PassionateBelievers. Guilt-free, Joy-filled Evangelism... pg. 4. Fall 2016

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1 PassionateBelievers A publication of the South Wisconsin District of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Fall 2016 Guilt-free, Joy-filled Evangelism... pg. 4 Lutheran Schools: Leaders in outreach - pg. 6 Go and make disciples - pg. 8 Synod Convention highlights - pg. 9 Bible Study Built on the Rock - pg. 10

2 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Passionate Believers Volume 6, Issue 4 Fall 2016 In this issue: 3 From the President 4 Guilt-free, Joy-filled Evangelism 5 Hmong celebrates 40 years with LCMS 6 Lutheran Schools: Leaders in outreach 7 National Youth Gathering 8 Go and make disciples 9 LCMS National Convention highlights 10 Bible Study The Mission in our back yard 12 District News 14 Around the District 16 Celebrations & Upcoming events Our Mission/Vision Let your Light shine On the cover: Taking a cue from our lead article, "Guilt-free, Joy-free Evangelism", our entire fall issue points to ways that our District's congregations are letting their Light shine both inside and outside of their comfort zones. Confessing Christ for the Next Generation 1. This is our time to be distinctly Lutheran. 2. This is our time to plant new congregations. 3. This is our time to honor our vocation. 4. This is our time to embrace our communities. Our core values Discipleship Diversity Community Excellence Integrity Passionate Believers is a quarterly publication of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations within the South Wisconsin District. It shares stories about our partnership in the Gospel and how we work towards maximizing, magnifying, and multiplying the ministry that is done with and through local congregations. If you would like to submit ideas, stories or news for the next publication, please send them to editor@swd.lcms.org by December 1, Congregations receive specified quantities at no cost. An individual subscription sent to your address is $5 per year. To subscribe, call the District Office at ext. 11, or mail check to South Wisconsin District LCMS 8100 W. Capitol Drive Milwaukee, WI (Wisconsin only) Web site: swd.lcms.org Save the date: February 4, 2017! That's when we'll get together for the Passionate Believers Conference at Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church N48 W31385 Hill Street, Hartland, WI Please follow swd.lcms.org and your church bulletin for updated information 2 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

3 From the President South Wisconsin District LCMS / Fall 2016 Let your Light shine! Rev. Dr. John C. Wille District President Brothers and Sisters in Christ: As we move deeper into the unchurched culture in which we find ourselves, my hope and prayer is that we understand our unique position in this world. We have the Gospel of our Lord Jesus with more clarity than any other church body. We have a heritage of sharing that Gospel with those who don t know Jesus as Savior; sometimes times we call them the lost, but they are also the disenfranchised. Many formerly belonged to Christian congregations like the ones to which we belong. They have left for a variety of reasons; sometimes things we have done or said, sometimes because the world in which we live has seduced them into believing that they no longer need a Savior. This is our time to "Confess Christ for the next generation." This is our time to confess Christ Jesus in this generation. This is the time and the culture into which our Lord has deliberately placed us. But we are not orphans any more than the original twelve were in John 14. This is our time to come together as brothers and sisters in the church to make a difference. This is our God-given time to proclaim and confess the saving name of Christ Jesus. This is our time to honor our vocation as the people of God in our various life stations. This is our time to plant new Lutheran congregations. This is our time to teach our children and grandchildren who Jesus is and what He does for us. This is our God-given time to confess Christ to a crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:15). Each of us confesses Christ as Savior in all that we do, in all that we say; in every vocation where we find ourselves. We are called to live as the people of God; forgiven and forgiving, hopeful and not despairing, faithful to our God as He has been faithful to us. And there is a reason for it. Dr. Martin Luther writes the following: God gives no one His grace so that it may lie down and be of no benefit, but so that it would give a good return, and through knowledge and outward public demonstration entice everyone to God. Christ says, Let your light shine before people, so that they see your good works and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5: 16). Otherwise it would be like a hidden treasure and concealed wisdom, and what benefit are either of them? Luther s Works, Volume 78, Church Postil IV, Vol 78, page 323. CPH. Elsewhere in the same volume Luther writes: The heathen are improved when the unbelievers are enticed by [believers ] merciful and innocent lives, so that they are converted and improved not only by their preaching but also by their good way of life. St. Paul means the same thing when he teaches: If a wife has an unbelieving husband, she should not separate from him, as long as he will permit her to remain a Christian (1 Corinthians 7:13). The reason is that it can happen that the husband is moved to become converted through the virtue of his Christian wife and says, I see in my wife that the Christians are excellent people; therefore, I will also become a Christian. Luther s Works, Volume 78, Church Postil IV. Kindle Location CPH Perhaps it is that person in the line at the store? Perhaps it is that neighbor who is home every Sunday morning? Perhaps it is a family member, or that person at work? Rev. Dr. John C. Wille, President, LCMS-SWD maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 3

