[DistUpd] April 22

[District Updates]

Update for April 22
A publication of the Nebraska District, a District ABLAZE!

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord and Savior!

Could you go a day without your cell phone? How about a week without watching the evening news? How many emails or texts do you send a day? Imagine trying to function without any of these modern conveniences. (I know, I know -- there are some that think this would be a change for the better!)

Now imagine trying to function as a church body without being able to communicate. This is the challenge facing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan. Right now there is no existing communication network between the main office of the church and the pastors and lay leaders in the congregations around the country, which is 1/3 the size of the United States. There is an urgent need for consistent radio communication to help unify and connect the Lutheran churches in Sudan. As a partner in this mission field through the work of LCMS World Mission, the Nebraska District is committed to helping provide funds for this radio communication network.

Congregations or individuals who wish to contribute to this radio network project can find more information and an adoption agreement on the District website at http://www.ndlcms.org/ministries/district/agreements.html. This project would also make a great mission focus for your Sunday school or summer Vacation Bible School. Please also keep this church body in your prayers as they continue to do ministry under the leadership of an interim bishop after the passing of Rev. Andrew Elisa last December.


*         Convention Workbooks Mailed
*         Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance Web Survey
*         Cristo Cordero de Dios Celebration
*         Faith, Hazard, to Dedicate New Fellowship Hall
*         "Parenting Families: From ME to WE" Impacts Families in Nebraska
*         Overseas Service Opportunities
*         Mission Speaker Available
*         Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Studies to Meet
*         President of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service to Step Down
*         International Lutheran Laymen's League Convention Registration Now Open
*         Flexible Program of Online Biblical Greek Course Offered by Fort Wayne Seminary


CONVENTION WORKBOOKS MAILED
The Convention Workbook was mailed on CD to all rostered workers of the District and to the lay voting delegates earlier this week. If you should have received a Convention Workbook, but have not, by Thursday, April 30, please contact Carol Oetting at the District Office, carolo at ndlcms.org<mailto:carolo at ndlcms.org> or 1-888-643-2961.

The sections of the workbook are also available to be viewed and printed from the Convention page on the District website, http://www.ndlcms.org/news/convention/workbook.html.

For the first time this year, the Convention Workbook is being sent to all delegates in CD form. The sections of the Workbook are included in their entirety on the CD. It is the responsibility of each delegate to print and review the materials included on this CD prior to their arrival at Convention. As usual, each delegate will receive a binder to hold the pages when he or she arrives at Convention.

Visit the District Convention webpage at http://www.ndlcms.org/news/convention/index.html for registration information and other Convention details. Remember, Convention registrations are due by Monday, May 11.


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BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE ON SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE WEB SURVEY
An invitation has been distributed to individuals in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to respond to the topics under consideration by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance through an unofficial web survey. This invitation encourages individuals to express their opinions on topics to those that have no relationship with the BRTFSSG or any responsibility concerning the work of the task force.

All members of the Synod are encouraged to respond directly to the task force after reviewing the current work of the task force as posted on the Synod website, www.lcms.org<http://www.lcms.org/>, click on "Walking Together." After accessing and reviewing the "Current District Convention Report" and other documents posted on this site, your comments can be sent directly to the task force at LCMSFuture at lcms.org<mailto:LCMSFuture at lcms.org>. The email address and phone number are posted on the front page of the BRTFSSG web site. The members of the task force encourage your response.

A representative of the task force will be at our District Convention and delegates will spend two hours in listening to presentations and sharing their thoughts and opinions on the work of the task force. Everyone is invited to attend Convention to learn more about the topics under consideration and the work already done. Guest registration forms are available at http://www.ndlcms.org/news/convention/index.html.


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CRISTO CORDERO DE DIOS CELEBRATION
Everyone is invited to join the members and friends of Cristo Cordero de Dios, Grand Island, for a day of worship and celebration for their newly remodeled sanctuary. The congregation will gather at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, for a brief worship service, followed by a celebration meal. The congregation of Cristo Cordero de Dios would like to share their joy and gratefulness for the time, talent, and tithes that were contributed by so many brothers and sisters in Christ to assist them with this project and invites anyone to join them.

For the full story on the remodeling efforts and to see before and after photos, visit the Peace, Grand Island website at www.PeaceLutheranGI.org<http://www.peacelutherangi.org/>. Click on the "Ministry" tab, then click on "Mission Action Team."


