Some things to consider
Prayer requests 

 Some things to consider

1. New business manager: If you have read South Wisconsin News or the new e-news, you know that we have a new business manager, Debra Novak. She comes to us with a strong financial/accounting background. Initial indications are that she will do a fine job. 
    
2. Candidate calls: Deadline for congregations requesting candidates from seminaries is March 1. Reports are that this is another larger class for placement. However, this is the last large class for a while. 
    
3. Financials: My commitment is to make sure that every dollar given is spent with integrity. Every dollar that we receive from congregations comes from people who work hard, who love God, and who brought their gifts to the altar from God’s blessings. 
    
4. President’s e-news: If you haven’t done so, you may subscribe to the monthly e-news through the SWD website. The e-news is published by the 20th of each month and sent to pastors, school administrators and others by request. The goal is to keep everyone informed regarding our mission efforts as well as to let people know how we are spending the precious mission dollars that are forwarded to us. Part of the monthly e-news is the call updates and a prayer list. I am asking that the prayer list be shared and held up as it not only contains prayer requests for those who are ill but also ministry challenges. Articles from the e-news may be copied for Sunday bulletins, monthly newsletters etc so that God’s people know what’s happening in South Wisconsin. 
5. Partnership breakfasts: As Monty Python says, this is something completely different. The first partnership breakfast was held Tuesday, Feb. 5. There were 53 in attendance on site, 21 watched live on the webcast. If you would like to see it, the video is on the SWD website. A second partnership breakfast is set for May 6, with John Kieschnick, formerly pastor of Gloria Dei, Houston, and author of The Best Is Yet to Come. If you would like to attend, please contact Barb Slak at the District office. Breakfast is provided. 
    
6. "As the Father has sent me, I send you." It's part of the vision for SWD. We are called to "Bold witness to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus." The Father sent his Son into the world to die for the world. The Father sent his Son into the world to save the world. The Father sent his Son into the world to bring light into the darkness. Jesus sends us into the world to bring light, to bring salvation and forgiveness, and to those around us know what a loving and kind Savior we have. It is our calling. It is part and parcel with being faithful. Not long ago in a discussion with a group from one of our congregations, a pastor was criticized because he dared to bury someone who was not a member of that congregation. Come to find out that the man who was buried was instructed by the pastor, ministered to by the pastor; but his name was not on the membership rolls. At that point we "chatted." If membership is the goal, then the church is nothing more than a country club. We are called upon by our Savior to take the message out of the church, past the front doors, to where people are. Jesus says to us, "As the Father has sent me, I send you." 
    
7. SWD international mission project: You may have heard that the Dominican Republic has been designated by our board of directors as our international mission. Work in the Dominican Republic began when Bethesda was invited to help the developmentally disabled in that country. From that work sprang the vision of establishing a Lutheran church body there. We are now part of that, along with Bethesda, Lutheran World Relief/Human Care, the Lutheran Church of Brazil, Central American Lutheran Mission Society and LCMS World Missions. There will be opportunities for Sunday schools, VBS, ladies groups, Bible classes, etc. to adopt and support various aspects of this mission effort. There will also be opportunities for mission trips to the Dominican Republic. 
    
8. SWD missions: Good things are happening with our cross-cultural mission efforts. Under the leadership of Rev. Dan McMiller we are currently in discussions with several non-LCMS pastors about the very real possibility that they and their congregations will become part of us. There is discussion about a new mission start on the far east side of Milwaukee where re-gentrification is underway. In some parts of the east side/third ward, condos are selling for $500K to $1 million. Farther north in the Brady/Farwell area a new culture of young east-siders is emerging, along with some retirees who are moving back. In addition, there are several circuits actively discussing the possibility of beginning a new mission in their area. 
    
9. A theological convocation set for Aug. 18-20 in St. Louis will deal with principles that undergird the formation and structure of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. "Congregation—Synod—Church" will be the general theme for the convocation, sponsored by the commission on theology and church relations (CTCR), working with the council of presidents (COP). The convocation is supported by a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The convocation participants will include 100 parish pastors and laity selected by the presidents of the Synod's 35 districts and chosen primarily from the delegates to the 2007 Synod convention. Also participating will be the members of the COP, the CTCR, Synod officers, the LCMS board of directors, seminary and university presidents, representatives from the two seminary faculties, the commission on constitutional matters, representatives from the Synod's auxiliaries and corporate entities, the blue ribbon task force on funding the mission, and the blue ribbon task force on synodical structure and governance. 
    
10. Congregational financial intentions update: The top ten congregations for 2007 are Our Redeemer, Wauwatosa, Brookfield Lutheran, St. Paul, Grafton; St Paul, West Allis; Trinity-Freistadt, Mequon; St. Paul, Sheboygan Falls; St John, Plymouth; St. Peter, Reedsburg; Good Shepherd, Watertown; St. Paul, Janesville.
    The top congregations per communicant: Hope, Milwaukee; Brookfield Lutheran; Lamb of God, Pewaukee; Living Word, Jackson; Mission of Christ, Milwaukee; St. John, Horicon; Mission Hill, Waunakee; St. John, Sullivan; Our Savior, Janesville. The following circuits are at 100% plus of their commitments: 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17 19, 21, 24, 26 and 27. That is 14 of our 27 circuits! Thank you!

Much peace and many blessings!

President John C. Wille
South Wisconsin District 

 

Prayer requests

Please keep in your prayers/petitions:

• Rev. Gary Ruckman and his family on the death of his mother 
• Gail Groth, wife of Rev. David Groth, as she under goes cancer treatments
• Rev. Larry Myers as he recovers from surgery 
• Rev. Dr. Edwin Suelflow as he recovers from knee replacement surgery
• Rev. Joe Fisher as he recovers from being ill 
• Don Druckrey, a former administrator of LCFS, recovering from leg amputation surgery 
• Moua Vang,  was accepted into the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) program