THE REPORT OF

ABLAZE! IN THE MID-SOUTH DISTRICT

During the last triennium the awareness of the Ablaze! movement and the appreciation for its efforts increased in the Mid-South District.  More of our congregations are placing Gospel outreach to the unchurched and disconnected on the front burner.

However, as in any effort to spread God’s Word, Satan will always seek to diminish any zeal or participation in Gospel outreach.  Just as Satan tried to keep Jesus from going to the cross, so He will use every means to keep us from lifting high the cross.  That is why the LCMS in its 2004 synodical convention resolution was committed to keep ever before us the “three-legged movement” that constitutes Ablaze!, namely, that by the 500^th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation in 2017 Synod’s members in the United States will:

1. Share the Gospel with 50 million unreached or uncommitted Americans

2. Begin 2,000 new congregations

3. Ignite (revitalize) the mission of 2,000 existing congregations

While all three “legs” support and compliment each other, our District’s Ablaze! Task Force of Rev. Richard Elseroad, Rev. John Gierke, Rev. Rev. Jack Gillam, Rev. James Kirk and Rev. Lyle Muller focused on the first leg of Ablaze! God blessed us with the insights of President Lampe and his staff and of the following in Arkansas: Mr. Terry Held (Bentonville), Ms. Linda Hidy (Batesville), Kristie Suttie (Springdale) and Donn Trautner (Hot Springs); in Tennessee by Fred Lehmkuhl (Union City), Sarah Lindsey (Nashville), Kenneth Watkins (Memphis) and Diane Weber (Knoxville); and in Kentucky: Karen Mitchell (Bowling Green).  Each of these persons on the Igniter Team has a deep desire to see Gospel outreach grow in their congregation and District.  Our prayer is that our congregations and schools will grow in their outreach excitement and efforts.

To place Ablaze! into the context of the three states that make up our District, the following may prove helpful:

The Mid-South District : 1-1-08 compared to 1-1-07 (in parentheses)

Baptized members---30,300 (minus 239)

Confirmed members---24,550 (plus 11)

Children baptized---463

Adults confirmed---394

Adults reinstated, professions of faith---249

Adults received from other Lutheran bodies---61

Adults released to other Lutheran bodies---119

Member children confirmed---280

Non-member children confirmed---18

These figures are shown to indicate in what areas our District’s numerical growth and decline are taking place.  From 1-1-07 to 1-1-08 it took the equivalent of 62 communicants to see one new adult convert added to our District congregations.  The concern is not the numbers in themselves, but the people they represent and how useable we are in the Spirit’s work of bringing people to Christ and His Church.  God gives us many opportunities to reach out to the unchurched and disconnected Americans around us every day---the people Christ came to seek and to save.

Activities Focused in Three Areas

1.  We worked closely with Rev. Scott Snow, Synod’s Director of National Outreach, in sharing resources produced by Synod or other entities representing outreach ministry.  There are many excellent resources available, for all ages and all types of congregations.  Please continue to access Synod’s website, www.lcms.org/ablaze, as new resources become available.

What is most heartening is the number of District congregations that put together their own outreach approaches.  God has blessed us with many professional church workers and lay leaders who have a heart for sharing the Gospel.

2.  Communication about Ablaze! was a major activity during the triennium, with presentations to our last District convention, to conferences of pastors and teachers, to LWMW rallies, to individual congregations, and  to deacons in outreach training courses.  Articles highlighting congregations active in outreach ministry appeared in the District supplement of the Lutheran Witness, while articles about outreach ministry research, trends and strategies were written for the District Newsletter, The Encourager.

3.  The special celebrative event , the “Hearts on Fire 2008 Outreach Rally” in Memphis was the largest event ever held in our District.  After input from the Task Force and Circuit Counselors, James Sorgatz was asked to give leadership in shaping the event, and what a great job he did!

His report follows:

On October 10 -11, 2008, the Hilton Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee was the site of our

first ever Ablaze! Outreach Rally.  A total of 623 participants consisting of Mid-South

District laypeople, guests, and professional church workers from 78 congregations were

in attendance.

At the encouragement of District President Rev. Kenneth Lampe, each participant was

challenged to sign a “Let’s Ignite Our Corner of God’s World”- Join the Movement

Declaration that stated the following:  1) I believe that Ablaze!/Evangelism/Outreach

is the #1 priority of the Church, and 2)  With God’s help, I promise to make this priority

a reality in my life and in my church.

Presenters included Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Rev. Dr.

Michael Gibson, Christ Lutheran, Costa Mesa, CA; Rev. Roosevelt Gray, Michigan

District Mission Director, Herman Weaver, former National Football League great;

Sharon Hoffman, nationally-known women’s conference speaker and author; and

nationally-known artist Michael Lewis, “The Jesus Painter”. Gathering music was

provided a special ensemble coordinated by Mark and Kathy Tooley of Peace Lutheran

Church, Conway, AR.

The planning team included Rev. Jim Kirk, Rev. Brian Pummell, Laura Grienke, Sharon

Fryman, Shawn Weiser, Ted Mahn, and Jim Sorgatz.

We thank all the members of the team for their hard work in putting together the event.  As we reflect on what happened, we saw many blessings from God:

1. The joy of so many people from four states (some also from Mississippi) coming together around a shared love and concern for Gospel outreach.  We’re not alone or isolated in our witnessing.  God has His ambassadors everywhere who are compelled by Christ’s love to tell others what He has done.
2. The teachers of 14 schools met earlier that day and included the same theme in their plenary gathering.
3. Each attendee was challenged, upon hearing God’s Word throughout, to answer two questions: 1) So What?  2) Now What?
4. The music, singing and effervescence of joy over the Gospel indicated that there is excitement in our District about God using us to reach out to the unchurched and disconnected.  We praise Him for the work of His Spirit among us.

A New Direction

It was with much joy that President Lampe this year appointed former District President David Callies to be a fellow Ambassador and Contact person with Lyle Muller.  David will give special attention to Tennessee and Western Kentucky, while Lyle will focus on Arkansas.  We deeply thank the outgoing members of the Task Force and Igniter Team of the past triennium, and we look forward to securing and working with congregational Ablaze! Ambassadors who will be a blessing to each other.

Both of us attended a synodical gathering of District Ambassadors and Contact Persons earlier this year.  It was evident that faith-sharing must be the critical basis of the Ablaze! movement if our Synod is going to move forward in outreach.

President Lampe has asked Bob Allen to work with us until the new District staff position for Congregational Health and Revitalization is filled.  What a joy it is working with him!

We recognize that much more work needs to be done in updating our District website, in networking congregations not involved in Revitalization or Church Planting, in recruiting an Ablaze! Ambassador in each congregation, and in being God’s instruments in motivating and helping members discover the joy of sharing their faith in Jesus Christ.  We believe that not only individuals but also every congregation has a story to tell that can bless another congregation’s outreach efforts.  Only God’s Spirit can direct and bless these efforts to His glory.  May all of us see ourselves on His team, for His purpose: “to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)