2015 - 52nd Annual Convention Newsletter LWMS Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) is women dedicated to serving Jesus by increasing awareness of, interest in, and support of the mission outreach of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

Come to the of ! Please join the Black Hills Circuit as we “Lift wonderful place for a vacation. Take time to High the Cross in the Hills” at the 52nd Annual enjoy the scenic Black Hills, some of the area LWMS Convention to be held June 25-28, 2015, attractions, and many family activities including in Rapid City, South Dakota. Badlands National Park, The congregations of the Black Hills Circuit National Monument, Memorial, are located in South Dakota and in gold mining, museums, caves, Deadwood or near the Black Hills. The scenic Black Hills, (known for fame), and Devil’s rugged Badlands, and surrounding prairie remind Tower (just two hours away). us of the glory of God’s creation. While the Some of these highlights will be featured on purpose of LWMS is to support mission work at the convention tours that are planned. One tour home and around the world, we would like you offers a trip to Mount Rushmore and 1880 Train to help us “Lift High the Cross” and make our ride, while the other tour heads to Crazy Horse Savior known “in the Memorial and Custer Hills” and everywhere State Park. Both tours on earth. include time in the As in the past, beautiful areas of the we look forward Black Hills. to informative and We look forward to uplifting time spent having you join us and with our missionaries help us “Lift High the and a chance to renew Cross in the Hills” and our own faith through everywhere as we learn worship, workshops, more about spreading and Christian the good news of our fellowship. gracious God and In addition, the Savior! Black Hills area is a

Lutheran women’s missionary society Page 1 2015 - 52nd Annual Convention Newsletter

President’s Corner

Are you excited about the 52nd Annual LWMS Convention this summer? I am! I know you will want to join me as we “Lift High the Cross in the Hills” and hear the blessings of God’s work being carried out in this great land of ours, as well as in Canada, Africa, and South Asia. You will be able to spend time meeting missionaries, growing spiritually in Bible study, and enjoying fellowship with women from around the world. President Jeanne Martin We have the privilege of visiting Rapid City, South Dakota, the “Gateway to the Black Hills.” Rapid City is also known as the “City of Presidents.” These are just two of the reasons why you and your family will want to make the trip and see some of America’s history. I can’t think of a better way to spend a long weekend this summer! If you plan to fly, please book your flight soon, as there are not many options. If you plan to drive, the Rush- more Plaza Civic Center has plenty of free parking. Remember to bring your walking shoes as there is so much to see and experience in Rapid City. Come early and enjoy one of the tours on Thursday. Bring your family and stay longer to enjoy the history of the Black Hills. See you in June!

LoLoddgingging DetaiDetailsls The 2015 LWMS convention will be held in Rapid City, South Dakata, at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. All parking around the Civic Center is free.

Lodging LWMS has contracted room blocks with four area hotels. Please select which hotel will work best for your needs. Reserve your room by May 10 by calling the individual hotel or online via the link at www.lwms.org/convention.

IMPORTANT: Be considerate! Please release unfilled rooms by May 1 so that others may reserve rooms before May 10. After that date, canceled rooms go into the hotel inventory (not back to us).

Hotel Alex Johnson, 523 Sixth Street (two blocks from the Civic Center) Double or King - $137.90 per night; Chairman family suites - $196.90 per night

Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza, 505 N. Fifth Street (next to the Civic Center) Standard or King Leisure - $159 per night

Howard Johnson, 950 North Street (two blocks from the Civic Center) Double Queen or King - $135.65 per night

Best Western Ramkota, 2111 N. LaCrosse Street (exit 59 on I-90 with easy access to the Interstate) Double Queen (1-4) - $102.99 per night

Hotel amenities vary. Please see the convention Web site for more lodging and transportation details.

