“Christian Outreach Ministry of Arkansas Holds First Meeting”

With its 15% of Fan into Flame funds, Peace Lutheran Church in Conway, AR has started an outdoor ministry.  Their first meeting was held the week of January 10 with fifteen people in attendance, including one family from outside of the congregation.

Flame Fanned by First Fifteen Percent!

What a joy it was to receive a letter from Dr. Zehnder, LCMS World Mission Executive Director, along with the first quarter’s return check from Peace’s Fan into Flame campaign! Since Bob Allen, Mid-South District Mission Director and Fan into Flame steering committee member, was going to be at Peace the following weekend for a Lutheran Hour Ministries Equipping to Share workshop and to present the mission opportunities in Tanzania and other places on Sunday, I asked him to present the check to the congregation in both services on Sunday. In the early service, Bob presented the check to me as we updated the congregation on the Fan into Flame progress. In the late service, I asked the Chairperson of the Board for Missions, Cheryl Shofner, to come forward to receive the check on behalf of Peace. It was like one of those Bob Barker Price is Right “Come on down!” expressions of the person called down. I had not told Cheryl we would be presenting the check to her in the service, and due to her surprise was at a loss for words. She told me after the service – “I should have at least said, ‘Praise the Lord!’”

With this first check for $458.33, Peace’s Board for Missions is now in earnest consideration of various new mission opportunities which will pronounce “Our hearts are Ablaze! for people to know Christ through Peace Lutheran” and will impact people in Conway and beyond with our Lord’s love through His people at Peace. One looming potential is a Christian Outdoors/Sportsmanship Outreach through hunting/boating safety and the like. One of our members, Bruce Winston, is an expert outdoorsman (and grillmaster, too) who is certified to teach hunting and boating safety and lead sporting expeditions, and is finalizing plans for making this opportunity a reality for Peace’s reaching out to the community to love their Lord who created them and has given us so much to enjoy in His creation. Opportunities to support Peace’s outreach to international students at Conway’s institutions of higher education also abound. As the flame is fanned with prayers, people and additional return funds, we look forward to seeing Christ’s light and love in many more people as they join us with hearts on fire for Jesus and His mission!

Submitted by Rev. John Gierke, Peace Lutheran, Conway, Arkansas