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Minister to Minister Online
Friday, May 23, 2008
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TEXAS DISTRICT FINANCIAL UPDATE

TO: Professional Church Workers
Friends of the Texas District

FROM: President Ken Hennings

God continues to bless the Texas District and His work among us. As we 
begin the Pentecost season of the church year I thank you for your 
prayers and financial support. Your financial generosity in supporting 
ministries in Texas and throughout the world is recognized by many 
throughout our church body. It is a great honor for me to represent such 
a dynamic District at Synodical gatherings.

Because of your partnership and support for the overall work program of 
the Texas District, giving from congregations exceeded what was 
projected for 2007. In addition, the District under spent its 2007 work 
budget, which allowed us to clear the deficit we were carrying. Out of 
the total budget we were able to send $1,816,544 to Synod for support of 
our work together throughout the United States and our mission work in 
foreign countries. The Board of Directors also sent in an additional 
$13,000 from the sale of a piece of property. Thank you for your 
partnership in the Gospel through your financial support!

At the present time, the 2008 income is running slightly ahead of last 
year. Please join me in thanking God for His faithfulness especially as 
our country experiences economic uncertainty. Such times give us the 
opportunity to proclaim the certainty we have in our Savior, Jesus.

The Texas District is located in a very fast growing area of our 
country. God has blessed our efforts in proclaiming His love and 
forgiveness to many. However, there is much work to be done. Communities 
are changing and new communities spring up overnight. The District is 
working aggressively with congregations to begin new work and expand 
existing work. God has called us to be about His mission. Thank you for 
your partnership and participation in moving mission and ministry 
forward in Texas.
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IN OUR PRAYERS

Ann, wife of Rev. Walt Dube, (Pilgrim, Houston)

Rev. Roland Fredrichs (Em, Immanuel, Houston) and father-in-law of Rev. 
Steve Henze (St. Timothy, Houston) hospitalized in Tomball.

Melissa Jacobs, wife of Rev. Matt Jacobs (Grace, Brenham), who has been 
diagnosed with cancer and taking chemo and radiation treatments at St. 
Joseph Cancer Center in Bryan.

Rev. Herb Keistman (Ebenezer, Manheim) released from Methodist Hospital 
(Houston) on Tuesday, May 20 and recuperating at home.

Rev. Al Meissner (Em.) and his wife, Dot, continuing his recovery after 
quadruple by-pass surgery.

Rev. Al Schubert, Jr. (Em, Corpus Christi) recovering at home.

Ann Schueler, wife of Rev. Wayne Schueler (Trinity, Rosenberg) 
hospitalized at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston and diagnosed 
with Guillian-Barre Syndrome. She is expected to be hospitalized for 
7-10 days followed by extensive physical therapy.
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MINISTRY CALLS

P A S T O R S

UNDECIDED

Rev. John DeYoung, Cross of Christ, DeSoto to Mt. Calvary, Brady, TX

Rev. Scott Herbert to Pastor, Tree of Life, Garland

Rev. Christopher Otten, Cleveland, OH to St. Paul, McAllen, TX

Rev. Charles St-Onge, Pastor, St. Mark, Ridley Park, PA to Assoc. 
Pastor, Memorial, Houston


DECLINED

Rev. Alan Taylor, St. John, Galveston to Holy Cross, Kerrville

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C O M M I S S I O N E D M I N I S T E R S

DCE INTERN

Katy Davis, Concordia, St. Paul, MN to LINC North Texas, The Colony, TX


UNDECIDED

Joe Werner, Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry, Lord of Life, 
Plano to DCE, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Falls, WI


DESIGNATED

Jamie Lumaye, Concordia Texas to Epiphany, Houston


DESIGNATED - ACCEPTED

Alexandrea Johansen, Concordia Seward to Immanuel, Giddings

Janna Virus, Concordia Seward to Our Savior, Houston

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ANNUAL DISTRICT WIDE PRAYER RETREAT

The annual prayer retreat for professional church workers and their 
spouses will be held this October 6-8 at Canyon of the Eagles outside of 
Burnet, TX. It will again provide sessions for those who have never 
attended a prayer retreat before (101), for those who have (alumni) and 
for those who would like to just get away on your own schedule of 
prayer, Bible study, mediation and reflection. Registration is now 
available online through the TX District web page. This is a great 
opportunity to be intentional about enhancing your prayer life and 
delving deeper into your walk with the Lord.

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COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS?

CAMPUS MINISTRY SURVEY CARDS have been mailed to all congregations.

The greatest challenge for our LCMS campus ministries is getting current 
home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for students that 
will be going to their campuses in the fall. The best time to reach 
students is BEFORE they leave for summer jobs etc. As soon as the campus 
ministries have the information, they will contact students individually 
to invite them to participate in Bible study and fellowship activities 
that will be available when they arrive on campus in the fall. Students 
have the opportunity not only to establish new friendships and increase 
their spiritual growth, but also to develop into LCMS lay leaders.

Your help is urgently needed to acquire this information. When you 
receive your packet, please give it to the appropriate staff member for 
completion. They are printed on salmon colored card stock with a cover 
memo. As our office receives the completed cards from you, they are 
sorted and mailed to the campus ministries or churches in the cities and 
towns where students will be living and going to school.

Are you planning to honor your college bound students in a special way 
at a worship service or special fellowship time? Are they attending 
Sunday morning Bible Class? If so, this would be a great opportunity to 
have your students personally complete the campus ministry survey card 
for you so that you can collect them and mail them to the District Office.

An alternative to filling out the cards by hand is our NEW ONLINE 
PROCEDURE. Please send an email to cms121 at txdistlcms.org and you will be 
sent the link to register and gain access to this feature. Questions? 
Call, Carole Stevenson at (800) 951-3478.
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Register for the 2008 Advent – Christmas Preaching Workshop - October 
27-28 hosted by Circuit 36 & Houston Area Chili Conference by 
downloading the form at: http://www.txdistlcms.org/docs/chili_conf2008.pdf
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