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Mission in Transition Lutheran Hours Ministry ROC Chicago Agenda – Mission in Transition How serious is the need? What are the symptoms? What can we do? How Serious is the Need? Mission in Transition Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago LCMS Trends (numbers shown in millions) 3.5 3 2.89 2.5 2.01 2.72 2.61 2.04 2.54 1.96 2 1.92 2.42 1.85 1.5 1 0.5 0 1971 1981 1991 Number of Baptized Members 2001 2006 Number of Confirmed Members LCMS Trends 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 1971 1981 Number of Congregations Juniors Confirmed Total Gained From Outside 1991 2001 2006 Children Baptized Adults Confirmed or Baptized LCMS Trends 800,000 750,000 700,000 600,000 492,000 500,000 425,499 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 1971 2001 Sunday School Enrollment 2006 LCMS Trends Average Weekend Worship Attendance* 250.0 200.0 198.0 156.8 156.4 158.9 2001 2002 2003 168.9 164.2 2004 2005 172.5 150.0 100.0 50.0 0.0 1971 * Based on average of reporting congregations 2006 What are the Symptoms? Mission in Transition Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago The Canary in the Mineshaft Canaries Declining worship attendance Decreased giving or “I’ll only give for…” Can’t pay people to serve on the and the Boards Members define the “problem” as lack of money People propose as the “solution” to the “problem” People put up with (quality) “If only…” becomes the hope / reason / excuse Toxins in the Body Lack of belief in God’s promises and provision Poor stewardship Complacency / self satisfaction “Inside” perspective Poor quality Few Christ-centered relationships Money is the problem and the answer Sin and Programs Results or Effects of Sin in the World Manifestations of Sin Sin Programmatic responses What we observe Word and Sacrament The Lutheran verses Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What do we do? Mission in Transition Lutheran Hour Ministries ROC Chicago Survival or…? Israel in the wilderness Abraham Moses Barak Gideon David You Me Transformed “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2,3 (NIV) 17 St. Charles to Papua New Guinea No Coffin Required! Outreach vs. Engagement Outreach “to reach out” Engagement “a : the act of engaging : the state of being engaged b : emotional involvement or commitment” What do we do? Jesus is the point, the center, the direction, the answer, the… Pray for your pastor and his family Do an informal assessment: inward or outward focused Website Signage Visitor’s POV Programs Quality Board and Voter’s meeting subjects What do we do? Mission of the congregation Long-term “Emotional commitment” Start small and keep going Purpose Direction LCEF / Mission InSite Study Point of engagement (cont.) The flywheel principal Requires engaged people to be engaged! Together • 23 “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) What does the future hold? Contact Information Bob Gleason Robert Gleason Consulting LLC [email protected] 414-530-3195 26