DISTRICT NEWS. We know where home is IOWA WEST

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1 / AUGUST 2016 DISTRICT NEWS IOWA WEST We know where home is not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that Let I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. John 14:1-7 Dear friends in Christ, My new life as a district president has me traveling down many backroads and county blacktops of western Iowa. Most of the 173 congregations of Iowa Rev. Dr. Steven Turner District President District West are located in rural areas and small towns. I have learned to put a great deal of trust in my Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite-based navigation system that gives the driver of a car continuous routing directions. There are times when I would be totally lost if it were not for my GPS. Following a GPS on a dark country road or in an unfamiliar neighborhood of a strange city is a little like being a Christian. I don t always know why my GPS takes me down some of the roads it does, but I have almost a blind trust that it will guide me to my destination. We know that we live in a fallen and broken world because of sin, but we don t always know why life takes us down some of the roads it does. We don t know why a person who has been in good health has to travel down the rough road of cancer treatments. It is difficult for us to see a couple we have known for years follow a twisted path that leads to divorce. It is so painful to look into the eyes of a parent who seems lost on the dark road of dementia. The psalmist understood the dark and confused paths that we all travel in life: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. Ps. 71:17-21 While it may not always be understood why we must travel down some of these rough, twisted roads in life, we do know that God is with us along the way. Wherever the road of life leads us, we are never alone! God is with us. Do you know what the best button is on my GPS? It is the home button. No matter where I ve been, no matter how CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 thinkstock IOWA WEST AUGUST 2016 / 1

2 MISSIONS Pictured are the cooks from Ecuador, who prepared the meal for the final FISH supper for the school year. Not giving, but sharing Christ On the night before He died, Jesus told His disciples: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. Luke 22:25-26 NIV We may think of the Roman emperors as being cruel tyrants. Though they brutally put down rebellion, they preferred to have people adore them for their generosity. The word Benefactor in the text above is purposely capitalized because Caesar Augustus used that title for himself. He wanted to be the generous emperor who kept people happy by his patronage. Jesus didn t work that way. Though as God Almighty He can control everything we do, He chose to serve among us. That is the example He has given us to not just help others, but to share with them. One thing that interferes so much with the spread of the Gospel to other people is the temptation to be like Caesar and patronize other people. We see ourselves as those better off who can give to others, but still keep them in their place. God has blessed the people of Memorial Lutheran Church, Ames, with the opportunity to be Iowa District West s mission to Iowa State University. The university has created in Ames a significant international population. Through help from the district, ministry to these internationals has been going on for more than 25 years. God uses this experience to teach us that we do not give away God; we share Him. The ministry is not about people who have giving to those who do not have. It is about sharing with each other. Through that, Jesus comes into peoples lives. Following are two examples from this past April to show how God enables this sharing to go on. FISH suppers have been held at Memorial for more than 25 years. FISH is not the main course, but stands for Friday International Student Hospitality. These meals are held monthly during the school year and are usually prepared by a group from a different country. The people who come to these meals are internationals from Iowa State University and local Christians. Throughout the years, FISH has provided a chance for concerned Christians to develop friendships with people all over the world. The FISH meal at the end of the school year was set for April 29. Because so many students are busy finishing, the meal is usually prepared by Americans. But Wendy, a student from Ecuador, approached Memorial about having a group from her country prepare the meal as a way to raise funds to help the victims of recent earthquakes in her country. Normally FISH suppers charge a fee to cover the cost of the food. This time Memorial decided to provide funding and