4 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Let your Light shine By Rev. Mark A. Wood, Office of National Mission Director, Witness & Outreach Ministry; Director, LCMS Revitalization Initiative Guilt-free, Joy-filled Evangelism There are few topics in Christian living that create as much fear, angst, guilt, and shame as the topic of evangelism. Most Christians know that each and every believer is called to be a witness of Jesus, but studies have shown that relatively few of us are active in sharing the faith with people outside of the Church. It is not surprising that so many Christians have shied away from witnessing when books, seminars, and programs have transformed evangelism from a joyful privilege into a burdensome chore. And evangelism, as many American Christians understand it, is burdensome! Experts in evangelism have made us responsible for the salvation of our friends and loved ones, measured our faithfulness by our obedience to the Great Commission, and even established successful evangelism as a condition of genuine discipleship (relegating those who have not reproduced to the basic status of believer, not disciple ). In the first place we need to have the proper understanding of the why? of evangelism. That understanding begins with recognizing that witnessing is centered in the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our role as Christ s witnesses is to use all that God has entrusted to us to bring salvation to the ends of the earth so that those who are appointed to eternal life will believe (see Acts 13:46-48). Despite some popular ideas about witnessing, we do not share the good news of Jesus with unbelieving people in order to increase the population of heaven or to empty out hell. The fact of the matter is that we cannot change what God has already done when In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:4-5). Only those whom God has chosen for eternal life through His election by grace will be saved. No more. No fewer. Because we do not know (and we cannot know) whom God has chosen for eternal life, we share with everyone the good news that in Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7). Understanding this important biblical teaching frees Christ s witnesses from the burden of trying to save people through their efforts and moves us to be the messengers that bring the lifegiving Gospel to those who are lost. How did things get this way? How did evangelism go from being about telling others good news to being bad news for Christians? And, more important, how can we restore evangelism to its rightful place as our joy-filled role in Jesus work to seek and to save those who are lost? (Luke 19:10) Secondly, we need to have the proper motivation for evangelism. We know that those whom God has elected will come to faith and those who are not elected will perish. If we cannot change who will be saved and who won t be, why should we expend the energy, spend the time, and endure the risks associated with evangelism? 4 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

5 Let your Light shine South Wisconsin District LCMS / Fall 2016 The go-to answer to this question for some Christians is to be obedient. But this answer underscores the problem with how we understand our call to be Christ s witnesses. That call is not based in the law which calls for obedience but in the Gospel. Being a witness of Jesus is a call to respond to God s immeasurable grace by joining Him in the work that is closest to His heart. And it is in knowing His heart, rather than His mind, that we can embrace evangelism in a way that is free from guilt, shame, and disappointment. Without concerning ourselves with results that are beyond our control, we can joyfully join in His work of seeking and saving the lost because we know that the heartfelt desire of the Lord is for all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). The third thing we need to address in order to embrace our call to be witnesses of Jesus is the how to? of evangelism. If the way that we go about witnessing is not consistent with the biblical teaching of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and the Gospel-based call to speak of Jesus to the people in our everyday lives, it will lead to confusion and frustration and it will take us back to the angst associated with many evangelism approaches. Evangelism is meant to be a natural part of our daily lives. It should take place in the context of the relationships that God has already crafted for us. Witnessing is not scripted, but is an ongoing conversation in which we listen as much (and maybe even more) than we speak. In these conversations are opportunities for us to proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness and into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9) to the people with whom we live, work, study, and recreate. The Every One His Witness evangelism program provides practical resources for Lutherans who want to answer Christ s call to share in His joyful work of seeking and saving those who are lost. It is evangelism as Jesus intended it to be. Our role as Christ s witnesses isn t a difficult or complex burden, but a privileged work into which we have been invited to discover and to share in the joy of Christ as He gathers His elect into and through His Church. For more information about the Every One His Witness evangelism program, visit lcms.org/witnessoutreach or witness-outreach@ lcms.org. 40 years of LCMS Hmong Ministry By Abie Vang, Hmong Conference Committee Each year the Hmong Ministry hosts an annual conference to equip and encourage members of the Hmong Ministries to connect and make disciples for Christ. This year was quite significant as the Hmong Ministries have been a part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for 40 years! The location of the conference changes from year to year to accommodate our attendees. On July 21-24, 2016 the Hmong Ministry held its annual conference at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brookfield and Berea Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. There were more than 200 attendees from all over the United States. The theme for this conference was Back to Basic. Attendees were divided into youth, young adults and adults. Each group had different presenters but the focus was on witness, mercy and life together. The week was filled with worship, fellowship and learning. This event would not have occurred without the support from both North and South Wisconsin Districts, churches, businesses and individuals. We trust these sponsors will continue to support the Hmong Ministry Conference as it continues its mission to educate and encourage attendees to proclaim the Good News to the Hmong people in our nation and in our world. For more information about the Hmong LCMS Ministries visit maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 5

