"Walking Together 2008" underway
Filed Under: annual report, Budget, Christian Giving, donation, Finance, MCG, walking together
WELS Ministry of Christian Giving (MCG) this week is launching "Walking Together 2008," an annual campaign authorized by the Conference of Presidents designed to strengthen the commitment of WELS members and congregations to carry out Christ's saving mission together.
Synod President Mark Schroeder notes the importance of this kind of emphasis: "The primary purpose of the synod is to provide a means to do together what we can't easily do separately. The Walking Together campaign isn't primarily a fund-raising effort. Rather, it's intended to help our congregations and members see examples of how God is working through our combined efforts as a synod."
A key component is a new DVD highlighting the story of Paul Thao—a WELS pastor in Appleton, Wis., serving the Hmong community there and in Thailand. The DVD demonstrates how the Holy Spirit worked faith in Thao through a WELS congregation and how he was trained for the ministry through a special program at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon.
"Mission work is not about programs," says Schroeder. "It's about people and souls. By giving a face and a voice to this effort to reach the lost, this video helps to make a real connection between the people in the pew and the real lives that are affected by their mission offerings."
MCG is encouraging congregations to use the DVD as part of a special Walking Together service—to be scheduled, at their convenience, anytime between now and the end of May. The service culminates with the opportunity for members of WELS congregations to support the work of their synod financially. Last year's Walking Together offerings totaled nearly $1 million.
A special Walking Together package is being sent to every congregation this week containing:
- The Walking Together DVD
- Promotional posters
- Informational brochures with attached offering envelopes
- Instructions for pastors and worship service helps
- WELS 2007 Annual Report
The Annual Report is a brief booklet summarizing the activities completed collectively by synod entities in 2007—and the role each plays in carrying out the direction spelled out by the synod convention. Also outlined are budget summaries which give a more detailed picture of synod's finances than reported in previous annual reports.
For an online version of the annual report visit: www.wels.net/jump/annualreport
To preview the Walking Together DVD or other service materials, visit: www.wels.net/jump/walkingtogether