have a free-will donation with all proceeds going to help earthquake victims. More than $2,200 was raised. The Ames Rotary club sponsored a race-walk on April 30 to raise funds for the Ames Police Benefit Association, which funds activities between police and high-risk children for the eradication of polio and for the purchase of special braces to correct club feet. Bob Anderson, a member of the Rotary and Memorial, was asking for volunteers to participate in the event. Bob visited with Judy Newhouse, coordinator of International Student Ministry at Memorial. She shared that many internationals want to get involved in the community, but often don t know how in a strange country. Memorial agreed to provide the funds for internationals to participate in the event. Forty-one people from 14 international families turned out for the charity despite rain and cold weather. We can t give Jesus to anyone. But we can share Him. It is not a one-way street. God works not only through us as we give to them, but also through them as they share with us. That way we can follow the path of Jesus who came not to patronize, but to love us. 2 / IOWA WEST

3 Addition or multiplication? Perhaps you ve heard the challenge of whether you d take $10 a day for a month or a penny the first day and double your amount each day for a month? Your amount would be far greater by starting with the penny and multiplying it daily! What if we could apply the same principal to the church? In late April, a group of 10 from Iowa District West (IDW) attended the Exponential conference that focused on developing Level 5 multiplying churches. These are churches where the planting of new churches that plant more new churches is a normal and expected part of the church s existence, as is the multiplication of disciples that make more disciples in obedience to our Lord s command (Matt. 28:18-20). These churches continually develop and send people to plant. They are all about sending rather than accumulating. They are about releasing rather than retaining, multiplying rather than growing their own church. Wouldn t it be praiseworthy to see many churches like that in IDW? About 80 percent of churches in the United States fall into Level 1 and Level 2 categories, which are subtraction and plateau churches. They are characterized by scarcity thinking, struggling to survive and maintain vitality. They say, Please stay! Level 3 churches are adding churches. Their message is Please come! About 16 percent of U.S. churches are at this level. They appear to be doing well attendance is increasing and resources are directed toward the weekend services, programs, buildings and staff. Level 4 churches are reproducing churches. They make up about 4 percent of U.S. churches. They are committed to leadership development, which prepares leaders to go as much as to stay. They value multiplication of new churches and are birthing daughter churches and new sites. They are sacrificial and generous when it comes to church multiplication. However, the tensions of Level 4 often keep them from moving fully to Level 5. Level 5 churches are multiplication churches. There are fewer than 1 percent of U.S. churches at this level. These churches are about multiplying, releasing and sending. They focus more on who has been sent than on what has been accumulated, more on multiplying new than on growing their own church or conquering the next attendance barrier. They are highly intentional about church-planting vision, strategy and activities, and are at the point where they would have to try in order to not multiply. Their message is Please go! While there are very few Level 5 churches, commitment to this is vital since church planting is the most effective and biblical evangelistic strategy. New churches win new people, and the way to connect more people to Jesus is to plant more churches that plant more churches that plant more churches. How does a leader lead the local church to think and act like a Level 5 church? How do you cultivate a culture of multiplication? The most important word is intentionality. Churches that engage in multiplication are highly intentional about it. They prepare, plan and act intentionally to see not only one new church started, but to see many new churches started. Mark Gerken MISSIONS These servants attended the Exponential conference in April. In Multiplication Today, Movements Tomorrow, Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im identify five basic steps that churches can take that would help make multiplication movements a higher priority. These are five areas you might consider if you wish to cultivate a culture of multiplication in your church: 1. Multiplying leaders who serve as catalytic mobilizers. 2. Inspiring others through transformational stories of the Gospel at work. 3. Celebrating both the small and large multiplication wins of your church. 4. Being aware of the opposition. 5. Trusting and following the Spirit. For now, consider your church, your vision, your heart as a leader. Ask the Lord of the Harvest for workers, and ask His help to be intentional about cultivating the multiplication culture in your congregation. Go to becomingfive.org to take a free church multiplication assessment. Contact me for support in moving to multiplication! mark.gerken@ idwlcms.org 409 Kenyon Road, Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA AUGUST 2016 / 3

