/ MARCH 2018 DISTRICT NEWS INDIANA Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Ps. 118:1 hen the middleaged couple visited the counselor, they said they were worried about their relationship because they weren t talking Rev. Daniel May as much as they did District President in their early years of marriage. They saw meaningful conversation with one another as a very significant barometer for the health of their marriage. Were their schedules too full and time too short? Was it that they didn t have much to say these days? Had they lost interest in sharing their ideas and concerns? Was their marriage cooling? Were they growing apart? While conversation is not the only barometer of a healthy relationship, it is very important. Many of the psalms are really prayers long prayers often by David as he tended his sheep. The sheep pasture was a great venue for talking with God in prayer. David checked in with God when he was feeling very up or down, when he felt guilty or confused or frustrated or elated or lonely or afraid. He had that kind of relationship with God. It sustained David throughout his life as a child of God. It was that way for the early disciples. It was that way for Martin Luther and I hope it is that way for you, too. God invites us to check in with Him all the time. He is there for us and loves to hear from us because He loves us. Jesus, of course, is the best example of someone who checked in with His Father. His prayer life grew out of the most intimate of all relationships. He talked with His Father constantly and encourages us to do the same not as a news flash so that God knows what is going on here on earth (He already A.C.T.S prayer Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication knows), but because of the relationship that we have with our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. We pray not to convince God of the wisdom of our thoughts, but we pray that His will be done as we share our petitions and seek His guidance and blessing. As a catechumen, I was taught the four parts of prayer might well be adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. This simple guideline has always been helpful to me in my talks with God. While a strict adherence to this formula is not critical, it can help us talk with God even when we think we have nothing to say. INDIANA MARCH 2018 / 1
OUTREACH Evangelism and prayer EVANGELISM is sharing the Gospel of Christ with those who don t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. PRAYER is speaking to the Heavenly Father in faith. Not just any faith will do, but faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Do you recall that normally prayers by Christians are offered to the Heavenly Father and then those prayers end in the name of Jesus? Rev. Geoff Robinson Outreach Executive Why is that so? And why are Christians enabled to pray this way without something bad happening to them? The reason that we approach the Heavenly Father boldly is because Jesus Christ enables us to approach the Heavenly Father. LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford We have been forgiven of our sins and have been justified before the Heavenly Father because Jesus has completely paid the price for our sins. We are declared righteous before the Heavenly Father because of Jesus. Further, Jesus has said that we are now His brothers and sisters and fellow heirs with Him. And if that weren t enough, Jesus also invites us to pray along with Him to the Heavenly Father. The ending of our prayers in Jesus name is a reminder that we are praying with Jesus, who intercedes for us before the Heavenly Father and who enables us to come before the Heavenly Father without fear as He leads us in our prayers. So perhaps you are wondering how do prayer and evangelism fit together? God tells us this in His Word: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 2:1-4 Notice that God links together prayer and evangelism. For how is one saved unless they hear the Word of God? So I encourage you to pray for your friend, your relative, your neighbor or your associate whom you know doesn t know Jesus or His Gospel. Pray to God that they might be converted to true faith in Christ Jesus the Lord! Thy will be done e pray these words regularly in the Lord s Prayer. Our souls earnestly desire to live in God s will, living by faith in God s Son Jesus Christ and living to respond in faith with works of service. Rev. Philip Krupski Planned Giving Counselor Yet if we re