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Convention Tips & 2015 Home and World Reminders Mission Speakers The Cross is the Only Cure Reminder: It could be hot or cool Every year thousands of Americans journey to South Asia to meditate in Rapid City! Please consider this and find spiritual enlightenment. Many end up in hospitals being fact when you are packing. If you treated for a psychosis caused by a culture vastly different from are taking the tours on Thursday their own. A friendly counselor serving in South Asia will explore this syndrome: what it is, where it comes from, how it affects or plan to see any of the sights in Westerners and South Asians alike, and its cure—the cross of Jesus Rapid City, consider layering your Christ. clothes for comfort. All of the convention activities Shepherding the Sudanese Jesus once said of the crowds he cared for, “They were harassed and will be located in the Rushmore helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). This could Plaza Civic Center. Because of well describe the Sudanese Christian refugees in North America. Pastor the air conditioning, we suggest Mike Vogel, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Calgary, Alberta, will share how you pack a sweater to wear while a growing number of congregations are beginning to serve as shepherds indoors. to this community by training them for ministry and making contacts with friends and relatives in southern Sudan and Ethiopia. There are several restaurants in the area for your dining pleasure Foreign Missions in Your Community on Thursday and Friday evenings. If you live in North America, the world is coming to you. Rev. The restaurants can be easily Paul Prange, Coordinator of Global Cross-Cultural Outreach, accessed by walking or using local will discuss how you and your congregation can work together to transportation. Reservations may turn acquaintances with immigrants into mission opportunities. It’s happening all over WELS, and it can happen to you! be required. Breakfast will be on your own Overcoming Impossible Odds in the Land of Islam each morning. In addition to In a place where only one in 100 people is a Christian, the gospel restaurants within certain hotels, is being shared with thousands, even millions. In spite of violent persecution, God is opening doors for sharing the good news of Jesus. the Civic Center has a self-serve Listen to those who braved death to be bright lights in this dark corner eatery, which offers several quick of the world. A doctor, his wife, and–God-willing–their two adult breakfast items and beverages. daughters will share what it is like to be Christian men and women in the land of Islam. For convention updates, visit Relationships: The Kingdom’s Means and End Relationships are all around us, but what is the proper role of www.lwms.org relationships in God’s Kingdom? Pastor Nate Walther, Grace Lutheran Church, Minot, North Dakota, will explore how we can use relationships to share the Word and build up people in an even more important relationship with their Savior.

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Convention Schedule June 25-28, 2015 Thursday, June 25 2:00~6:00 PM Registration Displays Open 3:15~4:15 PM Flag Rehearsal 4:30~5:30 PM Choir Rehearsal Communion Distribution Rehearsal 5:30 PM Dinner (On your own) 7:00~9:00 PM Opening of Convention, Flag Processional, Worship Service with Communion WELS President Mark Schroeder - Preacher LWMS Pastoral Advisor Wayne Shevey - Presiding Minister 9:00~10:00 PM Registration Displays Open (Open immediately following the worship service) Friday, June 26 Breakfast (On your own) 7:00~8:00 AM Convention Center Breakfast Concessions Open 7:30 AM~5:30 PM Registration 8:15 AM Morning Devotion 8:30 AM Introductions Recognition of first time attendees, Send One Sister attendees, and Board of Directors (current and former) 8:45 AM Mission Speaker ~ a friendly counselor from South Asia 9:45 AM Apache Women Sing 10:00 AM Break to Workshops, Displays, and Business Meeting Note: Delegates/Alternates will be in the business meeting during Session 1 10:00 AM~11:30 AM Displays Open 10:15 AM Business Meeting 10:15 AM~11:15 AM Workshops ~ Session 1 A—Giving Glory to God in the City ~ Pastor Geoff Cortright, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada B—Breathing New Life into an Old Mission Field ~ Pastor Doug Weiser, Nigeria, Africa C—Let Your Light Shine before Others ~ Pastor Mike Hartman, Latin America D—God’s Mission is Needed by Everyone ~ Rev. Paul Lindhorst, LWMS Pastoral Advisor 11:45 AM~1:00 PM Lunch (Note: Former Board of Directors lunch) Noon - 1:15 PM Displays Open 1:15 PM Reach Out Video 1:30 PM Mission Speaker ~ Pastor Mike Vogel, St. Paul, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2:30 PM Missionary Introductions Rev. Keith Free, Administrator, Home Missions Rev. Larry Schlomer, Adminstrator, World Missions 3:00 PM STRETCH BREAK 3:15 PM Moments with Our Missionaries 3:30 PM Mission Speaker ~ Rev. Paul Prange, Administrator for Ministerial Eductation and Coordinator of Global Cross-Cultural Outreach 4:30 PM Afternoon Devotion 4:45 PM Photo-taking of Missionaries, Past Presidents, and Board of Directors (current and new)