4 MISSION CENTRAL VBS specialists visit On June 9, we welcomed DCE Bethany Kuhlmann, who serves at St. John s, Honey Creek. Bethany brought VBS specialists Emma Schmeling from Louisville, Neb., and Emily and Catie Bard from Bryan, Texas, to visit. These missionaries are doing an excellent job of helping with regional VBS programs throughout Iowa District West and in other locations. In photo, from left, Bethany Kuhlmann, Emily Bard, Emma Schmeling and Catie Bard. Volunteers have special guests What a blessing to have the family of Loren and Janice Jepsen from Schleswig come for a tour on June 9. It was such a wonderful time to welcome their children and grandchildren and for them to see not what we have done, but what God has done here at this miracle place. They enjoyed seeing all the buildings and the museum. Their tour ended with a special prayer in the little chapel. Janice and Loren are volunteer staff members at Mission Central, and they wanted to share what God can do with an old set of farm buildings in the hills of western Iowa. Staff grows What a joy and blessing to welcome Janis Schofield from Odebolt to our staff as volunteer typist. Janis was a medical transcriber for years in this area, and what a blessing to have her help with the typing of letters that are dictated by old missionary Gary. Janis was recruited by our staff member Jan Henderson, also from Odebolt, who has been such a faithful helper over the years. Pictured is Janis (left) and her instructor Pam Kovarna, our executive secretary at Mission Central, in some pretty intensive training. 4 / IOWA WEST

5 Headed to the DR Jana Ingelhart from Norfolk, Neb., and Vicar Paul Flo from St. Louis came to Mission Central on June 7 for some intensive missionary training and to record an interview. Both missionaries are headed to the Dominican Republic. They took part in a two-week missionary orientation from the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) in St. Louis in June. Jan will based out of the Dominican Republic, but serve Latin America as a communication specialist. Vicar Paul will serve a two-year vicarage in the Dominican Republic telling people about Jesus. MISSION CENTRAL It was a joy to spend a few hours with them. The two new missionaries are pictured in the training office with our volunteer video operator, the Rev. John Riebhoff. He is the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Correctionville, and has been such a blessing for the work of our dear Lord Jesus at His Mission Central. Please remember to pray for these dear missionaries. Sending one of our own! What a joy and blessing that the Lord has called one of our dear Iowa District West missionaries, the honorable Molly Christensen from Urbandale. Molly is a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Carlisle. The Lord has called Molly to French-speaking Africa, where she will serve as a nurse in one of the Lutheran church s rural clinics where relationships with patients are more easily developed for the sake of sharing the Gospel. She will provide community health education to the villages. She will also support LCMS Mercy Medical Teams and other short-term teams and volunteers as they engage in medical work in the French-speaking countries. Molly will also work in collaboration with the Lutheran hospitals. She has been working in the Mother-baby unit of Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. For seven years, Molly served in the Iowa National Guard. We have never had a career missionary in French-speaking Africa, and now Molly will open the door of this country to bring Jesus to them. She was at Mission Central for intensive training and to be interviewed for a DVD. She has to raise support for this calling. If you are interested in more details of how you can pray for and support Molly, please contact Mission Central. Gary Thies gary.thies@ lcms.org Hwy. E-16, Mapleton, IA LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford AUGUST 2016 / 5

