October 13, 2004

Welcome to the 18th issue of Lutheran Women in Mission e-News! Please forward and share this news and encourage others to stay in touch with LWML by email. To date, there are over 1600 subscribers to e-News receiving LWML news and updates.

Mite Update

How many of us could make the LWML a recipient of our gifts during the holidays?
How many of our LWML groups could give an extra "mite" offering during the holidays to support the grants and missions they voted on?
How many of us could challenge ourselves to give a gift bigger than the "box"?

The September mite report (not reconciled) is as follows:

18 months of the biennium (based on $65,625/month)	=1,181,250.00
Mission goal receipts through Sept. 30	=1,056,250.72
Funds lacking in our mission support	=124,999.28

Let's be the TEAM LWML where Together Everyone Accomplishes More! Your district goals were met and raised this summer; let's TEAM together to meet the needs of the national mission grants your delegates voted on in OKC! I have said that LWML women know how to love and to help, so I encourage you to remind your women that they are missionary women who love, help, support, care, pray and give to make a difference in the lives of people around the world for Jesus! Blessings on your day in the Lord,

Linda Reiser

LWML Hosts Ft. Wayne Seminary Event

LWML President, Linda K. Reiser and PR Director, Beverly England hosted a reception at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on Saturday October 2. The evening reception honored concluding and 4th year seminary students and their spouses. President Linda spoke to the group sharing with them the LWML All- Star TEAM focus and mission heart of the organization.

PR Director England served as M.C. for the event and she along with President Reiser presented gifts and mementoes to all attendees. Other honored guests were Seminary President, Dean Wenthe and Mrs. Wenthe, and Dean of Students, Rev. Timothy Puls.

Convention Update

Pray for Northern Illinois District, the last district convention to be held, as it convenes Oct. 15-16. Linda Arnold will chair her first convention as district president.

Convention Reports

Carolinas District convention, scheduled for Sept. 17-19, was canceled. Martha Burke, district president, has sent a letter to all societies with ballots for nominations, bylaws and the total mission grant budget. In March they have a Joy Event planned that will become a mini-convention. Many of the table decorations, convention manual, favors, etc. will be used. Their convention speaker has agreed to attend as well. They had no financial obligation with the hotel, and God truly was directing their decision. As it turned out, the hotel had water and power problems on that weekend. So, Plan B is in effect!

Chesapeake District - Sept. 24-26. "Encourage One Another in Faith" was the celebration theme for the 259 in attendance. Sylvia Shives, district president, led the convention in selecting a new mission goal. More than 500 health kits were collected for Lutheran World Relief.

Florida-Georgia District - Sept. 24-26. "Upon the Rock" was the theme when Jean Roehrs chaired her final convention as district president. Of course Hurricane Jeanne (not related to President Jean) decided to head their way. Plan B was in effect and all business was handled early so delegates could feel free to leave. The rest of the convention went on and as the hurricane got worse, more attendees left. Finally by Saturday evening about 100 attended the banquet, and because the hotel was busy without a full staff, wouldn't you know it - LWML women started serving! For that servant role, the hotel gave them a free breakfast! Rain was coming through some windows, winds were howling outside, but inside the women played games, officers underwent transition and they no doubt prayed often. Even though it wasn't what they planned, the convention happened and it was memorable! In all of this, Lois Ford was elected as the new president.

Nebraska South District- Sept. 24-25. Jan Beck led the 508 convention attendees and 45 YWRs under the theme "Hope in Christ … the Anchor of Our Lives." Several offerings including the LWML mite goal for $3,126.00 were taken. Orphan Grain Train was the recipient of "Gifts from the Heart." Workshops were held on Friday evening, and by late Saturday, a new president, Karen Christner, had been installed.

Southern Illinois District- Sept. 24-25. Peggy Sachtleben led her first convention under the theme "Overflowing with Hope" for the 345 in attendance. Gifts from the Heart were baby items for three crisis pregnancy centers. SID also had 15 YWRs in attendance, and they hosted the Friday evening servant activities including marking Bibles and quilting.

THE LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUE

The Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), with a membership of over 250,000, is the official women's auxiliary of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The LWML focuses on affirming each woman in her relationship with Christ to enable her to be in ministry among the people of the world. For over 60 years the LWML has been encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to financially support global mission.

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