MONTANA. May Montana District LCMS 30 Broadwater Avenue, Billings, MT (406)

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1 May 2017 MONTANA Montana District LCMS 30 Broadwater Avenue, Billings, MT (406) I was recently presenting at First Lutheran in Fort Benton; talking about the persecution that Christians may experience when speaking the truth about Jesus, and how we may respond. A member of the congregation related an experience that I imagine we all have had. He said, A friend of mine was telling me that the times have changed and that we all have to change with the times. I said, No, we don t. I was struck by the power of that simple word, no. It is a word that we learn pretty early in life. We said it a lot when we were young and someone told us to do something we didn t want to do. Somehow it gets harder to say as we get older. How many Christians sincerely believe that Christian doctrine does change with the times? How many would prefer that it changes so that they would not feel persecuted? How many have pressured you to give up the truth of God s Word for the sake of feeling in with the times? It is not always easy to say no. It is particularly difficult to say no to the world when it claims it is speaking for peace and love. This is a common experience. We are called haters when we disagree with same-sex marriage. We are accused of fostering a war against women when we speak against abortion. We are told we have no compassion when we stand against physician-assisted suicide. Why can t you Christians let us love who we want to love? Why don t you just compromise a little for the sake of peace in the world? After all, didn t Jesus teach about peace and love? Who could say no to that? Well Jesus could! There was a point in His ministry when, exasperated by the pressures to compromise for the sake of peace, Jesus said, NO. Here are His actual words: I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be No baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. Luke 12:49 53 Jesus was not willing to change with the times, even if it meant creating division in a family. We normally do not think of Jesus tearing families apart, but here He is, predicting just such a circumstance. Why would He be so stubborn? What good could possibly come from such confrontation, such negativity, so much no? The stubbornness of Jesus stems not from a longing for the good old days, but from a commitment to the pure teaching of the Gospel. The Word of God is of one piece. A compromise in one Word will eventually lead to a compromise of the Gospel. I can compromise with my wife about how to load the dishwasher without any eternal consequences. But compromising what the Word of God says can ultimately lead to the destruction of faith. Your salvation was born from the power of no. When the world told Jesus to compromise, when satan told Him to give up, when His disciples begged Him to run away, when the pressure to cave in caused His sweat to be as great drops of blood, when the mockers taunted Him to come down off the cross, Jesus said no. Because He said no to so many, He can say yes to you. Yes, you are forgiven. Yes, you are my children. Yes, you will live with me forever. Rev. Terry Forke Montana District President

2 May 5 June 4 District President s Calendar Board of Director s Meeting, Trinity, Great Falls 5-6 Planning Committee Meetings, Trinity, Great Falls 7 Official Visit: First Lutheran Church, Fort Benton 14 Trinity, Harlowton Dual Circuit Conference: Billings 21: Closing service, River of Life, Laurel 28 Trinity, Harlowton Installation Service: Rev. Blake Marshall at Trinity, Forsyth at 4pm June Red Lodge Youth Camp June LWML National Convention, Salt Lake City, UT Retirement News Rev. Mark Schultz is retiring from the pulpit after 34 years of service. He is currently serving at Zion, Chinook and St. Paul, Havre. He has also served as District Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Montana District since After 28 years of excellent service, Mrs. Becky Kern will be retiring from teaching at Trinity Lutheran School, Kalispell at the end of this school year. Thank you for your service and dedication to the children and church! Around the District Trinity Lutheran Church, Superior, is in the call process for a pastor. Rev. Andrew Eckert continues to serve as the vacancy pastor. Dual parish Zion in Power and St. John Lutheran Church in Fairfield are in the call process. Rev. Gerald Paul continues to serve as the vacancy pastor. Rev. Blake Marshall of River of Life Lutheran Fellowship in Laurel, has accepted the Call to Tri-parish Mt. Calvary in Colstrip, Concordia in Forsyth, and Trinity in Hysham. The installation service will be held at Concordia, Forsyth on June 4 th at 4 pm. Concordia in Williston is in the call process. Rev. Dr. Mark Nicolaus continues to serve as the vacancy pastor. Rev. Kevin Bueltmann of St. John in Green Valley, IL, has accepted the Call to Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell, as an associate pastor. Rev. Dr. Cutler will continue to serve as Senior Pastor. First Lutheran Church, Bozeman is in the call process for a Director of Christian Education. Vicar Matthias Wollberg (CTSFW) has been placed at Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church, Billings Pastor Marcus Williams (CTSFW)) has been placed at St. Paul, Havre and Zion Lutheran, Chinook. Ms. Kristin McCauley, teacher at Trinity Lutheran School, Kalispell, has taken a Call to St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano, WI. Thank you for your service and blessings in your new position! Ms. Clare Hoy has accepted the Call to teach at Trinity Lutheran School, Kalispell. 2

