Friday Highlights

• Linda Reiser, 15th president of the LWML, carried the LWML banner in the opening procession of the 65th biennial convention. Total attendance for Thursday numbered 5,013, including 59 members of the Board of Directors, 6 past LWML presidents and 553 delegates.
  
  
• The Bible study, led by Dr. Mary Manz Simon, is titled "Rock On" and based on Psalm 31:1-3. Mary says we all yearn for physical and emotional safety. The words of Psalm 4:8 point us to every Christian's safe place: "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." She encourages us to "double listen," that is to see both the implications and applications in our society today.
  
  
•  The convention welcomed LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick with a standing ovation. He reminded the women that there is one mission, one message and one people.
  
  
•  Louise Rickey, LWML treasurer, reported the Mite monies collected for the 2005-07 biennium totaled $1,680,106, which exceeded the goal of $1,625,000 by $55,106.
  
  
• Delegates approved the 2007-2009 Mission Goal at $1,700,000. Offerings at the Thursday night opening worship, designated for the 2007-09 mission goal, totaled $52,381.81.
  
  
• Jacqueline Green, with the Heart to Heart program -- designed to promote multicultural leadership in LWML - challenged the women to work for the time when people will "not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their creed."
  
  
•  LWML Gift Giving Counselor Pat Bilow explained the Gifts of Love Planned Giving Program made possible by a $100,000 grant from Thrivent. In the first four months, $1,575,000 has been given to the program. To see more about this program go to the Planned Giving Program Web site.
  
  
• Keynote speaker and First Lady of the LCMS Mrs. Terry Kieschnick inspired over 5,000 members in convention by saying "I'm inviting all of you to realize how important you are to this church body . an army of ordinary women with an extraordinary God doing extraordinary things for the Lord." Terry compared women to diamonds, which share imperfections, unique cuts and colors. She called the women "God's diamonds" and encouraged them to use their gifts in mission and leave a legacy.
  
  
• In a close vote of 321 to 289, delegates selected Des Moines, Iowa, for the site of the 2015 LWML convention.
  
  
• Mission speakers Rev. Khurran and Cynthia Khan from People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO) informed the convention concerning their ministry to the Muslims. They introduced Muslim women who have become Christian and are attending the convention with the Heart to Heart program. One woman from Afghanistan was baptized six years ago, and now 32 members of her family have been baptized.
  
  
• Selected Mission Grants
  

  1.	Deaf Lay and Clergy Training – Concordia Seminary, St. Louis	$50,000
  2.	Portable Medical Clinics for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sudan	$70,000
  3.	Building Ten Churches in India	$100,000
  4.	Female Missionary to Muslim Maninka in Guinea	$100,000
  5.	Lutheran Bible Translators’ Transportation	$60,000
  6.	Eight New Lutheran Blind Mission Outreach Centers	$40,000
  7.	Muslim Outreach and Education – Bangladesh	$75,000
  8.	Circuit Rider for Rural Northwest South Dakota	$65,000
  9.	Inner-City Children’s Ministry – Minneapolis/St. Paul	$50,000
  10.	Female Missionary to Africa for Human Relief Development	$100,000
  11.	HOPE Christian Family Counseling Center – St. Petersburg, Russia	$36,000
  12.	Expand Mission Work in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and Ethiopia	$104,500
  13.	Lutheran Campus Ministry at Haskell Indian Nations University – Lawrence, Kansas	$95,000
  14.	KFUO Radio Internet Streaming	$50,000
  15.	Isaiah 49 Program – Preparing for Service Child Welfare – Concordia University, Texas	$80,000
  16.	Outreach Ministry to the Homeless and Addicted – Detroit	$49,000
  17.	St. Matthew’s “El Comedor Popular” Soup Kitchen – Chicago	$33,000
  18.	Reaching Across Cultures Through Urban Children – Ohio	$32,500

  
  
• Friday night, LWML celebrated its 65th Anniversary with The Amazing LWML Rock Star Idol Reality Show. The convention enjoyed the talent of members from six districts plus a grand finale by the LWML Executive Board. The evening concluded with a glow stick balloon drop.
  
  
• Rockin' Movin' Dancin' to LWML won the contest for the Rocky Mountain District. See Sunday's issue of Rock Solid News for the words of the winning entry.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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