he Messenger April 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS On a Mission to Support Christ s Mission!

Transcription

1 he Messenger April 2019 A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF IOWA DISTRICT WEST, LCMS TABLE OF CONTENTS DISTRICT NEWS * Planting Together * - please share in your bulletin and/or newsletter 1. Education, Youth, and Family Life Rhonda Mohr 2. Business Manager News Roger Curtis 3. LCEF Carole White 4. IOWAY (Moulton School Outreach Event & Road Trip to Concordia-Seward) Ellie Menz 5+. Mission Central (Events at Mission Central) Gary Thies & Rev. Brent Smith 6. Amigos en Cristo Rev. Dan Vogel 7. Hispanic Outreach in Siouxland Rev. Henry Witte 8. The Lamplighter Rev. Steven Stoll AROUND THE DISTRICT MINISTRY PARTNERS Camp Okoboji Lutheran Family Service ALSO INCLUDED... Church Interpreter Training Institute Men s Prayer Breakfast and Bible Study More Than Giving: A Doxology Insight Conference Operation Barnabas Parish Paper Reaching Rural America for Christ Newsletter On a Mission to Support Christ s Mission!

2 CALLS ACCEPTED Rev. Ken Davidson, Zion, Atlantic, to Emanuel, Dudleytown, IN. Rev. Dan Petrak, Gloria Dei, Urbandale, to Living Faith, Clive. CALL RECEIVED Rev. Brian Licht, St. Paul, Carroll, to Risen Christ, Davenport, IA. CALLS DECLINED Rev. Brady Finnern, Messiah, Sartell, MN, to Mt. Calvary, Indianola. Rev. Matthew Krause, Faith, Adel, to St. Mark s, Steeleville, IL. Rev. Loel Wessel, First English, Spring Valley, MN, to Concordia/Trinity, Lake Park, IA/Lakefield, MN. TRANSFERRED IN Rev. Michael Barnes, EM, from Indiana District, Rev. Larry Troxel, EM, from Central Illinois District, CHANGE OF STATUS Rev. Mark Gerken, Assistant to the President-IDW, to Emeritus, COMMISSIONED MINISTERS CALLS RECEIVED Chelsea Adams, Mt. Olive, Des Moines, to Cross Lutheran Church and School, New Braunfels, TX. Timothy Moore, Candidate, Plant City, FL, to Zion-St John, Paullina. Calendar of Events April Concordia-Seward College Visit April 19...Good Friday, District Office Closed April 27...Moulton School Outreach Event, Des Moines SAVE THE DATE May Pastors Conference, Fort Dodge May 11...LHM/LLL Men s Prayer Breakfast and Bible Study, Guthrie Center Follow Iowa District West on these social media websites. IowaDistrictWest IowaWest IowaDistrictWest Please note: The inclusion of items from outside sources in The Messenger is for information purposes only. Inclusion of such items does not constitute District endorsement.

3 Dear Friends in Christ, Planting Together April Kenyon Road, Suite B Fort Dodge, Iowa Fax Contact sue@iowadistrictwest.org On a Mission to Support Christ s Mission! I pray this has been a blessed Lenten season for each of you. St. Paul writes in Romans 6:3-5 Or don t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. This means your Baptism, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday are all connected together. Jesus was with you in your Baptism; this means you were also with Him on the Cross on Good Friday. You were again with Him looking over the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Easter celebrates that we have been raised with Christ. This is a reality. We are made spiritually alive in our baptism. Easter morning we exclaim, Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Included in this celebration is the reality that we are alive as well! And so we might exclaim, We have risen! We have risen indeed! We are more than mere spectators in this divine drama. We are active players. Our baptism seals us into a relationship with Christ. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have the forgiveness of sin. Christ s resurrection guarantees us our resurrection. We are more than spectators, we are participants in this great and wondrous event both now and forever. President Steve Turner Steve@iowadistrictwest.org Church Worker Scholarships Iowa District West offers substantial scholarships to those students who are going in to full time church work or those attending one of our Concordia Universities. Applications for the scholarship are located on our Iowa District West website under the tab resources and forms and links. Applications are due by June 1. Rev. Tom Schlund, Senior Pastor at Trinity, Algona, is our Director of Student Financial Aid. Flood Relief in Iowa and Nebraska Our hearts are broken as we see the destruction caused by the recent flooding. President Turner and Ellie Menz have been contacting pastors in the affected areas asking how we can help. We have also been in contact with the Nebraska District office and with the leaders of disaster response with our LCMS. The first rule in a disaster response is to NOT collect items until we know exactly what is needed. At this point (March 20), we need to wait until the water recedes and the needs are assessed. We will be coordinating efforts with the Nebraska District and with LCMS Disaster Response. At this point, the best way to respond is to send donations that will be used when the needs are assessed. Donations can be directed to: Iowa District West-Flooding and sent to Iowa District West, 409 Kenyon Road- Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA Please contact Ellie Menz, IDW Disaster Response Coordinator, with questions, concerns, or if you hear of individuals and/or communities who need help with flood relief. Contact Ellie at or ellie@iowadistrictwest.org. Chaplains Serving in Iowa District West Council Bluffs/Omaha: Rev. Ron Holling Rev. David List Des Moines: Rev. Donald Boeschen Rev. James Brammeier Sioux City: Rev. Charles Horkey Rev. Leland Schmidt Calendar of Events April Concordia-Seward College Visit April 19...Good Friday District Office Closed April 21...Easter Sunday April 27...Moulton School Outreach Event, Des Moines May District Pastors Conference, Fort Dodge May 11...LHM/LLL Men s Prayer Breakfast and Bible Study, Guthrie Center For more information on Iowa District West activities, view The Messenger at

4 1 Interested in looking at your Sunday School Ministry? Training for your teachers How to best utilize your Sunday school hour Connecting your Sunday school families Best practices for ministry to your children and families Contact Rhonda Mohr Scholarships Junior Youth Gathering Come to the Table October Sheraton - West Des Moines Senior Youth Gathering Foundations Prepared November Embassy Suites - Des Moines Considering attending a Concordia University for full-time church work or for another field of study? Iowa District West has substantial scholarships available. Contact Rev. Tom Schlund at pastorschlund@trinityalgona.org or go to our Iowa District West website. You will find the Student Financial aid under resources and forms. Here is the direct link. Lutheran Schools in Iowa Iowa District West Early Childhood Conference August 2, 2019 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Urbandale Lutheran Educators Association Convocation Opening Eyes, Minds, & Hearts St. Louis, Missouri October 10-12, 2019 ILSTO Iowa Lutheran School Tuition Organization A donation to ILSTO carries a 65% Iowa tax credit. Please consider making a donation during For more information visit the ILSTO website or call Dewey Torkelson at