3 District News River of Life Lutheran Fellowship in Laurel, has voted to close the congregation. The closing service will be held on May 21 st, 2017 at 2:30pm. Rev. Blake Marshall will be installed as pastor of tri-parish Mt. Calvary, Colstrip, Concordia, Forsyth, and Trinity, Hysham on June 4 th at 4 pm. Please join us in welcoming two new pastors, placed from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Vicar: Matthias Wollberg, Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana Candidate: Marcus Williams, Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Havre, and Zion Lutheran Church, Chinook, Montana Pictured L to R: President Terry Forke, Jill Williams (holding Patrick), Marcus Williams (holding Ephraim), Naomi and Matthias Wollberg Montana District- We just want to extend our thanks and gratitude for the continued prayers and support you have given and shown us over the past 2 years. It is hard to believe that it has been that long already and even harder to express how much the Mercy Fund and your personal gifts have meant to us. You all are truly a blessing. Erich's symptoms continues to get worse but again we are thankful that he can still walk-- even though it is very painful and tiring-- and that he is still mostly independent. This past summer, his breathing took a turn for the worse and his pulmonary functions show he is now only breathing at about 20% of a normal person. With the future unknown, this winter we made a decision to do our dream family trip to Disney World sooner than later and will be heading to Florida June 8th, This is one of Erich's greatest wishes to experience with his little "princesses" Daelyn 6 and Devyn 2. It's been a lot of planning and saving but we are so excited to be able to do this as a family and are looking forward to the memories we will create. We have made a facebook page for anyone to like and follow to stay updated on Erich's condition, the family, and any prayer needs and praises we have. Anyone can view it, even if you do not have facebook. Thanks again and Gods Blessings, Pastor Erich, Jenni, Daelyn, and Devyn Kaelberer 3

4 District News Redeemer Lutheran Church has been blessed with 75 years of service to the Lord. Please join the congregation for worship on Sunday, July 9, 10:30 am, with the pulled pork luncheon to follow. The church will provide the main dish and dessert. If you are willing, please bring a side dish to share. Redeemer Lutheran Church 323 N. Crawford Ave. Hardin, MT The quilts which will be packed and sent with the LWR Truck on Saturday, Mary 13th were blessed at the weekend services May 6th & 7th at Our Savior Lutheran Church (Glendive) The quilts are lovingly displayed on the pews of the church for Worship Services by the quilting ladies. Along with the quilts, the LWR kits are also displayed. Fun Day with sisters in Christ The following women attended the Spring Fling on May 6th in Miles City, MT. LWML Members from Glendive and Sidney took the OSLC bus to the Rally Pictured L to R: Betty Morast, Judy Reddig, Sharon Smelser, Donna Buxbaum, Darlene Twitchell and Pat Boje 4

5 District News After a lot of prayer, meetings, and hard work, Zion in Chinook is moving forward with their remodel project. A loan from LCEF will be used to fund the project scheduled to begin in May. Pictured are Zion Lutheran Church, Chinook, and Dan Moxley, Rev. Schultz, Justin Elliot, and Ken Martin at the Rite of Blessing and Groundbreaking service on April 30, 2017 Pastor Jonathan Bonine and his wife, Kristina, have welcomed a baby boy, Seth Joseph, born May 4, Congratulations and blessings on the wonderful addition to their family. STRONG FAITH, FERVENT LOVE (From RSTM s May Newsletter) Alexander Pope in An Essay on Criticism said: A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again. Pope reminds the reader that when one learns a little, one can become puffed up and think he knows more than he does. Even more dangerous is the one who with a little learning thinks he knows it all. Conversely, when we continue our learning, we might find out just how much we don t know. This is the premise behind our recent series of articles and webinars on Teaching the Faith. Often in the Church we have folks who engage in learning the Word of God but at some point decide they ve learned enough, whether in Sunday school, confirmation, high school or beyond. As Pope observes, however, this way of thinking is dangerous! In fact, our faith is a lifelong learning situation, for it is through God s Word and His Sacraments that we are made strong in faith and life. In fact, we are told in Deut. 6:6 9, And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Sounds like lifelong learning to me. ~Pastor Todd 5

