We are giving thanks for each congregation who has participated in Ablaze! Miracle Sunday. As of today, we have received word that more than $83,000 has been received in this special mission offering.

A few more mission updates for you. Each of these are about answers to prayers and serve as a reminder to keep the prayers coming. There are people who don’t know, who are not experiencing the joy of life with Jesus.

Rev. Gary Rueter from Living Hope, Stafford VA asks that we pray until something happens! They are still waiting on the county permitting process and review to be completed so that construction on the building can begin. Pastor Reuter asks that we pray that there are no more “curve balls” thrown at them. In addition, we are praying for Laborers for Christ who are now scheduled to arrive on July 1st. There are some challenges with where they will be able to park their trailers. Let us pray with thanksgiving for the work of this ministry and for the lives that are being changed. Let us also pray for the communities surrounding this congregation, that God continue to let His light scatter the darkness and let us seek God’s intervention in any process that would hinder the work and growth of this ministry.

Hmong Mission, Mt. Airy NC, Rev. David Vang has been working with a small group of new Christians in Mt. Airy. He shares that there are about 100 Hmong living in the community. They have located a place for Worship. Rev. Vang asks that we pray for the work of the Spirit among the Hmong community, that hearts are awakened to Jesus Christ. As they make a decision about Worship space, please pray that the resources that are needed are available. Rev. Vang serves the Hmong congregations in Newton NC and in Atlanta Georgia. We pray for his safety as he travels between the three mission sites.

We have a listing of the Missions in the Southeastern District on our website at www.se.lcms.org click on new missions under the Initiating New Mission tab.

Thank you for your mission prayers, they are making an eternal difference.
Sally J. Hiller
Mission and Ministry Executive
Southeastern  District, LCMS

We are about 7 short of having 2000 mission prayer partners. If you know of someone in your congregation who would like to join us in praying for the work of mission within the Southeastern District, please contact me ( Sally Hiller ) by email. Thank you.

Saint Louis, MO-Concordia Publishing House introduces two evangelism resources to help Christians share their faith, How to Share Christ Confidently and What Jesus Means to Me, available for $2.99 each.

How to Share Christ Confidently explores practical techniques for witnessing in any situation. Each chapter includes exercises designed to confront and overcome the fear of witnessing. What Jesus Means to Me is a collection of personal stories of faith, written in a conversational style.

“Often, people feel uncomfortable witnessing,” says, Ken Liszewski, manager of books for Concordia Publishing House. “These new evangelism resources offer suggestions and information, as well as encouragement from other believers to share the Good News, always relying on God’s action through His Word and Spirit to form faith.”

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. Andrew Kassouf will be leading the teen program. 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.

Mission Prayer Partners Update
God invites us to pray without ceasing for the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the lives of all people. Currently we have 1973 people who are committed to this ministry. Our goal is to have 2000 people praying for outreach and mission work throughout the District by the May 2009 Convention. If you are interested in joining this effort, contact prayers@se.lcms.org.

Ablaze! Faith Sharing Moments
More than 300,000 faith-sharing moments have been recorded by the Southeastern District Office. To share your story or the number of events, email sjhiller@se.lcms.

Ablaze! Miracle Sunday Update
Thanksgiving for the gifts from the people of God! Thank you for your mission support. Already 35 of the 75 congregations have sent their Ablaze! Miracle Sunday offerings in and together we are contributing more than $35,000 to the mission funding effort. Your gifts will help to support new mission outreach such as what is happening in Midlothian VA with the development Good Shepherd, a new congregation and Open Arms Child Care. Your support is also helping to give birth to a Hispanic Mission Developer in Circuits 9. These are days when the news of the resurrection sets our hearts ablaze and overflows in actions and words of Gospel joy. Thank you for your partnership.

Times are tight, people are searching for good news and we’ve got it! When members across the Southeastern District gather for the Tending the Flame conference, they will be discover a great place for learning how to fish – for people – for Jesus. Throughout the conference opportunities to learn how to share the story of God will be made available in presentations, Bible study, and small group offerings. A special Saturday evening event will fill your heart with joy as you participate in singing the story that God has placed within our lives. Program Development for children, teens, and adults is underway. The registration fee has been kept at last year’s rate ($75) with a special early bird registration fee of $50 through June 15. The registration fee for children (age 4 and older) and youth is $25. Conference information and registration forms are available on line at www.se.lcms.org.

A few more mission updates for you. Each of these are about answers to prayers and serve as a reminder to keep the prayers coming. There are people who don’t know, who are not experiencing the joy of life with Jesus.

Rev. Brandon Martin, Bridge Hispanic at St. Stephens – Hickory NC, writes that he is providing orientation and training for 33 volunteers from 8 local churches. They will become part of the HOT team: Hispanic Outreach Team. They are launched (Mar 30) and adult ESL course with Kids Connect Bible program and have 18 parents and 25 children registered. We pray that God uses this as an faith-changing moment in the lives of each person involved.

Rev. Wally Schifflet reports from Abundant Life, Charlotte NC that they are going to build on their Children’s Outreach to the community, a Saturday morning program to bring together children for a time of fellowship and Spiritual growth so that through this effort, families are brought into a relationship with Christ. We pray that God sends amultitude  of children to participate in this outreach.

Throughout our District, schools are enrolling students for the next year. Many of our schools are faced with the challenges of lower enrollment. Two schools will be closing next year (Harford Lutheran, BelAir MD and Charlotte Lutheran, Charlotte NC). Others will be opening (University Christian High School, Conover NC; Concordia, Hagerstown MD; and Open Arms, Midlothian VA). Let us remember our schools and the incredible outreach ministry they have to families. We pray that the Lord will fill the desks with eager learners and children who will become members of His family.

We have a listing of the Missions in the Southeastern District on our website at www.se.lcms.org click on the new missions under the Initiating New Mission tab.