6 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Let your Light shine By Dr. Chris Cody, South Wisconsin District Schools, Youth and Family Executive Lutheran schools: Leaders in outreach What do you think of when you hear the word evangelism? Perhaps, a better question might be what does evangelizing look like? The first image that comes to my mind when I think of evangelism is that of a church member going door to door in a neighborhood passing out church tracts. In fact, I have a distinct childhood memory of my mother closing the curtains in our living room and trying to keep my brother, sister, and me quiet as the Jehovah s Witness came knocking on the door. I remember the time, a few years ago, that a young family from a local church approached me as I spread mulch in my front yard. The father (who was coincidentally the pastor of that church) tried to strike up small talk with me before his pitch by asking what the purpose of mulch was. The whole encounter was painful. In fact, most of the memories and thoughts I have when thinking of the word evangelism are not very pleasant. And yet, evangelism is exactly what happens in our Lutheran schools. Evangelism is what I ve spent the last 15 years doing. Merriam-Webster defines evangelism as the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ. 1 Another definition of evangelism is the promulgation of the gospel. 2 Indeed, Lutheran schools in the South Wisconsin District are staying true to the District s mission of confessing Christ for the next generation. Looking back on the last 50 years, the evangelism and outreach potential in our schools have grown substantially. Statistics released by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Office of School Ministry reflect the great outreach opportunity we have in our Lutheran schools. In , 23% of students in LCMS schools were reported as being unchurched. 3 That 23% represents just over 40,000 total students who are attending an LCMS school who do not have a church home. When you take into account the families of these 40,000 students, you could easily triple that number in terms of actual people with whom our schools come into contact on a daily basis. These are students and families that are coming to the doors of our Lutheran schools eager for a great education. They walk into our schools willingly and are often open to hearing the Gospel message in the classrooms and chapel services. Now, I don t believe that anyone would applaud us for how well this has translated to actual church membership or attendance. Frankly, this is an area of concern at most traditional church-schools. How do we get our unchurched families, who love our school, who are receptive to the Gospel, to be in our worship services on Sunday? If there were a magic bullet for this, a tried and true solution, I would be a millionaire. What I can say is this: Our Lord is powerful. His Word works in ways that we cannot comprehend. His Word works on His time, not ours. We can be faithful and trust in the Lord s promise that He cares for each of His children. We can pray for our schools as they encounter students and families who are unchurched. We can pray for our teachers as they seek to meet these families where they are. Above all, we can pray that God s will be done and that the work being done in the classrooms of our District might have an eternal difference pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2015_2016_statistics_analysis_report.pdf 6 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

7 Let your Light shine South Wisconsin District LCMS / Fall 2016 South Wisconsin District welcomes 6 new principals The South Wisconsin District welcomed six new principals at the start of this school year: Mr. Luke Beck (St. John, Portage), Ms. Kristi Collins (Our Redeemer, Delevan), Mr. Jerry Jiter (Our Father s, Greenfield), Mr. Rob Lunak (St. Paul, Janesville), Mrs. Rosalie Meier (Mt. Olive, Milwaukee), and Mrs. Julia Wackt (Lebanon, Watertown). We pray for God s blessings on each of these school leaders and for the students, faculty, and congregations they serve. (Dr. Chris Cody is in the middle.) National Youth Gathering - New Orleans style In all, there were 639 youth and 212 adults from South Wisconsin District who attended the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA, July under the theme In Christ Alone. The SWD organized an event just for our District youth for July 15 a Swamp Tour/Cajun Party! Participants were taken on a boat tour of a swamp. Some brave souls (including Pastor Bender, St. Paul, West Allis) took the opportunity to hold a baby alligator. Like any National Youth Gathering, the highlights included nightly mass events at the Superdome, daily sectional speakers, Servant Event opportunities, and a closing worship service. For more information on the National Youth Gathering, please go to blogs.lcms.org/2016/apowerful-presence. maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 7