6 Excerpt from: The Thompsons-Serving God in West Africa Out like a Lamb, and in like a Lion They always say that March goes out like a lamb and April comes in like a lion. This phrase usually refers to the tumult (lion) and calmness (lamb) of the weather, but it is quite apt for us in applying to the tumult and calmness of our lives. Sometimes it feels like we are dealing with all lion, but God has shown us a lot of Lamb! The first few weeks in March were spent finalizing details for moving, selling household goods and our vehicle, wrapping up loose ends, etc. very lion-like until, finally the movers came. Then, like a lamb, we experienced some calmness, while they took care of everything from packing, to loading the shipping container, and, eventually, still yet to come unloading and unpacking when it arrives in Makeni hopefully sometime in mid-may. We really like this way of moving! Then comes the lion again. Sierra Leone means Mountain Lion, so here we are, in the mouth of the lion. Everything is new, and there is so much to learn, and so much is unknown! This makes for anxious times tumult lion. But God has placed so many people into our lives in so many unexpected ways! As we arrived and began to get settled and familiarized, we saw there were many people already here who will be our partners and support, which brought great peace and calmness. In the midst of the Mountain Lion, God provided many lambs. Our lives are filled with this pattern of tumult and calm, but, in Christ, come what may, He will provide the calm we need, just like He did for His disciples when He calmed the storm. Quite often we become afraid and uncertain, but Jesus enters the boat, His church, bringing us His Word and Sacrament, which provides the true peace (calmness- Lamb) we need, the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, so that, whatever is thrown at us in this world, we have the one and only Lamb of God. We wear Him on our brow through Baptism, and eat and drink His body and blood in His Supper, so that, whenever we experience the lion in our lives, we bear the Lamb. He brings great calm in the midst of our seemingly tempestuous seas And so we stay with the boat, holding fast to Jesus. Now we do something we have learned to do well in Africa, we adapt, we learn, we listen, and we wait. Please do pray that our possessions arrive in a safe and timely manner, and that God grant us calmness in the midst of new and uncertain circumstances. Please stay in contact w/us by , doug.thompson@lcmsintl.org or angela.thompson@lcmsintl.org or by Facebook at: 6

7 Excerpt from: Christen Citizenship Human Care & Public Squares Issues, April 2017 Who Will Defend the Vulnerable? As a teenage girl, Stella felt a strong desire to live as a man. A therapist obliged. Testosterone was prescribed at 17. A few years later, she underwent a double mastectomy. Her family was supportive and her workplace included transgender leadership. Her transition seemed a success. But it wasn t. Stella felt worse, not better. Testosterone made her feel more dissociated than before. It was hard, she said, to figure out that the treatment you re being told is to help you is actually making your mental health worse. After three years, Stella stopped taking testosterone and detransitioned to living as a woman. But, I m a real, live 22-year-old woman with a scarred chest and a broken voice and 5 o clock shadow because I couldn t face the idea of growing up to be a woman. Stella asks, How many other medical conditions are there where you can walk into the doctor s office, tell them you have a certain condition which has no objective test, which can be caused by trauma or mental health issues or societal factors and receive life-altering medications on your say-so? The special January issue of National Geographic celebrated transgender children. Featured was a 17-year-old girl whose bare chest was scarred from her recent mastectomy. Under the photo of a little boy dressed like a girl was the caption, Gender creative, followed by a statement that many parents would question: At six years old, he is already very sure of who he is. Michelle Cretella, president of the American College of Pediatricians (ACP) compared the magazine s approving displays to institutionalized child abuse. She said, You don t treat medical confusion by putting people, especially children, on toxic hormones and cutting off healthy body parts. Just because a person thinks and feels something does not make it true. Allan Josephson, a psychiatrist and member of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, says parenting involves guiding kids in what is true: Children aren t sure of much of anything, let alone their identity. Studies show as many as 80 percent of children who express signs of gender dysphoria grow out of those feelings by adulthood. Why are children vulnerable? Cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers could potentially interfere with neurological development and bone growth because the blocked hormones promote those functions. Many children will stay on hormones for a lifetime and doctors have warned of increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and blood clots. Cross-sex hormones can induce sterility. That means children as young as 13 or 14 must make momentous decisions about whether they will have children of their own someday. Paul McHugh, professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medicine, helped persuade the institution to stop performing sex-change operations in the 1970s. There was little if no evidence to suggest that patients were better off after the surgeries. Today, Johns Hopkins is again offering sex-change surgery. I think they ve just fallen in love with another cause, McHugh says, but these children are going to be their victims. Quentin Van Meter, pediatric endocrinologist chimes in, saying, You re never changing the sex of the patient. Never. Every cell in the body is programmed to be male or female. (Source: Suffer the children, WORLD magazine, ) Resources for you: Gender, Lies, and Suicide by Walt Heyer (former transgender), 10 Ways the Transgender Push Mirrors The Lobotomy Craze, The Federalist, Please pray that parents identify their children as God does in Jesus name. 7