5 BUSINESS MANAGER NEWS Iowa District West Congregations Mission Receipts 2 For the Month Ending February 2019 Anticipated Amount $117,200 Actual Receipts $94,622 Fiscal Year-to-Date Receipts Anticipated Amount $117,200 Actual Receipts $94,622 Over (under) anticipated amount $(22,578) Use of Mission Receipts Remitted to Synod (45%) $52,740 Balance for District programs/operations $41,882 Total Receipts $94,622 Mission Receipts Compared With Last Year Month ending February 2019 $94,622 Month ending February 2018 $116,992 Over (under) last year $(22,370) Stewardship Corner - by Ron Chewning During the Lenten season, we are made even more aware of the compassion of God. That compassion was so great that He gave His Son to bear our burdens for us. Christ took in His body the anger that God had toward us for our sin. Christ has brought us hope, comfort, and reassurance not just for the present, but for all of eternity. He has taken all the punishment that we deserve, and we no longer fear God s wrath and condemnation. Therefore, the psalmist could write, For His anger is but a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime (Psalm 30:5). God rightly condemns and punishes sin, but because of Christ s work, His Gospel and favor continue forever. As forgiven children of God, we serve Him with joy and gladness. THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP IS GOD S LOVE DEMONSTRATED BY THE GIVING OF HIS SON. But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

6 Stewardship Spark / Monthly Mission Moment Did you know that your congregational mission dollars support the District budget in a variety of mission and ministry areas? Did you know that 45% of your unrestricted congregational mission dollars support the work of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod? The 2019 budget includes $632,880 designated for LCMS mission and ministry. As we all walk together, we ask every congregation to be a partner with District and the Synod. Your dollars make a difference in carrying out the mission and ministry in Iowa and across the world. Last year, IDW was ranked the 5 th highest mission giving out of 35 Districts. Thank you for your partnership! Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day/Week This annual event was originally organized in Over the years, Administrative Professionals Week has become one of the largest workplace observances for the more than 22 million administrative and office support professionals working in the United States. This year it is held April 22-26, with Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 24. Each year, administrative professionals are recognized for their skills and loyalty, attributes almost every office depends upon. Administrative Professionals Week celebrates and sheds light on administrative professionals devoted, valued work. Secretarial/Administrative Assistants Conference Mark your calendar for the District Secretarial/Administrative Assistants Conference scheduled for September 17 (the 3rd Tuesday) at Mission Central. More details will be shared in the next few months. All ministry assistant professionals are invited. If you have any ideas for the conference, please let us know as soon as possible. LCMS Office of Rosters and Statistics Congregation Statistics Report A reminder to all congregations that the annual stat report is due March 29. The letter was mailed in February which includes the congregation ID and password for completing the form. This statistical information is used to calculate congregational assessments for the Synod & District Conventions. It also assists a wide variety of ministry efforts at the national level, as well as fulfilling the expectation of membership set forth in Bylaw IRS Form 990 Churches and Schools Required to File? Are congregations required to file an IRS Form 990? The Congregational Treasurer s Manual states Member congregations of the Synod are excused as churches by this section of the law, and this includes schools operated by the congregation under its own structure ( Chapter 8). The only exception to filing a form is if the congregation has unrelated business income exceeding $1,000. The deadline for congregations on a calendar year is May 15, while the deadline for those using a different fiscal year is the 15th day of the 5th month after their fiscal year closes. Power of Vitality and Good Health Does your congregation or ministry have a wellness champion? Everyone needs a little encouragement from time to time (join the District staff in playing the nutrition color food challenge called the Produce Promise )! Keep in mind that wellness has to be a culture, not just a single event. Health and wellness are more a marathon than a sprint. To continue the marathon, Concordia Plan Services partners with Vitality (incentive program that provides workers with the tools and motivation to live healthy). To sign up and receive wellness champion s and to learn about the monthly webinars (typically the third Thursday), contact Sara Correnti at or Sara.Correnti@ConcordiaPlans.org. Additional resources are available at Our insurance agency is sponsoring a free wellness webinar on Thursday, March 28 as a pastor and a certified wellness coach discuss cultural challenges to health and availability impacting the church, and give gospel-centered strategies for better body stewardship. To register, click here.

7 Clergy Housing Allowance Is Constitutional! The appellate court brings good news and reverses a lower court ruling, preserving valuable tax benefit. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, has ruled in favor of the constitutionality of the clergy housing allowance. What does this mean for churches and clergy? The Seventh Circuit s decision keeps the housing allowance intact for churches and clergy in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin as well as nationwide. Congregations should make sure they have designated allowances for 2019, and should continue to do so annually until further notice. Attorney and CPA Frank Sommerville, a Church Law & Tax editorial advisor, sums it up: The housing allowance is constitutional and churches may continue designating a housing allowance as they have been doing historically. While this decision is not final, the pressure is off of church budgets. For more information, click here to read an online article from the Church Law and Tax blog. Concordia Plan Services - Group-Term Life Insurance (GTLI) Reports Congregations should be receiving soon (in late March or early April) the quarterly Group-Term Life Insurance (GTLI) Report. The first report includes all workers enrolled in the Concordia Disability & Survivor Plan (CDSP) to date. Reports generated in May, August and November will only include workers employed and enrolled after the initial report was prepared. The additional tax applies to those workers who have potential death benefits in excess of $50,000 (should the worker die within the current tax year) and the lump sum death benefit for enrolled dependents. The $50,000 exclusion allowed by the IRS for the worker s potential death benefit does not apply to the dependent death benefit. Calculations for the cost of group-term life insurance are based on the 2019 annual salary (the salary figure the worker earned on January 1), worker's age at the end of the current tax year, number of dependents, and Social Security participation. More information about Group-Term Life Insurance can be found in the Congregational Treasurer s Manual (Chapter 4 Concordia Plan Services page 4-12 section 4.600). The manual is online at Concordia Plan Services Workshops CPS will be offering several education opportunities focusing on healthcare between July 9-11 near Council Bluffs and Sioux City. Also mark your calendar for a Retirement Workshop November 8-9 in Ames. Watch for more information. Here are a few startling statistics April is Child Abuse Prevention Month A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members. Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States. What can your congregation do to protect your children and youth? For more information, review a resource at (the District s Partnership Group Program) and search for Big Book of Risk Management Checklists. There are lots of good checklist ideas for Youth Activities and Safeguarding against Sexual Abuse. Check out which provides online training on practical topics on church safety for leaders, staff, and volunteers. They offer new rooftop pricing for unlimited courses; click here for pricing. Also, the LCMS Group Partnership Agreement company called Protect My Ministry has some great information; direct websites are and The Synod will be changing programs this year to Watch for more information.