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FAITH, HAZARD, TO DEDICATE NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL
This Sunday, April 26, the members of Faith, Hazard, will dedicate Faith Fellowship Hall at a 2:30 p.m. service. Everyone is invited to join them for a special dinner served at 12 noon prior to the dedication. The fellowship hall now gives the congregation offices for the pastor and secretary, a full kitchen, a fellowship hall, and room for youth and children's ministries. Rev. Dean Hanson, pastor of the congregation, says "This will be a facility that can do anything we need - for Christ, His church, and the community." The congregation received an LCEF loan to assist with the project.


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"PARENTING FAMILIES: FROM ME TO WE" IMPACTS FAMILIES IN NEBRASKA (from LHM Ministry Update, April 2009)
Ask any parent and he or she will tell you, the process of raising children is a 24-hour-a-day job. To make that job easier-and a whole lot more stress-free-Lutheran Hour Ministries has produced Parenting Families: From ME to WE. Developed by Dr. David Ludwig, a leading Christian psychologist and educator, this six-week DVD series has proven itself with congregations and parenting groups throughout the United States.

Recently, First Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomfield, Nebraska, used the Parenting Families program to connect with its local community. With a grant from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, First Trinity offered a free meal prepared by women in the congregation and provided supervised babysitting for each Sunday evening hour-long class.

"The hour study was wonderful," Pastor Duane Fahr said. "We had 25 to 30 people attend each week, not counting the children. I would share that a dozen couples really got into the material and couldn't wait to come back the next week."

"All the feedback on the questionnaire came back very positive. The couples shared that they loved gathering with parents who had similar struggles and were pleased to find out that they were not alone in raising their children in the world that we have today," Fahr said.

Perhaps the most telling response to the workshop came from a participant who is not a member of Pastor Fahr's congregation: "I want to thank First Trinity as a whole for allowing and sharing this class with the community. What a difference you have made in the families that attended. Just think how this will change family parenting in the future...."

The Parenting Families program includes a two-disc set containing all six sessions; a hosting guide with notes on preparation, promotion, and follow-up; a leader's guide for facilitating discussion; web access for customizing multi-media downloads, participant folders, invitation postcards, promotional brochures, and practical strategies booklets for single-parent, blended, and traditional families. To watch a video excerpt on Parenting Families, go to www.lhm.org/equipping<http://www.lhm.org/equipping>. To order a hosting kit, write to parentingfamilies at lhm.org<mailto:parentingfamilies at lhm.org> or call the LHM offices at 1-800-876-9880.


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OVERSEAS SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
In February 2008, LWML President Jan Wendorf issued a challenge to each district of the LWML. The challenge: two mission teams from each district to serve in LCMS mission fields by March 2010. Many districts have risen to that challenge, but need YOUR help to complete their teams. Three trips are in need of additional participants this summer and fall. Cambodia, Macau, and Slovakia mission teams will all be sharing Christ's love with those who haven't yet heard and building up the capacity of local ministries. Anyone is welcome to apply to these LWML-sponsored trips.

Mission Trip to Slovakia
Join this mission team in hosting an English language camp in Slovakia! The team will arrive in Slovakia on July 30, 2009. The camp will focus on teaching English using the Bible and fun activities. The key focus is building relationships with youth to provide opportunities for faith sharing. Local church members will also be present to help connect the youth and families to the church after the team leaves. The team will return home on August 9, 2009.

Mission Trip to Cambodia
LWML members and anyone with a love of teaching Sunday school are invited to join the LWML Indiana mission team to Cambodia. The trip will take place July 17-29, 2009. Team members will work with Cambodian Sunday school teachers to help them plan lessons that will engage children in the story of who Christ is and what He has done for us. Team members will have the opportunity to encourage and strengthen their brothers and sisters in Christ who are committed to teaching children the Gospel message.

Mission Trip to Macau
Macau is a city full of people who NEED the Gospel and English-a perfect combination! Join this team on October 16-23, 2009. The team will teach conversational English through Concordia English Center in Macau. Team members do not need to be professional teachers or skilled in grammar. Team members do need to have a love for people and a passion for letting the light of Christ shine through their words and deeds.

For more information, contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.teams at lcms.org<mailto:mission.teams at lcms.org>.

Relationship Builder in Thailand
Right now you have the opportunity to meet an urgent need as a Relationship Builder through English as a Foreign Language in Thailand.

LCMS World Mission needs mature individuals to serve as GEO missionaries in Thailand. These missionaries will teach English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) classes five days a week-four weekdays and Saturdays. During the weekdays, they will teach English classes, interact with students before and after class, and help lead weekly outreach groups between classes. These outreach groups are geared toward sharing the Gospel and building relationships.

