Transcript Slide 1

Nebraska District
Fan into Flame
Circuit Coordinator Orientation
February 25, 2008
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“It’s not an answer…
it’s an invitation”
™
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Opening Devotion and Prayer
Rev. Russ Sommerfeld,
District President
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Overview of Ablaze!
Rev. Chip Winter,
Nebraska District Campaign Co-Chair
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21st Century State of the World
• 6.5 billion people
• 4.5 billion people
have not heard
the Gospel
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21st Century State of the World
• 66 of 237 nations
place significant
restrictions on
religious practice
• It is estimated that 1.2 billion or 60 percent
of “Christians” are nominal or non-practicing;
millions more trust in their own good
works rather than in God’s grace through
Jesus for salvation
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21st Century State of the World
• 72 million person
population increase
in the U.S. between
1970 and 2000
• In the same time,
LCMS membership
declined by 350,000
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Praying to the Lord of the Harvest,
LCMS World Mission, in collaboration with
its North American and worldwide partners,
will share the Good News of Jesus with
100 million unreached or uncommitted
people by the 500th anniversary
of the Reformation in 2017
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Ablaze! is a global Lutheran
mission movement
Began as a vision of
LCMS World Mission to
involve every member of the LCMS
Was adopted and affirmed by…
the 2004 Synod convention,
30 international partner churches,
and by individual districts, congregations,
LCMS auxiliary organizations, mission societies,
and other groups and individuals
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What is a Faith Sharing Moment?
“When one Lutheran Christian gives witness about
Jesus of the hope that is within him or her to another
person so that person may encounter Christ”
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Overview of Fan into Flame
Rev. Russ Sommerfeld,
District President
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The Case for Support
• Bring hope and spiritual renewal by
communicating the saving Gospel with
100 million people
• LCMS districts and congregations initiated a
$100 million fund-raising campaign entitled
Fan into Flame
• Essentially the funding vehicle for the
mission
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• Some aspects of Ablaze! require no funds
• But many other aspects require additional
investment of resources
• The heart of Fan into Flame: “But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)
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• Half of the funds raised will support local,
regional, and national mission efforts
• A focus on planting at least 2,000 new
ministries and revitalizing 2,000 existing
congregations – at least 80 in Nebraska
• Remaining resources will fund our work with
partner churches
• Spread the Gospel throughout the world
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Distribution of Funds
“But you will
receive power
when the Holy
Spirit comes on
you; and you will
be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and
Samaria, and to
the ends of the
earth.” (Acts 1: 8)
Congregations
15%
Districts
15%
LCMS
World
Mission
20%
National
LCMS
World
Mission
50%
International
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Progress To Date
Tremendous support early in the Campaign
• Nationwide
– One $2,000,000 and three $1,000,000 gifts received
– More than $28,000,000 in gifts and pledges!
• In Texas District - completed
– One $500,000 gift received
– Several $100,000 + pledges
– $6.1 million raised to date
• In South Wisconsin District - completed
_ One $500,000 pledge
– Two $100,000 pledges
– More than $3.4 million raised
• In Southeastern District – currently running appeals
– Two gifts of $250,000 and two gifts of $100,000 received
– More than $4 million raised to date
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Progress To Date
• Oklahoma
― 6 Pilot congregations raised 60% of their congregation goal
― Have raised over $1.3 million on a $1.5 million goal
• California-Nevada-Hawaii
― Currently in the Pilot phase
― Have raised more than $800,000 to date
• Northern Illinois
― Currently running Pilot appeals
― To date have raised over $500,000
• English
― 4 pilot congregations raised nearly 300% of their combined
goals
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International Projects
Ends of the Earth
• Add missionaries in the field - $15,750,000
• Capital expenditures - $10,500,000
– New ministry starts, leadership
training centers and new schools
– New seminaries
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National Projects
Samaria
• Assist with the Ablaze! goal of 2,000 new ministry
starts by 2017 - $5,500,000
• Provide assistance with training church planter
missionaries - $3,750,000
• Revitalize existing congregations into
“mission outposts” - $2,500,000
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District Projects
Judea
• Districts will raise funds that support their
objectives for mission expansion
• Funds will provide coordinated solutions to
local needs
– Districts will determine mission projects
– Each will receive 15% of net funds raised
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Nebraska District Goals
Plant New Churches and Schools
Minimum goal = $500,000
Current new church/ethnic ministry plant opportunities:
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Columbus
Northwest Lincoln
Seward
North Platte
− Omaha
− Elm Creek
− Sutherland
− Crete
− Lincoln
− Grand Island
− Norfolk
− Along Hwy 30
• Current new school plant opportunities:
– Auburn
– Cairo
− Winnebago
− O’Neill
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Nebraska District Goals
Revitalize District Congregations and Schools
Minimum Goal = $525,000