8 Synod Calendar May-June 2017 May pm: Webinar: Dealing with Stress May 5 th -6 th : Commission on Constitutional Matters, St. Louis May 19 th -20 th : LCMS Board of Directors May 25 Webinar: Teaching the Faith: Sunday School June 1 st -2 nd : Board for International Mission June 8 th -14 th : Ongoing Ambassadors For Christ Conference, Nashville, IL June 8 Webinar: Teaching the Faith: Adults June 10 9:30-3pm: RSTM Engaging the Wandering, Chamberlain, SD June 21 Webinar: Porn to Love-Ministering to Teens Dealing with the Lure of Pornography Showings of: Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World Great Falls: June 29, 2017 at the AMC Billings: October 26, 2017 at the Carmike Shiloh 14 Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance through the links provided above. There will be no ticket sales for this event at the door. 1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. ~Psalm 96: 1-3 New, free resource for Arabic outreach: Open doors to conversation with Arabic-speaking immigrants or exchange students in your community with a new, free resource from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation: A Child s Garden of Bible Stories, translated into the Arabic language. Available in hardcover and paperback, this colorfully illustrated collection of 60 Old and New Testament Bible lessons is available free of charge to the ministries that need them. Call LHF at (800) or info@lhfmissions.org to order your copies. 8

9 Billings Lutheran High School Survey Results The following is a summary of data received through an online survey, conducted April 1-15, to help church leaders explore the possibility of establishing a Lutheran High School in Billings. The 10 question survey covered location, population, affordability, educational focus and method of delivery, extra circular options, and theological emphasis, along with space for additional comments. The results of the survey conducted to determine the feasibility of a High School in Billings were bitter sweet. While interest was high, with many respondents, there was not enough commitment demonstrated to move forward at this time. Three findings caused the organizers of the effort to back away. First, the majority of the respondents were not interested in attempting to begin the high school through the use of online classes. That meant regular classrooms and full-time teachers, and thus, much higher costs. Second, while average LCMS high school tuitions are well over $10,000 annually, respondents were willing to commit far less than that. Third, interest in Lutheran doctrine did not appear to be a significant motivation for the founding of a high school. The leadership of the Montana District is interested in backing a distinctly Lutheran high school, not simply an alternative to public schools. Though this is not the time to begin a high school, those who are interested are encouraged to pray. Perhaps God will create a breakthrough that will be the answer to those prayers. For complete survey results, contact the District Office by office@mtdistlcms.org or call How is your child currently being educated? (Families with school age children) Not applicable: 3.7% Public School: 22.9% Lutheran Elementary School: 60.6% Christian school, other than Lutheran: 0.9% Homeschool: 2.8% Other (Daycare/combination of above): 9.2% What is important to you in considering a high school education (Top Ten: High-Low) Quality Curriculum School is accredited (students receive diploma at graduation) Positive culture/atmosphere within the school Experienced teachers Christ-centered teaching Adequate facilities Effective delivery method (live teaching, online, etc.) Affordable cost Extracurricular activities Focus on Lutheran theology Annual Tuition Desired Range: $0-$10,000 Average: $4717 Mean: $ Interest in Extracurricular Activities Necessary Strongly Desire Desired Education models for your child: Very Interested/This is my ideal model Interested, but not required Possible interest No interest 100% Online education Online teaching with a facilitator(s) Mix of online education and live teaching (parttime teachers) 100% Live teaching 9