8 Carole White MBA Iowa East & West Districts Vice President LCEF National Office Sunset Office Drive Suite 300 St. Louis, MO lcef.org Worship at The Gate in Ankeny, Iowa, located at Ashland Ridge Elementary School. Ministry Awarded LCEF District Outreach Grant One of our core values at The Gate is Serve. As we thought of ways to engage our community in acts of service and witness around the popular Easter holiday, we thought of the typical Easter egg hunt. However, Ankeny is already inundated with Easter egg hunts. So, we brainstormed and came up with [the] idea, why don t we give away hams for Easter and target families in and around Ankeny who may not be able to afford one? And so began the planning for the Easter Ham Give-Away! - grant application Lutheran Church Extension Fund is blessed to help fund this outreach event. The Gate is the 2019 recipient of the $1,000 Iowa District West LCEF outreach event grant. This young church plant is only two and half years old with a strong desire to reach the lost in their community. Their intent with this event is to begin building relationships with their neighbors and community. In their grant application, they wrote, If one family got connected to the body of Christ as a result, it would be a HUGE victory. The event will be advertised through social media and door hangers in selected underprivileged neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Members will have games for kids while parents fill out a Connect Card and pick up the ham. Invitations to Easter worship service and a follow up invitation will be shared. We are so thankful for all the wonderful grant applications this year. We ask for your prayers in support of the The Gate s event on April 14, New! The 2019 LCEF Kaleidoscope Grant process begins April 1. Visit lcef.org/kaleidoscope for details on grants up to $75,000. 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. StewardAccount access features are offered through UMB Bank n.a. StewardAccount products are not available to investors in South Carolina. The Family Emergency StewardAccount is known as the Family StewardAccount in the state of Ohio.

9 MOULTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OUTREACH EVENT MAKE A DIFFERENCE! VOLUNTEER SATURDAY, APRIL 27! YOU are invited to be part of an exciting IOWAY outreach to hundreds of children and parents at Moulton Elementary School on Saturday, April 27, from 8 AM Noon at th Street, Des Moines. Of the 515 elementary students (K-5), a large majority are refugees and immigrants from many countries. There are currently 31 languages spoken in the school. Be part of bringing a few hours of fun, food and games into their lives. This will provide a unique opportunity for all ages. Bring kindergarten age (and older) children and grandchildren. Bring your youth group. Bring your neighbors. Bring your women s group. Bring your roommate. Bring your men s group. MANY VOLUNTEERS are needed because we have no idea how many children and parents will come. Let us know your volunteer preference of sports, music, crafts or food by registering online at 8 a.m. Volunteers arrive and set-up. Come in northwest door. Park in parking lot south of the school. 9 a.m. Students arrive and are served a quick breakfast. 9:15-11 a.m. Jena Nahnsen and ISU music students will conduct a Music/Crafts Camp and Pastor Aaron Hannemann will lead the Sports Camp. 11 a.m. Serve lunch, followed by clean up and finish by noon. Food: Sponsored by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company American Church Group (through IDW Group Partnership Program) Items needed by the students: hygiene items, mittens, sweatpants, socks and underwear for ages K-5 th grade. You are welcome to bring some of these items on April 27. Register online: or contact Pastor Aaron Hannemann ( ) or Ellie Menz ( or ellie@iowadistrictwest.org) MOULTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OUTREACH EVENT MAKE A DIFFERENCE! VOLUNTEER SATURDAY, APRIL 27! YOU are invited to be part of an exciting IOWAY outreach to hundreds of children and parents at Moulton Elementary School on Saturday, April 27, from 8 AM - Noon at th Street, Des Moines. Of the 515 elementary students (K-5) a large majority are refugees and immigrants from many countries. There are currently 31 languages spoken in the school. Be part of bringing a few hours of fun, food and games into their lives. This will provide a unique opportunity for all ages. Bring kindergarten age (and older) children and grandchildren. Bring your youth group. Bring your neighbors. Bring your women s group. Bring your roommate. Bring your men s group. MANY VOLUNTEERS are needed because we have no idea how many children and parents will come. Let us know your volunteer preference of sports, music, crafts or food by registering online at 8 a.m. Volunteers arrive and set-up. Come in northwest door. Park in parking lot south of the school. 9 a.m. Students arrive and are served a quick breakfast. 9:15-11 a.m. Jena Nahnsen and ISU music students will conduct a Music/Crafts Camp and Pastor Aaron Hannemann will lead the Sports Camp. 11 a.m. Serve lunch, followed by clean up and finish by noon. Food: Sponsored by Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company American Church Group (through IDW Group Partnership Program) Items needed by the students: hygiene items, mittens, sweatpants, socks and underwear for ages K-5 th grade. You are welcome to bring some of these items on April 27. Register online: or contact Pastor Aaron Hannemann ( ) or Ellie Menz ( or ellie@iowadistrictwest.org)

10 FREE Road Trip to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska High school students, parents and pastors are invited to a college visit on Friday, April 5, You will not be asked to make a commitment. This is just a visit. Check it out. See what Concordia has to offer. We will be going to Seward the evening of Thursday, April 4. We plan to leave after school on Thursday and we will be staying at Cobblestone Inn at Seward. The Friday schedule includes: campus and dorm tour, chapel, meet and greet professors and coaches, lunch, attend a student panel and before heading back to Iowa, we will have pizza and meet with current Iowa District West students! There is NO COST for transportation, main meals (bring own snacks) or lodging. (Compliments of Iowa District West) Carpooling will be arranged. Please share this invitation with all high school students. To register for the college visit, contact: Ellie Menz ellie@iowadistrictwest.org Please register by March 26, 2019 Participating adults include: Pastor Tom Schlund, Algona Rhonda Mohr, Fort Dodge Ellie Menz, Jefferson FREE Road Trip to Concordia University in Seward. Nebraska High school students, parents and pastors are invited to a college visit on Friday, April 5, You will not be asked to make a commitment. This is just a visit. Check it out. See what Concordia has to offer. We will be going to Seward the evening of Thursday, April 4. We plan to leave after school on Thursday and we will be staying at Cobblestone Inn at Seward. The Friday schedule includes: campus and dorm tour, chapel, meet and greet professors and coaches, lunch, attend a student panel and before heading back to Iowa, we will have pizza and meet with current Iowa District West students! There is NO COST for transportation, main meals (bring own snacks) or lodging. (Compliments of Iowa District West) Carpooling will be arranged. Please share this invitation with all high school students. To register for the college visit, contact: Ellie Menz ellie@iowadistrictwest.org Please register by March 26, 2019 Participating adults include: Pastor Tom Schlund, Algona Rhonda Mohr, Fort Dodge Ellie Menz, Jefferson

11 5 VISITORS FROM REDEEMER LUTHERAN IN SIOUX CITY COME TO MISSION CENTRAL It was indeed a very special evening at the Lord s Mission Central on February 13, It was such a blessing to welcome the youth and adults from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sioux City for a special evening presentation. We gathered in the chapel where we set the record for the most people ever assembled in the little wayside prayer chapel. We prayed that God would be with us and bless our time together at HIS Mission Central. From the chapel, the group moved to the world famous Lord s Creation Theater! The group was told about the 7 days of creation and became acquainted with the first verse in the Bible IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. After a short video of the creation story, the full emphasis was on the 6th day of creation and God created the animals and humans on that day, and the morning and evening was one day.not millions of years. The group moved to the barn to see where the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We heard the last words of Jesus in Mark 16:15: Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. All the world was a command, and the entire group had the opportunity to dress up like people from ALL the world! It was a special program to reflect the entire world, and to see items that reflected WHY we need to bring people around the world out of total darkness. The group was led by the Honorable Missionaries Rev. Russell Senstad and the Rev. David Zirpel, pastors of Redeemer. The entire group is pictured in the Creation Theater, and the students are pictured in the barn. It was an evening that many will never forget.

