[Area B & C Lay] Paul's MMF E-Letter 01.0407 - 4 New Chartered Congregations! - Te xas Ablaze! Website - Video, Interacitive, Resources

Thu Jan 4 16:21:47 CST 2007

                     Paul's MMF E-Letter  <*}}}><                

                                    January 4, 2007

                                    Area B & C (Circuits 21, 25, 30)

                                    Texas District, LC-MS

<mailto:Krentztx at txdistlcms.org> Krentztx at txdistlcms.org

                                    800.951.3478

                                    Mobile: 512.769.6734

                                     <http://www.txdistlcms.org/krentz/>
www.txdistlcms.org/krentz/

Four New Chartered Congregations in Area B in 2006 - St. Peter, Ft.
Worth...Water of Life, Forney...All Nations, Dallas...Living Water,
Richardson...

May 25th was Charter Sunday for St. Peter Lutheran Church, Ft. Worth.  Led
by Pastor Robert Balduc and a daughter church plant of Peace, Hurst, this
new mission has been worshiping at Hughes Elementary School, Roanoke and
will be moving its worship site to the Roanoke Recreation Center on Sunday,
January 21.  

St. Peter has exciting plans as it is part of a 101 acre development with
Church Development Partners in the Alliance Corridor.  Future plans include
a sanctuary, early childhood center, school and retirement community.  The
Mission of St. Peter: Boldly confessing before an unbelieving world Jesus
the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Visit their website @
www.stpeterfw.org <http://www.stpeterfw.org/> 

October 29th was Charter Sunday for Water of Life Lutheran Church, Forney.
Led by Vicar James Jarrett and a daughter church plant of Tree of Life,
Garland, this new mission worships at the Chapel at Faith Crossing on Sunday
evenings.  This congregation has done a variety of outreach ministries into
the Forney area and Kaufman Count a growing area east of Mesquite.  

Their Mission: Water of Life Lutheran Church exists to share the river of
forgiveness and the flowing water of Jesus Christ with you.  Water of Life
has already engaged in a variety of intentional outreach ministries into the
Forney community.  Worship combines traditional liturgical format and hymns
with new songs and contemporary arrangements.  It is not uncommon to hear
both organ and guitars in the same worship service.

November 12th was Charter Sunday for All Nations Lutheran Church, Dallas

Led by Pastor George Masih, All Nations Lutheran Church is a mission plant
of the Texas District and POBLO International reaching Pakistani Christians,
Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, most who are recent immigrants to the DFW area.
George spends much time in street evangelism, visiting with business people,
store owners and employees whose countries of origin are Pakistan and India.

All Nations worships at LINC's New Hope site on Peavy Road, Dallas.  Worship
is done in the Urdu language and in English.  

It's most recent outreach event was a Christmas Outreach at FunAsia in
Richardson.  Nearly 175 member and guests were present.  The event included
a full reenactment of the Christmas narrative as well as music groups,
wonderful food and a Christmas message from President Ken Hennings.  Many
Muslims and Hindus were among the guests who clearly heard the Gospel
presented in Pageant and spoken word.

December 17th was Charter Sunday for Living Water Community Lutheran Church,
Richardson

Led by Pastor Jerry Nichols and Vicar Abu Thampan, Living Water is the
result of the Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition (LINC) approaching Pastor
Nichols earlier this year and asking him to team up with their Asian Indian
missionary, Abu Thampan. The goal was to start a multicultural mission
church in the Richardson area.  Worship is at The Courtyard of Arapaho; 254
E. Araphaho, Suite 110 each Sunday at 10:00 am

Living Water's Mission: Ablaze with love-for God, for each other, and for
the world   is demonstrated in a variety of ways including extraordinary
serving relationships with the community.  The congregation has established
a caring and supportive relationship with Dover Elementary School,
Richardson, raising $800 for the PTA there and by serving a Christmas Dinner
to the Dover faculty and staff. Living Water also has plans to have
volunteers teach ESL (English as a Second Language)  classes for Dover
parents as well as help with an afternoon tutoring program.  It seems hat
despite the language barrier that often exists when working with such
diverse cultures, the church has been able to communicate through their acts
of service.  As Pastor Nichols says, "You don't have to wait until you are
big to serve mightily."

Ablaze! Texas - Faith Sharing (Critical Events) Website
http://www.txdistlcms.org/ablaze/ <http://www.txdistlcms.org/ablaze/>  For
All Ablaze! Texas Resources

Faith Sharing Story sharing...

We are into Ablaze! Texas.  The Good News is being shared with others.  We'd
like to begin hearing individuals and congregations! Please take to share
how, when, where you have shared your faith with another person (LCMS Board
of Missions Ablaze! calls this a "critical event") you might have meet.
Stories are a great way to provide ideas and encouragement to others as they
consider sharing their faith. You can read what others have written by
following the link that is provided after you "submit" your story.  To tell
your faith sharing story, please go to the following website:

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB225RPHCSZE9
<http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB225RPHCSZE9> 

Please share this web site with others and consider linking it to your
congregation's homepage  The hope is for a growing collection of stories to
encourage fellow believers to share their faith.  We appreciate your
willingness to tell about your experiences in sharing the faith.  If you
have no story to tell at the moment, you can read what others have written
by clicking on this link:
http://www.zoomerang.com/web/SharedResults/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?ID
=L22S9LFUKPZ7
<http://www.zoomerang.com/web/SharedResults/SharedResultsPasswordPage.aspx?I
D=L22S9LFUKPZ7> 

It may take a few days to get some stories listed.  Please check the site
occasionally to see what has been added.  Also, please share this paragraph
in your congregation's newsletter.