Page 4 Lutheran women’s missionary society 2015 - 52nd Annual Convention Newsletter 4:45~6:00 PM Displays Open 4:45~5:45 PM Meet the Missionaries, LWMS Board of Directors, and WELS Missions Administrators at Displays Central Africa Medical Mission Contact Women Meeting 4:45~6:30 PM Mission Crafts for Purchase 5:00~6:00 PM Choir Rehearsal 6:00 PM Dinner (On your own) and reunion time/free evening 7:00 PM Evening Activities (Invitational fliers are in your tote bag.) Saturday, June 27 Breakfast (On your own) 7:00~8:00 AM Convention Center Breakfast Concessions Open 7:30~11:30 AM Registration 8:15 AM Morning Devotion 8:30 AM Roll Call, Business Meeting Highlights, Presentations of Mission Offerings, New Ballot Projects and kids c.a.r.e. PowerPoints, Introduction of Newly-elected Board Members 9:30 AM Moments with Our Missionaries 9:45~10:45 AM Mission Speakers ~ A doctor and a friendly counselor from South Asia 10:45 AM Break to Workshops/Displays 11:00 AM~11:45 AM Displays Open 11:00 AM~NOON Workshops ~ Session 2 A—Giving Glory to God in the City ~ Pastor Geoff Cortright, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada B—Breathing New Life into an Old Mission Field ~ Pastor Doug Weiser, Nigeria, Africa C—Let Your Light Shine before Others ~ Pastor Mike Hartman, Latin America D—God’s Mission is Needed by Everyone ~ Rev. Paul Lindhorst, LWMS Pastoral Advisor E—Holding the Door for a New Generation~ Pastor Wayne Shevey, LWMS Pastoral Advisor NOON~1:15 PM Lunch 12:15~2:30 PM Displays Open 1:30~2:30 PM Workshops ~ Session 3 A—Giving Glory to God in the City ~ Pastor Geoff Cortright, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada B—Breathing New Life into an Old Mission Field ~ Pastor Doug Weiser, Nigeria, Africa C—Let Your Light Shine before Others ~ Pastor Mike Hartman, Latin America D—God’s Mission is Needed by Everyone ~ Rev. Paul Lindhorst, LWMS Pastoral Advisor E—Holding the Door for a New Generation~ Pastor Wayne Shevey, LWMS Pastoral Advisor 2:45 PM Mission Speaker ~ Pastor Nate Walther, Grace, Minot, North Dakota 3:45 PM Moments with Our Missionaries 4:00~4:15 PM Afternoon Devotion 4:30~5:30 PM Displays Open 6:30-7:30 PM Banquet and Entertainment (Doors to open at 6:15 PM) Sunday, June 28 Breakfast (On your own) 7:00~8:15 AM Convention Center Breakfast Concessions Open 8:30~10:00 AM Closing Worship Service Dakota-Montana District President Douglas Free - Preacher LWMS Pastoral Advisor Paul Lindhorst - Presiding Minister Installation of Board Members 10:00~10:30 AM Flag Narration Recessional 10:30 AM Closing of Convention

Lutheran women’s missionary society Page 5 2015 - 52nd Annual Convention Newsletter ki s 2015 Convention d Workshops .... Giving Glory to God in the City cacare about reaching everyonere with the gospel Join Pastor Geoff and Alicia Cortright as they share the story of one of the newest missions in WELS, Saviour of the Nations, Vancouver, British Columbia. They will look at multi-cultural, 2014-2015 kids c.a.r.e.: global city mission work in the most unchurched and expensive city in North America. More importantly they will challenge Children’s Ministry Assistance us all to consider how we may glorify God in our attitudes wherever he plants us. There was a time when most young children were cared for at home by their Breathing New Life into an Old Mission Field mothers. But that was a long time ago! The WELS mission work started 78 years ago in Nigeria. While reality of modern North American society nearly half of Africa’s most populated nation–170 million–claim to be Christian, precious few know how Jesus redeemed them is that most mothers work. A priority for without any works of their own. Last year Pastor Doug Weiser them is to find high quality childcare and was called to be the WELS visiting missionary and to use God’s early childhood centers. Word to breathe new life into an old mission field. Come hear Many of our churches have about his experience as a long-distance missionary working up developed these centers because they close with two synods. are excellent tools for outreach into Let Your Light Shine before Others their neighborhoods. Not only do these The vast majority of Americans are pessimistic about the future. little ones learn about Jesus’ love, but Yet God calls Christians to “live as children of light,” giving connections are also made with their us a different perspective. Pastor Mike Hartman, working in parents and other caregivers so that they, Mexico, is privileged to serve women in particular, who, in the too, can become part of God’s family. face of daunting challenges, are shining lights to others. He will share encouraging stories and offer practical insights to help you Our many mission churches, often set “let your light shine before others.” in very unchurched neighborhoods, also see the benefit of having childcare centers Holding the Door for a New Generation and preschools. But how can they build LWMS Pastoral Advisor Wayne Shevey was a home missionary for 13 years and currently serves as a campus pastor. With and furnish the centers? How can they pay his unique insight into two different forms of ministry, he qualified teachers? encourages God’s people to recognize the gifts and blessings That’s what this year’s kids c.a.r.e. project that are available within congregations when we tap into the will do—through our children’s prayers resources of our young people and new members. and offerings, mission churches will be God’s Mission is Needed by Everyone able to use early childhood centers to reach Over dinner your friend says, “I think everyone has his or her the lost. Pray that this project will bear own way to God. The way you get to God isn’t important, as fruit for the salvation of many across the long as you get there.” Thoughts like this are common today. continent. LWMS Pastoral Advisor Paul Lindhorst will use Scripture to make clear that God’s mission is needed by every race, religion, Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven culture, and language. We’ll also focus on our attitudes and belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). actions as we bring the gospel to those who do not share our faith and culture.

