Outdoor Concerts
Every second and fourth Fridays our worship team from Point of Grace has an outdoor concert at Jackson’s Java, a coffee shop in a shopping center in Huntersville. We visit with the people and if appropriate ask them where they worship. If they have no church home we tell them about Point of Grace Lutheran Church. There have been a couple of occasions when we have even had the opportunity to pray with a few people who were going through some difficulty. This is truly an Ablaze outreach ministry

St. John’s Alaskan Mission Teams

St. John’s Lutheran Church of Conover, North Carolina, recently sent eight people to Alaska to work with LAMP (the Lutheran Association of Missionary Pilots) to lead Vacation Bible Schools in two remote native villages.
One group of four traveled to Deering, Alaska, to share God’s word there. Deering is an Eskimo village of approximately 150 people. A small church is located in the village but since the village has no pastor there is no one leading worship services or teaching Sunday School. Thirty-three children took part in the VBS at Deering and many asked for the group to come back next year. Those traveling to Deering were Pastor Scott Johnson, Dana Drum, Bobbie Sue Chandler, and Elizabeth Todd.
Another group of four traveled to Artic Village, Alaska. Arctic Village is a native village of about 300 people. It is the village the furthest north in the interior of Alaska. Eighteen children took part in the VBS program at Artic Village. Those traveling to teach VBS in Artic Circle were Loretta Atkinson, Coy Hester, Doug Travis Sr., and Diane Holchin.
The only way to travel to either village is by plane. There are no roads leading to either village. While the groups were there they never experienced any darkness. The sun does not set in either village during the month of July. The group will return in 2008 to lead VBS.

This has been around for a while, but I thought it would be a good idea to post it in case anyone was wondering and had not seen it.
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Theology of Ablaze!

President Gerald Kieschnick requested the two seminary presidents, and leaders of the Synod’s Board for Pastoral Education and Commission on Theology and Church Relations to review the theological aspects of the Ablaze! movement.

Following their collaboration, these four Synod leaders shared the following joint statement:

“We are committed to and engaged in mission and outreach and are eager to be a resource for the entire church in sharing the Gospel. Following a review of the Ablaze! initiative we do not find anything in it to be inconsistent with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. To be sure, while some might raise legitimate questions about certain points not included in this initiative, as well as about certain exegetical details, we feel that the materials prepared by the Board of Missions sufficiently answer these concerns.

Dr. L. Dean Hempelmann
Dr. Dale A Meyer
Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger
Dr. Dean O. Wenthe

Two documents that were referenced in their review are:
The Ablaze! Initiative in the LCMS Theologically Considered (www.lcms.org?8953)
Produced by LCMS World Mission

Ablaze!: Origins, Theology, Structure, Impact (www.lcms.org?8953)
Fall 2005 edition of Issues in Christian Education

Sally J Hiller
Mission and Ministry Executive, Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive Alexandria VA 22310-2501

voice: 703.971.9371, Ext. 205 or 800.637.5723, fax 703.922.6047, web www.se.lcms.org, disaster response 301.910.9371

I have couple of prayer requests to pass on from neighborhood evangelism visits this week..

Melvin asked that we pray for him and for his family situation, and that he will be able to turn his life around. He faces many difficulties. This Tuesday, especially, he would like people to pray.

Theresa asked we pray for her to grow in her relationship with the Lord and that she be enabled to find the path that the Lord has for her.

Good morning. I came across a list of summer outreach activities and thought it may encourage you as you seek ways to share the Gospel. I have added a few to the list. Please let us know what you are doing to reach out to your communities. I would love to be able to share your stories with others.

Summer Outreach Projects
Looking for a great way to serve people, share a GOOD gift, and introduce your church? Here are three ideas. Don’t forget, labels or business cards with church address, website, phone number, and worship times are very inexpensive ways to invite someone to church.

Freezer Pops
This is a very inexpensive treat to give away. Just remember that it takes several days to freeze completely. Also, if you are going to open them, bring scissors and be the one who opens the pops for children.

