What a blessing the Fan into Flame emphasis has been!" said Rev. John Schenck as he reported on the unexpected success of his congregation’s effort to support the
Ablaze! movement. When Zion, New Holstein, was asked to participate, Schenck wasn’t sure that it was a good time to do so. What he didn’t know was how God was planning to move the hearts of the congregation's members. The community of
New Holstein was facing an economic crisis after the closing of one of its major employers—Tecumseh Products, maker of small engines and engine parts for lawn mowers and snow blowers—and the congregation was already several thousand dollars behind on their budget.
Yet, when Fan into Flame was presented at Zion’s July 2006 voters’ meeting with an introductory video and printed brochures, the voters responded overwhelmingly to participate. They did so with the understanding that the effort would be viewed as a special opportunity and privilege, not a requirement (2 Cor. 8:1-5), and only if God has blessed them as individuals to the point of being able to participate "over and above" regular giving.
The congregation was well prepared for Fan into Flame. For two years prior to the formal presentation, they used a mission board display with the heading Ablaze! featuring a different mission field each month along with monthly bulletin inserts and Sunday school activity pages for children.
Not having an organized committee prior to the July voters’ meeting, Schenck approached leaders of the congregation—leaders whom he believed to be mission-minded, not just financially blessed. Using the Fan into Flame promotional booklet to emphasize the connection between Ablaze! and Fan into Flame, and then explaining the application of Acts 1:8, Schenck gave the congregational leaders two different gift planning guides: one for major gifts and the other for gifts up to $5000. He asked them to pray about what, if anything, they felt God was leading them to do—and encouraged an early reply. At the same time he asked them to consider being on the Fan into Flame committee, stating that those who serve should do so only if they will have already made their pledge or gift, no matter what the amount.
The resulting Fan into Flame committee began meeting in August with the congregation campaign plan manual in hand and chose to use "plan one" as a guide. The committee decided from the start not to use the word "campaign" but to talk of this as an emphasis, an opportunity and a privilege to help provide funding for Ablaze!.
The committee identified other people who were also described as being mission-minded and then approached them, using adaptations of three suggested letters from the manual. They also used newsletter and bulletin inserts two to three weeks before their commitment Sunday. As part of their LWML service they showed the Fan into Flame DVD in worship services. On commitment Sunday, both Fan into Flame pledges and regular offering pledges were brought forward at the same time so no one knew for sure who was participating in Fan into Flame and who wasn’t.
The suggested financial goal for Zion was $25,000, but pledges totaled over $49,000. Besides that, the congregation budget shortage was overcome in a dramatic way as well, going from an almost $11,000 deficit at the beginning of December to a surplus of over $6,000 by the beginning of January!
As members sent in their commitments to Fan into Flame, the congregation’s percentage share of the donations returned to them has already amounted to $3,000 to be used for local mission and outreach projects. With the returned funds, the congregation’s board of evangelism has printed Ablaze! Gospel contact cards which are placed in the pew racks. The board also sends letters to everyone who moves into New Holstein and nearby Kiel. When making calls they give people a copy of a book, All About Jesus, as well as a pamphlet about Zion. The board plans to include similar materials in the baskets of the communities’ "Welcome Wagon" programs. They also ordered two "You are now entering the Mission Field" signs that will be placed at the church parking lot exits.
Plans for this fall include hosting a witness workshop led by Lutheran Hour Ministries with a meal to be provided at no cost to participants. Members of the churches in Zion’s circuit and immediate area are being invited.
Zion’s goal is to help all its members develop confidence and to challenge themselves to set a goal of sharing the basic Gospel message with at least four unchurched or uncommitted people a year for at least the next nine to ten years.
Schenck sums it up by saying, "We are constantly seeking God’s guidance, trusting that the Holy Spirit is helping us to speak, and at the same time he is working in the hearts of those with whom we speak, helping their hearts to be 'burning within them' as the Scriptures are opened to them (Luke 24:32). To God be the glory!"