Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 9
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 9

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

TS CS

8 EVANGELISM

The book was first published in 1979 with a $30.000 grant from
the Aid Association for Lutherans and mailed free to all pastors
of the Synod and given each year to seminary graduates. In the
reprint some individual pages were updated. In 1974 two sec-
tions were completely revised and reprinted as separate book-
lets that could be used as replacements of the entire section:
Section X, “Assimilation,” and Section XI, “Conservation,”
In 1975 the board plans to revise Section VII. “Child Evange-
lism": Section IX. “The Elderly"; and Section XIV, “Social
Action.”

The Resource Book is now a sale item, costing $4.70. but is
still given free by the board to the graduates of the seminaries
and those taking evangelism courses at the seminaries and the
terminal schcols.

16. Private Evangelism Movements Within the Church

The number of Private movements related to evangelism
continues to grow, The board Studied the following movements.
offers its advice. and cooperates with their Programs where
possible.

a. Ongoing Ambassadors Jor Christ. a Program for training
young people to witness, headed by Rev. Fred Darkow, Browns-
dale. MN. The work has spread to 20 Districts and has trained
159 directors and 2,935 young people.

b. Lutheran Evangelism Association. an_ independent
Organization chartered in Arizona under the leadership of Rey.

B. Rasmussen for the Purpose of assisting the church to train
people to witness and develop evangelism techniques and pro-
grams. One Program now Operating is the “Prayer Family
International.” seeking to encourage prayer and establish
Prayer circles and chains in local congregations,

c. Lutheran Discipleship Ministry. a program that seeks
to help “disciple” lay people for Christian living and witness,
under the leadership of Bob and Linda Skulte, New Brighton.
MN.

In addition to these movements within the Missouri Synod
the all-Lutheran youth groups continue to be active among the
youth, Lutheran Youth Encounter (Minneapolis! and Lutheran
Youth Alive (Los Angeles). These function through large Lu-
theran youth congresses. chapters on college campuses, and
teams that visit Parishes in order to help equip people to live
their faith and share it.

17. Bylaw Changes

When the Board for Evangelism was established in 197] by
the convention at Milwaukee, only very brief Paragraphs were
inserted in the Ha ndbook to describe the work and function of
the board. The board has studied its function and is presenting
to the 1975 convention in Recommendation 7 an expanded
Statement as to its “Functions and Duties” (8.43; and separate
Paragraphs on “District Boards for Evangelism" (8.47) and
“Congregational Evangelism Board" (8.49),

18. Witness Word Cards

Of the various types of material Produced by the Board the
most popular in thé past biennium has been the Witness Word
Card series, The five “Witness Words" — Jesus, Love. Peace.

WHAT DO you SEE?

Ss

The above word can change your life!

THE BIBLE SAYS
There is one God and there is one who brings God and men
together the man Christ JESUS 14 Timothy 2 5)

THE BIBLE SAYS

If you confess with your lips JESUS is Lord and believe
'N yCur heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be
for we believe in Our hearts and are put right with God
‘Romans 10 9-10)

JESUS SAID
Come to me at: of yOU WhO are tired from Carrying your
neavy 'oads and | will GIv€ you rest ' (Matthew 114 28)

SF 2 ER CODY Of tre New Testament 30 to yOur "earest Lutheran cmuren
r write to tre Boara tor Evangetism Tne Lutheran Crurch—Misso ur Synod

if
o
500 N Broaqway St ~ou'S Mo 63102

Printedinu S a

EV-6121295

Life. Joy—are printed in reverse computer type lettering,
which makes the word difficult to read and thus creates an
interest that begins a conversation. The words as illustrated
here are printed on cards with matching pins. cloth Patches,

church Stationery and have been used for banners, in display
advertising, and many other ways by individual churches and
church workers.

A Spanish edition of the Jesus card, putting the Bible verses
on the back in Spanish, has been produced for use in Venezuela,
Provided by a gift from the Iowa West District LWML.

V. Launching into the Future

Jesus Christ is stil] Lord of His church. He has said, “I will
build My church.” and we are still His instruments to build it,
or as He said in the Great Commission, to “disciple all nations.”
What do we need to stir the church to the great challenge of
sharing the Gospel in our day? The board continues to search
for the answer and welcomes any Suggestions the church has
to offer. It pledges itself to a continued implementation of the
activities described in this report and will explore other pos-
sibilities such as: the development of Follow-up materials, the
involvement of the retired in evangelism, new emphasis on the
theology and Practice of evangelism, ete.

In addition, the board preser,ts the following specific recom.
mendations for convention action:

Recommendation 1—Renewal Retreats

WHEREAS. The SIst convention of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod has been designated as an “evangelism con-
vention” and seeks to move the church boldly forward. in its
mission in humble obedience to the Lord of the church: and

WHEREAS. The mission “to make disciples of all Nations”
needs continual reaffirmation: and

WHEREAS, To accomplish its mission, the church must have
a motivated and equipped leadership: and

side the church it becomes increasingly difficult for Pastors,
other professional workers, and lay people to carry on the work
of evangelism enthusiastically: and

WHEREAS, Evangelism is affected by the attitude of the
Person who is to do the evangelizing: and

WHEREAS. There is often resistance to the church directing
its pastors and professional leadership to all do one specific
Program or method of evangelism, which has been developed
by others: therefore be it

Resolved. That for the next biennium the Synod adopt as
its major evangelism thrust renewal retreats for its professional
workers of the church and their wives and for congregational
leaders and their wives: and be it further