 As he traveled to Haiti to work on the continuing LCMS long-term earthquake response, LCMS World Relief and Human Care Director of Disaster Response Rev. Glenn F. Merritt monitored the aftermath of the magnitude 8.8-quake that hit Chile on Feb. 27, 2010. At least 700 people died and an estimated 2 million are homeless in this new disaster, which triggered tsunami warnings in 53 nations and territories, according to news reports.
Give now to Chile earthquake relief
Message from Rev. Matthew Harrison, executive director
LCMS World Relief and Human Care
 This year's theme Living the Adventure... with the Heroes of the Faith in the context of teaching, learning social skills, and building caring relationships with each other. These workshops will assist you in enhancing the faith development and worship experiences of the children entrusted to you. Faith Development teaching Strategies with:
- Make and take activities
- New fingerplays, chants and songs
- Opening and closing... worship ideas
The 2010 spring pastors' conference will be held at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center in Oconomowoc. The theme for the conference is "Healthy Pastors Out of the Box." The presenter, Jim Galvin, is an organizational consultant specializing in strategy, change and leadership development for faith-based nonprofits. To prepare for the conference, please read Leadership and Self-Deception, the 2010 edition, put out by the Arbinger Institute. You can find it on Amazon.com or order from any bookstore. Olan Mills will take photos for a new SWD pastor pictorial directory.
Immediately following the conference, a pre-retirement seminar is being held at the Olympia resort.
 April 23-25 and April 30-May 2, 2010, are the dates set for spring work weekends at Camp LuWiSoMo in Wild Rose. Without staff, many volunteers are needed to prepare the grounds—please share the word. Projects include cutting firewood for the campground; piers at the lakefront; general maintenance; running electrical and water lines at the campground.
Volunteers are asked to donate $25 for food and lodging for the weekend as there is no staff and food will need to be purchased and prepared. For reservations, contact Craig Hillman by e-mail or at (608) 524-6448. Persons willing to help in the kitchen may contact Janey Heckendorf.
 A total of 14 people from the South Wisconsin District enjoyed the fellowship and activities at the second Multi-Ethnic Symposium on Feb. 1-2, 2010 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis under the theme "Conversations of Hope." Pastor Don Hougard went as a mentor to some of our ethnic seminary students and found the experience to be eye-opening.
 If you visit St. Martini Lutheran after school on the third Friday of any month, you will find a warm gathering of school families and friends from the neighborhood amounting to 150 or 200 people. They are enjoying fellowship, food and worship. You will see the faculty serving a potluck meal, families bringing additional food—mostly pizza—and there will be smiles all around. But if you don’t speak Spanish, you might want to ask one of the children to interpret for you!
 In the event of a local crisis or natural disaster, special consideration should be given to the needs of our congregational members with various types of disabilities. This is especially true in the event of evacuation operations. The elderly and people with disabilities may respond more slowly to a crisis and often don’t immediately comprehend the magnitude of the situation. In some instances, reaction time is decreased. Age related impairments may also affect their ability to hear and understand warnings and broadcasts concerning a disaster in their area. Our congregations need to know about the needs of their members and be prepared.
 If you are a modern-day “senior,” you won’t want to miss this year’s Gathering at Cedar Valley! The theme this year is “God’s Gifted Seniors—Yesterday and Today.” Cedar Valley Retreat and Conference Center is located about 10 miles west of West Bend. There is a $65 registration fee, with the option of coming the evening of May 18 (at additional cost) for a dinner and fireside chat with Rev. Mark Jeske. Brochures with registration materials will be available by mid March at your church, by mail, and online.
 SWD congregational leadership conference
“Making use of our God-given gifts”
March 13, 2010 • 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lake Country Lutheran High • Hartland
At the conference learn and interact with…
- Concordia Plan Services representatives
- Church Mutual representatives on ways to reduce risk and liability in your congregation
- “Mission leaders” within the SWD and the world; learn how you can help these efforts
- District staff and the resources they provide
- Forms of congregational governance
- How to engage more people in ministry
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Families have been devastated by the earthquake.