8 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Let your Light shine Go and make disciples... in Sheboygan! By Diana Raasch, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, District Vice President David Blas has been embracing the Hispanic community in the Sheboygan County area ever since his induction as a Vicar for Hispanic ministry in our South Wisconsin District on January 10. The LORD is doing great things through the Sheboygan County Hispanic Outreach! Vicar Blas recently said. He is bringing the people here who need to be, in order to hear the Gospel and be saved! I m really happy and humble to be up here in Sheboygan County! A Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Child event was hosted on April 30 at Immanuel in Sheboygan. There was a service of worship, food, fellowship, and games for the kids. Many smiles were seen! Approximately 70 people attended the event and many of them were asking when the Outreach would begin to have worship services. On May 22, the Hispanic Outreach worked with Pastor Alan Kretschmar of St. Paul, Sheboygan, to conduct their first baptism. A third grade girl was welcomed into the family of God through those precious waters of Holy Baptism! But that is not the end of the excitement for the Outreach and St. Paul. This young lady became a student at St. Paul s school. The outreach is continuing to forge partnerships that share the Gospel as well as connect Hispanics to Lutheran schools. Immanuel, Sheboygan, also has had students enroll in their school because of the work of the Hispanic Outreach. Children had fun with a piñata during a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Immanuel, Sheboygan. A group formed from the efforts of Hispanic Outreach gathers for Bible class at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheboygan. The first worship service was held on June 5, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of Immanuel in Sheboygan. District President, Rev. Dr. John Wille, commented, It is a story of Amazing Grace to see this Latino mission get underway in, of all places, Sheboygan! I give thanks for the pastors and congregations in Sheboygan who have moved this forward in partnership with the District. Vicar Blas is passionate about reaching out to the Latinos in the area. Whenever we confess Christ as Lord and Savior, people are blessed and we with them. According to Rev. Nathan Meador, This mission effort has been designed through the South Wisconsin District and the tri-circuits in the Sheboygan area. Besides the support of the District and these churches, a number of donors from the District have supported this mission effort. Thanks be to God for ALL that He does in our District. Going forward, your congregation is invited to prayerfully consider becoming a partner in this ministry. If your congregation is willing to make a financial contribution to this mission, please share that with the Steering Committee through Pastor Meador at St. John, Plymouth. The telephone number is Vicar Blas is also looking for outreach opportunities as well as volunteers. Most important, please commit this mission opportunity in our own back yard (nearly 10% of Sheboygan County is Hispanic in origin) to prayer. Vicar David Blas is very passionate for his work in Sheboygan County. If you would like him to speak with your congregation, please coordinate this with Rev. Meador. If you have any questions about this mission opportunity or any other mission project of the District, contact the District staff at Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

9 Let your Light shine South Wisconsin District LCMS / Fall 2016 Synod convention highlights By Rev. Dr. John C. Wille, President, SWD The LCMS National Convention that met in July may well become known as a historical watershed in our church body. Two of the more important resolutions that passed are: Resolution #13-02A - To Regularize Status of Licensed Lay Deacons Involved in Word and Sacrament Ministry. This resolution provides a pathway toward ordination for those who have been serving as licensed lay deacons. That practice of licensing lay men to preach, teach, and administer the Sacraments began in 1989 at the Wichita convention. Through the years the licensed lay deacons have been hotly debated by those who saw the practice as a violation of the Augsburg Confession, Article XIV which states, that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called. From my perspective, 13-02A brings us back into compliance with what we confess because that is in accord with Holy Scripture. Resolution # Regarding the Right of an Accuser to Appeal when a District President Fails to Act or Declines to Suspend. This resolution came about as a result of an Opinion from the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM). The chair of Floor Committee #12 asked the CCM a simple question: In the event that a district president did not take action in matters of expulsion, was the process operative in the Bylaws between 1956 and 2004, enabling the President of the Synod or the Praesidium of the Synod to initiate proceedings and present charges in an expulsion matter, in violation of the Constitution of the Synod? The CCM s answer defines the Synod President s responsibility when it comes to ecclesiastical supervision of members of synod. The Opinion states: Moreover, The opening service of the 66th Regular Convention of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. this review finds the change of the Bylaws in 1989 and subsequently (namely, to remove the right of appeal for action to the President, should district officials fail to act, and to replace it first with an appeal to the Praesidium and then with an appeal to a Referral Panel) to conflict with the Constitution of the Synod. This change unconstitutionally deprived the President of the Synod of procedures for exercising a power granted him in Constitution Art. XI B 1 3. That this power to receive appeals for action, in case of the inaction of district officials, is one of the means constitutionally 'at [the President s] command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine and practice in all the districts of the Synod' (Constitution Art. XI B 3) was the opinion of the Synod in convention in It expressed this opinion explicitly and with its unique and final interpretive power. It must therefore be the opinion also of this commission. With the overwhelming adoption of 12-14, the Synod Secretary is empowered to draft, and Synod Board of Directors empowered to adopt, a series of bylaws to codify the CCM Opinion This is in accord with Article VII of the LCMS Constitution. Both of these resolutions are integral in maintaining our confessional subscription and proper doctrinal discipline. As President Harrison recently stated, "It was an amazing convention. Many thanks to our Convention Volunteers! Some 300 faithful Volunteers were easy to identify at the 2016 LCMS Convention, July 9-14, by the t-shirts they were wearing. Always there and ready to help, they donated their precious time, talents and energy during those days of summer in Milwaukee. And it did not go unnoticed! Countless expressions of gratefulness from the many delegates and visitors (some 6,500 in all) were heard from all corners of the gigantic Wisconsin Center. The LCMS folks from St. Louis were impressed. Many thanks to you all--you really let your Light shine! maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 9