Page 6 Lutheran women’s missionary society 2015 - 52nd Annual Convention Newsletter Convention Tours Thursday, June 25, 2015 Convention Meal Plan Menu

Both tours depart from the Rushmore Plaza Civic Friday Lunch Center at 8:15 a.m. and return by 2 p.m. Italian Lasagna Italian Garden Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing Mount Rushmore and 1880 Train Garlic Parmesan Breadstick You will have an opportunity to visit Mount Mini Tarts Rushmore National Memorial, walk the Presidential Trail, visit the sculptor’s studio Saturday Lunch and the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, and Pecan Crusted Chicken Breast on Fresh Garden Greens watch a 14-minute video about the mountain. with Buttermilk Ranch or Cranberry Citrus Your adventure will continue as you head to the quaint little town of Keystone to board the 1880 Vinaigrette Dressing Train. Experience a historic and relaxing vintage Bite-sized Fresh Baked Bars and Cookies steam train ride through the beautiful Black Hills. Upon arrival in Hill City, you will enjoy Saturday Banquet a sack lunch at a local park. Tour price includes Iceberg Wedge with Crisp Bacon Crumbles, Cherry transportation, local narrative, 1880 Train Tomato Halves, Red Onion Rings, and Crumbled tickets, sack lunch, parking at Mount Rushmore, Bleu Cheese with Buttermilk Ranch or Chunky Bleu and driver gratuity. Cheese Dressing Cost is $60.00 per person Herb Roasted Pork Loin with Apple Cider Cream Sauce, Sweet Potato Puree, and Blistered Broccoli and Crowns Rolls and Butter Enjoy beautiful views of Crazy Horse Memorial, Strawberry Rhubarb Vanilla Oat Streusel or Cinnamon visit the museum, see work by local artisans, Braised Apple Crisp and learn about the Native American culture. Your journey continues with a drive through Custer State Park and the breathtaking views All meals come with a choice of 2% milk, iced tea, via the famous Highway, which was hot tea, coffee, or water. completed in 1922. Experience sharp turns, impressive granite spires, and wonderful low tunnels through the mountain! Visit the State Convention Co-Chairs Game Lodge for lunch and maybe spot a buffalo or two. Tour price includes transportation, local Marilyn Randall narrative, Crazy Horse Memorial entrance fees, Phone: 307-686-2161 lunch, and driver gratuity. Cell: 307-660-0464 Cost is $60.00 per person Susan Anderson Phone: 605-348-8101 Tour Reservation Deadline: May 1, 2015 Cell: 605-391-2818 Limited Space —­ Book Early!! [email protected]

(See tour registration form enclosed.)

Lutheran women’s missionary society Page 7 2015 - 52nd Annual Convention Newsletter Even the Young Learn to Support Missions

Julie Luetke, an avid quilter, is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Olivia, Minnesota. Many of her quilts have been sent to missions. Katelynn Baumgartner is a seventh grade member at Zion and is good friends with Julie. As a birthday present, Julie gave Katelynn the materials for a quilt and a card that said they would make the quilt together, with the stipulation that it be sent to a mission. After Katelynn carefully searched for and selected a pattern from Google, she and Julie began piecing the quilt in December 2013. Even though Katelynn had to put the quilt aside due to her school and extracurricular Katelynn wanted to learn to quilt and Julie, who taught activities, she and Julie were able to finish most of her to quilt, also taught her about supporting missions. the piecing. Katelynn took the quilt to show her Today someone in Malawi is enjoying Katelynn’s quilt. grandparents. During the visit, she was able to work “Let them give glory to the Lord and declare his praise in together with her grandmother and great-grandmother at the coastlands” (Isaiah 42:12). tying the quilt.

—Bambi Tuttle, LWMS Quilt Coordinator

website: www.lwms.org website:

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11200 W. Greenfield Avenue Greenfield W. 11200 Lutheran women’s missionary society missionary women’s Lutheran