New Videos Weekly...

http://www.ablazetx.lamtx.com/ <http://www.ablazetx.lamtx.com/>  will take
you directly to a growing set of video updates (or go to
http://www.txdistlcms.org/ablaze/ <http://www.txdistlcms.org/ablaze/>  site)
Stories about congregation's intentional outreach efforts, stories from
mission congregations in the Texas District, and interviews will help
inspire your efforts in outreach and evangelism.  A new video is posted each
Wednesday.

Resources and Jottings...

The website also includes links for resources such as Bible studies as well
as "jottings" about Mission and Outreach. 

Updated Weekly...

Check back often for new resources in each area of the website.

Seeking Director of Campus Ministry For Texas Tech University

The Board of Directors of Lutheran Campus Ministry of Lubbock, Texas is
seeking a Campus Ministry Director.  This is a full time position and
responsibilities will begin as soon as possible at a date to be agreed upon
by both parties.  It may be either a Call with Limited Tenure or a
contractual arrangement renewable annually.  Pay is commensurate with
education and experience, according to the Texas District Salary Scale.  The
ideal candidate will have at least a Bachelor's Degree and some experience
in professional church work.  He or she will need to be a member of a
Lutheran congregation.  Those applying should be flexible in their work
hours and able to work evenings and weekends, when necessary.  The
successful candidate will work closely with college students, the Board of
Directors, area Lutheran pastors and the appropriate University
administrative staff people.  For a complete job description, write, call or
e-mail Bruce E. Wurdeman (806-938-1381 or  3511 76th Street, Lubbock, Texas
79423 or WURDEMAN at TXDISTLCMS.ORG <mailto:WURDEMAN at TXDISTLCMS.ORG> .)  To
apply, send a professional resume' to Bruce Wurdeman at the same address.

OLE_LINK1Lay Ministry Classes

New Lay Ministry classes will begin in January.  All classes are online and
two are being taught by Texas instructors.  Bruce Wurdeman (Area A MMF) is
teaching Old Testament Part 2 (you must have taken OT Part 1 to take this
class) and Rev. Steve Misch is teaching Doctrine 1.  Both classes will run
two hours per week for 10 weeks.  The Lay Ministry curriculum includes a
total of 11 classes.  If you would like to begin this process with other
classes, you may also take classes through LAP at Concordia University in
Portland, Oregon.  Again, all classes are live online classes.  Lay Ministry
Training is designed to equip you to assist a pastor in a parish, in a new
mission start or in an existing mission.  For more information, e-mail Bruce
Wurdeman at  <mailto:wurdeman at txdistlcms.org> wurdeman at txdistlcms.org .  To
register for Old Testament Part 2 or for Doctrine 1, go to
<https://www.sporg.com/registration?form_id=70627>
https://www.sporg.com/registration?form_id=70627  

Discernment for Intentional Interim Ministry 

"Do I have the experience, the leadership gifts, and the calling to
Intentional Interim Ministry?"   To assist in answering this question, the
Texas District will sponsor a 24-hour meeting for interested pastors to be
held in Waco, TX, in February, 2007. The gathering will begin at 1:00 pm on
Monday, February 12 and end at noon on Tuesday, February 13.  This
Discernment Event is specifically designed to identify personal and pastoral
gifts needed for this rewarding ministry, and to help a pastor become aware
of the professional and lifestyle challenges involved. In the process a
pastor will also work with District staff to discern whether they can affirm
and use his gifts for Intentional Interim Ministry.  The registration cost
is $125.00 and may be completed online. Go to the Texas District home page
(txdistlcms.org) and click Interim Ministry Discernment Event. This event
will be held at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 4257 North I-35 in Waco, TX.
Reservations for accommodations at the hotel will be done by each
participant by phoning 254-412-2535. Cost per person per room is $84/night
plus tax.  Questions? Call John Hirsch at 1-800-951-3478 or (cell)
512-769-6736 or send e-mail to jhirsch at txdistlcms.org
<mailto:jhirsch at txdistlcms.org>  .

Area B Surpasses Goal of $1,172,000

Area B churches have raised an amazing $1,177,000 for Fan into Flame!  A
Special thanks to all participating congregations who have a passion for
sharing the Good News of Jesus, a commitment to missions, and who are
financially supporting the expansion of the global Gospel outreach of the
LCMS through Fan into Flame.  This milestone was achieved two months prior
to the end of the scheduled Area B timetable!  All congregations are
encouraged to continue in their efforts to give all members the opportunity
to support Fan into Flame.  

Churches in Area B reached this goal by using a simple plan, including:

*	Recruiting a Leadership Committee to oversee Fan into Flame in the
congregation
*	Securing gifts from the Leadership Committee
*	Personally informing select congregation members about Fan into
Flame and Ablaze! and asking for their personal support
*	Holding Commitment Sunday

Trinity Dallas Donates $500,000

The leadership at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dallas are pleased to announce
they will provide $500,000 to Fan into Flame!  This new money will come from
the sale of its property on Gaston Avenue.  The congregation will close
after providing a place of worship for nearly 100 years. It's a sad day when
any congregation closes its doors but Trinity will continue their mission to
share God's word through this generous gift to Fan into Flame.  As with all
gifts to Fan into Flame, this money will be distributed for new mission
projects at the district, national and international levels.

Congregation Offers Tithe

Our Savior Lutheran Church in McKinney has agreed to tithe 10% of their
upcoming capital campaign to Fan into Flame.  This amount is anticipated to
be a minimum of $100,000!  Their capital campaign is scheduled to begin in
the spring of 2007 and will funds for a new multi-purpose room on its
current campus.

Remember, Fan into Flame has been incorporated into planned congregation
capital campaigns.  If you are planning a local campaign just ask your
Circuit Action Coordinator or John Mitchener, Campaign Director, for more
information (901) 491-4314

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