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WORSHIP
     The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the ELCA Caribbean Synod,
Dorado, Puerto Rico, presented a Bible study on the prophet Jeremiah,
who sent a message of encouragement to the Jews in exile.  She said,
when one's own plans seem shattered, one must look for God's plan.
     "God has a plan for our lives, and it is good," said Martinez.  "I
expect to see my brothers kneeling in prayer," praying for the welfare
of each other, she said.
     Martinez told the men she expected them to make their plans "with
the young people," to joyfully accept their "calling from God," to
assume roles of leadership and "to give all people a word of hope."  She
added, "I expect men's ministry to grow."
     The Rev. O. Dennis Mims, St. James Lutheran Church, East
Cleveland, Ohio, led the men in a Bible study of the prophet Joshua, who
welcomed life's challenges as signs that God was leading him.
     "It's a mighty thing to base your plan on God's leadership," said
Mims.  "We should have giant dreams."
     Mims said men should be able to look up to men who are 25 years
older than them and see people who are confident in their faith.  He
challenged the men to consider whether men 25 years younger than them
would see that confidence in them.
     The Rev. Ray Tiemann, bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod, San
Antonio, urged the participants to hold on to the spiritual energy they
were building during the LMM gathering.  "God's kingdom comes into our
lives in very subtle ways," he said, during the closing worship service.
     Sometimes men want to write a check for $100,000 and say "I have
given my all," said Tiemann.  Jesus would cash that check in for
quarters, he said, and ask them to give 25 cents or 50 cents at a time.
     Rather than thinking better health and a stronger faith can be
achieved instantly, Tiemann encouraged the men to find time for exercise
and for personal devotion.

WORKSHOPS
     Seven workshops were presented during the gathering:
 + Mim Campbell, associate director, children and family ministries, and
the Rev. Paul Lutz, associate director, adult education, ELCA Division
for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, presented several basic,
practical examples of ways a man can share his Christian faith with
friends and family.
 + The Rev. Brent Dahlseng, director, ELCA evangelism task force,
Division for Congregational Ministries, outlined several ideas for
developing and strengthening the prayer lives of men.
 + Doug Haugen, LMM director, led a workshop on ways to use the Master
Builders Bible for Men effectively in small-group settings.
 + Jim Myers, president, Honolulu Publishing Company, Honolulu, Hawaii,
fielded the "success stories" of participants about the men's ministries
in their congregations.
 + The Rev. Kerry Nelson, Covenant Lutheran Church, Houston, led a
workshop on talking about the Christian faith with "spiritual orphans,"
"prodigal children" and "the blessed rest."
 + The Rev. Arnold Pierson, vice president, marketing, ELCA Mission
Investment Fund (MIF), Chicago, and the Rev. Carol E. Spencer, associate
vice president, MIF, Fort Worth, Texas, spoke with participants about
the MIF, ways to invest in the fund and ways mission congregations can
use the fund to purchase land and construct buildings.
 + Steve Sonderman, associate pastor, Elmbrook Church, a
nondenominational congregation in Brookfield, Wis., said a few men can
build a life-changing men's ministry in a congregation with small groups
and a lot of work.
-- -- --
     The Lutheran Men in Mission home page is at
http://www.elca.org/LMM/ on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html