Packets of Sunscreen
You can purchase individually wrapped packets of sunscreen. Go to a park area, playground and give them away.

Water
Water is always a hit – anytime, anywhere, in any weather type. You’ve seen them handed out at street intersections…for a buck. Put a church information sticker on it or hand a bottle over with a church business card, and give them away for free.

Washing Car Windows
Again, this is one you have seen – simply offer to do it for free. You need to be located at high-traffic areas. Once you are done, thank them and hand them a business card invitation.

Sally J Hiller
Mission and Ministry Executive, Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive Alexandria VA 22310-2501

voice: 703.971.9371, Ext. 205 or 800.637.5723, fax 703.922.6047, web www.se.lcms.org, disaster response 301.910.9371

This comes from our friends at Lutheran Hour Ministries. Please feel free to share it with your congregations.

Hospitality for Neighborhood Outreach this Summer!

Most people think that purchasing a present or a fancy meal is the most
effective way to express your care for someone. The majority of people
will accept and appreciate this act of kindness when offered. What has
become underestimated, though, is the power of hospitality.

There is something uniquely special about an invitation into someone’s
personal sanctuary: his or her home. Allowing someone into your home
denotes trust in a society where the notion of trust is unusual. In
addition, personally preparing, planning and cooking rather than paying
someone to do it for you says to the recipient: “You are worth my time
and attention!” And, giving your time and attention to others is a key
part of servanthood and outreach.

How can you offer hospitality this summer as a means to witnessing?
Rather than steering clear of your neighbors or peeking out the window
to see what they’re up to, why not invite them into your home? God
places us where He does and at the time He does for a reason. Sharing
your faith with your neighbors is a privilege that God gives us and a
wonderful opportunity! You know that you will see them again soon as
they live right next door! This is a great chance for planting seeds and
watering them through relationship development over time.

Tips for Sharing: Summer Hospitality!

- Have a themed summer party for the neighborhood kids: a “Hawaiian
Party” or a “Sponge Bob Square Pants party” will go over well!
Incorporate the pool, water balloons or the sprinkler as an added
incentive! Plan an activity that shares a Godly message. A humorous
puppet show telling the kids of Jesus’ love for them is perfect. Or
assign them Bible characters and have them act out a Bible story. Invite
the neighborhood parents to help you run the party. They may get more
out of the show than a good laugh!

- Don’t forget to throw a summer party for the big kids too! Have a BBQ
for all the parents. Hire a few of the trustworthy teens from your youth
group to watch the young kids while the parents enjoy adult
conversation. While you share your food, home and company, personally
extend church invitations to your neighbors in one-on-one discussions.
And, while you are doing this, the kids can be learning more about the
Bible by watching the Adventures of Veggie Tales!

- Next time your neighbor is outside, laboring away in their yard, ask
them over for a lemonade or iced tea break. Share Jesus’ love with them!
Not enough time? Invite them and their family to a BBQ with yours.
Investing in relationships can lead to opened doors in sharing!

- Serve your neighbors in practical ways: Bring them cookies or fruit,
just for fun. Ask them if you can watch their children for an evening so
they can enjoy a romantic evening together.

When Christ’s love reflects from you, people become curious. Showing
love and hospitality leads to questions. The ultimate answer is: “Jesus
loves you deeply. And, I’ve been given the awesome opportunity to share
that love with you.”

by Sarah Guldalian, Editor
LHM Coordinator, Equipping to Share

Pastor George Black (St. Paul, Glen Burnie MD) is on a short-term mission trip to Ghana where he will teach and preach in mission congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana. He shares an on-flight faith-sharing moment. We remember Pastor Black in our prayers as he reaches out with the Gospel in the communities of Ghana.