To learn how you can serve God by going global, visit www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps<http://www.lcmsworldmission.org/searchopps>.
Contact an LCMS World Mission placement counselor at 1-800-433-3954 or mission.recruitment at lcms.org<mailto:mission.recruitment at lcms.org>.


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MISSION SPEAKER AVAILABLE
Megan Kincaid serves as a GEO missionary in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. Specifically, Megan supports the work of other LCMS World Mission missionaries as the Asia communication specialist. In this role, Megan finds ways to effectively communicate about what God is doing through missionaries and mission projects in Asia. She meets with missionaries, partner church bodies, and believers to gather information and record their stories in written and video form, so that it can be shared with churches and individuals in the United States and throughout Asia.

Megan is from Kearney, Neb., where her home congregation is Holy Cross Lutheran Church. She will graduate in May 2009 from Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism/public relations and interpersonal communication.

Megan is available throughout the summer to come and speak to your congregation or organization. For more information on Megan's ministry or to check with her on speaking dates, email her at mkincaid001 at hotmail.com<mailto:mkincaid001 at hotmail.com>.


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NEBRASKA LUTHERANS FOR CONFESSIONAL STUDIES TO MEET
The April gathering of the Nebraska Lutherans for Confessional Study (NLCS) will be held on Thursday, April 23, at Good Shepherd, 3825 Wildbriar Lane, Lincoln. Refreshments will be in the fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m., followed by Matins at 10 a.m. The morning session will start at about 10:30 a.m. with presenter Rev. Marcus Mackay of Peace, Hastings. His topic is "Emergence or Divergence? Current Trends in Worship." Following lunch, the afternoon topic will start at about 1:00 p.m. Presenter for the afternoon will be Rev. Robert Mayes of Mt. Calvary in Fullerton. His topic is "A New Contemporary Style of Church Music in 17th Century Germany: How Early Lutherans were Divided and What Lutherans Today Can Learn from It." Meeting will conclude by 2:30 p.m. Everyone is invited, both clergy and laity. A free-will offering will be taken to help defray expenses.


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PRESIDENT OF LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE TO STEP DOWN
Ralston H. Deffenbaugh, Jr., president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) since 1991, has announced his resignation effective September 1, 2009. Deffenbaugh stated that at this stage in the life of LIRS, he believes that the organization needs new gifts of leadership. "As LIRS president I have always understood myself as standing on the able, solid shoulders of all those who have gone before me. I believe that my gifts have been well used in my tenure at LIRS, that the agency has grown to a degree that no one could have imagined 18 years ago, and that it is now time for a new kind of imagination to light the way. I've long been influenced by the adage that our calling is the intersection between our joy and the world's need. For me and for LIRS, that intersection has shifted."

Deffenbaugh is the longest-serving head of LIRS since its founding in 1939. Under Deffenbaugh's leadership, LIRS has tripled in program size and staff number with a $25 million annual budget and more than 100 staff members. Since 1991, LIRS and its partners have resettled more than 100,000 refugees, many from Africa (including the so-called "Lost Boys" from Sudan), Burma and Bhutan, who, without LIRS's advocacy, may not have been granted U.S. refugee status. While under Deffenbaugh's leadership, LIRS revived the international system of resettlement and care for unaccompanied refugee children through direct collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

LIRS has also become a leader in seeking a more humane immigration enforcement system under Deffenbaugh's leadership, promoting an end to the imprisonment of vulnerable migrants-many of whom are children, families, asylum seekers, and victims of torture-who pose no threat to themselves or others. In America's contentious debate over immigration reform, Deffenbaugh has led LIRS to become a distinguished moral voice for its Lutheran partners and beyond. Deffenbaugh was instrumental in forming the Refugee Council USA and served as its first chairperson from 2000 to 2001.

Considering the future of LIRS, Deffenbaugh offered, "I remain passionately committed to the mission of LIRS and look forward to continuing to be a strong supporter of LIRS through my financial support, my advocacy, and my prayers. There is so much good work to be done. So many voices of vulnerable people that still need to be brought to the table. LIRS's essential role in that good work will not diminish. I look forward to seeing how LIRS will continue to bring new hope and new life in ever more creative and indispensable ways. LIRS will remain a constant support for uprooted people and for the communities that welcome them."

Deffenbaugh's future plans are still taking shape, he said. "What I will do next remains to be seen. I have embraced a possibility, an unknown, and am intrigued by the journeys ahead-both for myself and for LIRS."