10 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Bible Study Outreach... the Mission in our back yard In 1988, Scott Wesley Brown released a satirical contemporary song entitled Please Don t Send Me to Africa. It was written from the perspective of an active member of a congregation who was more than willing to serve within the congregational community. The lyrics express a willingness to work in the church nursery, to lead the youth group and even to tithe 11%! You Tube has a hilarious video of this song. What is not so funny is that this song captures the sentiment of many people who occupy the pews in the congregations of our South Wisconsin District. We as God s people are more than willing to serve those within our church family. But for many, any concept of serving as the hands and feet of Jesus beyond the sidewalks of our campus seems like being asked to go to Africa. We think this way, possibly, because our fear of the unknown. The reality is that we don t need to go to Africa (or Peru, South Korea, the Dominican Republic, etc.) to be in mission. For some, the mission to which they have been called is over yonder. But for the vast majority of the baptized in our District, the mission is so much closer. It is right out our front door and across our back yard! When you look at the statistics in most of our communities, you'll find that more than half of the people with whom we live have no functional relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Worse yet, the number of our neighbors who have no exposure to the Christian faith is growing every year. Even worse than that, the world doesn t think anything about it! But that is understandable. Read 1 Corinthians 2:14. What explanation does St. Paul give for this kind of By Rev. Nathan Meador, St. John, Plymouth indifference? It is actually more than indifference. Read Romans 8:7. What is the characteristic of the mind that is not set on Christ? This indifference has a consequence. Read Ephesians 2:1. What does Paul say about the spiritual condition of those apart from Jesus? This is a serious matter for the world, especially those without Jesus. Read John 14:6. What does this say for those who don t know Jesus? Read Romans 8:9. What does Paul say about those on the outside looking in? 10 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

11 Bible Study South Wisconsin District LCMS / Fall 2016 This is indeed a serious matter. But not for us! We are the ones who have been baptized into Christ. We are the ones who have confessed that baptismal faith publicly and have been fed weekly by Christ Himself in the Lord s Supper. In fact, we have special standing with the Lord! Read 1 Peter 2:9. Who are we and what are we called to do? Yet as we are called to be these royal priests proclaiming the excellences of Christ, we also know that it isn t up to us to make those outsiders believe in Jesus. If Luther was right (and he is!), that I can t by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus or come to Him, how on earth can I make others do it? The point is we can t. But there is One who can. And who is that? It is the Holy Spirit! We know that the Holy Spirit calls people by the Gospel. This Gospel is exactly what you and I are called to proclaim. And this Gospel, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, is indeed powerful. Read Romans 1:16. Just how powerful is this Gospel? The Holy Spirit uses the Gospel to assemble us into a truly unique body we call the Church. Read Ephesians 2: Into what does the Holy Spirit make us when He calls us by the Gospel? If we stop here, we can comfortably sing that song that Scott Wesley Brown wrote. But Jesus doesn t call us to the Church as an end in itself. Read John 10:16. What does Jesus say about those outside the Church? Read John 20:21. Why is this our job? In short, we can t give away what we don t have. This means as the Church we need the Gospel. Not just for ourselves, but for those outside the Church who need it too! This job also comes with a promise. Read John 8: What is this promise? Again, this is not our effort, but the way the Holy Spirit uses the Gospel in and through us. Read Acts 1:8. How do these words free you in the way you live and share the Gospel? It s a big job. That is why it needs to be committed first to prayer. Read Jesus words in Luke 10:2. How does this inform the way that you will pray today? Mission opportunities can be found not only in foreign lands. It happens right in our back yard. It happens among our neighbors. It even happens with people who speak different languages. Ask Vicar David Blas, our District's Hispanic vicar, about his Mission in Sheboygan. When we go outside the confinement of our own comfort zone, leaving our worries and fears behind us, it can be a very exciting thing! God can and does work through His people. It will happen. And that is a promise from God! How are we as the Church to do this, if it really is the Holy Spirit at work? Read 1 Peter 3:15. What is it that we are called to do with the gift of the Gospel? maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 11