>From Pastor Black:
As I finished packing my suit case on the morning of Tuesday, July 29, 2008, I received a phone call from Northwest Airlines. Boy, I hope this is not an omen of things to come! Northwest informed me that my flight on KLM to Amsterdam had been cancelled. Fortunately they rebooked me on another airline, Air France. Now my itinerary included an additional stop. Instead of flying Dulles to Amsterdam, the Netherlands to Accra, Ghana; now I flew Dulles to Paris, France to Lagos, Nigeria, and finally to Accra, Ghana.

The Air France Airbus took off at 6:30 pm. As I flew along the U.S, coastline, I thought that maybe the LORD had a reason for canceling my flight on KLM: to give a Christian witness! The woman next to me was flying to Iran via Paris. Her father had been an Iranian diplomat under the Shah of Iran. When the revolution that brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power happened, her parents fled to the United States. She was only ten at that time. Now both parents were dead but her family still holds property in Iran. She is going there to see if she can sell it.

Her husband is a Christian but she is not. She had been raised by her Iranian father, who was a Moslem, and her Russian mother, who was Russian Orthodox. Neither really encouraged her to join either religion. She said that she believed in God, even prayed, but knew little about Him. Learning that I am a Lutheran pastor, she had lots of questions. I ended up making a Gospel presentation to her, explained God’s love in sending Jesus to be our Savior, and told of the blessings of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

She had the usual questions about how do you know all religions are not the same and how are can one be sure of the accuracy of the Bible, and spoke of her trying to live a good, moral life. I addressed her questions and spoke of the importance of living a good life as an act of thankfulness for all that Jesus did to save us. I shared with her that God’s Word tells us to do good works because He loves us, not to do good works to earn or win His love. In the end she thanked me and said that when she returned to the U.S., she would attend her husband’s church with him and perhaps go through their new member class. Please remember “the Iranian woman” in your prayers.

Sally J Hiller
Mission and Ministry Executive, Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive Alexandria VA 22310-2501

voice: 703.971.9371, Ext. 205 or 800.637.5723, fax 703.922.6047, web www.se.lcms.org

Greenwood Lutheran Church, Greenwood SC was featured on the front page of the local newspaper for ‘setting the scene’ at Christmas time. Member Phyllis Krohn organized a display of crèches at the local Mall. She was on site to share the story of the various crèches, but more importantly, the story of God’s love as he comes to us – our long-awaited Savior.

Sally J Hiller
Mission and Ministry Executive, Southeastern District, LCMS
6315 Grovedale Drive Alexandria VA 22310-2501

voice: 703.971.9371, Ext. 205 or 800.637.5723, fax 703.922.6047, web www.se.lcms.org

I just wanted to say, on a personal note, how great an experience Tending the Flame was for me.

All of the speakers that I saw were excellent. I wanted to especially mention Bob Newton, the president of the California Nevada Hawaii District. He was one of the keynote speakers and I also attended his talk on the cyclical nature of the Pre-Churched, Churched, and Post-Churched perceptions of those inside the Church and of those outside the Church in the culture at large. The topic was slated to be The Early Church, but the material that was actually presented was spot on to the situation in the field.

I was glad to see so many interested enough in Rodney Smiths and my own session on Sharing the Story: Personal Evangelism to crowd into our small room. The Power Point slides from that presentation are available under the Faith Sharing Page on this blog.

Lord, we celebrate your work at the Tending the Flame Conference this past week. Thank you for the over 400 attendees, Pastors, Professional Church Workers, and Laity. Help our congregations be prepared not only to reach out to the unchurched and uncommitted in our communities, but to be prepared to disciple them when your Holy Spirit draws them in, so that they will mature in the faith and be able to tell your Good News to others also.

We thank you for the 1,400 plus Prayer Partners that you have provided so far to wrap the Ablaze effort in prayer, and we continue to pray that you will provide the full compliment of 3000 prayer warriors to lift up the work of your Spirit through the churches of the Southeastern District.

We thank you for the over 5 million dollars that have been pledged so far to support mission work locally, in the circuit, the District, the Nation, and World Wide through Fanning the Flame. We know that you are a God with unlimited resources, and we fully expect to meet and exceed the stated goal of six million to support your work in this place.