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38^th BIENNIAL LWML CONVENTION — HIGHLIGHTS

LWML Sets 2019–2021 Mission Goal at $2.1 Million

The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) welcomed 3105 people with 691 as first timers to the LWML Convention in Mobile, Alabama, June 20–23, 2019, under the theme "In Praise to the LORD!” The convention theme was based on 1 Chronicles 16:23–24a.

Delegates to the 38th Biennial Convention of the LWML adopted a $2,100,000 mission goal for the 2019–2021 biennium. This goal, by the grace of God, will fund 21 mission grants as men and women respond in prayer and offerings during the next two years. LWML chose to support the following mission grants, pledging their support with prayers and mites (offerings) given over the next biennium:

1.    Water and the Word for Rural Schools in Kenya, $80,000
2.    Teach Me Too – Preschoolers with Learning Needs in Austin, TX (LSEM), $100,000
3.    Mission Outreach for At-Risk Young Women in Africa (LHM), $100,000
4.    God’s Grace for This Generation (LAMP), $100,000
5.    God’s Word Changes Everything (LBT), $95,000
6.    Mobile Medical Mercy Mission Bus in Guatemala, $100,000
7.    Restoring Hope for Detroit Children and Families — Camp Restore Detroit, $100,000
8.    Lights for Christ Scholarships in Guatemala, $95,000
9.    Wind River Indian Reservation Transportation in Wyoming (WRLM), $40,000
10.  Ministry in Motion at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobile, AL, $58,000
11.  Touching the Living Word (LBW), $100,000
12.  Women’s Witness and Mercy in Asia (Mission Central), $100,000
13.  Digital Media Development (LFL), $30,000
14.  Hope and Healing Hub of Downtown Lincoln, NE, $50,000
15.  Pre- and Post-Seminary Training for Local Church Workers in Africa, $62,650
16.  Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow (LCMS School Ministries), $80,000
17.  Christ for You, Anytime, Anywhere (KFUO Radio), $60,000
18.  Sri Lanka Multipurpose Building Construction (LCMS OIM), $50,000
19.  Making Jesus Known in the US Ethnic Communities at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, $100,000
20.  Music Outreach, Classes, and Resources on the Border in El Paso, TX, $98,400
21.  LCMS Deaconess Ministry (LCMS OIM), $39,523

Delegates Elected New Leaders

LWML leaders elected in Mobile are:

President: Debbie Larson
Vice President of Organizational Resources: Marie Chow
Vice President of Special Focus Ministries: Deaconess Betty Knapp
Treasurer: Karla Koehler
Pastoral Counselor: Rev. Brian Noack
Nominating Committee: Sylvia Bean, Carrie Brumbaugh, Mary Harrington, Crystal Miller, and Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman

Karla, Marie, Debbie, Dcs. Betty, and Rev. Noack

Brianne, Carrie, Mary, Sylvia, and Crystal

Following the conclusion of the LWML Convention, the 2019–2021 LWML Board of Directors (BOD) met, and appointed new leaders to serve in the three appointed officers’ positions, who are now a part of this BOD:

Meeting Manager: Arlene Naasz, South Dakota District
Public Relations Director: Susan Donnelly, New Jersey District
Strategic Plan Facilitator: Michelle Jenks, Pacific Southwest District

Karla Koehler, Pastor Mitch Schuessler, Ginger Starrett, Char Kroemer, Marie Chow, Debbie Larson, Deaconess Betty Knapp, Jennifer Huecker, Michelle Jenks, Angelina Jauregui, Pastor Brian Noack, Susan Donnelly, and Arlene Naasz

Offerings Given and Received

(The following were collected during the convention. Because offerings are still being received via mail, these are the unofficial totals.)

Convention Offering #1 – LWML Mission Goal 2019–2021:  $43,798.00

Convention Offering #2 – Medical Mission Teams: $12,361.30; Expanding the Disability Ministry in the Dominican Republic: $12,361.30

Convention Offering #3 – James Storehouse Louisiana: $15,076.45; Spiritual Care for Unaccompanied Refugee Children: $15,076.45

Convention Offering #4 – LCMS Disaster Response/Community Relief: $33,581.58

New Mite Box Unveiled

During the Friday afternoon session at the 2019 LWML Convention in Mobile, the newly designed, by Amy Gill, Mite Box was presented in a video produced by Eva Koeller. The Mite Box design has changed over the years since 1942 in which over 100 million dollars has been prayerfully given to fund grants with the unchanging mission — reaching out to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. Each attendee at the convention received a new Mite Box.

LWML Vice President of Communication Char Kroemer reported:

After an inspirational evening with sand artist Joe Castillo on Friday, many woke early to attend a Wake Up with the Word Bible study and participate in the Mission in Motion Pledge Walk. Apple of His Eye Missionary Steve Cohen opened the walk with the sounds of a shofar, followed by the enthusiastic Excelsior Band of Mobile leading the way. Over 848 walkers joined in the fun including LWML President Patti Ross, carrying a bright purple umbrella. Pledge walk donations of $60,047.79 will go to the 2019–2021 LWML Mission Goal. The reported funds of $9,356.60 received from the Tee Up 4 Mites golf outing, will also go to mite offerings.

The Past LWML Presidents Ida Mall, Gloria Edwards, Virginia Von Seggern, Linda Reiser, Jan Wendorf, and Kay Kreklau led the Saturday morning procession which highlighted 76 flags representing countries in which LWML has supported a mission grant. Eighty-one Young Woman Representatives (YWRs) and 12 Heart to Heart Sister Leaders helped carry the flags and participate in the procession. Rounding it out were 50+ youth from the Insta Friends Camp offered at convention for children and youth ages six months through high school.

Author Donna Pyle led the Bible study, and Mites in Action speakers Laura Hemminger, Rev. Gary Manning, and Stephanie Schulte, recipients of 2017–2019 mission grants, shared updates of their ministries in Y4Life (Equipping Youth to Witness for Life), NOLA4H (Hearts for the Hungry, Homeless, and Hurting), and Mercy Medical Work for the LCMS respectively. Saturday evening, attendees were inspired as they listened to the VOICES of Mobile, a highly versatile vocal ensemble consisting of students from The University of Mobile.

Jan Struck as Glory Mae-Will

Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison

View the archived exciting action by accessing www.livestream.com/TheLWML

Please complete the online 2019 LWML Convention post-convention evaluation by clicking here:
lutheranwomensmissionaryleague.formstack.com/forms/2019_convention_evaluation