A week of meetings, a lifetime of impressions
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
Last week I was privileged to attend two unique WELS gatherings—the World Missions Conference at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, held every four years, and the National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts in St. Peter, Minnesota, held every three years. Both left me with lasting impressions.
First, the missions conference. The missionaries gathered there personified the work that we are doing together as a synod to take the gospel to the world. As I looked at each of them, I thought of them as extensions of all of us. They are serving on behalf of each of us, going to places where we cannot go and reaching people that we will never meet.
I was also impressed with the commitment and dedication of these ambassadors for Christ. Serving across borders and oceans is never easy. Adjusting to a new culture is a challenge. Learning a new language is a task that takes commitment and time. Living away from extended families and friends is truly a sacrifice. But in spite of all of those difficulties and challenges, I heard no complaints. I saw no one feeling sorry for what he was missing or giving up. I saw a room full of men who had answered God's call, and who had responded joyfully and eagerly, "Here am I; send me!"
Another impression was the wide variety of places in which the gospel is being proclaimed on our behalf. Whether it was out in the bush in Malawi, the tropical forests of Indonesia, a high rise in crowded Hong Kong, or a dusty village in Mexico, the gospel is being proclaimed to people of all languages, tribes, and nations. The places and languages may vary, but the gospel of Jesus Christ works to bring people around the world into the family of God and joins them to the body of Christ.
Keep these missionaries and their families in your prayers. As they work on our behalf, remember that God's Word, no matter where it is preached and no matter what language conveys it, will not return to him empty.
Then it was on to the worship conference, where more than a thousand WELS worship leaders and musicians had gathered—more than any previous conference. This was the first worship conference I had attended, and I was not disappointed. I came away marveling at the many gifts and talents that God has given to people in our synod. Those gifts were on display in the inspiring worship services and in the many workshops that were held. Some of us are not very emotional people by nature, but there were times when the beauty of the gospel-centered music and messages left very few dry eyes. Particularly moving was the hymn festival featuring a select choir of WELS high school students from across the country.
This conference was significant because it stressed the importance and centrality of worship in our lives as God's people. And as the case was made for the importance of worship, the point was made again and again that confessional Lutheran worship can and should be done with a commitment to excellence and with an appreciation for the heritage of liturgical worship that has been passed down to us by Christians throughout the ages. What was most striking was the reminder that truly Lutheran worship is not centered on us, but on Christ and the proclamation of the timeless gospel.
These two conferences—centering on very different subjects—reminded me of how thankful we can be for the blessings that God continues to give us in WELS.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: conference, national worship conference, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, WLS, World Missions, Worship
Top Stories
Compiled by WELS Communication Services
Another step forward for Mexican church
The Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church of Mexico, one of WELS' sister synods, held its 17th annual convention—an indicator the church body continues to grow and mature. From July 17-20 delegates discussed the future of the church and addressed business issues like pastor compensation and synod organization—they also celebrated a student's graduation from the seminary.
"It was the most positive convention I've been to," says Missionary Mike Hartman, who has served in Mexico for the past nine years. "I think the main reason is because we have a good group of strong, Christian leaders who are very concerned about reaching out and doing evangelism."
Delegates identified regions with outreach potential and discussed where the new graduate, Alejandro Sánchez, should be placed. There are now seven national pastors, two WELS missionaries, and one WELS vicar that serve the synod's 17 congregations. "[Sanchez's graduation] was another highlight," says Hartman. "When you only have six pastors, it is a really big deal to have another guy coming."
Hartman says with seminary enrollment right now, the synod is on-track to have a new pastor every year for the next three years. "It is a good pace, I think, because it's a way in which [the church] can grow, but at the same time it's not too fast that they won't be able to support that growth."
And this church of approximately 600 souls is growing. In the past four years, Hartman reports that worship attendance has increased, and there has been a 20 percent increase in baptisms in the past 18 months. In addition, 92 people were confirmed last year.
"In my experience, most Mexicans don't know that Jesus rose," says Hartman. "My prayer is that God would continue to watch over our Mexican brothers and sisters and help them to grow and mature so that more and more of the millions of lost souls in Mexico might know that Jesus rose and is the only way to life eternal."
For more information about the Mexican Lutheran Church, visit www.lutheransinmexico.com
Filed Under: Convention, Mexico, World Missions
MLC chapel project costs rise
The final bids for the chapel project at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., have been received from the contractors. Due to a steep increase in the cost of steel and oil, the final bids in the $7.5 million project came in at approximately $800,000 over the amount previously approved by the Synodical Council (SC).
The Board for Ministerial Education submitted a request to the Executive Committee of the SC, asking that MLC be permitted to use some of its own funds already on hand to cover the difference. The project budget already included a contingency amount of $300,000; if these funds go unused, MLC would use them and about $500,000 of its own funds to complete the project. Approval of this plan means that the chapel project will progress without the use of additional synodical funding.