honest, we often segment our lives and the gifts we find in them. We easily ask God s will for certain gifts. Other gifts we reserve from that domain, often claiming that things like time or finances belong to our own lordship. In reality, we have much praying to do, asking the Lord in His mercy to bend our wills so that we may walk in the plans He created for us before time began. In my work as planned giving counselor for the LCMS Foundation here in Indiana, my privilege is to serve God s stewards in helping them discern God s will for the faithful stewardship of His gifts in their estates to care for family and provide for ministries close to their hearts. At the LCMS Foundation, we follow the 5 Ps of gift planning. They are Prayer, People, Property, Plans and Planners. Notice that the process begins with prayer. If you have been sitting on the sideline for a while, procrastinating about writing your plans down on paper, I would be privileged to work with you. Together we can pray and talk and struggle to discern the plan of God s design. At completion of your plan, you will have the peace and joy of following Jesus as He bids us to carry His cross to the world. Give me a call or email me and we can begin working together. I do not charge a fee, as the LCMS Foundation and Indiana District partner together to make my service to the saints possible. Let s keep on praying, knowing that the Lord will continue to make His grace in Jesus evident to our souls. Contact Rev. Krupksi at: 317-840-3202 philip. krupski@ lfnd.org 2 / INDIANA
YOUTH CLHS witnesses for life On Jan, 19, 71 students and 16 chaperones from Concordia Lutheran High School, (CLHS), Fort Wayne, participated in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. March for Life is in response to the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion. Mark Dolde and Karolyn Dillman serve as advisors for the pro-life group at CLHS. This was Dolde s fifth year organizing the trip, which includes a tour of the U.S. Capitol and other significant sites. About 500,000 take part annually in the March for Life, which occurs two days before Life Sunday. This trip is important because it gives students the opportunity to have conversations about the value of human life that might not otherwise take place, Dolde said. As co-advisor, Dolde doesn t need to recruit students for the march because the students are the best advocates. This truly is a student-based leadership, he said. Students get the word out and do the work. It s encouraging to see the next generation owning it and doing what they can. Besides March for Life, students also participate in other projects that focus on valuing all life, not just the unborn. For example, students completed a pergola for Lutheran Life Villages last year. The march remains an important event for the pro-life group. Each year my hope is that students learn how to communicate the value of human life as a gift from God while witnessing the vast number of people who are also taking a peaceful stand for the unborn, Dolde said. MARCH 2018 / 3
RURAL & SMALL TOWN MISSION Servant leadership By Rev. Todd Kollbaum Director, LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission Much can be said of the servantleadership role of the pastor in a rural and small-town congregation. To be sure, he must often, as Paul puts it, become all things to all people, that by all means [he] might save some (1 Cor. 9:22). However, one must balance all of the things he is called to do and still maintain his own health and sanity. Congregations and their leaders must also be aware of this and get on board as it were so that all might work together for the benefit of the Kingdom. In a recent class on missionary leadership, the instructor stated, Leadership is not about how you handle people but how you handle yourself. How can we as pastors and congregational leaders best handle ourselves in order to make an impact in the community to which we have been called? Dr. J. Robert Clinton of Fuller Theological Seminary defined leadership as a God-given capacity and God-given responsibility to influence specific groups toward God s purposes. So perhaps a better question would be how can we use the talents and abilities that God has given us to influence the groups within which He places us for His purpose of sharing the Good News of salvation in Christ? Practically speaking, a good leader in the church must be where the people are. The ever-increasing demands for the