6 IOWAY CUNE and LERT: On the move Delivered! Last month I shared that 16 suitcases filled with various collected items would be on their way to Haiti. My van was relieved when the suitcases were unloaded in Seward, Neb. The muscles of eight college students from Concordia University Nebraska (CUNE), under the leadership of Spencer Owen, later delivered the precious cargo as they journeyed to Haiti for a week of amazing adventures. The items that were in Iowa a month ago are now being enjoyed by God s people in Haiti. That is amazing to me! Banquet Campus visit Six Iowa District West high school students and four parents enjoyed visiting the CUNE campus. They arrived the night before their college visit day and were treated to a discussion of what to expect in college and a tour of several dorms. The next day, the students experienced chapel, a campus tour and a college class. They also visited with current students and professors while enjoying the hospitality of Concordia. Following the day s visit, they joined current Concordia students from Iowa District West for free pizza at Godfather s in Seward. Every college student enjoys free pizza, but the evening was even better when Concordia University Nebraska President Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, his wife, Laurie, and the Rev. John Mehl joined us. Mehl is director of Mission Partnerships and Church Relations at CUNE. On June 5, many of the current Concordia University Nebraska students from Iowa District West attended the Joy in Ministry Banquet held in Denison. They came to thank the many donors who faithfully contribute to show support and to help the students with college expenses. A delicious meal was provided by LCEF. The meal was followed by inspiring messages from, in photo, from left, student Spencer Owen and Concordia University Nebraska President Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich. 6 / IOWA WEST

7 IOWAY ETCH has new leadership Preperation and awareness Camp Okoboji is now the proud owner of a grappler, thanks to an Iowa District West mission grant and a camp fundraiser. Bruce Gamble is the designated operator. Bruce and the grappler plan to help anytime a LERT team is called to action after a disaster. Please contact me immediately when you know of a need where our LERT team can respond. Summer is the time for parades. A great way to bring awareness to the LERT outreach is to enter a LERT trailer in your local parade. If you are interested in having a LERT trailer in your parade, please contact me and I will share ideas on how to make it easy, simple and valuable. Trinity Lutheran Church, Jefferson, had a fun time handing out 500 bags containing LERT information and goodies as they were part of the annual Bell Tower parade (pictured below). Cheryl and Larry Olofson of Boone are the new coordinators for Education To Change Haiti (ETCH), the IOWAY program set up to have people sponsor a child in Haiti. I d like to extend a big thank you to Patti Anderson of Gowrie for all the work she did as the coordinator for the past four years. To sponsor or renew the sponsorship of a child, please contact Larry and Cheryl at cjo@q.com. Ellie Menz ellie.menz@ idwlcms.org 807 W South St. Jefferson, IA AUGUST 2016 / 7

8 LCEF back to school service contest Win $1,000 for your ministry! The upper Midwest districts of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) will hold a Young Investors Club (Y.I.) Back to School Service Contest and we want you to participate! This contest is open to people of any age Sunday school students, youth groups, adult Bible study groups, mens and womens groups. Share examples of your community service in a video clip that s a minimum of 30 seconds and a maximum of two minutes, or a photo. Be creative! Let s show our young people how we can all serve others in our church, school and community. Let s shine for Jesus! This online contest will be live in time for Rally Day and back-to-school events Aug. 28 through Sept. 25. More details will be released closer to the start date. Follow our newsfeed at lcefuppermidwest. org for more information. Learn more about the Y.I. Club at yi_club/index.cfm. In this program, young people (ages 7-18 years) can earn up to $25 per year for 10 hours of community service. Share examples of your community service in a video or photos. MESSAGE (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) dark the night is and no matter how bad the weather is around me, I know when I push that button it shows me the way home. It guides me to a place I know and where I am known. It shows me the way to a place where I am not afraid; where people I know and love are waiting for me to come home. Jesus is the way. He has prepared a place for each of us. This gives us a sense of peace and hope. Like a GPS, Jesus shows us the way. This is what Jesus does for His disciples in the text from John 14. Jesus had just told His disciples that He was about to travel down a road that they could