12 MISSIONARIES FROM UGANDA AND SPAIN ARRIVE AT MISSION CENTRAL What a blessing to welcome our dear missionaries from Uganda and Spain to the Lord s Mission Central. Yes, on this special Saturday, the Lord sent our Missionaries from Uganda, Mark and Megan Mantey, and from Spain, Rev. David and Shelee Warner, to present to a group of NOT NORMAL PEOPLE who were brave enough to come out in cold weather! It was so exciting to hear how the Lord is using the Mantey family in Uganda, where this new church body is baptizing 25 people a week, and the fact that they have grown to 145 congregations! Mark and Megan told of their work in the Seminary and how they are reaching out to so many who haven t heard the name of Jesus. Their stories and pictures were an indication that the Holy Spirit is working in an amazing way in this country in East Africa. Rev. David Warner and Shelee told of their very new work in Spain and how they have been instrumental in helping to start two new LCMS churches in this country. In this land of darkness, where only about 10% of people attend church on Sunday morning, they are sharing the true Gospel and also reaching out to the refugees who are coming to this country. A wonderful group of people from Omaha, Des Moines, Schleswig and Alta also came to hear these reports. This group visited the Lord s Creation Theater and the Barn Museum. The group was able to pray for them and send them back to their calling! Rev. David and Shelee Warner Mark and Megan Manety

13 HINTON AND KINGSLEY MISSIONARIES ARRIVE AT MISSION CENTRAL What a JOY and BLESSING to welcome the youth and adults from the congregations in Kingsley and Hinton, Iowa. This AMAZING group of folks arrived for a special tour and program here at the Lord s Mission Central on January 16, This group was led by Missionary Pastors, Rev. Steve Stoll from Trinity Lutheran Church at Hinton and Rev. Jason Letsche of First Lutheran Church in Kingsley. This group was truly NOT NORMAL! It was a JOY to have them with us for a tour of the Ministry Center, The Lord s Creation Theater, and the Barn Museum. Both the youth and adults were totally surprised by the new Creation Theater. One of the members of the tour group said, I ll never forget my trip to this MIRACLE PLACE! The group is pictured in the Theater and the Barn. It was a time they won t forget. Mission Central LCMS World Mission Highway E16 Mapleton, IA Gary Thies (gary.thies@lcms.org) Rev. Brent Smith (brent.smith@lcms.org)

14 MISSION CENTRAL EVENTS PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Alyssa Anders St. Petersburg, Russia Wednesday, May 8, PM President Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer Concordia Seminary-St. Louis Thursday, May 30, 2019 Ascension Service - 7 PM Dr. Martin and Marie Dicke Papua New Guinea Saturday, June 1, PM Rev. Steve and Cindy Schumacher Ghana West Africa Saturday, June 1, :30 PM

15 Rev. Charles and Connie Cortright St. Petersburg, Russia Saturday, June 22, PM Rev. Michael and Irene Paul & family Taiwan Saturday, June 22, :30 PM Rev. Adam and Christine Lehman & family Spain Saturday, June 22, PM Rev. Dr. Joel Fritsche and Family Dominican Republic Saturday, July 20, PM

16 Michael & Beth Ritzman and Family Papua New Guinea Saturday, July 20, :30 PM Dr. Steve Oliver and Family Taiwan Saturday, July 27, PM Rev. Carl Hanson and Family Hong Kong Saturday, July 27, :30 PM Cindy Wrucke Czech Republic Friday, September 13, PM Mission Central-LCMS World Mission Highway E 16 Mapleton, Iowa Phone: Gary Thies - gary.thies@lcms.org Rev. Brent Smith - brent.smith@lcms.org

17 !AMIGOS EN CRISTO! News from La Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Amigos en Cristo: Friends in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Vacancy Pastor Daniel Vogel, Denison, Iowa Iowa District West, LCMS APRIL Maria E. (Maru) & Eliseo Rizo 20 years of God s Grace in Denison and Storm Lake Last month I wrote a brief history of the 20 years that God has blessed us with in Hispanic ministry in Iowa District West, beginning in Denison and Storm Lake. I mentioned the pastors/missionaries that God has sent over the years. Even more important are the special people that God has brought to faith and service. In the next months, I will share the stories of those whom God has used to help organize and now maintain these special ministries. Pictured at left are three of our pioneers in Denison, Eliseo and Maru Rizo and Marta Perez. They have been involved from the beginning when Pastor Paul Brink first came to Denison. They are still faithfully serving as leaders in Amigos en Cristo Lutheran Church. Eliseo and Maru, originally from Mexico, live in Manilla. Both are retired from plant work in Denison. Marta, originally from El Salvador, lives in Denison at the Heritage Heights assisted living apartments. Thank you Lord for these faithful servants. The Diaz family (left to right): Humberto, Francesca and Henry Marta Perez 20 years of Blessings in the Storm Lake Hispanic Mission When Pastor Brink was originally called to Hispanic ministry, he lived in Storm Lake where one of the first leaders was Humberto Betin Diaz. He and his wife Francesca and son Henry are from Mexico (above right). They also have two other adult children. Betin has been a professional musician and serves our church with his music. At bottom right is the Duque family, Danny & Lissette with their sons Ronald and Kevin and Lissette s mother, Guadalupe. They have been a faithful family and leaders for many years. They immigrated to Storm Lake from El Salvador and regularly return for family visits. Lissette is an ESL teacher in the Storm Lake middle school and Danny owns a semi and trucks around the Midwest. Ronald attends the University of Iowa and Kevin attends Wartburg University. We are thankful for these special families that God is using to share Jesus love. The Duque family (left to right): Ronald, Guadalupe, Kevin, Lissette and Danny

