SPRING 2012 F I N A L U P D A T E N E W S Rev. Mark Eisold, right, and Seminarian Adrian Solis lead worship time at vacation Bible school organized by the LCMS missionary team in Lima, Peru.
Dear fellow redeemed, It is by God s grace that we have been called to a life together in The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He has given to us His great gifts in Word and sacrament, calling us to share them in witness and mercy to a world bound by sin and death. We do this as Synod, working together, blessed by God, doing more together than what we could individually do alone. The Fan into Flame campaign is but one example of this working together. Through Fan into Flame we have accomplished much; in the pages of this final newsletter you will see the evidence. Thank you for your generous gifts to Fan into Flame! Your gifts are and will continue to bless many. But there are a number of projects that we need to finish. Your outstanding gifts pledged to this effort are greatly needed. As we look to our future work, our priorities for LCMS witness and mercy at home and abroad are clear: 1. To plant, sustain and revitalize Lutheran churches 2. To support and expand theological education 3. To perform human care in concert with Word and sacrament ministries 4. To collaborate with the Synod s members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness 5. To nurture pastors, missionaries and professional workers to promote spiritual well-being 6. To enhance elementary and secondary education and youth ministry The LCMS has a sacred vocation. We have been given such fantastic gifts! We are called with the resources and capacities the Lord has given us and continues to give us, both here and everywhere around the world, to make a huge impact for the sake of the Gospel of Christ, and particularly for confessional Lutheranism. And it s our challenge in our day to do this. There s nobody nobody like the Missouri Synod and her partners who can bear witness so far and wide to sola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus. That is our sacred task now today! And we can do it only by God s grace. Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Let s Go! Mark 1:38 SPRING 2012 I N T H I S I S S U E 1 Letter of welcome 2 Celebrating Fan into Flame 3 Supporting mission initiatives in the United States 5 Supporting mission initiatives around the world 2 1
Celebrating Fan into Flame: partnerships, mission outreach, thanksgiving he Lutheran Church Missouri T Synod s Fan into Flame campaign, which officially concluded Oct. 31, 2011, embodied an unprecedented effort to raise support for new mission efforts in the United States and around the world. Securing $67 million in gifts and pledges, it was one of the largestscale campaigns in Synod history. When combined with the sustaining annual mission gifts received during the campaign s timeframe, the amount received for LCMS missionrelated work exceeded $150 million. One of the keys to the campaign was establishing partnerships in mission with the 6,100 congregations and 35 districts of our church body, said Board for International Mission member Kermit Butch Almstedt. We praise and thank God for the blessings he bestowed upon our efforts as we walked together as a Synod to develop support that brought the saving message of Jesus to so many people around the world! With its unique approach to partnering with contributing congregations and districts, with a portion of funds being returned to them to support local outreach, Fan into Flame was also one of the Synod s most unique campaigns ever. Its model for fund distribution was based on Acts 1:8, You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This verse provided the model for funds to be returned to local congregations (Jerusalem) and districts (Judea) and to support national mission work (Samaria) and international mission work (ends of the earth). You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Michigan District President Rev. David P. E. Maier and district missionaries George and Shary Frahm While serving as executive director of LCMS World Mission, I witnessed firsthand the impact of Fan into Flame in our congregations, across the United States and around the world! said the Rev. Dr. Thomas Zehnder, former executive director of LCMS World Mission. We are blessed to be a blessing to others and that is demonstrated daily in our work as we proclaim the love of Jesus. One example of mission partnership that emerged from the campaign was the Michigan District s participation in Fan into Flame in conjunction with its The Future Is Now campaign that simultaneously celebrated the district s 125th anniversary and planned for ongoing growth and outreach by raising mission funds. Through its campaign, the Michigan District so far has designated more than $400,000 toward support of missionaries serving through the Office of International Mission missionaries who have been identified as sons and daughters of the Michigan District. We rejoice in the generosity of the members of this district, especially in a state that has been hit so markedly by the recent economic recession. 2 To those who gave sacrificially to the campaign and prayed for the mission efforts it supported, LCMS President Emeritus Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick said, I personally thank you for your support of the Fan into Flame initiative! This historic effort brought about new partnerships in the LCMS, new mission opportunities around the world and new encounters daily to share this simple message: Jesus loves you, died for you on the cross and rose again so that you might be with Him in heaven forever. It s impossible to know this side of heaven the eternal results of this endeavor. Fan into Flame at a glance: $67 million raised $53.1 million cash received so far $18.03 million raised for international mission work $4.15 million raised for national mission work $13.05 million distributed to districts and congregations for local outreach $19.5 million spent in operational costs