not follow. They were afraid and confused. Peter, speaking for all the disciples, asked in John 13:37: Lord, why can I not follow you now? Jesus seeks to comfort their fears: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 He comforts them and us with a promise of a place in His Father s house. Thomas asks my question: Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? Jesus said to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:5-6 Jesus makes it so very clear He is the way. He is more than a GPS showing us the way He is the way! That means no matter where we have been in our lives, no matter how dark the valley is in our lives today, Jesus is the way. He has prepared a place for each of us. This gives us a sense of peace and hope. We know that one day He will take us to our home in heaven. This is certainly the promise of Jesus to Thomas and a promise that is ours today. LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford 8 / IOWA WEST

9 FAMILY MINISTRY Back to school By DeAnn McCue Director, Children s Ministry Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Urbandale Nothing is quite as thrilling or challenging as the beginning of a new school year. Schools will open soon and parents will be focused on schedules and school supplies. This is the ideal time to help parents find those faith moments in their homes. Encourage families to worship together. Some families may have traveled during the summer months, so returning to church when school starts is a part of their back-to-school routine. Including a back-to-school moment in worship will help children and families realize that they and their lives are important to the church. Children can see themselves as significant members of the congregation. They hear that God is with them at school and that their church cares about what happens there. Faith moments at home can include simple reminders to students as they go to school each day: God will be with you every day at school. No matter how good or bad things are going, God will be there. You can count on God s presence. God loves you always. Even during your worst moment at school, God loves you no matter what. You are Jesus hands and feet at school, on the bus, in the playground, in the cafeteria and in small workgroups in class. Jesus is there to help you stand up for justice and to watch for people who need loving care. As a family, pray with your children as they go to school. Here is one simple example: Thank you, Jesus, for always being by my side. I know that if I get nervous or afraid, You will be there with me. I know that I can talk with You any time day or night and for that I am so thankful. I pray this all in Your name. Amen. As you tuck your child in at night after school has begun, take time to review the day and say thank you to God for what was good and ask God for help where needed. Remind your child often: God is God even at school! God is more important than anything even grades or friends. Don t hurt anyone, watch where you sling your backpack and lookout for those younger than you. Be a loyal friend. LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford Do not steal other people s stuff, including answers for homework and tests. Don t tell lies about other people to get them in trouble or make yourself look good. Don t get jealous of what others have or what they can do. LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford The beginning of school is a wonderful time of the year both for parents and students. Find those moments to talk about faith. Share stories of when you were young and going to school. Find the humor, share the love, hug through the tears and tell about Jesus. AUGUST 2016 / 9

10 YOUTH MINISTRY educating youth, encouraging servants The small youth ministry Inspired by Lee Belmas from the North Wisconsin District Did you know that the majority of our congregations would be considered small in size? How does a smaller church or a smaller youth ministry do its ministry? Doesn t a successful youth ministry require money and lots of kids? We ve only got two, three, five kids at best. What can we do? More than you think! Remember that counting kids is not as important as making kids count. Jesus challenged His disciples to make disciples, not count them (Matt. 28:19). Sure, you can do large-group games better with a large number of kids, but when it comes to sharing faith, it still happens one to one. And that can and needs to happen in any size group. Here are some advantages to the small youth ministry: Less stress You need fewer volunteers, less money to raise, more flexibility within events, fewer expenses, etc. Stronger relationships You get to know everyone very well. It s like your own small family. It s easier to keep track of when people miss and