time of our pastors, leaders and members make this a difficult situation. So for a difficult situation, perhaps the best answer is a simple one: Make the best use of the time and situations that are already a part of your life, and add in those things which make the most sense for the season in which you find yourself. This simply can t happen only behind a desk and a closed study door, or in front of a computer screen. There certainly must be some of that, but that cannot make up the sum total of your ministry. Perhaps more simply put, the people by and large will not just come to you. You must go to where the people are to be found, as St. Paul tells us in Acts 16. Here, we have an opportunity to set the stage, engage the culture and reach the people. Perhaps there is a ministerial alliance or the possibility to partner with other Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations in your area to engage in acts of mercy or charity. Food and clothing pantries, indigent assistance, meals on wheels and other philanthropic endeavors are excellent ways to engage your community without sacrificing the mission and ministry of the congregation. Another great opportunity is to involve yourself with local service organizations. Events such as community cleanup days and local celebrations are often simple ways we can have a presence in the community in order to make and foster relationships through which the Gospel might be shared. A third option, and perhaps one of the best, is to have a connection with the local school or schools. Students Photos LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford are so often drawn away from church by so many activities. Being a part of the system helps your voice to be heard, not to mention the great sense of community pride rural and small towns often have for their schools. Supporting this in a healthy way allows you to model the Christian life for others. While this list is just a start and is certainly not exhaustive, I encourage you to be bold and creative. And while it is true that Paul said he became all things to all people, he didn t do that all at once. Even St. Paul engaged people where they were based on the time and place in which he found himself. Furthermore, remember that a little goes a long way. Sometimes just a quick visit or drop-in is enough. At times, a note, a call or even a text (social media isn t all bad) is just the thing we need to do to connect at critical times in order to be the leaders we are called to be. Finally, brothers, none of this is possible without consistently being in God s Word and prayer. Apart from these things, the others are simply activities which anyone can endeavor to do. The more time with God becomes a part of our daily lives, the more God s Word will become a part of everything about us, and those ways in which we demonstrate our servant leadership will have that Word as their very character. LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission supports and encourages rural and smalltown congregations in engaging their communities and growing together in Christ through Word and Sacrament. Learn more about RSTM at lcms.org/rstm or by calling 888-463-5127. Like us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/lcmsrstm. 4 / INDIANA
STEWARDSHIP Give it up or take it up? Remember the days when your parents challenged you with this question: What are you going to give up for Lent? Ken Schlif Council of Resources So what were your choices? Chocolate, television, soda pop or? Today, kids might well choose sweets, electronics, Xbox or? How about thinking more in terms of taking something up during these days of Lent? One of the most powerful tools a Christian has is prayer. On emails I send out, I include in a P.S.: Remember to say your prayers. A Christian steward allows for time to be diligent in prayer. Prayer should be like breathing. For the Lord states imperatively: Pray without ceasing, (1 Thess. 