12 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Let your Light shine SOS Center VBS great success for 3rd consecutive year By Darryl Winston, SOS Board of Directors During the months of June and July, the SOS Center Summer Camp VBS welcomed more than 50 children and teens ages 5 through 17. With the help of First Immanuel-Cedarburg, Sherman Park, Hope and Mission of Christ-Milwaukee, whose volunteers partnered with the SOS Center, children from the urban Milwaukee area were able to experience messages of love and faithfulness through God guides, He also provides curriculum. Many of these children do not have a home church and have never experienced God s love when facing difficult life circumstances. They left the program however, equipped to fight off the devil with the Word of our loving Savior! Coordinated by SOS Center Executive Director Shelia Strozier and Program Manager Tiffany Phillips, plus a host of volunteers, the program offered school-age children an opportunity to engage in faith-based learning in a caring and in a fun-filled environment. The camp stressed the importance of trusting God and the need to love others. When asked to share their experiences on the last day, Jaylen and Harmonie said, This VBS was fantastic and I don t want it to end. The volunteers and leaders taught us how to pray and to speak to God when we need His guidance! Many of the students did not want to go home at the end of the program. There is no way that this VBS Camp would be a success without the support of our partnering churches and the countless number of adult volunteers. When it s all said and done, the most important thing is that the children and their families have a memorable first-hand experience with God s Word and His people. Children began each day with a general prayer and bible study; they also learned fun motions to upbeat bible songs and were provided a nutritious meal before they left. Fun and games, were also a part of the programs fun outdoor activities. Plans are already in the works for next year s VBS Camp and if you want to get involved please feel free to contact the SOS Center Staff at and/or check out our website, soscenterinc.org. The children were obviously very thrilled to receive donated backpacks at the close of the SOS Summer Camp VBS program. Dr. Bev Yahnke honored by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne Dr. Beverly Yahnke and CTSFW President Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr. On Friday, May 20, 2016, the Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, community celebrated the close of the 170th academic year with Baccalaureate and Commencement. In addition to the awarding of Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, several special honors were conferred, including Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa to Dr. Beverly K. Yahnke, Executive Director for Christian counsel, DOXOLOGY, Brookfield, Wisconsin. Dr. Beverly Yahnke is a clinical psychologist currently serving as the executive director for Christian Counsel with DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel. DOXOLOGY is a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of the LCMS. She and her colleague, Dr. Harold Senkbeil, created DOXOLOGY to provide advanced training and care for Lutheran pastors. Her current clinical and research interests focus on compassion fatigue, emotional intelligence, depression and resilience among church workers. She and her husband, Dr. David Yahnke, are members of Elm Grove Ev. Lutheran Church in Elm Grove. 12 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

13 District News South Wisconsin District LCMS / Fall 2016 Rev. Kelm installed at First Immanuel, Cedarburg Around the District Rev. Kramp installed at St. John, Mayville Top (l to r): Pastors Ron Meyer, Calvin Seban, Thomas Feiertag, Tim Seban, and Royal Natske. Front (l to r): Pastors Daniel Paavola, Thomas Wink, Peter Kelm, Randolph Raasch and Wilmer Reichmann The First Immauel Lutheran, Cedarburg family rejoiced at the installation of Rev. Peter Kelm as associate pastor. Pastor Kelm will direct adult ministries and serve as the ministry's leader teacher. Pastor Kelm's responsibilities will be to both First Immanuel and its satellite ministry, River of Life in Saukville. He joins Pastor Raasch, Pastor Seban and Pastor Reichmann on staff. Kelm comes to First Immanuel having previously serving for three years as the Missions Executive at the South Wisconsin District. Rev. Pemberton installed at Oklahoma Ave. Top (l to r): Pastors David Knuth, Mark Wenzel, and Bruce Meier. Bottom (l to r): Pastors Timothy Sallach, Richard Boeck, Joseph Fisher, Allen Kramp, Mark Wilkens, and Allen Behnke. Rev. Allen Kramp was installed as Senior Pastor of St. John s Lutheran Church and School on Sunday, August 14 at 3:00 pm. Allen is a 1978 graduate of The Ohio State University where he majored in horticulture. He also has taken graduate studies in business management at the University of Toledo. Pastor Kramp and wife Ginger nee Busnick were married on June 29, 1985 and have been blessed with a son, William, his wife Tera, and a daughter, Michelle. They are very proud grandparents to Austin, Seth, and Serenity. God has given the Kramps great joy in living under His care and grace. They were active members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Perrysburg, OH, when the Spirit led Allen to go to Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, to prepare for ministry in the pastoral office. He vicared at Christ Lutheran Church, Brockville, FL, and received his Master of Divinity degree in May Pastor Allen and Ginger come to Mayville and St. John s from Faith Lutheran Church, Flora, IL. Pastor Kramp has also pastored Lutheran congregations in Andalusia, AL, Jackson, MS, Austintown, OH, and Pittsburgh, PA. From l to r: Pastors Jonathan Rusnak, Steven Anderson, Dennis Hipenbecker (vacancy pastor), Lance O'Donnell, James Pemberton, William (Bud) Palmer (Circuit visitor), David Paape (2nd VP), and Alfonso Prada. On June 26, Rev. James Pemberton was installed as the pastor of Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church in Milwaukee by the Rev. David Paape. Pemberton was formerly pastor at St. John Lutheran, Mount Hope, Ohio, where he served for nearly 12 years. Pemberton speaks English, Spanish, French, German, and Russian. Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran is in an area that is becoming heavily Hispanic, and it is hoped that over the years he can build up a Spanish service to complement those at nearby Grace and St. Martini congregations. Pre-Lent Retreat Featuring Reed Lessing Set for January 2017 A one-day pre-lent retreat on the book of Job, led by the Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing and sponsored by the South Wisconsin District, will be held at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in West Bend on Monday, January 9, Participants will explore nine sermons that dig deeply into Job s central message, plus six adult Bible class lessons that further address the book s major topics and themes. Those who attend will come away with sermon manuscripts, textual notes, and orders of service for midweek services. The cost of the retreat is $25 which includes refreshments and lunch. Contact retreat coordinator Rev. Christopher Seifferlein, pastor@emmanueladell.org for more information or to pre-register for the event. maximizing, magnifying, multiplying ministries 13

