Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2026 · 69th Convention, Phoenix › Page 121

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 121

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

E. Opportunities
Because God has promised that He will provide workers for His
harvest field and has assured us that His Word does not return to
Him void, we see many opportunities for ministry in the district.
The strength and competence of our well-educated clergy are respected within our communities. As Montana’s larger cities continue to grow, younger people are seeking an unchanging truth amid a
world of constant change and uncertainty. We have what they need,
and we are “not ashamed of the Gospel” for it is the power of God
for salvation to everyone who believes.
Ryan D. Wendt, President
R37

Nebraska District
Christ Is Risen Indeed and He lives in us and works through us!
God is at work drawing us into Himself, building each one of us,
growing us together, and reaching out through us that others, too,
might believe. Amid our brokenness, God has chosen you and me
as members of His Body to perform His gracious work. Following the seven mission priorities of the Synod, the Nebraska District
congregations and staff are working to:

1. Plant, Sustain, and Revitalize Lutheran
Churches

121

4. Collaborate with the Synod’s Members and
Partners to Enhance Mission Effectiveness
Individuals, congregations, and the district have a strong partnership with Mission Central, but God’s mission is also right here.
Every One is His Witness. We are currently developing a Lay Formation Initiative to help our laity live out their vocations in Christ.

5. Promote and Nurture the Spiritual,
Emotional, Financial, and Physical Well-Being
of Pastors and Professional Church Workers
Our personal lives and relationships are our loudest Gospel
message. God calls us to live in and live out that Gospel, first to
those closest to us, which in turn speaks to those around us. Conferences, trainings, intentional communication, and individual interactions seek to promote an engaged faith integrated in all of life. We
are working to bless workers’ spiritual relationship with our Triune
God. We are working to nurture cognitive, emotional, physical, and
financial health. We are working to build strong bonds in marriage,
family, and close friends. Enhancing the relational health of our
workers strengthens our work to reach out to the lost with a heart
for the hurting.

6. Enhance Early Childhood Education,
Elementary and Secondary Education, and
Youth Ministry

The work of the district is fundamentally the work of each congregation serving the Body of Christ with Word and Sacrament and
sending people out into their vocations as witnesses of the Savior.
Parents, grandparents, and guardians are called to make disciples
of the children God has placed in their life. Ministry opportunities
like Vacation Bible School, daycares, preschools, schools, youth
ministry, and small groups are used to develop relationships and
foster discipleship, service, and outreach. Vocations of neighbor
and coworker give us the opportunity to reach out with Christ’s
compassion and Gospel. We have had the joy of planting several
congregations, with plans to plant at least three more in the near
future. We have outlined a clear process to help congregations
evaluate their current culture and assess next steps for ministry. As
district president, assisting in the call process is my highest priority. Visitation and evaluation to encourage congregations are also
critical priorities.

7. Strengthen and Support the Lutheran
Family in Living Out God’s Design

2. Support and Expand Theological Education

Koinonia

Our seminaries receive great support from individuals, congregations, and the district. While seminaries have responsibility for
preparing our pastors, theological education and formation begins
in the home and congregation. Conferences, circuits, and leadership development focus on lifelong formation of our pastors.

We cannot walk together if we do not talk together. We cannot
talk together if we do not meet together. As leaders, we seek to
care for one another, foster unity, and build trust in our work together of forwarding the Gospel message. We need one another.
A healthy Synod must have healthy relationships. God calls us to
work together. As a Synod, we have committed to walk together.
Pastors communicating, congregations cooperating, and reconciliation happening are signs of a healthy Church. Visitation is an element that benefits this unity. We also tried a more extensive effort
for Koinonia in the areas of closed Communion, differing worship
styles, and online technology. We meet together around Scripture
and our Confessions to transparently and fraternally discuss issues
of doctrine and practice, to build relationships, to foster trust, and to
seek better practice and understanding. To God be the glory.

3. Perform Human Care in Close Proximity to
Word and Sacrament Ministries
Human care is the work of every congregation as we live out the
compassion of the Lord. Nebraska is also the proud home of many
service organizations, including Orphan Grain Train, GracePoint
Institute for Relational Health, Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Outreach
and School, Lutheran Family Services, Our Place After School
Care, and Homestead Refuge. Nebraska also has very active Lutheran Early Response Teams.

As of this writing, we host 26 freestanding early childhood centers, 31 elementary schools, and 6 high schools. Several of these
have been established in the last triennium, and several more are in
the planning stages. We sent 1,280 participants to the LCMS Youth
Gathering and hundreds more to Higher Things. Some 600 youth
attended our most recent annual Middle School Youth Gathering.

It is a joy to see Concordia University, Nebraska, renewing its
Masters in Family Life Education and to see the developing partnership of Concordia Center for the Family and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in strengthening congregations to help parents as
the primary faith-shapers for our children. We are excited to financially support our members in attending these trainings and working to strengthen family ministry.

Richard L. Snow, President
2026 Convention Workbook