the truth. We are looking for creative ways to faithfully pro-
claim that truth where resources are limited. Please keep us in your
prayers as we proclaim His wonders from generation to generation.

Terry Forke, President

R7-05-17
Nebraska District

The Lord has blessed the Nebraska District with 125 years as
“Partners in the Mission Field,” which is also the theme of the dis-
trict’s 125th anniversary celebration in 2007. The Lord has blessed
the congregations, schools, church workers, and lay members of
the Nebraska District in innumerable ways during the past 125
years. A year of celebration is planned to recognize the blessings of
the past and look forward to the continued ministry in the mission
fields the Lord has placed in Nebraska.

The 2006 convention of the Nebraska District was truly a mis-
sion Ablaze! convention. The opening service included the ordina-
tion and installation of Nebraska’s first Sudanese Lutheran pastor,
Rev. John Deang, to serve as missionary-at-large for African im-
migrants in Nebraska. Stoles and crosses made in Sudan were worn
by the clergy who led the service.

The theme of “Nebraska Mission Fields... Nebraska Mission
Partners” continued to unfold throughout the convention and its ac-
companying events. Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President,
Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, preached an outreach sermon at the
opening service and reported to the convention on the mission and
ministry of the Synod. Convention Essayists Rev. Michael Ruhl of
the Center for U.S. Missions in Irvine, California, and Rev.
Yohannes Mengsteab, LCMS national director for new mission
field development, theologically and practically unpacked the dual
theme for the convention. The convention was pleased to welcome
its first Hispanic pastoral and lay delegates from Cristo Cordero de
Dios Iglesia Evangelica Lutherana Hispana of Grand Island, Ne-
braska. The convention also welcomed St. John’s Lutheran Church
of Brule, Nebraska, by transfer from the Wyoming District. The
convention included a mission festival dinner with Nebraska mis-
sionaries giving inspiring presentations, and Rev. Deang providing
a report from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan. The con-
vention voted to partner with the emerging Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Sudan through LCMS World Missions and to further
partner with various LCMS agencies to help this emerging church
to grow.

2007 Convention Workbook

It was a joy for the convention to meet on the campus of Con-
cordia University in Seward where students are prepared for ser-
vant leadership for the church and world. The Nebraska District
and Concordia University, Nebraska are privileged to have a strong
partnership in the Gospel.

Nebraska District President Emeritus Eldor Meyer and his wife,
Edna, were present at the convention and were recognized with
thanks to the Lord for their service to the Christ and His Church.
Former District President Eugene Gierke and his wife, Linda, also
were present and were recognized and thanked by the convention
for their faithful service to the Lord.

The Nebraska District is blessed with 245 congregations, 41
Lutheran elementary schools, four Lutheran high schools, and 39
preschools. The preschools, elementary schools, and high schools
of the district are mission outposts served by teachers and adminis-
trators with mission hearts. On Aug. 27, 2006, the district was sad-
dened by the closure of Zion + Peace Lutheran Church and School
of Omaha. On Dec. 10, 2006, the district rejoiced to welcome and
receive into membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod the Sudanese Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mission of
Omaha, Nebraska.

God continues to provide amazing opportunities to share His
grace in the person and actions of Jesus Christ. Nebraska is experi-
encing population growth in several communities, as well as a
growing population of Hispanic, African, and Asian immigrants.
The African Sudanese population in Nebraska has become the
largest in the United States, and Sudanese Lutherans participating
among Nebraska District churches continue to be great blessings.
Campus ministries in Nebraska continue to serve university and
college students with the Gospel and reach out to international stu-
dents. Numerous Chinese students and their families continue to
be baptized through these efforts. God is blessing Gospel ministry
and outreach among the people of the Sandhills of Nebraska and
the Native American people of the Winnebago and Omaha reser-
vations. Plans are under way to plant a Lutheran school among the
Winnebago people.

Nebraska District congregations and schools continue to be
moved by the Holy Spirit to be involved in personalized mission.
Youth and adults are embarking on mission servant events in the
district and on the mission fields around the globe. Pastors, teach-
ers, and directors of Christian education are teaching and serving
on various mission fields. The Orphan Grain Train, based in Nor-
folk, Nebraska, has a worldwide impact in providing human care
ministry. The Nebraska District and Iowa District West partner to
involve congregational members and church workers in personal
mission prayer, financial support, and servant events through the
work of Mission Awareness Developer Gary Thies and Mission
Central in Mapleton, Iowa.

The Nebraska District is also privileged to have Lutheran Fam-
ily Services of Nebraska offering quality human care service
throughout the state. Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska is the
largest and most compassionate provider of human care services in
the state. The District also provides church worker health care to
its ordained and commissioned professional church workers
through Rev. Mark Rockenbach, who serves as executive assistant
to the president for church worker health. The four district vice
presidents and 22 circuit counselors also provide many services to
the professional church workers, congregations, schools, and mis-
sions of the district.

The LCMS Foundation Gift Planning, Lutheran Church Exten-
sion Fund, and Lutheran Ministry Foundation are special blessings
in the Nebraska District. Each of these ministries provides so much
more than dollars for mission. Through their efforts, many people
are reached and touched with the Gospel of Jesus. The former Ne-
braska district president is currently serving as promotions direc-
tor for LCEF in Nebraska.