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	February 25, 2004 ......................... LCMSNews -- No. 18

	Kieschnick says critical event is key
	to increases in adult confirmations

	SAN ANTONIO -- Multiplying the critical event is the key to
increasing the number of adult confirmations, Synod President Gerald
Kieschnick told those at the One Mission Ablaze: Igniting
Congregations event Feb. 13 14.

	Pastors and lay representatives of 26 Synod congregations
attended the event -- the fourth of eight that are planned -- at
Concordia Lutheran Church here.

	Kieschnick defined the critical event as 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.

	Igniting Congregations events are part of Kieschnicks
initiative to move [the Synod] forward as a dynamic church body that
will reach many people for Christ.

	The 26 congregations were among those who reported the largest
number of adult confirmations over the five-year period beginning with
1999.

	During the event here, they shared stories about what their
congregations do to foster adult confirmations and adopted a project for
which they will become mentors for other congregations in their areas of
the Synod.

	I know you would be among the first to say, were just doing
what the Lord calls us to do, Kieschnick said as he encouraged the
participants to share ideas about gains in adult confirmations.

	St. Paul Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Fla., has added an average
of 50-plus members per year through adult confirmation over the past 14
years, said Dr. Dennis Glick, the congregations pastor.

	We practice intentional outreach with one-on-one visits with
visitors and the unchurched parents of children in our congregations
school, said Glick, who indicated that the congregation has a part-time
minister of outreach.

	Glick said that the congregation puts a lot of emphasis on
adult education. The church grows when the people grow, and the people
grow when theyre into the Word.

	In a sense, we have always looked for opportunities to share
the Gospel with people who are unchurched, said Rev. Ralph Blomenberg,
pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seymour, Ind. The congregation
gained 159 members through adult confirmation in the five-year period.

	I think we will be even more intentional about that as a result
of this Igniting event, said Blomenberg. We spent a couple of days in
San Antonio thinking of nothing else, and that has give me a chance to
evaluate what our congregation has done well with regard to outreach,
including to adults, and what we can do better.

	Dr. Kevin Wyssmann, senior pastor of Christs Greenfield
Lutheran Church, Gilbert, Ariz., said that the congregation has taken a
number of steps toward outreach to adults over the past 12 years.

	Wyssmann said that the congregation has added a secretarial
staff person to specifically track guests, its board of evangelism set
up a three phase plan to respond to visitors, visitors interested in
becoming members (including transfers) are expected to take a 10-week
Basic Training course Wyssmann developed that he says is geared
toward adults who have little or no faith background, and extensive
new member orientations and assimilation efforts have been developed.

	Christs Greenfield, in a suburb of Phoenix, added 342 new
members through adult confirmation for the five years beginning with
1999.

	The project that San Antonio participants adopted will duplicate
their Igniting event for other congregations in regional gatherings
across the country. It will be funded with a $52,000 grant from Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans.

	The last four Igniting Congregations events are scheduled to
begin this fall.

	******************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

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