eNews Issue #281 — March 3, 2020

Click here to download the printable PDF of eNews 281.

Best Practices for Ministry 2020

LWML President Debbie Larson and Church Worker in Mission committee member DCE Kristina Parker

You are not alone. This was the theme for Best Practices for Ministry (BPM) 2020 held at Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix, Arizona, February 20–22. Based on “become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b NIV), BPM is a Bible-based, Gospel-centered, mission-driven, and future-oriented conference bringing together over 2,000 attendees and 150 presenters from congregations and organizations throughout the USA. 

LWML VP of Communication Char Kroemer and Church Workers in Mission Committee Chairman Christie Steffens

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) President Debbie Larson and Vice President of Communication Char Kroemer led a presentation on Equipping Leaders, focusing on how the LWML trains and equips women of the LCMS to lead with confidence. LWML was also one of 148 exhibitors offering materials and insight into how LWML reaches others and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Resembling an LWML convention where new friends are connected and “seasoned” friendships are re-connected, several LWML’ers were either helping with the exhibit or interacting with others sharing LWML’s ministry. They included Church Workers in Mission Committee (CWIM) Chairman Christie Steffens and CWIM Committee Member DCE Kristina Parker, who presented a session on creating a podcast. Several LWML District Presidents were also in attendance. Helping spread the LWML message were LWML Eastern District President Susan Bell, LWML Kansas District President Brenda Piester, LWML Minnesota South District President Deb Vinkemeier, and LWML Rocky Mountain District President Debbie Yocky.

LWML Kansas District President Brenda Piester shares information with participants

LWML Rocky Mountain District President Debbie Yocky, CWIM Committee Chairman Christie Steffens, Minnesota South District President Deb Vinkemeier, and President Debbie Larson

New LWML Podcast Series Available

Do you have a favorite woman in the Bible? The LWML On The Go podcasts are currently featuring nine of our favorite biblical women as they serve the Lord with gladness in various stages of their lives. Podcasts are already available on Esther, Naaman’s servant girl, and Manoah’s wife. Coming in the next few weeks will be podcasts on Eve; Mary, the mother of Jesus; Eunice, the mother of a teenager; Lydia, a working woman; Abigail, a wife; Priscilla, a mentor; and Anna, a more mature woman who was also a prayer warrior. These podcasts are part of a devotion series called All Along Life’s Way by Lou Garchow, and are hosted by Becca Futty, LWML Eastern District Leader Development Chairman. 

Tune in anytime and join host Rebecca Futty as she brings these nine biblical women to life. Podcasts are available at lwml.org and also on your smartphone through the LWML App, which is free through the app store on your phone. For more information, click here. 

Mission Grant #6 PAID!

Pastor Jeff Mueller and Carmen Nagel

On March 1, 2020, LWML Oregon District President Carmen Nagel and Vice President of Communication Char Kroemer were with Immanuel Lutheran in Hood River, Oregon, celebrating LWML Sunday.  During the joyful worship service, a check for $55,000, the partial funding for LWML 2019-2021 Mission Grant #6, Mobile Medical Mercy Mission Bus called the “4M Bus,” was presented to Rev. Jeffery Mueller. The remaining $45,000 of the $100,000 grant will be requested as needed. These funds will be used to purchase and retrofit a bus with medical equipment and provide the sanitary area needed for medical and dental procedures in remote and inaccessible villages in Guatemala.  Pastor Mueller reported that the bus will now be ordered with the funds that were received. For more information on this grant click here.

Mission Goal Update

Mite offerings received as of January 31, 2020, are $912,229.57 towards our Mission Goal for the 2019–2021 biennium of $2,100,000.00. We thank our Lord for the opportunity to share His message through our mission giving and continue to pray and give. Our goal is in His hands and to His glory. As of this date, we have funded 7 mission grants totaling $598,400. Keep checking our mission grants webpage as we update it with each grant paid. Two more grant payments are in the process.

Don’t forget the Mite Challenge Calendar available every month for your group or at home. Just click here. Mission grant resources such as devotions and prayer guides are also available and perfect for individual and group study.

Website Survey Thank You 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Thank you to all who took the time to complete the LWML website survey. By using your feedback, we can make the LWML website more user-friendly for navigation.

The results from the survey were quite positive. Over 80% felt it was easy to find resources. We did receive some wonderful suggestions. Specific resources that were thought to be more difficult to find were: district information, LWML logos and style guidelines, short devotions, leadership resources, and the mite report. We hope to create additional ways to access these and other resources to make them easier to find. Changes may not happen overnight, but we look forward to making improvements, enabling us to better Serve the LORD with gladness! (Psalm 100:2).

If you’d like assistance finding LWML resources, or if you have specific issues with the website, please feel free to contact us at webmaster@lwml.org or call the LWML office at 1-800-252-5965. Our Office staff is happy to help!

Blessings in Jesus’ abundant and forever joy,
Char Kroemer, Vice President of Communication
Eva Koeller, Digital Media Specialist

Lenten Devotions 

The LWML website has many resources for every season and time. Are you looking for Lenten devotions? There are more than ten just on Lent, plus numerous others that would be comforting during this time of reflection.  

Some of the titles include “All Eyes on the Cross,” “Foot Washers,” “I Am He…You Are Right,” “The Perfect Lamb,” “What God Sees,” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” You can find these and more under Program Helps on the website, www.lwml.org, or click here.

Lutheran Women in Mission — The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is an official auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman's relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries, and to support global missions.

The LWML is the leading group for LCMS women where each woman is welcomed and encouraged to use her unique God-given gifts as she supports global missions and serves the Lord with gladness.

Prior issues of LWML eNews are available on the LWML website.
Questions or comments about eNews? Contact the Public Relations Director here.

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