18 Page 2 VOTERS OF AMIGOS On Sunday, March 10, despite a snow/ice storm and day light savings time change, we held our quarterly Voters meeting with a Hispanic-style potluck. The picture at left captures the group enjoying their tamales meal together before the meeting. The agenda included electing new leaders for 2019, discussing how to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and the process for calling a new pastor as well as other issues. Our President, Domingo Mendoza (left at the table) was reelected. He has done a great job during the past years leading the congregation through many changes. Our ministry in Denison and Storm Lake has been challenging this winter with storms that have cancelled two consecutive services and also weekly Bible studies in February. I am proud of our folks as Iowa winters are a challenge for those of us who have grown up in the Midwest, but almost unimaginable for those who have come from tropical countries. Domingo, for example, is from Campeche, Mexico of the Yucatan Peninsula. I have become a weather forecaster as members call me to ask about the weekly weather report. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT Our ministry is a joint outreach through our two Hispanic churches in Denison and also in Storm Lake. Last month we received three gifts from Thrivent donors of their Thrivent Choice dollars. If you have any questions on how you can support our Hispanic ministry, especially with Thrivent Choice dollars, please contact your local Thrivent Financial representative or call Thrivent at We thank all who have shared their love with us in the past years! You are welcome to visit our services on Sunday: 10:30AM at Grace in Storm Lake and 12:30PM at Zion, Denison. God bless your month! Rev. Daniel Vogel Aspen Ave. Manning, Iowa Home: Cell: daniel.vogel@ziondenison.org PLEASE PRAY: + In thanksgiving for 20 years of ministry among Hispanic immigrants in Iowa District West, beginning in Storm Lake & Denison. + For Amigos en Cristo Lutheran in Denison and Grace Hispanic Lutheran in Storm Lake as together we pray for God s guidance during the pastoral vacancy, and that He would send us a permanent bilingual pastor for the ongoing ministry to these Hispanic communities. + For our children and youth caught in two different languages and cultures and their struggle to adapt to both. + In thanksgiving for the mission hearts of the many individuals and congregations of Iowa District West who support the Lord s work among Hispanic immigrants in Denison and Storm Lake and also in our other two missions in Sioux City and Des Moines. +++

19 7 Rev. Henry and Ruthie Witte 1013 South Newton Street Sioux City, IA April 2019 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest (Jesus said) Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. Luke 22:24, 26 As with the disciples, Satan can easily tempt us to make comparisons and seek to be considered the greatest or most important. Jesus came to free us from Satan s dominion so that we can truly serve as He has served us. Instead of arguing about who is the greatest, we can encourage one another to serve and help others. The Lord gives us many different gifts and resources to serve, and above all His love to guide us in this service. The following is a summary of how the Lord has led Sharon Weber, a member of Hope in South Sioux City, Nebraska to share her gifts in service to others. She has written about one example of her service to the church in teaching English to immigrants and especially to Hispanics. In August of 2000, I retired from Great West Casualty Company after having worked in Claims for more than 30 years. Through those years I had handled phone calls with many who could not speak English fluently. Through a friend, I was made aware of the need for teachers to assist in tutoring those wanting to learn English. I was given the opportunity to, first, work with the beginning ESL class at the local community college. After I had been involved for quite a while, a student was wanting to be a citizen and asked if I could help her. I was given permission to begin a Citizenship Class. In 2006, Pastor Paul Brink asked if I would coordinate English classes at Hope Lutheran Church. The Lord blessed us with several other members who were willing to assist us and serve as teachers. We have been able to offer classes continually since that time. Relationships were built with the students. We also began a class for the older generation of Hispanics. Many of them came to the USA to be with their children and grandchildren. Most of them did not work outside the home and had very little opportunity to learn or use English. This was a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with them. Some of them are also helping with quilting at Faith Lutheran in Sioux City. When my present students found out that I would be celebrating another birthday last week, I was very surprised when I came to class and was told by another teacher that my students had

20 organized a surprise birthday potluck which included all students and their teachers. What a surprise! Our ESL classes are a wonderful opportunity to build relationships and to share our faith in Jesus, our Savior. Hope congregation has submitted a request to call a seminary graduate who speaks Spanish and wants to serve in Hispanic ministry. We will know around May 1 if he receives the call to serve at Hope. This pastor s responsibilities will be Hispanic outreach to the entire Siouxland area. Please pray for this outreach that all of our congregations may work together to share Christ s love with the immigrants around us. Sharon (in the red sweater) with her class that prepared the party for her.

21 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 23 The Good Shepherd [1] The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name s sake, [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (KJV) Mountains and Valleys The most beloved psalm in the Bible is Psalm 23. But why? Why is Psalm 23 the most beloved psalm of all 150 psalms and of all the rest of Holy Scripture? Most people simply can t put into words why this is the most beloved psalm. What most people will say is that Psalm 23 is their favorite. They know it by heart. For whatever reason this psalm brings comfort and peace to them that no other part of God s Word can. It brings peace whether in trial or trouble, or in prosperity or joy. Perhaps it is simply that Palm 23 was the first psalm you had to memorize for confirmation class. Perhaps, you were taught to pray Psalm 23 as part of your evening prayers as you closed your eyes for the night with the thought in the back of your mind that you may wake up in heaven. Maybe it is that heaven looks just like this psalm, being with the Lord leading you through green pastures with still waters nearby. The Lord has prepared a banquet table for you of all your favorite foods and drinks. But not just for you, because the banquet table is so long that one end is not visible from the other. If ever there was a picture of the perfect world, Psalm 23 describes it. In the middle of this perfect world is the valley of the shadow of death. Even though this sounds like a place of horror or terror, the Lord, the Good Shepherd is with you, leading you, guiding you, taking you by the hand to calm any fears. Even though this is what happens when we speak this psalm, it doesn t explain why. Why does Psalm 23 bring such peace? It may be that in Psalm 23 we see our Lord Jesus Christ not only as the Good Shepherd who leads us and guides us, but also as our Christ who walked through the valley of the shadow of death for us. Remember Maundy Thursday? After the meal, after Jesus washed the disciples feet, after Jesus prayed for the disciples, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed with His disciples, and He prayed for His disciples. He also prayed for Himself. Jesus prayed, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours, be done. (Luke 22:42)

