Nebraska District Fan into Flame Circuit Coordinator Orientation

1. Nebraska DistrictFan into FlameCircuit Coordinator Orientation February 25, 2008

2. “It’s not an answer… it’s an invitation” ™

3. Opening Devotion and Prayer Rev. Russ Sommerfeld, District President

4. Overview of Ablaze! Rev. Chip Winter, Nebraska District Campaign Co-Chair

5. 21st Century State of the World • 6.5 billion people • 4.5 billion people have not heard the Gospel

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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”

11. Overview of Fan into FlameRev. Russ Sommerfeld, District President

12. 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 forthe mission

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 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

18. International ProjectsEnds 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

19. National ProjectsSamaria • 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

20. District ProjectsJudea • 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

21. Nebraska District Goals Plant New Churches and Schools Minimum goal = $500,000 Current new church/ethnic ministry plant opportunities: • Columbus − Omaha − Lincoln • Northwest Lincoln − Elm Creek − Grand Island • Seward − Sutherland − Norfolk • North Platte − Crete − Along Hwy 30 • Current new school plant opportunities: • Auburn − Winnebago • Cairo − O’Neill

22. 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

23. 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

24. Nebraska District Goals • Plant and Support Ethnic Ministries • Minimum Goal = $450,000 • Hispanic Ministry • Asian Ministry • Muslim Ministry • African Immigrant Ministry • 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

25. Congregation ProjectsJerusalem • 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

26. Your Role Rev. Chip Winter, Nebraska District Campaign Co-Chair

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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 • Directcongregations 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

34. 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

35. Circuit Coordinator Notebook • National Case Brochure • Appeal Manuals • Role of the Circuit Coordinator • Reception Kit • Major Gift Materials • Letter Templates • Congregation Pledge & Tithe Forms • Commitment Sunday Materials

36. 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!

37. Comments & Discussion

38. Closing Prayer