All the glory goes to God! He is doing incredible things among us.

Jordan Mission had a wonderful opening celebration and first worship service. Now, three weeks strong they are sharing the Gospel in new ways to the community.

Mission Planter Mike Merker reports that after their Community Christmas event an NBC affiliate contacted him and wanted to learn more about the activities prior to the launch. This relationship led to Jordan being aired on television on several occasions. Sharing activities through the television station’s community forum has served as a great way to help direct people to the website.

On February 8, 2009 Jordan Lutheran held its first service with 158 people in attendance.

Looking toward the coming months, Jordan is focusing on creating opportunities for those who are calling Jordan their church home the chance to get plugged into a life of discipleship; a life that centers around Sunday morning worship, weekly Bible study, fellowship offerings and the chance to impact the community through acts of service. On March 1, several small groups will be introduced to the community. Initial offerings include a men’s group, a young adult group and an interest group centered on service projects.

Your Mission prayer support and contributions to Ablaze for God’s Mission are helping to resource this new mission. Thank you to the members of the Southeastern District congregations.

Throughout the season of Lent, you will have opportunity to learn more about District mission efforts. You will also have the opportunity to participate in an Ablaze! Miracle Sunday. Each congregation is invited to choose March 22 or March 29 and join in a District-wide mission offering so that the outreach efforts of missions such as Jordan may continue to take place throughout the District.

FIREWORKS is the theme for the next Training Leaders for Outreach session. Rev. Dr. Dave Buegler will point us to the FIREWORKS God has in store for us as he sends the Holy Spirit to light the fires of faith within our hearts and then sends us to work, sharing the Good News with all people.

You will want to gather members of your outreach and evangelism committees, new to the neighborhood welcoming committee, greeters and ushers, and Sunday School teachers to be a part of this training event on Saturday, March 28, from 9:00 till noon. Invite the congregations of your circuit to join you.

Plan to attend now. Registration is available on line at www.se.lcms.org. Please contact clong@se.lcms.org and let her know if you would like to be a host site. By the way, if you are near St. Stephen’s, Hickory, we will be broadcasting live at the church.

Plan now to tend this exciting event. Bible study leaders are Rev. Art Scherer and Rev. Tom Zehnder. Exciting workshops addressing outreach, evangelism, sharing the Good News will be offered. An outstanding children’s program will be available. A special feature – Ken Medema, a world renown Christian song writer will present on Saturday evening. He will sing the songs of God’s love in our lives as he shares his story of God at work in him.

This morning as I finish preparations for the newsletter, I am mindful that it is Ash Wednesday and all around us, people are beginning the Lenten journey. For us, this journey is the journey to the cross, the empty grave, and the glorious resurrection. For many more, it is simply the end of the Mardi Gras season. There are so many who have no clue about Jesus, who he is and what he has done for us. They live separated from the real joy of life.

The Southeastern District’s effort to raise new funds for mission is to respond to the opportunities to make a Gospel difference in the lives of people who have not yet heard of Jesus. We invite you to consider these days of Lent as a time to pray for those who do not have a relationship with Jesus and pray that we – all of us- are bold in sharing the Good News.

Consider also providing a one-time special mission offering that will help us to reach out in new ways with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. More than 40 congregations have already received materials for an Ablaze! Miracle Sunday on March 22 or March 29. Check out the website (www.se.lcms.org) for additional information or phone the District Office (800.637.5723) to request resources.

From Mission Vicar Andy Schermbeck:

We have been doing plenty of community service projects. One per month since the Fall. In November we had a successful food drive, December we sponsored a family and bought them presents with the Christmas bureau, January we served at a Banquet for Life event, and in February we are doing another food drive in a Weddington neighborhood. Also, on April 4th we are having a big community carnival/Springfest with food, games, booths, the Fire dept and police dept. will be doing some programs and bringing a firetruck, etc. It will be held at the elementary school where we have been worshiping. It looks to be a low cost day of fun for area families. We pray for the continued work of Open Door Fellowship and Messiah, Charlotte as they work together to bring about this mission effort.

The Southeastern District was shaped for mission. Hearts of passion for the lost filled the thoughts and prayers of our early mission leaders. Judy Koucky (St. Paul, Falls Church VA) recently shared tidbits of the proceedings of second convention of the SED, which was held in 1940 in Baltimore MD. The conclusion of the President’s address is this prayer of encouragement for the work of all within the District:

“May the Spirit of the living God, who on the first day of Pentecost transformed timid and fearful disciples into bold, courageous, fearless, undaunted, tireless, and indefatigable witnesses for Christ, today by the omnipotent power of His Word perform a like miracle in us: make us bold confessors, ardent witness-bearers, fill our hearts with our Savior’s own burning and untiring passion for souls, fill us with eager restlessness, until we reach every one in our respective communities, cause them to bow their knees in the dust of Calvary and to confess with us that Jesus is the Lord, to glory of God the Father.”

Fill us Lord, with such eager restlessness!

The Coalition of Lutherans in Black Ministry: March 13-15 at Berea Lutheran Church ( 2999 Belair Road in Baltimore MD).

That’s the rallying cry we want to share with congregations in Black ministry. We are living in a world that may be more open to listen to a message of security and hope that only WE, the body of Christ, can proclaim! Is your congregation excited and ready to engage that challenge? The Coalition of Lutherans in Black Ministry wants to see it happen. The Coalition is a gathering of God’s people of all ages, genders and cultures who have a heart for Black ministry—who want to see the LC-MS Ablaze with saved souls of every color!

We have contacted an elementary school that is just down the road from us, Jesse Boyd, and have offered to provide backpacks with school supplies this coming year. Along with the school supplies we will include information about Lamb of God and a bookmark the children can use throughout the year. The back packs will be filled by different individuals in the congregation through an “adopt a back pack” program. It is our prayer that this project will 1) help families that have been hurt through the recent economic down turn; 2) introduce us to families that may have overlooked us in the past; 3) increase attendance at Lamb of God by families with children; 4) encourage our members as they see families who have received a back pack visiting Lamb of God; 5) most importantly, provide opportunities to share the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

1. Housing and Healthy Food for Families, $15,000 to Lutheran Community Services, Wilmington DE
2. Essex Compassion Center Ministry $17,000 Lutheran Mission Society, Baltimore MD
3. Good Shepherd Afterschool, $17,000 Resurrection, Charlotte NC

FIREWORKS is the theme for the next Training Leaders for Outreach session. Rev. Dr. Dave Buegler, 5th Vice President of the LCMS and former President of the Ohio District will point us to the FIREWORKS God has in store for us as he sends the Holy Spirit to light the fires of faith within our hearts and then sends us to work, sharing the Good News with all people.

He will lead us through three sessions:

Fire-Works Ablaze: God at work
Jonah Ablaze: God provides the example (technique?) for Good News sharing
John 1 Ablaze: God sends us forth

You will want to gather members of your outreach and evangelism committees, new to the neighborhood welcoming committee, greeters and ushers, and Sunday School teachers to be a part of this training event on Saturday, March 28, from 9:00 till noon. You may even want to invite local congregations to join you.

Plan to attend now. Registration is available on line at www.se.lcms.org. Please contact clong@se.lcms.org and let her know if you would like to be a host site. By the way, if you are near St. Stephen’s, Hickory, we will be broadcasting live at the church.