July 7, 2004

Welcome to the 13th 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. The connection among Lutheran women is strong, as we serve and praise our Lord together.

FROM PRESIDENT REISER

Thirty-three District conventions have been celebrated!  Over 10,000 women have been in attendance to share in the purpose, commitment, fun, fellowship and service that have been evident at all these events. New beginnings are happening all summer at our district conventions. They are electing and appointing new officers and many, many new women are seeing LWML at a district convention for the very first time! I know I speak for all the Executive Committee members who have had opportunity to be with you at your districts this spring/summer.  They are thankful for the warm welcome they have received, for allowing them to participate in the various events such as Board meetings, YWR gatherings, interest sessions and servant activities.  All of them have expressed to me how much they enjoyed celebrating mite goals reached, worship, hugs, laughter and the joy of serving the Lord with all these women in LWML! 

We will all begin something new together this fall at Leadership for Tomorrow when we meet in St. Louis to train new leaders, to celebrate God's gift of leadership, to get to know each other better, to develop relationships and to begin plans for continued leadership training in the districts. We, on the EC, look forward to working with you in the upcoming months.  Many new friendships will be made, many new ideas will be shared and in it all and through it all, we will be reminded of the great blessing God has gifted us with as women in the LWML with a mission, a passion and a servant heart to help and to love!

PRAYERS

Our LWML sisters in Michigan will be in convention July 16-18 in Dearborn under the theme: "Celebrate the Hope". Pray for Barbara Hoffmeier as she leads her final convention as a district president.

After July, all LWML and LCMS conventions are finished until September and October when we complete the last 6 of the 40 conventions.

CONVENTION NEWS

Indiana District: Marge Gruber chaired the Indiana convention under the theme, "Living in Green Pastures" with 411 in attendance at Lexington, KY.

Iowa District East met under the theme "Beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News". Kathryn Schweer led the 270 participants and 12 YWRs in attendance through a major Bylaws revision!

Iowa District West met under the theme "Jesus, our Anchor-our Hope". Kathryn Sprecher chaired, attendance was 378 with 9 YWRs attending. They voted to send a mite overage to national mites and approved a higher mission goal.

Mid-South elected a new president, Martha Bergeron. Rev. John Gierke from the OKC Host Committee was elected the Jr. Counselor. Thank you Ladell for your service as district president the past 4 years!

Minnesota South met under the theme "On Eagle's Wings". Gloria Kenow chaired, attendance was 553 with 34 YWRs attending! A new higher mite goal was approved.

Minnesota North met under the theme "His Cross, Our Freedom" at Willmar with 377 in attendance and 22 YWRs.  They had, for the first time, a YWR Committee Chairman who was not a member of the Board and she had organized a wonderful program for the YWRs.  A new president was elected and we welcome her to the LWML Board of Directors Laurain Jurchen. AND - our own Lucille Phillips, past President of the Minnesota North District is the recipient of our prayers and best wishes and congratulations as she is getting married on Monday, June 28! The lucky guy is Lloyd Lidbeck.

Nebraska North met under the theme, "God's Power...Our Progress". Pat Neujahr chaired, attendance was 315 with 12 YWRs attending.

North Wisconsin met under the theme "From Age to Age the Same." President Joyce Voss led 453 through programming and Bible study. There were 26 YWRs attending.

South Wisconsin elected a new president, Carolyn Blum. Joyce Kaestner chaired the convention under the theme, "Proclaim the Glory of the Lord". They had 395 in attendance with 18 YWRs. A new higher mite goal was approved.

Texas District: Eloise Kuhlmann chaired her final convention with 610 in attendance at Arlington, TX under the theme "Plans to give you Hope and a Future". We warmly welcome their new president Dorothy Hunger to the LWML Board of Directors: Dorothy currently serves as a member of the Leader Development Committee of the LWML.

Washington-Alaska met under the theme "I am the Vine, You are the Branches". Carol Coerber chaired the convention with an attendance of 299 and 30 YWRs! A new higher mite goal was approved as well as an overage of mites sent to LWML for the mite goal.

Wyoming District: Chris Fiechtl chaired the Wyoming convention under the theme, "Hope in the Lord" with 129 attending at Chadron, NE.

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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