14 Fall 2016 / South Wisconsin District LCMS Around the District Reformation services in the District The annual Sheboygan Area Reformation Celebration will be held on October 30, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. at the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, 826 North 8th Street, in downtown Sheboygan, WI. Mass choirs, clergy participation, and singing by the assembly are included in the Service. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Dr. Daniel Gard, president of Concordia University Chicago. The annual Milwaukee area Reformation Service will be held on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. at historic Trinity Lutheran Church. Trinity is located at North Ninth and West Highland Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Ample free parking is available in the lot behind the church as well as street parking. This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod s Hmong Ministry and in recognition of that milestone, the Rev. Laokouxang Seying, professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will be the preacher. Special music and participation by the Hmong congregations of the Milwaukee area and the South Wisconsin District will be provided. For more information on the service please contact info@mtolivemke.org or call (414) th annual Men s Retreat The 17th annual Men s Retreat will be held Feb , 2017, at the Holiday Inn in Manitowoc, under the theme "The Christian Atheist." First Immanuel, Cedarburg; Our Redeemer, Wauwatosa; and Divine Redeemer, Hartland host this event each year. Over 100 men from 33 different congregations attended the retreat last year. First time attendees will enjoy a savings of $50 if you register by December 1. Jim at jnrberg67@ gmail.com for more information. Divine Savior celebrates 45 years Divine Savior Hartford will celebrate its 45th anniversary on Sunday, November 20, A potluck lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. in the church's fellowship hall. Rev. Dr. Thomas Feiertag, one of the congregation's former pastors, will preach at all the services that weekend. For more information, please visit the church's Facebook page, or go to www. divinesaviorlutheran.com, or call Choir gowns offered Sheboygan Lutheran High School has emerald green choir robes with pale yellow stoles that are no longer needed. If your church or school is interested, contact Principal Al Holzheimer at holzheimer@lutheranhigh.com or LSSES seeks Executive Director District News The Board of Directors of the Lutheran Special School and Education Services (LSSES) of Milwaukee, WI is pleased to announce the search for an Executive Director to assume the administrative leadership of its longstanding and vibrant ministry for challenged learners in southeast Wisconsin, and invites expressions of interest, nominations, and applications. Applicants should provide: a letter of intent, academic and professional resume and three letters of reference. Review of applications will begin November 17, 2016 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted to: Dr. William Chandler, Search Chair c/o Lutheran Special School and Education Services 9700 W. Grantosa Drive Milwaukee, WI October events at Immanuel, Mayville On Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., the Lutheran Laymen's League will host its 35th Annual Chicken BBQ at Immanuel, N 8092 Cty. Rd. AY, Mayville, The meal includes chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, beverage and desert for $10. Call to reserve tickets. And for three days in October, they will host their 5th Annual 5K Run/Walk & Silent Auction at the same location. The dates are Oct. 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Oct. 15 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m., and Oct. 16 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Great items from all over Wisconsin will be up for bidding. Proceeds will benefit Immanuel School and Daycare. For more information about either of these events, go to their website, immanuelmayville.com. LWML Winter Getaway Rooted in Love... Serving with Gladness Mark the date: January 27-28, 2017 at Wintergreen Resort & Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells. Watch for more details to come, or contact Amy Tikkanen for more information at amy.tikkanen@ gmail.com. 14 Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation

15 In the face of unexpected expenses, a Line of Credit Loan from Lutheran Church Extension Fund may be right for you. There is always some financial variability throughout any given year, especially in July and August. The LCEF Line of Credit allows Immanuel to eliminate any cash flow problems. It functions exactly as a Line of Credit should. Jon Lorenz, Cong. President, Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, Brookfield, Wisc. With a Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) Congregational Line of Credit, you have the flexibility of drawing funds as you need them, and interest is paid only on the amount advanced. It can be a valuable resource to help your congregation ensure ministry continues on track. Congregational Line of Credit Features: Credit Amount: maximum of $100,000 or 15% of previous year s income Term: up to three years Rate: competitive monthly variable rate Diana Raasch District Vice President South Wisconsin District diana.raasch@lcef.org Closing costs are subject to LCEF underwriting. Any third party fees are to be paid by the borrower. LCEF is a nonprofit religious organization; therefore, LCEF investments are not FDIC-insured bank deposit accounts. This is not an offer to sell investments, nor a solicitation to buy. LCEF will offer and sell its securities only in states where authorized. The offer is made solely by LCEF s Offering Circular. Investors should carefully read the Offering Circular, which more fully describes associated risks. Lutheran Church Extension Fund-Missouri Synod (NMLS# 3444). Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee (MB ). The National Office is located at: Sunset Office Drive, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO Phone: Website: lcef.org.

