LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 126

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126 SYNOD REPORTS

We continue to support full-time mission work among the deaf
and Native Americans, two of the highest unchurched populations
of South Dakota. Our missionary to the deaf holds regular services
in Sioux Falls and periodically in Rapid City. Work among Native
Americans is being done on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian
reservations. A former church building on the Rosebud reservation
has been secured, has had many improvements and renovations
completed, and is being used for regular services, Sunday School,
and Bible classes.

Sioux Falls is a hub for receiving immigrants from many na-
tions, including many African nations. Three of our congregations
work closely with immigrant groups from Sudan, Ethiopia, and
Rwanda, providing sites for worship and working toward ‘closer
ties between these communities and The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod. In 2006, a Sudanese evangelist working with one of
our district’s congregations was ordained as an LCMS pastor fol-
lowing his completion of the Synod’s DELTO program.

Our district continues to support a television outreach program
entitled Main Street Living. The pastors of our district tape wor-
ship services that are broadcast weekly through network and cable
channels in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Ne-
braska. In addition, these services are provided nationally to the
Good Samaritan Homes for viewing by their residents.

Thirty percent of remittances received by the SD District from
our congregations directly fund the mission of our Synod. In addi-
tion, our congregations fund the mission work of Amy Hartwig
Kashenov in Kazakhstan through Together In Mission (T.I.M).

Recognizing that the Lord of the harvest sends out laborers into
the harvest, and that many of those laborers come from South
Dakota, our district provides financial support for all students at
our Synod universities and seminaries who are preparing for pro-
fessional church work. Currently, financial aid is being provided
to 33 individuals preparing to serve as teachers, DCEs, dea-
conesses, and pastors. In conjunction with our district centennial
celebration, a special thankoffering was received with 25 percent of
the proceeds funding our district scholarship fund and 75 percent
directed to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, a partner
church of the LCMS, for the purpose of the construction of a sem-
inary to train pastors.

There are currently 13 preschools and 3 Lutheran elementary
schools in our district. In addition, Lutheran high schools are being
planned in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. While many students in
these schools come from Lutheran families, our congregations reg-
ularly report receiving members with no church background who
have heard the Gospel message through our schools.

For well over 100 years, pastors, teachers, and laypeople have
received God’s grace and blessings through His means of grace in
our congregations, missions, and ministries. In response, with
“courageous faith” and giving “bold witness,” it is our desire until
Christ comes again vigorously to make known the love of Christ by
word and deed within our churches, communities, and world.

Dale L. Sattgast, President

R7-05-30
South Wisconsin District

In June 2006, Rev. Ronald E. Meyer, who had served the SWD
as president for 12 years, decided that he would not allow his name
to be placed in nomination for another term. At the convention, the
district presented Rev. Meyer with a plaque commemorating his
years as our district president. Part of that included the presenta-
tion of “The Ronald E. Meyer Seminary Scholarship Fund.” As a
district, we give thanks to our God for the 9 years that Rev. Meyer
served as SWD stewardship executive and the 12 years that he
served as our district president. Recently, Rev. Meyer has taken a

2007 Convention Workbook

position with the Lutheran Foundation, working on the Fan into
Flame project.

At the June convention, the delegates elected Rev. John C.
Wille, who served Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Tomah,
Wisconsin, to be the next SWD President. Rev. Randy Raasch of
First Immanuel, Cedarburg, was elected First Vice-President. Also
elected as vice-presidents were Rev. Fred Bischoff of Waterford,
Rev. Jeff Meyer of Madison, and Rev. Larry Meyers of Elm Grove.

In October, a burgeoning operating deficit of some $890,000.00
necessitated a significant reduction in district staff and services.
Though financial restraints were instituted and several wonderful
gifts were received, SWD closed out fiscal year 2006 with a sig-
nificant financial deficit. The good news is that as SWD enters fis-
cal year 2007, we do so with a balanced budget.

However, we have made the commitment that the deficit will
not adversely affect mission or ministry. We are moving forward
with outreach to Hmong in Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Oshkosh.
We are adding another full-time worker in the Oshkosh area; work-
ing also with French-speaking African immigrants as well as
Nigerian and Chinese immigrants in the Milwaukee area. We are
also continuing our work with Hispanics in Milwaukee, Racine,
Madison, and Manitowoc.

Among other things happening include: a board of directors
commitment to become one of the two pilot districts for Fan into
Flame. The congregations that participated as pilot congregations
have been greatly blessed. One congregation is at 450 percent of
its goal. Nearly every pilot congregation is well over its goal. At
present, First Immanuel, Cedarburg, has commitments for
$650,000.00. A little more than half way into the effort, we are now
beginning phase one. We anticipate great blessings for our work of
reaching the lost.

In early 2007, after a series of interviews, we hired a new busi-
ness manager: John Ericsen, a Milwaukee native. John comes to us
with extensive experience in the business world, especially as a
Certified Public Accountant and with skills in computer technolo-
gies.

Since the 2006 convention, the district staff began process to
draft a new strategic plan for the district. The mission statement is:
“The SWD connects and resources leaders to equip God’s people
for bold witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” The mission state-
ment is: “In a constantly changing world, the South Wisconsin Dis-
trict is...advancing and facilitating progressive and vibrant models
for: Mission and ministry, Growing discipleship, Leadership de-
velopment, and Wholeness.” Part of that strategic plan includes an
aggressive approach to reach those who don’t know Jesus as their
Savior; with 12 new mission starts and 60 new ministries by 2009.

Serving Our Lord Jesus, His Church, and His Mission.

John C. Wille, President

Jude 1:22—23: “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others
from the fire and save them.”

R7-05-31
Southeastern District

In response to Ablaze! and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the
Southeastern District (SED) at its convention in 2006 challenged
its congregations, schools, and workers to aim at achieving the fol-
lowing goals by Oct. 31, 2017:

* Enlisting 3,000 mission prayer partners;

* Sharing our faith with 2.5 million persons not connected to Jesus;
* Beginning at least 100 new congregations and ministries;

* Holding regularly scheduled outreach workshops and conferences;
¢ Training and equipping 60 outreach ministry teams.