5:17). Sometimes, it seems overwhelming to try to think of all the people we should pray for. When is there time? Some suggestions include before bedtime, after a night s sleep, in the dentist chair, while driving, in the waiting room and while shoveling snow. A Christian steward is systematic in his prayer life. Have you been disappointed that you keep forgetting to pray for certain people? Try to segregate groups of people in your life. Take the seven days of the week and use each day for a cluster of people. Some clusters could include government (local, regional, national, military), church (home, district, Synod), family (immediate, distant), friends (neighbors) and colleagues. The apostle Paul goes on to say in verse 18: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Finally, you might consider concluding your prayers with The Lord s Prayer. P.S.: Remember to say your prayers. Prayer list Week of March 5 North Wisconsin District Circuit 11 Trinity, Culver Trinity, Goodland Grace, Lafayette St. James, Lafayette St. James, Logansport Our Savior, Monticello St. John, Rensselaer St. Luke, Rensselaer St. James, Reynolds St. John, Rochester Redeemer, West Lafayette University, West Lafayette Mission: Tamil Indian Mission, Calvary, Indianapolis RSO: Lutheran Life Villages, Fort Wayne/ Kendallville Week of March 12 Northern Illinois District Circuit 16 Faith, Bloomington University, Bloomington Faith, Columbus Grace, Columbus St. John s, Columbus St. Peter s, Columbus Trinity, Ellettsville Good Shepherd, Franklin St. Paul, Jonesville Prince of Peace, Martinsville Shepherd of the Hills, Morgantown St. Mark, Shelbyville Mission: Burmese, Karen Ministry, New Life, Fort Wayne RSO: Lutheran Ministries Media, Fort Wayne Week of March 19 Northwest District Circuit 3 St. Paul, Chesterton St. Paul, Kouts Immanuel, Michigan City St. Paul, Otis St. Peter, Portage Faith, Valparaiso Heritage, Valparaiso Immanuel, Valparaiso Prince of Peace, Valparaiso Trinity, Westville Mission: Liberian Children s Mission, New Life, Fort Wayne RSO: Lutheran School Partnership, Fort Wayne Week of March 26 North Dakota District Ohio District Circuit 6 Trinity, Auburn Immanuel, Avilla St. John, Columbia City Zion, Columbia City Zion, Corunna Clear Lake, Fremont Lake George, Fremont Zion, Garrett St. John, Kendallville Shepherd by the Lakes, Syracuse Messiah, Wolcottville Living Water, Wolf Lake Mission: Burmese Buddhists (LAMB), New Life, Fort Wayne RSO: Lutheran Social Services, Fort Wayne MARCH 2018 / 5
REFLECTION My Father s Faith President Dan May reflects on his father s orphan experience, and the faith that saw him through all trials hen everything else fails or falls away, the church can become a powerful, strengthening force. Perhaps no one knew this better than Henry May, father of LCMS Indiana District president Rev. Daniel May. Orphaned at age seven, Henry spent many years in transition, including six months eking out a boxcar children existence with his three older siblings in their hometown of Mishawaka. A stint at his godparents farm in Michigan didn t last long either this was the Great Depression, after all and soon Henry found himself living at the Evangelical Lutheran Orphan Home in Indianapolis. Here, although his basic needs for food, shelter and clothing were met, Henry spent many lonely days and nights, missing a family that couldn t afford the long trip for many visits. My dad was a tough kid, Daniel says. Nobody babied him or pampered him in any way. What he lacked in a stable, loving home life, Henry made up for in discipline and education. He was able to return to Mishawaka for high school, and he excelled as an honor student and had aspirations of becoming an engineer. Even this didn t last, however. Family hardship forced him to leave school after his junior year. He In my dad s case, it was pretty evident that not only was God watching over him, but that the church was watching over him as well. He used to say that his baptismal certificate was the only thing that ever happened to him that was forever. Daniel May (shown above at the LCMS Convention in 2016) worked two jobs and spent more than one night sleeping in a barn or a warehouse. Nothing was consistent, Daniel says. Nothing, that is, but Henry s faith. When he and mom got married, Daniel says, they lived a very modest life. Here was an orphan who never graduated from high school marrying a young girl from a broken home. Clearly, there wasn t much likelihood of this working out very well. Except that Christ reigned supreme in the May household. When I became president of the Indiana District, Daniel says, I was asked to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Lutheran Child and Family Services. In my devotion, I shared that I had a strong connection to this place. This was where my father grew up. This is where he was confirmed. In other words, this is where the seed of his faith was planted, and that faith became the core of his life. Faith is still the core of the May family today, with four children, nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren all still active in the church. When we care for others in ministry, we oftentimes don t realize or don t see the impact of how God may use that ministry in the future, Daniel says. In my dad s case, it was pretty evident that not only was God watching over him, but that the church was watching over him as well. He used to say that his baptismal certificate was the only thing that ever happened to him that was forever. It was a legacy Henry May shared not just with his family, but also with friends and strangers alike. When we were growing up, remembers Daniel, my dad was always looking for the person who was alone. He treated people to coffee, invited them home for Sunday dinner, and was the permanent greeter at church. 6 / INDIANA
CELEBRATIONS MARCH ANNIVERSARIES MARCH BIRTHDAYS March 1 Mr. and Mrs. John Lambert 50, Grace, New Albany March 2 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fischer 55, Grace, New Albany Mr. and Mrs. James Bullard 50, Immanuel, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Ron Heckman 50, Calvary, Indianapolis Mr. and Mrs. Norman Patrick 50, Emmanuel, Fort Wayne March 6 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Traub 53, Immanuel, Seymour March 7 Mr. and Mrs. Ed Herman 54, Emmanuel, Fort Wayne Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mulzer 54, Emmanuel, Tell City Mr. and Mrs. Michael Oliphant 54, Immanuel, Seymour March 8 Mr. and Mrs. John Allman 52, Immanuel, Seymour March 9 Mr. and Mrs. Loren Grabner 61, St. John, Monroeville March 11 Mr. and Mrs. James Reinking 51, St. Paul s, Fort Wayne March 12 Mr. and Mrs. Van De Priest 64, St. Paul, Evansville March 15 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fair 60, Cornerstone, Carmel March 16 Mr. and Mrs. David Ancil 67, St. James, Lafayette Mr. and Mrs. Harold (Art) Messer 61, Calvary, Indianapolis Mr. and Mrs. Glen Rahe 61, Trinity, Dillsboro Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Fischer 50, Epiphany, New Salisbury March 17 Mr. and Mrs. Andy Norby 50, Zion, Decatur March 20 Mr. and Mrs. Victor Musenbrock 51, Faith, DeMotte March 21 Mr. and Mrs. Heinz Bokel 59, Emmaus, Fort Wayne March 25 Mr. and Mrs. Harold Weitengant 57, St. Peter, North Judson March 26 Mr. and Mrs. Phil Juengel 52, Zion, Decatur March 28 Mr. and Mrs. William A. Kammeyer 53, St. Peter s, Fort Wayne March 29 Mr. and Mrs. Gene Emily 54, Immanuel, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mensendiek 54, St. John s, White Creek March 30 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Runge 55, Immanwuel, Seymour Belated Feb. 2 Mr. and Mrs. Carl Diehm 61, Holy Cross, Fort Wayne Feb. 3 Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dettmer 50, St. John s, White Creek Feb. 5 Rev. and Mrs. Jerry Koch 52, Holy Cross, Fort Wayne Feb. 10 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Meyers 50, Holy Cross, Fort Wayne Feb. 13 Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Strietelmeier 58, St. John s, White Creek Feb. 14 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Imler 70, Holy Cross, Fort Wayne Feb. 15 Mr. and Mrs. Don Bruick 73, Holy Cross, Fort Wayne Feb. 23 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mundt 67, St. Paul s, Fort Wayne Jan. 2 Mr. and Mrs. Herb Stiltz 65, St. John s, White Creek Jan. 27 Mr. and Mrs. Ken Carrier 59, Epiphany, Westfield March 1 Geneva Simpson, 92 St. Paul, Evansville Irene Cole, 91 Emmanuel, Tell City Don Herre, 91 Our Redeemer, Evansville March 4 Lois Kahre, 90 Trinity, Darmstadt March 5 Walt Somers, 92 Trinity, Darmstadt Margie Parker, 90 St. Paul, Evansville Roland Preuss, 91 Cornerstone, Carmel March 6 Flo Kleitz, 96 Our Redeemer, Evansville Gloria Baeske, 91 Zion, Woodburn March 7 Calvin Hoffman, 90 St. John, Monroeville March 8 Effie Harris, 97 Redeemer, Louisville Edna Pieper, 91 Trinity, Dillsboro March 9 Hazel Resner, 97 Calvary, Indianapolis Helen Weeden, 91 Calvary, Indianapolis March 10 Maryanna Baker, 93 St. James, Lafayette Frances Mook, 90 Emmaus, Fort Wayne March 11 Norma Thomas, 92 Immanuel, Seymour March 13 George Jones, 92 Redeemer, Louisville March 15 Eunice Fink, 90 Zion, Decatur March 16 Harold Kysar, 97 Immanuel, Seymour Lavon Graft, 94 Immanuel, Avilla March 17 Dorothy Hussung, 91 St. John, Lanesville March 22 Marcie Kohlmeyer, 95 Emmanuel, Fort Wayne March 23 Buford, Curry, 94 Cornerstone, Carmel March 26 Nina Harris, 97 Redeemer, Louisville March 27 Dorothy Allen, 103 