easier to check up to see how they are doing. It s easier to know everyone s names. Youth have a harder time falling through the cracks in a small youth ministry. More flexible It s easier getting youth involved in activities in smaller congregations. The whole group can usher at one time. Whether a group is large or small, every youth in it has at least one gift. All we need to do is help them discover that gift and plug them in. Smaller congregations with small youth ministries are often more flexible in getting youth involved at a moment s notice. Less bookkeeping It s much easier keeping track of five youth. It is also easier to make a phone call to five youth instead of 25. More intergenerational Small youth ministries in small churches are more involved with all generations. It s one big (small) family! Same mission When it is all said and done, we re still making disciples and still worshiping the same one, true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Rick Chromey, a youth minister in Kansas wrote: Sometimes when we re planning and leading youth ministry, we get caught up on the details. How many kids are coming? Do we have enough refreshments? Will kids have fun? But youth ministry is more than nifty programs and crazy crowdbreakers. It s watching a 13-year-old girl with boys on the brain grow into a young woman willing to go where she s needed in God s kingdom. It s seeing the clumsy junior-high boy who wants to fly in the Air Force become a young man willing to spend his life as a missionary pilot. It s watching young people who care only about how they look and what they ll do on the weekend learn to care about their world and the people around them. Those are the real signs of a successful youth ministry. They don t require large numbers at youth group meetings, and they don t require the latest resource. Rather, they grow out of the love, patience, energy and prayers of youth workers (and volunteers) who take time to care. God bless you for caring for His youth! LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford Online Did you know that the district website has a Youth Ministry Resource Manual with ideas to help you in your congregational ministry? Go to idlcms.org/youthministry.php and download the file labeled A Set of Tools for Congregational Ministry. Steve Hayden steve.hayden@ idwlcms.org P.O. Box 174, Indianola, IA / IOWA WEST

11 CELEBRATIONS AUGUST BIRTHDAYS AUGUST 1 Norman Warnke, 95, St. Paul, Carroll Irene Kreisler, 85, Redeemer, Sioux City AUGUST 3 Mel Claussen, 90, Redeemer, Sioux City AUGUST 4 Beulah Ransom, 85, Zion, Denison Cookie Leeck, 80, Trinity, Algona Dorothy Casperson, 95, First English, Spencer AUGUST 5 Delores Holliday, 85, St. John, Storm Lake AUGUST 6 Theresa Hammond, 80, St. Paul s, Sioux City Nora Birt, 80, St. Paul s, Sac City Joyce Thompson, 80, Zion, Humboldt AUGUST 8 Wilma Walde, 90, Zion, Denison Delores Peterson, 90, First English, Spencer AUGUST 10 Joan Deaton, 80, Hope, Des Moines AUGUST 11 Wilbert Hoeck, 85, Zion Lutheran, Atlantic Joan Swenson, 80, Trinity, Algona Larry Clausen, 80, Trinity, Des Moines LaVon Boysen, 80, St. Paul s, Sac City Darlene Campbell, 80, St. Paul s, Sioux City Sharon Ocker, 85, Redeemer, Sioux City AUGUST 12 Betty Moser, 85, St. Paul s, Sioux City AUGUST 14 Kermit Borkowski, 80, Zion, Dexter AUGUST 20 Carmen Beermann, 95, Zion, Denison AUGUST 25 Donna Maharas, 80, Trinity, Algona Wayne Harmening, 90, St. Paul, Carroll Marilyn Kollmorgen, 80, Gloria Dei, Urbandale Lois Kerns, 95, Our Saviour, Des Moines AUGUST 26 Arlene Riley, 90, St. Paul s, Sac City AUGUST 27 LaVonne Clark, 80, Gloria Dei, Urbandale AUGUST 28 Lorma Zinnel, 90, Peace, West Bend Henry (Dick) Stone, 85, St. John s, Honey Creek AUGUST 29 Lila Rohlfs, 95, Grace, Le Mars AUGUST 31 Gilbert Wilkens, 80, St John, Storm Lake BELATED JUNE 29 Jim Clausen, 80, Zion, Dexter AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES AUGUST 2 Phillip and Ruth Schneider, 55, Trinity, Algona Harry and Jimmie Ritchart, 70, First English, Spencer AUGUST 5 Red and Ellen Geerdes, 65, First English, Spencer AUGUST 6 Ron and Barb Muetzel, 50, First English, Spencer Dean and Beverly Cataldo, 50, St. Paul, Garner AUGUST 7 Joe and Lim Kaiser, 40, Gloria Dei, Urbandale Dennis and Marilyn Dean, 40, Gloria Dei, Urbandale Ken and Jolene Davis, 45, St John, Storm Lake Michael and Kathy Korner, 40, Immanuel, Schleswig AUGUST 10 John H. and Doris Hansen, 75, Zion, Denison AUGUST 12 Frank and Joanne Pross, 55, Zion Lutheran, Atlantic Gary and Nicki Kuehnast, 50, Zion, Humboldt AUGUST 13 Eugene and Carolyn Johnson, 50, St. Paul, Carroll Lloyd and Janice Deiber, 55, Zion, Denison Al and Marge Overhue, 50, Zion, Denison August 14 Rich and Roxanne Beattie, 40, Hope, Des Moines AUGUST 18 Wayne and Donna Mozena, 