22 While it is not mentioned in any of the Gospel accounts, I would like to think that Jesus used Psalm 23 for His own comfort and peace that night, that the will of God the Father was being done and that as He walked through the valley of the shadow of death, hanging on the cross, He did not fear the evil in the world because He, the Father, was with Him, and that His rod and His staff of discipline brought comfort to Him knowing that it was for you. Jesus knew that in going through the valley of the shadow of death for you; you would not have to endure the torments of hell He was experiencing. Jesus also knew that His death on the cross was not the end. His suffering was not the last word for us. Yes, our sins were forgiven when Jesus said, It is finished! And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jn. 19:30) The final Word came on Easter morning when Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death and the power of Satan. After Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples and said, Peace be with you (John 20:19), we know there is peace between God and us because of His sacrifice. As the annual celebration of the resurrection approaches, Psalm 23 continues to bring comfort and peace to troubled people who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd who died for the sins of the world and rose victorious over death and hell offering the hope of the resurrection to eternal life with Him. In the name of Jesus Christ! The Lord s Prayer Rev. Steven E. Stoll Trinity Lutheran Church, Hinton THE LAMPLIGHTER Theme: The Good Friday Shepherd April 2019 A Publication of The Lutheran Service Auxiliary Sioux City, Iowa The Good Shepherd Hour airs every Sunday morning on the following radio stations: KSCJ 1360 AM & 94.9 FM Sioux City at 8 a.m. KLEM 1410 AM & 96.9 FM Le Mars at 8 a.m. KAYL FM KVFD 1400 AM Storm Lake at 8:30 a.m. Fort Dodge at 8 a.m. 8

23 AROUND THE DISTRICT Iowa District West April 2019 The following events are hosted by District congregations/circuits. Contact information is provided. To include your church s event, send information to sue@iowadistrictwest.org. Kristina s Mountain Want to live an extraordinary life? Do you have what it takes? Kristina Bonfe is quite possibly the only woman on the planet to have climbed 55 of Colorado s tallest peaks in a mere 87 days - by herself. Would you have guessed she was also struggling with depression? An eating disorder? Learn from a person who has seen many valleys and peaks in life, and how finding her identity in Christ freed her from everything. Please Join the LYC at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Schaller (402 East 3rd Street) on April 6, 2019 at 10 am! Coffee and Refreshments will be provided. This is open to the public of all ages!

24 April Events April 5-6 Spring Women s Retreat April Office Closed for Easter April Wittenburg Academy Family Retreat April 27 April 28 Camp Okoboji Annual Meeting Sunday Funday Spring Women s Retreat to be held April 5 and 6 Our Guest Speaker is DeAnn McCue from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale, IA The theme is Greatly to Be Praised and will focus on several different Psalms. There will be crafts, fellowship, joys, laughter and more! To register, go online to There is more information on the website. June 9-14 Lake Adventure Camp for Guys (Grades 6-8) June Lake Adventure Camp for Girls (Grades 6-8) July 28-August 2 Guitar Camp (Grades 4-6)

25 Summer Camp Schedule Continuing Education Workshop May May Continuing Education Workshop May 31-June 2 Kids Kamp June 3-7 Day Camp 1 June 6-9 Joy Camp 1 June 9-14 Guys Lake Adventure June 9-15 Okoboji Girls Sports Camp June Day Camp 2 June Minneboji June Day Camp 3 June Girls Lake Adventure June Cub Week 1 June Day Camp 4 June 30-July 5 July 4th Family Retreat July 1-5 Day Camp 5 July 7-13 Junior High Week July 8-12 Day Camp 6 July Joy Camp 2 July Cub Week 2 July Day Camp 7 July Youth Week July Day Camp 8 July 28 August 2 Family Retreat 1 July 28-August 2 Guitar Camp July 29-August 2 Day Camp 9 August 4-9 Family Retreat 2 August 5-9 Day Camp 10 August 9-11 Hispanic Family Retreat Dr. Reed Lessing will be the guest speaker for this event. The topic is Zechariah: Behold Your King! It is based on Reed s forthcoming Concordia Publishing House commentary on Zechariah. To register for the workshop contact Kera Mertz at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. kara.mertz@ctwsfw.edu or call Cost for the workshop is $150 for professional church workers and $100 for retired pastors and laity. The cost for housing and meals is $200 which includes housing from Tuesday evening through Thursday evening and meals include Wednesday breakfast through Friday lunch. For housing and meals, register online at A schedule can also be found Camp s website. Camp Okoboji is still looking for 2019 Summer staff. We are in need of college aged people both male and female willing to serve in all areas. Summer staff will be trained to serve as counselors for our onsite day camp, overnight camps and traveling day camp, kitchen, dining hall, housekeeping, lifeguarding, and waterfront supervision. To apply, go to and check Camp Okoboji as your first choice camp. Camp Okoboji 1531 Edgewood Drive Milford, IA camp@campokoboji.org

26 Administrative Office 409 Kenyon Road Suite C Fort Dodge, IA info@lutheranfamilyservice.org The Gift of Adoption Pastors, be encouraged that your prayers and influence are making a big difference! Pastor Keith Piotter, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, shared the adoption services offered by Lutheran Family Service with Travis and Katie. This conversation eventually led to the adoption of their daughter, Ruthie. Travis and Katie shared that their pastor was supportive of them throughout the two year process with visits that shared encouraging words and prayers. Lutheran Family Service s historic adoption ministry is expanding; an Illinois adoption license was obtained in the fall of Ruthie is the first baby adopted through LFS work in Illinois. They look forward to the new ways in which God will use them to serve and advocate for life in Iowa, Illinois and other neighboring states. Has God placed it on your heart to act on your pro-life beliefs to support LFS work with pregnant teens, providing counseling only toward life decisions for their unplanned child? To talk about supporting families and children through the life-giving ministry of pregnancy counseling and adoption, contact Wanda Pritzel wpritzel@lutheranfamilyservice. org or Adoption has brought us a beautiful daughter that has shifted our focus, prayers, love, and time. God is good! Travis & Katie, adoptive parents through LFS To refer a married couple to LFS to explore traditional, international or embryo adoption as a way to build their family, contact Kim Laube, LFS Director of Life Ministry, at or klaube@lutheranfamilyservice.org. Family, friends, and church family are gathered around the font for Ruthie s baptism.

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28 MEN S PRAYER BREAKFAST AND BIBLE STUDY Iowa District West LLL/LHM When: Saturday, May 11, am Registration & Breakfast; 11:15 Closing Where: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12 th Street, Guthrie Center, Iowa Speaker: Rev. Jonathan Conner Topic: Manhood: Defined / Controlled Strength in Action Cost: $15 Spread the word among the grandpas, the fathers, and the sons of your family and your church! For more information, contact John Tews (valleyins@netins.net or cell). Watch for future events and other Lutheran Hour Ministries news in The Lutheran Witness and on our new Facebook group page, Lutheran Laymen League of Western Iowa.

29 More Than Giving A Doxology Insight Conference What is the conference about? This conference will equip you to develop healthy stewardship lifestyles among your member households and in your congregation as a whole. Presenters will provide a sound biblical and theological foundation while offering practical solutions for churches large and small. Who should attend? Pastors, church administrators, Stewardship Board members, church leaders and interested laity. For best results, we encourage the pastor plus 2-4 members to attend. Presenters: Rev. Heath Curtis, Coordinator for LCMS Stewardship, and Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Assistant Coordinator, are also parish pastors who love to preach the Good News of God's generosity toward us in Christ. Where? Camp Okoboji When? August 16-17, 2019 Cost? TBD (will include program, materials, breaks and meals) Schedule: Event check-in begins at 12 p.m. and the conference will start at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 16. The conference ends at 12 p.m. on August 17.