10 2017 Congregation District & Synod Mission Support Pledge / Donation Summary Circuit City Congregation # Confirmed Mbrs Pledge/Intention (x=pledge, Italics=No pledge,2016 Actual) Remitted April 2017 Total YTD 2017 Circuit City Congregation # Confirmed Mbrs Pledge/Intention (x=pledge, Italics=No pledge,2016 Actual) Southern #1 Central #4 Belfry St. John 51 $2, , x Chinook Zion 65 $1, x Billings Christ the King 137 $3, , x Denton Our Savior 29 $ x Billings Hope 67 $ Fairfield St. John 45 $ x Billings Mt. Olive 470 $24,000 2, , x Ft. Benton First 34 $1, , Billings Our Savior 156 $ x Great Falls Christ/Deaf 29 $1, x Billings Trinity 1033 $80, , x Great Falls Peace 156 $9, , Bridger St. Paul 51 $1, x Great Falls Trinity 346 $13,000 1, , x Crow Agency Crow Ministry 44 $1, x Havre St. Paul 92 $10, , Hardin Redeemer 90 $2, Lewistown St. Paul 100 $2, Harlowton Trinity 21 $ Power Zion 78 $ x Lame Deer Circle of Life 35 $2, x Stanford Trinity 27 $1, Laurel River of Life 23 $ Total $41,471 2, , x Laurel St. John 405 $25,000 2, , Divide #5 x Park City St. Paul 90 $1, x Anaconda Redeemer 8 $ Roundup St. Paul 14 $ x Belgrade Holy Trinity 143 $8, , x Worden Our Redeemer 26 $1, x Boulder Faith 46 $ Total $148,276 6, , x Bozeman First 508 $30,000 2, , Western #2 Butte St. Mark 133 $6, , x Condon Faith 63 $ x Deer Lodge St. John 93 $6, , Hamilton Grace 313 $27,265 2, , x Dillon Living Waters Mission 10 $ x Missoula First 576 $43, , x Livingston/Big Timber Emmaus Luth. Mission 24 $1, x Missoula Messiah 75 $4, x Ennis Shepherd/Hills 33 $3, , Salmon, ID Shepherd/Valley 118 $12, , x Helena First 491 $32,500 2, , x Seeley Lake Holy Cross 55 $2, , x Three Forks Grace 93 $4, x Stevensville Our Savior 127 $5,000 1, , Whitehall Zion 74 $2, x Superior Trinity 40 $6, , Total $96,672 6, , Thompson Falls Shepherd/Valley 34 $2, Flathead #6 Total $105,359 4, , x Columbia Falls Our Redeemer 208 $7, , Eastern #3 x Eureka Holy Cross 175 $5, , x Colstrip Mt. Calvary 162 $7, , x Kalispell Church at Creston 239 $22, , x Fairview St. John 39 $1, , x Kalispell Trinity 989 $21,300 1, , x Fallon Grace 26 $ Libby St. John 126 $13, , x Forsyth Concordia 148 $6, , Polson Mt. Calvary 70 $11, , x Glasgow Faith 32 $1, x Ronan St. Paul 85 $6, , x Glendive Our Savior 788 $31,000 2, , x St. Ignatius Zion 40 $5, , Hysham Trinity 40 $ x Whitefish St. Peter 45 $6, , x Miles City Trinity 327 $19,850 1, , Total $99,613 4, , x Plentywood Trinity 62 $3, , Pledge or Remitted Total Congregation Donations 2017: Rock Springs/AngTrinity 6 $ Actual April YTD x Sidney Trinity 39 $10, , TOTALS $ 578, , , x Williston, ND Concordia 110 $5, , Congregation Donations in 2016: $ 591, , , x Wolf Point Trinity 29 $1, % Contributed to Synod in 2017: 7, , Total $87,229 6, , Net + - from previous year: $ (12,311.08) Remitted April 2017 Total YTD 2017 The Montana District's most recent annual audited financial statement, current year unaudited quarterly financial statements, and current year MT District Budget can be found online at 3/ or by contacting the MT District office.