LIRS is a cooperative agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Representatives of these church bodies govern the agency on a 15-member board of directors.


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INTERNATIONAL LUTHERAN LAYMEN'S LEAGUE CONVENTION REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Join hundreds of other Christians in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the 92nd international convention of the International Lutheran Laymen's League. The 2009 convention, held July 16-19, is a great time for worship and fellowship under the theme "Share His Story" (Psalm 66:16). This year's theme is a reflection of storytelling being deeply rooted in the history of North Carolina.

The convention kicks off for the men on Thursday with a trip to Adaumont Farm, home of NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, for an afternoon of fishing, skeet shooting, southern eating, recognition of past Int'l LLL officers, and more. While the men enjoy the beautiful scenery, women convention attendees will watch Woman to Woman(r) Host Phyllis Wallace conduct a special on-site interview with Pattie Petty during the women's luncheon. Petty is the founder, CEO, and chairman of the board for an organization that provides life-changing camp experiences for children with chronic medical conditions.

The convention shifts into high gear on Friday with a fellowship luncheon hosted by retired NASCAR great Ned Jarrett, outreach workshops covering a variety of topics to help you share the story of salvation, and a Family Night trip to the fictional town of Mayberry to re-live the excitement from "The Andy Griffith Show."

Saturday offers the chance to learn firsthand how God is using LHM globally to reach the unchurched during a breakfast with international directors and to listen to God's Word mightily proclaimed by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour(r), during the "LHM Celebrates the Savior" worship event.

A four-day registration costs $95, a two-day registration (or registration to the REACH Conference) costs $65, and a child/youth registration (ages 6-18) costs $65. Lodging, meals, and entertainment options have an additional cost. Call 1-800-876-9880, fill out and return the registration form in the March/April issue of The Lutheran Layman newspaper, or register online at http://www.lhm.org/convention/registration.htm. Visit www.lhm.org/convention<http://www.lhm.org/convention> for more information.


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FLEXIBLE PROGRAM OF ONLINE BIBLICAL GREEK COURSE OFFERED BY FORT WAYNE SEMINARY
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, announces that its popular online pre-seminary Greek course will now be offered in a more flexible way so that students can study at their own pace and according to their own schedule. The seminary began to make pre-seminary biblical Greek available online in September 2008. Previously, the students registered for the three quarter program of studies according to the schedule of classes on campus -- Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Now students can begin their studies at any time by simply registering for the course. They then have up to 120 days to complete each level of the course. Upon successful completion of the three levels, the students will have met the biblical Greek requirements for entry into the seminary.

"Allowing students to begin their course of studies at any time will make it even more accessible for a greater number of people interested in learning to read the New Testament in the original Greek, especially if they are interested in coming to the seminary eventually," said Dr. Douglas Rutt, dean for distance learning.

The biblical Greek course is taught by Dr. John Nordling, eminently qualified as a professor of Greek. Besides his seminary training, he has achieved a Master of Arts from Washington University, St. Louis, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Nordling taught in the Department of Foreign Languages at Valparaiso University and the Department of Classics at Baylor University before coming to Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, in 2006. Rev. Mark Braden, former Greek instructor at the seminary, is the course tutor, who personally assists each student with questions, provides further explanation, grades quizzes and tests, and monitors progress through e-mail, the Internet, and the phone.

The course is open to anyone, men and women, who have adequate academic preparation to do the course work and are planning on or considering church work, or who simply want to learn to read the New Testament in its original language.

An online demonstration is available at www.ctsfw.edu/greekdemo<http://www.ctsfw.edu/greekdemo>. For more information, contact Rev. William Johnson at 260-452-3202 or william.johnson at ctsfw.edu<mailto:william.johnson at ctsfw.edu>. To inquire about registering for the course, contact Mrs. Barbara Wegman at 260-452-2153 or registrar at ctsfw.edu<mailto:registrar at ctsfw.edu>.


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Thank you to all the congregations and individuals who submitted information for this week's Update. Items to share are always welcome and may be emailed to communications at ndlcms.org<mailto:communications at ndlcms.org>. We pray this e-newsletter may be a useful resource tool to you in your personal and congregational ministry.

Blessings,
Nichole Hetz
Nebraska District LCMS
Director of Communications
1-888-643-2961
nicholeh at ndlcms.org<mailto:nicholeh at ndlcms.org>
www.ndlcms.org<http://www.ndlcms.org/>

* Please Note: The inclusion of items in the Update from outside sources is for informational purposes only. Inclusion of such items does not constitute District endorsement.

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