30 Operation Barnabas A network of care Christians focus this April is Easter, as it should be. For those connected to the military, there are four other days that will focus their thoughts. The first is April 5 which is Gold Star Spouses Day, a day to honor the wives and husbands whose spouse paid the ultimate and Christ-like sacrifice in the service of their country. Number two is the Air Force Reserve s Birthday, April 14. Our Reserve Forces of this country train and stand ready to serve at a moment s notice, much like the Minute Men who helped to secure our nation s independence. The Army Reserve Birthday is April 23. Many of our reservists travel hundreds of miles for training, leaving their family and spending their free time to train in order to be prepared to defend our nation and us. The fourth is Military Brats Day on April 30. This day is to honor those of us who grew up with a Military Parent. Moving every few years and having to leave old friends, schools, churches, and communities just to start all over making friends, learning a new school, finding a new church and learning a new community. Sometimes, where they speak a different language. Most of us will focus on Memorial Day in May, because it is the start of the summer season. For the military-connected, it is a day to honor those who have fallen while serving our country, and remembering our veterans who have passed. Memorial Day finishes one of the busiest months for our military connected. May is the month of the Military Caregiver and National Military Appreciation Month. The first week of the month is Public Service Recognition Week. Loyalty Day and Silver Star Service Banner Day are on the 1 st of May. VE (Victory Europe) Day is the 8 th. Military Spouse Appreciation Day is the Friday before Mother s Day, Armed Forces Day is the 3 rd Saturday in May, and the last Monday in May is Memorial Day. June is full of military focus as well. We remember D-Day on June 8, the day that the liberation of Europe began. The Army shares its birthday with Flag Day on June 14. National Flag Week is the week with Flag Day in it. The Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrates its birthday on June 23. PTSD Awareness Day is the June 27. No other group in our nation is more affected by PTSD than our military. Pray for our leaders in government that they would be inclined to expand the treatment for those who have served and are left with this terrible disease. In July, we all celebrate the independence of our nation. It is also the Anniversary of the beginning of the Army Chaplain Corps on the 29 th. Thank God for establishing and providing the men for this great group of servants. Please keep these dates and our military/veterans in your hearts and prayers as we move into our busy outdoor time of the year, they deserve nothing less. The dates and observances I found at Stay tuned for our fall conference info! Rich Kanning

31 THE PARISH PAPER IDEAS AND INSIGHTS FOR ACTIVE CONGREGATIONS EDITORS: DANA HORRELL AND CYNTHIA WOOLEVER April 2019 Volume 27, Number 4 Copyright 2019 by Dana Horrell Building Your Community Ties with a Block Party Some neighborhoods feel more secure once neighbors have become acquainted. Church leaders wanting to get to know their community could organize a block party. It can be a great way to meet the neighbors and develop friendships. A key goal of a block party, besides having fun, should be to build relationships among the strangers in our midst. The first steps when planning a block party are developing a simple theme (such as a color or a holiday) or highlighting a community issue that needs to be addressed (such as saving the community garden). Here are seven steps for organizing a block party. 1 Step 1: Have a Clear Goal Most block parties have a general purpose: to enjoy music, food, conversation, games, or dance in order to get to know others in the neighborhood. For those who have never done this before, this general purpose might be enough. With a little imagination, the focus could become more specific. For example, your church community could choose to focus on being welcoming to families with children; celebrate the diverse makeup of the neighborhood by highlighting ethnic foods; or engage a particular issue in the community such as schools, policing, parking, or community pride. Step 3: Invite the Neighbors In some neighborhoods, it may be possible to go door-to-door passing out flyers with the time, date, and location of the event. If not, consider using , social media, neighborhood newsletters, or posters to get the word out. Have a media team ready to take photos or videos to communicate that this is not just a block party but a means of bettering the community, such as saving the community garden or improving pedestrian safety. If the block party has a specific community issue as its focus, consider using the visual arts a banner, or perhaps musicians, dancers, or street performers to communicate your ideas. Benjamin Shepard, a social worker and professor of human services at City University of New York, writes, A well-selected banner or perhaps grass or chairs can transform a street corner into a living room or even a community garden.... Connect the visuals with Step 2: Do a Little Research Get in touch with the neighbors. Even before setting a time and date, talk one-on-one with people about a theme, or find someone who seems to know everyone in the neighborhood and ask for help with networking. Even if the party idea started with church leadership, gather a group to help with organizing the event itself by addressing basic questions about planning, such as where, when, and for how long it will last. Better yet, ask for input from neighbors before selecting a theme or addressing a community issue.

32 the message of the party. Art is part of getting the ideas out there. 2 Consider drafting a press release that would go to blogs, social media, and other media outlets to explain how the party connects to the campaign you are organizing. Step 4: Offer Food Food is central to a block party s success. If you want to increase participation and reduce the cost, a potluck meal may be the best way to go. As an alternative, organizers could hold a barbecue, buying supplies and asking people to reimburse them for it, or have everyone bring their own meat or veggies to grill. If it s a picnic, everyone would bring their own meal. Though it s a lot of work, people could be asked to indicate on a sign-up sheet what type of dish they are bringing. Then a week or so before the block party, have the volunteer or employee in charge of food contact everyone to remind them to bring the dishes they signed up for. Some churches prefer to offer a free meal as a way of giving back to the community. In this case, it is important that no strings be attached. There must be only one message: We care about our neighbors, and here is how we want to show it. Local farms or restaurants could be asked to get into the act as well. From the business side, food donations can serve as advertising, but they can also reinforce the community aspect of the event by highlighting a locally distinctive agricultural product or celebrating the neighborhood s unique ethnic mix. Step 5: Add Music and Games to the Mix Besides food, music and games are key ingredients to a successful party. If located in a park and children are a focus, consider summer picnic games like beanbag tosses, relay races, sack games, and wheelbarrow games. If located on a street, then bicycle-decorating contests and scavenger hunts might be more appropriate. Add music, both live and recorded, to the mix, and be sure to provide a sturdy sound system. If young children are living near the party area, then plan to finish by 9:00 p.m. will be located in a public park. If a public site is used, it will need to be cleaned up afterward. The best bet would be to check the city s website for information on requirements. If you plan to have music, pay attention to noise ordinances. Step 7: Don t Be Afraid to Improvise Even for relatively small-scale events, block parties require a lot of planning. It s important to prepare for the worst case. For example, what happens in case of a medical emergency? Do you have a backup location in case it rains? If you run out of food, do you have a backup plan or an announcement ready? Conversely, if you have too much food, do you have a plan to responsibly get rid of it (to-go containers for people to use or a plan to donate to a local shelter)? Don t be afraid to improvise, and remember to have fun! A Little Fun Along the Way Finally, the day arrives, and the party begins. Whether the purpose is to get to know the neighbors or mobilize around a community issue, a block party can be an effective way to draw people out from behind locked doors, walls, and hedges. What better excuse than an outdoor event to roam from driveway to yard to sidewalk to street, rubbing shoulders with people we recognize but have never met? In order to know the community, both church leaders and members need to be a part of the planning and the event. They need to engage with the strangers in the crowd and get to know them. This knowledge can help inform the congregation s purpose in the neighborhood. A block party can break down the isolation a bit, offering a little fun along the way. 1. Adapted from Benjamin Shepard, Community Projects as Social Activism (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2015), Ibid., Step 6: Obey the Law Many municipalities require a permit if your block party will close down a street, redirect traffic, or if it Copyright 2019 by dana horrell