Supporting mission initiatives in the United States Jerusalem funds: Blessings for LCMS congregations More than 1,400 congregations participated in the Fan into Flame campaign, which, in addition to blessing mission efforts on a national and international level, provided funds for these same congregations to engage in outreach in their own communities. One example: Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, San Francisco, Calif., sent in $7,500 to Fan into Flame over the course of three years. Originating as an outreach to the Chinese people of San Francisco in the 1960s, the congregation continues to reach out to its community, and used its Jerusalem funds to launch Sunny Paths, a ministry to children with special needs. This two-week summer day camp was hosted at the church and included morning sensory activities with afternoon outings to other sites. Attendees included two children from the congregation and 10 from the local community. Pastor ShuiMing Lau wrote, With God s blessings we were able to show His love and gain parents trust that we could take care of their children. One parent began to join one of our fellowship groups. We re planning for a three-week summer day camp in July 2012. Judea funds: Blessings $1.9 million for LCMS districts $11.15 million LCMS districts participating in the campaign received a percentage of the funds raised in their district and these Judea funds were then applied to Gospelcentered outreach initiatives of their choice. As an example, through its participation in Fan into Flame, the Nebraska District received $270,000 in Judea funds. The district is focusing on the mission-driven formation of congregations and leaders, helping each to see themselves as mission outposts in their communities. Fan into Flame funds are covering costs in areas of this formation process for 30 churches, helping them discover the changing mission field around them and the ways that God might have them connect with their community. Congregations walking through this process often see their communities with new eyes and then design creative ways to connect with those who do not know Christ or His Church. Two pastors who are walking through this process share: It has helped us set a course that will make a difference in this community and in God s kingdom. It is significant in the life of the congregation. Members of Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit work with a young boy during the Sunny Paths day camp. 3 The work we did in preparation... was good for the congregation to get to know our community and created excitement for getting out to share the love of Jesus. In addition, the Nebraska District has established a new scholarship program for students attending Lutheran schools. Participating schools can apply for scholarships that will help students attending the school for the first time. Staff and boards are able to engage people in their community, offering assistance designed to offset the costs of tuition or fees so that local children might have access to a high-quality education in a context where the story of Jesus and His love for all people is shared on a regular basis. Left: Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Omaha, was one of the Nebraska District s 30 churches to go through its mission formation process.
Sharing God s Word in audio form Thanks to Fan into Flame Samaria funds, LCMS staff distributed more than 24,000 Bible listening kits at the 2007 National Youth Gathering in Orlando, Fla. Each kit contained a BibleStick, a dedicated MP3 player that contains the New Testament in audio format, along with a New Testament CD and a Share It card recipients were encouraged to share the card with a friend or family member who does not yet have faith in Christ or who does not read the Bible on a regular basis. The Share It cards contained instructions for downloading an additional copy of the audio New Testament, which could then be used on an MP3 player, a computer or burned onto a CD. In addition, 4,000 more Bible listening kits were distributed to teens and adult leaders at the 2010 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, La. LCMS staff distributed more than 24,000 Bible listening kits at the 2007 National Youth Gathering in Orlando, Fla. Each kit contained a BibleStick, a dedicated MP3 player that contains the New Testament in audio format. Rev. Dave Andrus listens to a Talking Bible. $1.05 million Planting churches More than $1.5 million of Fan into Flame Samaria funds were $1.5 million Since 2006, 54 adults distributed to 38 LCMS and seven youth congregations to plant have been confirmed new churches in 12 states around the and 23 people have country from Hawaii been baptized. to North Carolina. A portion of Samaria funds was given as a grant by the LCMS Office of National Mission to Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM), which used the grant to purchase and distribute 700 digital audio Bibles. The Talking Book Bibles are very blind friendly, according to the Rev. Dave Andrus, LBM executive director, and are initially being made available to blind and low-vision people through LBM s 68 outreach centers for the blind nationwide. In 2006, with the help of a $50,000 Fan into Flame grant, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield, Mo., took steps to plant a church in nearby Nixa, Mo., about five miles to the south. The Rev. Adam Parvey was installed as associate pastor of this satellite site on July 20, 2008. Today, Redeemer, Nixa, holds two worship services each Sunday along with a Sunday school and Bible class. About 200 people attend its services each week, and on March 18, a ground-breaking ceremony was held to celebrate the beginning of construction on its new campus extension. Nearly $1 million has been pledged through a capital campaign to make this expansion possible. Redeemer s goals as a church plant in Nixa included providing healthy and effective family ministry and the congregation has worked toward that goal through a preschool (fall 2006 spring 2011), a growing Sunday school, creative children s messages, marriage enrichment seminars, Financial Peace University classes, family activities, youth activities, confirmation classes for youth and Baptism instruction for adults. Since 2006, 54 adults and seven youth have been confirmed and 23 people have been baptized. We praise God for how He is working through Redeemer s satellite site in Nixa to draw more people into a Word and sacrament community of faith, where they can learn about Jesus Christ and participate in life together with other believers. Right: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Nixa, Mo., hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for families in the community. 4