16 SOUTH WISCONSIN DISTRICT LCMS 8100 W CAPITOL DRIVE MILWAUKEE, WI Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No Celebrating... Send us names of people who will observe a noteworthy January, February or March birthday (90, 95, 100 or above) or wedding anniversary (50, 55, 60, 65 or above). Deadline is December 1, them to editor@swd.lcms.org, or mail to Passionate Believers, 8100 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, WI Birthdays October 1 Esther Goetsch, 95, Bethlehem, Sheboygan 5 E.T. Keller, 90, Shepherd of the Hills, Onalaska (Also celebrated 65 years in ministry on 7/15/16) 13 Florence Harold, 90, St. Paul, Grafton 17 Marie Suhr Drescher, 90, Good Shepherd, Tomah 20 Elroy Storm, 90, Beautiful Savior, Milwaukee 27 Alita Mueller, 103, Chapel of the Cross, Milwaukee 27 Evelyn Schoeffel, 90, St. Stephen, Horicon 28 Frank Koepke, 95, Covenant, Milwaukee Wedding Anniversaries September 1 Rev. James & Karen Laatsch, 50, St. Peter, Arlington October 1 Larry & Jan Barzyk, 50, Calvary, Princeton 2 Phil & Velta Gohlke, 67, Calvary, Princeton 4 Joy & Wallace Syring, 69, Covenant, Milwaukee 6 Henry & Shirley Hoppert, 65, Bethlehem, Sheboygan 6 Donald & Erna Roenspies, 60, Covenant, Milwaukee 8 Jim & Camilla Kreis, 65, Pilgrim, West Bend 8 Kenneth & Diane Kanzenbach, 50, St. Stephen, Horicon 15 Jim & Helen Kindschi, 67, Living Christ, Madison 15 Lee & Sharon Murry, 50, Zion, Menomonee Falls 22 Dennis & Betty Michael, 55, St. Stephen, Horicon 25 Richard & Audrey Bartelt, 69, Trinity, Oshkosh 27 Fred & Betty Zurbuchen, 71, Pella, Waupun 27 Wilfred & Elsbeth Picchiottino, 65, Covenant, Milwaukee November 28 Jane Schaar, 90, Zion, New Holstein December 5 Gordon Geil, 90, Covenant, Milwaukee 5 Silas Miller, 90, St. Andrew, West Bend 6 Ruth Buttke, 90. Bethlehem, Sheboygan 6 Marvin Groth, 90, Pella, Waupun 24 Frances Boyes, 90, Beautiful Savior, Mequon 25 Roland Schroeder, 90, St. Stephen, Horicon 25 Marjorie Sinn, 90, Covenant, Milwaukee 29 Olga Senn, 90, St. John, Fredonia (Jan. 1. Rev. Arthur Senn, 90, St. John, Fredonia) 27 Elmer & Lucille Zillmer, 55, St. John, Mayville 29 Larry & Barbara Grunow, 50, Bethlehem, Sheboygan 30 Ralph & Joan Muenchow, 50, St. Stephen, Horicon November 10 Gordon & Delores Loehrke, 65, St. John, Mayville 17 Roger & Janice Wegner, 60, Bethlehem, Sheboygan 18 Henry & Lois Dummann, 66, St. Andrew, West Bend 19 James & Ruth Behrens, 65, Bethlehem, Sheboygan 23 Richard & Nancy Schultz, 50, Christ the Life, Waukesha December 10 Carl & Patricia Radandt, 50, Zion, New Holstein 12 Ralph & Carole Schroeder, 55, Shepherd of the Hills, Onalaska 21 Randal & Jeneen Block, 55, Messiah, Ripon 23 William & Arlene Gensch, 65, St. Stephen, Horicon 29 Carlton & Elaine Burgess, 65, Covenant, Milwaukee 30 Tom & Mary Konrad, 55, Trinity, Oshkosh Upcoming events... October 4-5 Retired Pastors, Wives & Widows Retreat, Waupaca Pastors Fall Conference, Sheboygan November 4 Firm Foundations, Martin Luther High School January 22 SWD Teacher of the Year recognition National Lutheran Schools Week February 4 Passionate Believers Conference, Hartland