wfn.org | [LCMSNews] 'Catalyst' for rural, town ministry

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>2.5.2009		
>	LCMS News	 	
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod  	 	
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	February 5, 2009 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 12

'Catalyst' to advance rural, small-town LCMS ministry

>By Roland Lovstad

LCMS ministry in rural areas and small towns can be summarized with a
couple of 50 percent statistics:  Slightly more than half of the
6,000-plus LCMS congregations are in communities with fewer than 15,000
population, and about half of the residents in those areas have no
ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Seeing the numbers as opportunities, a collaboration of LCMS entities is
seeking a staff "catalyst" to identify and coordinate resources for
existing congregations and for starting new ministries in rural areas
and small towns. The national missionary catalyst for Rural and
Small-Town Mission will serve under the LCMS World Mission--National
Mission Team and also coordinate with a recently formed National Rural
and Small-Town Task Force.

"This is an effort to focus resources on the heartland of the Missouri
Synod," said Dr. Robert Scudieri, associate executive director of LCMS
World Mission. "It will help existing congregations revitalize their
ministries, and we believe it will open doors to start new missions
where other doors have closed."

The staff position will be developed in conjunction with the task force.
Organized in November and chaired by Rev. Russell Sommerfeld, president
of the LCMS Nebraska District, the task force includes professional
church workers, lay leaders, and national and district staff.  The task
force is identifying common mission challenges and unique attributes of
rural areas and small towns, as well as exploring ways for congregations
to build partnerships and serve as mission outposts.

A gift from Ken Schroeder of Higginsville, Mo., will enable the hiring
of a "catalyst." As the work continues, Scudieri said the staff person
will be a "network-supported missionary" whose ongoing work will be
underwritten by donations from individuals and congregations. He added,
"It's what Paul and Barnabas did as they depended on the support of the
churches in Antioch, and other churches became supportive as they were
started."

Scudieri said the organizers are looking for "a teacher, organizer,
go-getter, entrepreneur, and ordained -- someone with a history of
starting new things."

The task force states that its primary mission is "to encourage and
equip professional workers and lay leaders of rural small-town
congregations to experience anew the joy and delight of missional
vision." By working through LCMS districts, the task force said it will
"strive to guide and direct God's people in rural and small-town
communities with a 'can do' passion for people to discover fresh ways to
engage their changing culture for Christ."

Also collaborating in the work will be the Saint Paul Institute for
Education (SPIFE), located on the campus of Saint Paul Lutheran High
School and Ministries in Concordia, Mo.  The center will serve as a
training base, offering leadership training modules in Concordia as well
as providing workshops in other districts.

"In the rural small-town culture, people can get discouraged in their
outreach and ministry," remarked Dr. Ralph Geisler, who serves as the
SPIFE interim director and leads rural and small-town ministry
workshops.  "They need someone to come alongside them to help them see
the potential."

While there may be declining population in rural areas, Geisler added,
"I can show you congregations that are actively reaching into the
community.  Often, 50 percent of the people in the rural small-town
communities don't have an ongoing relationship with Christ."

Of the 6,000 congregations in the Synod, Geisler's research found 3,200
are located in communities with fewer than 15,000 people.

Scudieri added, "There is eagerness on the part of districts to embrace
and work collegially with congregations and SPIFE.  This will expand a
role of initiating new missions and churches in rural and small towns."
Also collaborating will be the Center for U.S. Missions on the campus of
Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., and the Synod's new Transforming
Churches Network that focuses on revitalizing congregations.

The initial focus of the task force will be Midwest agri-business
communities, and future efforts will address communities with mining,
forestry, fishing, and leisure industries.

Part of the effort is to identify local "indigenous" leaders to become
involved in ministry, according to Scudieri.  Citing the new Specific
Ministry Pastor program at both LCMS seminaries, he added, "We hope to
discover leaders within the rural small-town contexts who will be raised
up using distance education strategies."

Roland Lovstad is a freelance writer and a member of Immanuel Lutheran
Church, Perryville, Mo.

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

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