St. James, Lafayette Gil Kahre, 96 Trinity, Darmstadt Byron Veath, 93 Grace, New Albany Ellis Clayton, 92 St. Paul, Evansville March 28 Georgia Ann Halter, 91 St. John, Vincennes March 29 Walter Ostermeyer, 90 Zion, Fort Wayne March 30 Ruth Wien, 95 St. James, Lafayette March 31 Verna Droege, 100 Grace, New Albany Helen K. Graf, 96 Immanuel, Seymour Belated Feb. 1 Grace Frederick, 91 St. Paul s, Fort Wayne Feb. 12 Margaret Herdman, 90 Holy Cross, Fort Wayne Feb. 15 Mary Anne Dressler, 100 Epiphany, Westfield Feb. 18 Norma Lohman, 95 St. Paul s, Fort Wayne Feb. 23 Ruth Habel, 101 St. Paul s, Fort Wayne Wilma Voelker, 91 St. John s, White Creek Feb. 29 Harriett Meyer, 90 St. John s, White Creek MARCH 2018 / 7
DISTRICT NEWS Shortened Luther movie now on Netflix A one-hour version of Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World is now available for viewing on Netflix (netflix.com), the popular streaming service. The full-length, two-hour edition of the acclaimed film premiered in selected theaters last February and nationwide on PBS Sept. 12. Netflix requested the shortened version and will offer it for two years, according to Mike Trinklein, the film s producer. We worked hard to retain the theological core of the film in the Netflix edition, Trinklein said. Netflix is very selective, adding just 50 new programs in January, he noted. Martin Luther is one of just two documentaries to be added. Funded by Thrivent Financial, the film dramatizes the events that shaped Luther and examines the questions he wrestled with. Included are insights and commentary from LCMS theologians and historians. Because Netflix watches viewership levels closely... if Martin Luther does well, it could lead to similarly themed productions going forward, Trinklein said. The streaming service also reaches audiences worldwide, providing programs with subtitles in a range of languages. For more information about the movie, visit NewLutherMovie.com. CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARCH 1 Deadline for calls for candidates and vicarage applications to be in the district president s office Deadline for Lay Delegate Reports to be considered for Floor Committee assignments MARCH 11-13 Lutheran School Administrators Conference, Leading Together, Embassy Suites Orlando, Kissimmee, Fla. MARCH 15 Indiana District Board of Directors meeting MARCH 14-17 Prayerfully Consider Campus Visit, Concordia Theological Seminary APRIL 13 Deadline for all nominations to be submitted for the 2018 Indiana District Convention APRIL 24 Call services at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (vicarages, afternoon; candidates, evening) Vicarage and Deaconess internship assignments, Concordia Theological Seminary APRIL 25 Candidate call service, Concordia Theological Seminary MAY 7-9 Southern Pastors Conference, Camp Lakeview A DVD of the full version is available for $17.92 from amazon.com and $19.99 from shop. pbs.org. Shipping charges may apply. Also available is a six-week Bible-study package with discussion topics, handouts, related readings and leader guides as well as a DVD of the original full-length film for $75 from NewLutherMovie. com. MAY 14-15 Northern Pastors Conference, Oakwood Resort MAY 19 Floor Committee meeting (in preparation for 2018 Indiana District Convention) JUNE 14-15 Indiana District Convention, Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne JUNE 17-24 Phoebe Academy, Concordia Theological Seminary JUNE 17-30 Christ Academy, Concordia Theological Seminary Share your news! Do you have exciting news you d like to see published in the Indiana District Lutheran Witness? We d love to share your news and see photos of what s happening in our district! Be sure to send in your submissions. The deadline for the May issue of The Lutheran Witness is March 12. Your stories and photos are welcomed and most appreciated. Please send all submissions to Jan Koenig at jan.koenig@in.lcms.org or Lutheran Witness Editor; Indiana District LCMS 1145 South Barr St.; Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Photos sent electronically should be in high resolution, with a minimum of 300 dpi. THE GOSPEL IS SIMPLE, BUT THE WORLD IS COMPLEX. How do we share the Good News of Jesus in today s world? ❶ Complete the core module kit available through CPH. Every One His Witness equips Lutherans to witness. ❷ Visit the website: everyonehiswitness.org to explore the vast array of resources available. lcms.org/witness-outreach!lcmse1hw 8 / INDIANA