Supporting mission initiatives around the world T hrough the generous support of individuals, congregations and districts, more than $18.03 million was raised for funding new international mission projects and initiatives. Fan into Flame provided the means for 29 new missionaries to be sent to mission fields in Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America. It also supplied critical start-up funding for opening an LCMSrun international school in Vietnam a feat that many would have thought impossible just 10 years ago. In addition, Fan into Flame supported two LCMS partner churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, in the expansion of their theological training capabilities and witness and mercy ministry. Sending new LCMS $1.45 million missionaries to the field Fan into Flame funds helped send 29 new networksupported career missionaries to the mission field in 2008 and 2009. Specifically, these funds supported missionary families at the beginning of their calls or solemn appointments, during their six-month periods of building a support network in the United States and preparing for service before leaving for the mission field. These career missionaries are currently serving in locations like Germany, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kenya, Macau, Peru and Slovakia. Their roles vary, based on their talents and each mission field s needs. Their responsibilities may include supervising GEO (globally engaged in outreach) missionaries, who serve for one- to two-year terms, training indigenous evangelists and pastors for mission and ministry, overseeing human care initiatives to share the Gospel in word and deed, planning theological education programs or serving in other ways. Even now and in the years to come, the global LCMS mission team will depend on the crucial support provided by generous LCMS donors and congregations please prayerfully consider designating a gift, using the enclosed envelope, to support the work of career missionaries around the world. Concordia International School, Hanoi, Vietnam $1.22 million The LCMS is thankful for generous donors and congregations who, through Fan into Flame, have given start-up funding for Concordia International School, Hanoi, Vietnam. On Aug. 24, 2011, students entered its doors for the first time to attend classes taught by dedicated, LCMS-trained educators. Fan into Flame pledged to provide the $3 million needed by the school for start-up funds. Of that goal, $1.22 million has been raised so far. Concordia s current staff of 23 includes many LCMStrained educators, who bring years of classroom experience with them from LCMS schools in the United States and abroad. Concordia currently offers schooling for children in pre-k through grade seven, but will expand by one grade per year through grade 12. Concordia in Hanoi is modeled after its two sister schools in Asia, Hong Kong International School and Concordia International School Shanghai. Steve Winkelman, an LCMS educator, serves as Concordia Hanoi s head of school. He is incredibly thankful to Fan into Flame donors for their support and welcomes individuals and congregations throughout the LCMS to keep Concordia in their prayers. Pray that God would guide and lead us as we carry out this special task He has Above: Missionaries David and Radka Fiala stand with a mission team who served at an English Bible camp in the summer of 2011. The Fialas, based in Slovakia, are among the 29 missionaries initially supported by Fan into Flame. Right: LCMS educator Karin Markin with students of her first grade class at Concordia International School, Hanoi, Vietnam. Concordia INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HANOI 5
placed before us, said Winkelman. Please prayerfully consider giving a financial gift toward the ongoing costs of developing our school. Restoration of St. Michael s Lutheran $1.04 million Church, St. Petersburg, Russia The LCMS give thanks for Fan into Flame donors who contributed $1 million toward the restoration of historic St. Michael s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Russia, which was originally dedicated in 1876 and is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, an LCMS partner church. The St. Michael s facility had great ministry potential and was in an ideal location for outreach, but the dilapidated building was in need of costly renovations. Now that many renovations have been completed, the Rev. Sergey Tatarenko, the pastor of St. Michael s, along with his staff and members of the congregation, carry out a vibrant variety of witness and mercy ministries in the church building. St. Michael s opens its doors every day of the week for events such as HIV/AIDS outreach meetings, addiction support group meetings, work with the developmentally and physically disabled, regular Bible school seminars for those interested in hearing about the Christian faith, youth work, weekly radio broadcasts and elaborate concerts showcasing Bach and other Lutheran composers, complete with testimonies about the meaning of their compositions and lyrics these events alone were attended by 24,000 people in one three-month period. A new seminary building in Ghana $500,000 Fan into Flame partnered with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, an LCMS partner church, by supplying $500,000 toward the construction of a new seminary building outside of Accra, Ghana s capital. Ghana s Lutheran Seminary already provides training for future pastors in Ghana and other English-speaking countries in West Africa. Before the construction of this seminary building, 14 seminary students were taking classes in a meeting room at the church body s headquarters. Two offices were converted into makeshift dormitory rooms, each sleeping seven students in bunk beds. The seminary library consisted of four narrow bookcases at one end of the meeting room. Construction is nearly completed now on a two-story dormitory unit that is designed to accommodate 40 students. This building includes a large classroom/lounge for teaching and studying. Left: St. Michael s touches thousands of people through its various ministries. Below right: Rev. Paul Kofi Fynn, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, stands with its seminary s library. Consider using the enclosed envelope to send your gift of additional support for Fan into Flame, Concordia International School Hanoi or International Missionary Support. 6
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 Toll Free: 1-800-977-2017 www.fanintoflamelcms.org NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID St. Louis MO Permit No. 146 John Q. Sample 123 Anystreet Anytown, US 00000-0000 Springfield, Mo. Thank You! Vietnam Ghana