33 A newsletter of LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission reaching rural america for Christ and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord Post-Communion Collect, Divine Service, Lutheran Service Book Our Life Together To follow the core beliefs of the LCMS To equip rural professional and lay leaders To support congregations in community engagement Please Pray for These Important Dates April 11 Webinar Community Engagement with the Rev. Dr. Keith Schweitzer, pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Greenfield, Iowa 1 2 p.m. CST May 11 Engaging Your Community (EYC) event Waldport, Ore., with the LCMS Northwest District 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Pacific time May 23 Webinar Outreach Through Lutheran Braille Workers with Daniel Jenkins, vicepresident of Ministry Advancement for Lutheran Braille Workers 1 2 p.m. CST Nov RSTM National Conference Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington-Minneapolis South lcms.org/rstm/conference STRONG FAITH, FERVENT LOVE Patient Perseverance As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Tim. 4:5). In a presentation several years ago, I shared this: In an increasingly impatient world, we all want the fruit but don t want to wait for the plant to grow. Come explore how patient perseverance in our planting will produce a fruitful harvest. Patient perseverance is hard to come by these days. In a day and age when we are used to immediate and instant gratification, it s tough to wait. Long gone are the days of Anticipation for Heinz Ketchup and now we re all about microwaves and instant messaging. So, how does this jive with the work we do in the church and that church s work in the community? The short answer? Not very well. It is good for us to be reminded that the work of sharing the Gospel isn t an instant gratification endeavor. In fact, it is through patient perseverance that we faithfully carry out that work which the Lord has called us to do. Sometimes it s in the scattering of seed, sometimes the tending and watering, all patiently waiting for the Lord to bring about the growth. It helps then to know that we are not in this alone but the Lord of the church is always and continually with us, working through us to share His love. As St. Paul reminds us in Col. 1:11 12, [May you be] strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. May God grant you that strength! Pastor Todd Kollbaum April 2019, Volume 10, Issue 4 Reaching Rural America for Christ 1 PHOTOS: LCMS/ERIK M. LUNSFORD, GETTY IMAGES

34 Reaching Rural America for Christ is published monthly by LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission. Reaching Rural America for Christ may be reprinted with acknowledgment given to The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod LCMS Staff Rev. Todd Kollbaum Director, LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission Amy Gerdts Coordinator, LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission Chrissy Thomas Designer Contact us We want to hear from you! If you have ideas for future issues, comments, or feedback on articles you ve read in Reaching Rural America for Christ, please contact Amy Gerdts at the RSTM office. LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission 205 S. Main, P.O. Box 719 Concordia, MO lcms.org/rstm!lcmsrstm How to Subscribe To subscribe to Reaching Rural America for Christ, contact Amy Gerdts at the RSTM office by calling or sending an to Support This Work LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission supports and encourages rural and small-town congregations in engaging their communities and growing together in Christ through Word and Sacrament. Click the Give Now button to support the work of RSTM. GIVE NOW Thrivent members: Remember that RSTM is eligible for Thrivent Choice Dollars! Engaging a Changing Community by Rev. Dr. Keith Schweitzer my entire 30 years as a parish pastor have been spent serving LCMS congregations in rural and smalltown communities. That s remarkable when you consider the fact that I grew up in Houston the fourth largest city in the country. I ve truly been converted to the small-town way of life, serving the hardworking people whom I ve had the privilege and blessing to know and love. Yet, dramatic changes are sweeping across the rural plains of America. No doubt about it. I ve seen it. We ve entered an era of congregations closing because their memberships have literally died off. Offerings have dwindled dramatically. Pastors are becoming bi-vocational, meaning they are employed and working outside of their called pastorates to supplement insufficient and declining salaries. Pastors are absorbing personally more of the costs of the routine day-to-day operations of their congregations. These changes can be nothing short of terrifying to a pastor and his family. As is always true, the Lord nonetheless brings amazing and oftentimes surprising blessings and opportunities in this newly emerging ministry landscape. As some congregations die, others are born. Pastors who find themselves becoming entrepreneurs can be involved in their communities in truly remarkable ways. In my own ministry here in southwest Iowa, we have given birth to a new congregation. I substitute teach in the public schools in five local school districts. The opportunities to witness and share my faith, to minister and pray with students, teachers and administrative people abound. Sometimes, I say tongue in cheek that I have the largest youth group in the Synod with over 6,000 kids, referring to the student populations of the schools in which I teach, on their own turf. That we must engage our community is a fact of our ministry and congregational outreach that hasn t changed. How we engage our community is changing dramatically in ways we could never have imagined. Personally, I love this new ministry field. I embrace it. To be able to maintain our Lutheran confessional integrity and continue to proclaim salvation only in the Lord Jesus Christ provides a Gospel message people need and desire to hear even today. Ready or not, the future is now. It s here. And our Lord is still touching lives and bringing people to faith in Jesus. For that I will always rejoice. RSTM Events Update Don t forget that Rural & Small Town Mission provides free monthly webinars on topics important to congregations in town and country settings. Up next is Community Engagement on April 11, followed by Outreach Through Lutheran Braille Workers on May 23. Find past webinars in our archive and watch for information on all our upcoming events! Register for one our Engaging Your Community (EYC) or Engaging the Wandering (ETW) events at lcms.org/rstm. These partner events offer practical resources and communication skills for reaching out to wandering members and our communities with Christ s love. Online registration is available for both types of events. Contact your district or our office if you are interested in holding an event near you. Register now for the 2019 National Rural & Small Town Mission Conference, Running With Endurance: Eyes Fixed On Jesus, Nov in Minneapolis. To see our calendar, visit lcms.org/rstm. Contact our office at or rstm@lcms.org. April 2019, Volume 10, Issue 4 Reaching Rural America for Christ 2 PHOTO: REV. DR. KEITH SCHWEITZER