• Revitalize and transform congregations and schools
to help them engage their mission field
• Provide assessment, training, coaching, and
resources to congregations and schools in revitalization
• Train and support church workers to serve in
the mission fields revitalization identifies
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Nebraska District Goals
Provide Lutheran School and Church Worker
Scholarships
Minimum goal = $525,000
• Scholarships to ethnic immigrant, African American, Anglo,
and Native American children to attend Lutheran schools in
the District
• Scholarships to ethnic immigrant, African American, Anglo,
and Native American students studying to enter church work
• Church planter training
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Nebraska District Goals
Plant and Support Ethnic Ministries
Minimum Goal = $450,000
• Hispanic Ministry
• Muslim Ministry
Ministry
•
Asian Ministry
• African Immigrant
• New mission starts daughtered by district
congregations in partnership with the Nebraska District
• Provide support for facilities, worker training, worship
needs, educational materials, and human care resources
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Congregation Projects
Jerusalem
• Congregations receive 15% of net funds to
support new outreach projects such as:
– Birthing new “daughter” congregations
– Starting child care centers
– Funding social ministry agencies
– Establishing/promoting Christian schools
– Initiating other outreach efforts
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Your Role
Rev. Chip Winter,
Nebraska District Campaign Co-Chair
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Leadership (District)
District campaign leadership provided by:
• President Russ Sommerfeld
• Linda Reiser and Rev. Chip Winter, co-chairs
• Steering Committee
• Circuit Coordinators
• District Staff
• Andrea Essling, Campaign Counsel
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Leadership (District)
• Each LCMS district campaign approached as an
individual effort
• The District Campaign Steering Committee will
oversee progress of Fan into Flame locally
• Fan into Flame Circuit Coordinators will help to
educate congregations on the Ablaze! Movement as
well as Fan into Flame
• Duration in the District is approximately one year
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Leadership (Congregation)
• Each congregation-based Fan into Flame appeal will be
approached as a unique opportunity
• Pastors and Lay Leaders will assist in recruiting leadership
to advance Fan into Flame within their congregation
• Can be accomplished with three key components:
– RECRUIT – leadership
– EDUCATE – your members
– INVITE – your members to participate
• Flexible appeal plans
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We Ask Of You To:
• PRAY – for the success of this mission movement
and the fundraising appeal
• PARTICIPATE - Run an appeal in your own
congregation, preferably in the Pilot phase
• ENCOURAGE - the other congregations of your
circuit to participate
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Campaign Plan
How will Fan into Flame unfold in the Nebraska District?
– Major Gifts
• Focus on gifts of $50,000 and above
• Led by President Sommerfeld
• Ablaze! education will take place throughout timetable
– Pilot Congregations
• Congregations are being invited to run appeals after Easter until
June of 2008
• Serve as models
• Provide momentum for the district campaign
– Remaining Congregations
• Start anytime after July 2008
• Finish by Advent 2008
• Includes all congregations not part of the Pilot phase
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Congregation Appeals
• Simple to conduct
• Each participating congregation should set a goal and plan
of how to utilize the 15% for outreach
• Fan into Flame campaign staff, district leadership, and
congregation leadership will help set the goal
• Ablaze! education implemented where needed
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Role of Fan into Flame Circuit Coordinator
• Encourage your congregation to participate
• Connect congregations in your circuit with resources and
educational material on the Ablaze! movement
• Encourage all congregations in your circuit to participate in Fan into
Flame
• Serve as a resource for Fan into Flame
– Direct congregations to other human resources, including district
campaign team
– Direct congregations to sample resources including:
• Appeal plans
• Guides
• Publicity materials
• Letters
• Act as a liaison on behalf of Fan into Flame between district
leadership and your circuit congregations
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Operational Tools
A selection of those frequently used:
• Start-up to Ablaze! kit (available online)
• Circuit Coordinator notebook
• National and district tri-fold brochure
• District Case for Support (available online)
• Congregation appeals plan
• Fan into Flame Q & A sheet (available online)
• Prayer Card
• www.ndlcms.org or www.lcms.org
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Circuit Coordinator Notebook
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National Case Brochure
Appeal Manuals
Role of the Circuit Coordinator
Reception Kit
Major Gift Materials
Letter Templates
Congregation Pledge & Tithe Forms
Commitment Sunday Materials
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What’s Next?
• Discuss your congregation’s participation in Fan into
Flame
• Introduce Fan into Flame at your circuit Winkel meeting
• Contact your circuit’s congregations to encourage their
attendance at a regional workshop
• Schedule a follow-up meeting with Andrea Essling
• You have support throughout this process from President
Sommerfeld, Linda Reiser, Rev. Chip Winter, the Steering
Committee, district staff and professional counsel – please
don’t hesitate to utilize us!
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Comments & Discussion
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Closing Prayer
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