The Executive Committee was told with steel prices set to rise another 10 percent on Aug. 1, a quick decision was needed and that a delay in a decision would like jeopardize the entire project. With that information, the Executive Committee approved the request for MLC to use its own funds to cover the increased costs. The final contracts were scheduled to be signed late last week, with "not to exceed" provisions ensuring that the final cost will not increase.
Construction is still on target for a completion date of fall 2009.
Filed Under: chapel, Ministerial Education, MLC
District president recovering from heart attack
Rev. Charles Degner, the newly elected president of the Minnesota District, is recovering at home from a heart attack he suffered July 24.
After experiencing chest pains, he was rushed to an emergency room in St. Peter, Minn., where he lives, before being transferred to a hospital in nearby Mankato where doctors inserted a stent into his left coronary artery.
Degner says doctors described his heart attack as "serious, but not horrible." Initial tests before he returned home indicated his heart was once again functioning well, but the extent of any damage won't be fully known until a stress test scheduled for Sept. 3.
Degner anticipates a month of cardiac rehabilitation—during that time he'll be delegating work to vice presidents and circuit pastors in his district and working from home. He expresses thanks for the prayers and well wishes from across synod. "It's just a wonderful thing," he says.
He's also expressing thanks to fast acting doctors and a gracious God. "When push comes to shove and you're lying on the table—you can say 'God, I'm your child and I'm in your hands.' There's no sweeter comfort than that."
Seminars encourage community involvement
In an effort to help congregations get involved in their communities and gain more opportunities to spread the gospel, WELS Commission on Evangelism is coordinating "Connecting to Communities" seminars to be held throughout the districts beginning in September. This is the fifth in a six-part series on what congregations should consider when developing a plan to reach the unchurched.
"As a church our prime purpose in this world is to lead people to Jesus," says Rev. Michael Hintz, administrator of the Commission on Evangelism. "At the same time, by doing acts of Christian service—showing the love of Christ in a very practical way—we may gain a greater audience for the gospel."
The Saturday-morning seminars are hosted by a congregation and other churches in the area are encouraged to attend. Before the seminar concludes, participants will plan a year of activities in their local congregations.
This year's seminar will focus on helping churches build bridges with people in their communities. Previous seminars have covered topics like the relationship between worship and outreach, locating and nurturing prospects, and new member assimilation.
"I liked the last seminar so much that I adapted it for a Sunday morning Bible class, too," says Rev. Steven Pagels, a member of the Southeastern Wisconsin District Commission on Evangelism and outreach pastor at St. John, Wauwatosa, Wis.
Pagels says he is looking forward to this year's seminars because his congregation is already doing some community activities—like hosting a Red Cross blood drive and serving meals at the local Ronald McDonald house—but there has never really been a plan. "I think this is something we're getting better at—recognizing that we’re part of a community and that there are things we can do to create a positive identity in the community," he says.
More than 30 seminars have already been scheduled in six districts through the beginning of next year. For more information about the seminars, or to register online, visit www.wels.net/jump/conncomm
Filed Under: District, evangelism, seminar
Congregations, individuals respond to Year of Jubilee
More than $600,000 has been raised for the synod's special "Year of Jubilee" offering since it was launched during the district conventions in June. Authorized by the 2007 synod convention, the thank offering is designed to reduce the synod’s $22.4 million debt—and free up as much as $2.7 million each year for other ministry..jpg)
"Each and every gift God's people give to the work of his church is a miracle," says Rev. Dave Liggett, administrator of WELS Ministry of Christian Giving (MCG). "Let's remember one another in our prayers as we move forward with this special offering."
While the offering will be conducted between now and the 2009 synod convention next July, the main thrust will be in November and December. MCG has developed a series of Bible studies, worship resources, and a DVD for use during those two months based upon the Old Testament Year of Jubilee which, foreshadowed a Savior, Jesus, who frees us from the debt of sin.
Congregations are encouraged to begin promoting the offering now. A complete set of instructions and promotional materials were mailed to every congregation and given to every delegate to the district conventions. If your church has not yet received them, contact the Ministry of Christian Giving at 800-827-5482 or e-mail mcg@sab.wels.net Printable monthly worship folder inserts have been developed for use between now and July 2009.
Individual members moved to respond to the offering can do so by placing a gift in the offering plate at worship, making checks payable to the congregation. Gifts can also be given online at www.wels.net/donate
Filed Under: Christian Giving, donation, gift, Year of Jubilee
Spotlight on Streams: WELS Connection online
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If you didn't catch the July edition of WELS Connection, you have another chance. Each edition is posted on Streams the month after it is shown in congregations. July’s edition focuses on Martin Luther College’s Travel Canvass Witness program. Watch it online
Filed Under: Ministerial Education, MLC, Travel Canvass Witness, WELS Connection