60, Hope, Des Moines Howard and Gloria West, 60, Hope, Des Moines Jack and Gloria Strickland, 50, Zion, Humboldt AUGUST 19 Donald and Mary Ellen Hatch, 55, St. Paul s, Sac City AUGUST 20 Richard and Elaine Mueller, 50, Gloria Dei, Urbandale AUGUST 21 Luke and Dorothy Erpelding, 50, Zion, Humboldt Elwyn and Barbara Rockow, 45, St. Paul, Garner Donavon and Rebecca Dettmann, 40, St. Paul s, Sac City AUGUST 26 Allan and Janice Breidinger, 60, First English, Spencer AUGUST 27 Ken and Marsha Heimgartner, 50, First English, Spencer Dwight and Marilyn Carlson, 55, Gloria Dei, Urbandale Jerry and Darlene Albers, 60, St. Matthew, Mapleton AUGUST 28 Steve and Paulet Lame, 40, Our Saviour, Des Moines To include your congregation s anniversaries and birthdays (years ending with 5 or 0) in the Celebrations page, please send them to Jason Fuller at jason.fuller@idwlcms.org at least two months before the publication date. MAY 2016 / 11

12 LLL Bible study a success! By Mark Astleford Iowa District West LLL President On April 16, the second Men s Network Ministry Breakfast Bible Study was hosted by Camp Okoboji. Following breakfast, the attendees went to the Christian Life Center for a short welcome followed by an opening devotion. Craig McCourt led the Bible study on the topic I am not normal and God is odd. McCourt, a professional church worker, talked about how people are not normal but rather selected and hand-crafted by God for specific tasks that He has prepared for them to do. McCourt used a lot of humor in his presentation on how God prepares us to become what Scripture calls a peculiar people, sheep, royal and more. The presentation was clearly a success as 50 men and boys were in attendance. It is hoped that the Iowa District West LLL board will be able to host another Men s Network breakfast Bible study in the southwestern part of Iowa District West. It is also hoped that one of the congregations in the Council Bluffs-Atlantic area will be willing to partner with us and host this event. We are also hopeful that you will attend the Iowa State Fair, Aug in Des Moines, and stop by our Lutheran Hour Ministries booth in the Varied Industries Building. Since the late 1980s, Iowa District West and Iowa District East have worked together to man this booth. There are many pamphlets from Lutheran Hour Ministries to help people struggling with personal problems. There are also Bibles as well as materials that should interest young people. We take pride in that we have one of the few Christian booths at the state fair and appreciate all of the people who volunteer time to work at the booth. A special event will be held in St. Louis in October. In 1917, the International Lutheran Laymen s League began when 12 laymen decided to take action to raise money to get our Synod out of debt. Lutheran Hour Ministries will celebrate 100 years of the ministry that the Lord has enabled us to share in. More information will be coming on this and other events. In closing, I again wish to encourage you to keep our nation, our Synod and our pastors in your prayers. HEALTH Be safe Here are 12 safety tips for the rest of the summer and those warm months of early fall: 1. Stay hydrated. Seniors are more susceptible to dehydration because they lose their ability to conserve water as they age. They are also less aware of thirst. 2. Talk to your medical providers about how heat and humidity can affect the storage of your medications. 3. Seniors are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of heat. Some chronic medical conditions and prescription medications can impair the body s ability to react to rising temperatures. 4. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you are safe. 5. Meet your neighbors so you can check on each other. 6. Prepare a list of emergency phone numbers and keep them in an accessible area. 7. Stock your summer wardrobe with natural fabrics like cotton and wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothes. 8. Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses. 9. Know the signs of hyperthermia. Heat stroke is an advanced form that can be life-threatening. Get medical attention immediately for body temps greater than 104 degrees, confusion/ agitation, dry flushed skin, vomiting, headache, heavy breathing, rapid pulse and fainting. Get the affected person out of the heat, have them lie down and put cold packs on the body. thinkstock 10. Use sunscreen and wear a hat when out in the sun. 11. Apply mosquito repellent to protect against mosquito bites, especially in the evening hours. 12. Be aware of how long you are outside enjoying activities such as walking and gardening, especially when the sun is at its peak. Drink extra water when exercising. Darlene Rueter, RN IDW Parish Nurse Rep rrueter2642@msn.com 12 / IOWA WEST