Congregational Outreach Southeastern District, LCMS
August 27th, 2010 by lucasjsFaith Sharing Update
“Grandmom? What happens if somebody doesn’t know that Jesus loves them?”, asked Gavin. Pastor Black had just made an important point in his message on the Sunday that we visited at St. Paul, Glen Burnie MD and Gavin heard it. God invites us to share with others. He gives us the words to speak. And sometimes, we even get a holy nudge that moves us into sharing. The words are simple: “Jesus loves me.” The message is transforming. And the messenger – that would you and me – are blessed by God to be a blessing to others.
Today, I am remembering in prayer the 556,062 faith sharing conversations that members of Southeastern District congregations and schools have reported. It is my fervent hope that as the Holy Spirit continues the work of nurturing and growing faith in these lives that they will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
I look forward to hearing from you, please send me an email about the many ways you are sharing Jesus with others. A few of my favorite summer reports follow.
St. John’s Lutheran Church of Conover has sent out two more short-term mission teams. These teams traveled to Deering and Arctic Village, Alaska, to lead Vacation Bible School programs in these two remote, native villages. The villages they flew to are in the extreme northern parts of Alaska and are only accessible by plane. LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots) was the co-sponsor of their trip.
St. Matthew, BelAir MD shares about Bob and Shirley who have worshipped with the congregation for the past six years. They watched the tremendous efforts of the church to help the victims of the Haiti and Chilean earthquakes and, as a result, were led to join the congregation.
Sharing a Cross, Rev. Rick Hase: While on vacation this summer in Ocean City, MD with my wife Donna we decided to go to visit the Outlets in Delaware. After shopping on this very hot day we were hungry and ready for a change of pace and so we headed to Crabby Dick’s Crab House. There at Crabby Dick’s we met Miriam, from Eastern Europe who served as our server that evening. During the course of the next two hours there was a lot of sharing once I ask about her home and her surprise that I recognized her accent. As I tried to get up she reached down and quickly helped me up showing her strength. I put my hand into my pocket pulling out my best looking Olive Wood Cross which I gave her explain that it was from the Holy Land and meant to remind her that Jesus Christ had come into this world for her and that he loved her and had died on the cross for her sin so that so might have eternal life. There was great joy in her eyes as I explained the cross to her and she said that she was a Christian and that this cross would mean a great deal to her being the highlight of her life in the United States. We then spent about 20 more minutes sharing our faith with each other before I told her about our Savior.
Mission Development Academy 4 About to Begin
Mission Development Academy begins a new season on September 11. If your congregation is interested in beginning a new ministry, taking the lead on starting a new mission, or developing a new mission outlook; then you may want to enroll in MDA. The purpose of MDA is to help a congregational team to understand the mission challenges and to develop the mission mindset needed to reach out with the Gospel. A session includes nine 3-hour Saturday morning webinars (9-noon) and a retreat. Session topics include:
· Ministry in the Emerging Culture
· Living in Vibrant Relationship with Jesus
· Focus on God’s Business
· Outreach, Evangelism, and Personal Sharing
· Local Demographics
If you are interested in learning more, contact Tina Jasion, Program Director of the Mission Development Academy.
Looking for Help in Developing a Congregational Evangelism Team?
Meet David and Deanna Allen and Marian Parker who are volunteers with The 72R–Partners-On The Road. The 72 is a ministry of LCMS World Missions, with a primary goal of equipping LCMS members for effective outreach ministry. David, Deanna, and Marian are The72 field representatives to the Southeastern District, and members of Redeemer, Fredericksburg, VA.
The 72 sends teams to partner with congregations, evangelism leaders, and staff members to accomplish specific outreach goals that have been identified by the congregation. Areas where The 72 can assist in equipping, encouraging and exciting your members include:
expressing their faith anywhere in a natural and non-confrontational manner
* discovering and using their spiritual gifts in ministry
* recognizing and reaching out to potential inactives
* beginning a small group ministry
* being outreach focused in all areas of ministry
* being able to visit neighborhoods asking for needs and prayer concerns
* reaching out to the community through “Side Door” events
* discovering ways to assimilate guests and members into the congregation
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If you would like to find more information about this ministry, you can visit The 72′s Web site or contact Dave and Deanna directly.
Three Bible Class Resources:
Big Ways, Little Ways: 30 Ways – Big and Small – to Tell Others About Jesus
This booklet from Creative Communications for the Parish is a very friendly and a helpful tool. It begins with Jesus who died for our sins so that we may be forgiven, live in God’s love, be there for one another, and someday enjoy eternity. That’s it. That’s what we want to share with others. This little booklet has 29 suggestions for activities that one may do to share the Good News. From “wearing the Good News” to “remembering your Godchild” to “looking and listening for an opportunity”, these simple actions of faith will encourage you to share Jesus.
If you are looking for a good Bible study for a Fall class, you might consider Mission from the Cross – Lay Reader’s Edition by Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz. This book provides a contemporary look at mission, including crucial topics such as cultural anthropology, communication styles and linguistics, strategic and ecumenical issues, and much more related to what mission is and how mission is accomplished. In speaking of mission and our involvement in mission, Dr. Schulz writes: “All Christians are involved in mission after having received the good news of their reconciliation with God through Christ. They have the desire of sharing that wonderful news with others without selfishly protecting and withholding it from people who live estranged from God. Mission is the measure of the Church’s health.” Dr. Schulz is Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne IN.
Faith Talks: An Interactive Workshop for Sharing the Gospel
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is pleased to offer a new resource for faith sharing. Faith Talk is an interactive faith-sharing guide and outreach training program. Faith Talk leads participants through a process of recognizing personal opportunities for faith-sharing, effective listening, and celebrating the encounters which God provides. The goal of Faith Talk is that each individual will be compelled to share the Gospel, pray for and recognize opportunities to do so, and then confidently live and speak the faith.
Mission U and Lutheran Hour Ministries
Where will you find brand-new materials to strengthen your daily witness? The answer is Mission U. this new online project from Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) features a 21st century university theme with detailed curriculum, seminar-style presentations, expert speakers, in-class and on-line student interaction, and take-home study resources and practice. A course catalog of curriculum options gives congregations choices from which to tailor their own mission strategies.
Mission U originated as a joint partnership of the SED and LHM and is now taking on a new life. To learn more about Mission U, contact Sarah Guldalian or visit the website.
Final note: Tending the Flame DVDs of Reggie McNeal’s presentations are available for a donation of $5.00. Email Cathy Long if interested.
Sally Hiller
Executive Director for Congregational Outreach
Southeastern District, LCMS
