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	June 4, 2004 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 54

	World Mission to sponsor four events
	in conjunction with Synod convention

	By Paula Schlueter Ross

	LCMS World Mission is sponsoring four events this summer in
conjunction with the Synod's convention, July 10-15 in St. Louis.

	All of the events are "driven" by the mission board's "Ablaze!"
initiative to reach 100 million people with the Gospel, according to
planners, and will involve current missionaries, former missionaries,
Lutheran leaders from other countries and U.S. Lutherans.

	Here's a brief description of each event:

	* "One Mission 'Ablaze!': Lighting the Flame Summit ... Around
the World" is the theme of a June 28 (noon) to July 2 (noon) event at
the St. Louis Airport Marriott that will bring together "career"
missionaries (those who are "called" or appointed to career service) for
spiritual nurture, study and fellowship.

	Most of the 70 or so missionary "units," or families, now
serving LCMS World Mission are expected to attend the first-ever
gathering, according to planners. Also attending will be LCMS World
Mission Executive Director Robert Roegner, U.S. and overseas regional
directors and other administrative staff, and North America Task Force
representatives -- all will be available to answer questions about the
mission board's new structure, budget issues, strategic plans and other
topics related to the Synod's world-mission endeavors.

	* The Ablaze! International Summit, July 7 (9 a.m.) to July 9
(noon), will bring together leaders of LCMS World Mission and overseas
partner churches for the express purpose of focusing on worldwide
mission. The first two days will be spent at the Drury Inn, and
participants will gather the morning of July 9 at America's Center.

	Led by an outside consultant, the international gathering of
Lutheran leaders will look at case studies of "what works" in mission,
discuss strategic planning and brainstorm plans for the future. Dr.
Allan Buckman, chairman of the Ablaze! International Steering Committee,
described the meeting as "a first step in forming a global association
of Lutheran representatives that will be focusing on mission
initiatives."

	* "One People -- Many Faces," the Pentecost 2000+ celebration
July 9-10 at America's Center, will bring current and former
missionaries, local and national mission leaders and Lutherans from a
variety of ethnic backgrounds together for worship and study. Pentecost
2000+ and its predecessor, Pentecost 2000, were launched by LCMS World
Mission to encourage congregations to start ministries among their
immigrant neighbors. More than 1,000 cross-cultural ministries have been
started in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod since 1999, and all of
them are listed on the P2K Web site (see below) as a resource for
others.

	The P2K celebration begins July 9 with registration at 4 p.m.,
followed by special presentations and a worship service featuring Synod
President Gerald Kieschnick as preacher. Activities continue the next
day from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with videos of P2K ministries, testimonies
and advice from those who have been involved in the effort, and
inspirational messages from a host of past and current Lutheran leaders.
Speakers include LCMS President Emeritus Ralph A. Bohlmann; Dr. Dale A.
Meyer, the Gregg H. Benidt Memorial Chair Professor of Homiletics and
Literature at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and former speaker of "The
Lutheran Hour"; Jotham Johann Jhang, executive director of the Center
for Asian Missions and Evangelism in Alexandria, Va.; Dr. Ken Behnken,
former director of the Center for U.S. Missions, Irvine, Calif.; Dr.
Robert Scudieri, associate executive director of LCMS World Mission's
National Mission Team; Rev. John A. Nunes, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Dallas; Dr. Paul Fynn, president of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Ghana; and Dr. Edward A. Westcott Jr., executive director of
the Synod's Board for Mission Services from 1978 to 1989.

	At 3:30, P2K participants will process into the main convention
hall to take part in a "Mission Festival Celebration," featuring LCMS
missionaries and representatives from the Synod's partner churches
worldwide. That event will serve as the official kickoff of Ablaze!

	P2K activities require registration, which is $50 per person.
Registration materials were mailed earlier this year to every LCMS
congregation, and also are available online at www.pentecost2000.com
<http://www.pentecost2000.com>	. For more information, contact
Pentecost 2000+ Director Marie Biesentha
	l at (800) 433-3954, Ext. 1180.

	* The Missionary Alumni Reunion on July 11 will bring together
hundreds of former LCMS missionaries. Activities include a luncheon at
noon at the convention center, at which eight veteran missionary couples
will be recognized, and a reception from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel. The former missionaries represent "oceans of cross-cultural
mission experience" and have "lots to share," said Buckman. Participants
will be encouraged to take part in an "interactive network" that would
serve as a mission resource in the Synod, he said.

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

	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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