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Latin America responds — Haiti earthquake special issue 
Puertas: Open Doors in Latin America and the Caribbean
Bimonthly publication of LCMS World Mission LAC Regional Office, Panama
"In the days following the earthquake the Lutheran response came first through the hands of an extremely young church body; the Lutheran mission in the Dominican Republic. Gathering at their border with Haiti in a small dusty town named Jimani, the missionaries alongside a small team of Dominicans rushed to aid a quickly overflowing hospital...."
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Campground reservations: Don and Sharon Herried at (608) 372-5268 or (608) 343-5265
Facility rental (retreats, meetings, etc.): Craig Hillman, (608) 524-6448
Work weekend volunteers: Craig Hillman (see above); kitchen help contact Janey Heckendorf
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“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
These are the words from Scripture that the Camp LuWiSoMo task force has focused on as we move forward with putting together a solid plan to reopen the camp for ministry. After several meetings in which much time was spent assessing the current situation of the camp, we have begun to formulate a plan to reopen Camp LuWiSoMo for full-time ministry within the next three to five years. In the meantime, the camp will be reopened for limited ministry by April of 2010.
 Three boys on Milwaukee's north side made good use of their snow day on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Instead of staying warm at home on their day off school, brothers Rasheed and Koran Harris and their cousin Rahagee Burns braved the elements. They shoveled snow for neighbors for no charge, clearing nearly a whole block.
Rahagee is a student at Lutheran Special School in Milwaukee. He just learned the story of the Good Samaritan in school and the boys wanted to do a good deed. "I want to be a little more helpful, all around good Samaritan," Rahagee said.
Full story and video
Dominican Republic missionaries Rev. Ted Krey and Danelle Putnam share some of their Haiti rescue and relief efforts following the earthquake of Jan. 12 in two YouTube videos.
April 14, 2010 • Locations in Oconomowoc and Milwaukee
Concordia Plan Services and the SWD are conducting two pre-retirement workshops for professional church workers and their spouses to help them better understand the process of planning for retirement. These introductory workshops will include information on budgeting and finance, retirement income, envisioning retirement lifestyle, health concerns, where to live and what to do with your time in retirement.
National Lutheran School Funding Academy and Funding Academy Webinars
LCMS School Ministry has announced the availability of three Funding Academy options for 2010. the three programs being offered are: Funding Academy I, Funding Academy II and a series of Funding Academy webinars.
 In the event of a disaster, by federal mandate any volunteers responding to the disaster must be trained and certified or they will be turned away. Our Synod’s program complies with all of the federal government’s criteria for this certification. If you are interested in this kind of in-depth training to become a certified disaster team member, you may be interested in "Lutheran Early Response Training" (LERT) offered in the South Wisconsin District this spring at Good Shepherd, 4311 104th St., Pleasant Prairie, on April 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 The LCMS assessment team coordinated by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and LCMS World Mission returned to the Dominican Republic from Haiti late on Jan. 23. James Neuendorf, a communications specialist missionary with LCMS World Mission in Latin America, provided photos today of Haitian people struggling to cope with the disastrous Jan. 12 earthquake. Go to LCMS World Mission's YouTube channel to view a video slideshow of images from Haiti, set to the music of a Haitian Lutheran congregation in Jacmel, Haiti, singing "How Great Thou Art," on Jan. 22, The LCMS assessment team was able to join this community of believers as they, despite the destruction and suffering surrounding them, offered up a spontaneous song of worship to the Lord. View photos from the assessment team at LCMS World Mission's Picasa album. Detailed updates from the assessment team and other disaster response updates are available from LCMS World Relief and Human Care.
 When a natural disaster occurs of such magnitude as the earthquake that hit Haiti Jan. 12, it is heartwarming to see how many organizations come forward to help in whatever way they can. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is no exception. Likewise, closer to home, the South Wisconsin District has an opportunity to help in a most direct way.
 Is your congregation ready for a disaster? What would you do first? Are you equipped to help others in such a situation? Everyone is fully aware that disasters can occur at any time, in any place. The South Wisconsin District disaster response team is trained and willing to take your congregation through the plan put in place by LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The next congregational training will be offered Saturday, March 20 at Elm Grove Lutheran, Elm Grove, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Register online
Sessions run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each date.
- Feb. 13: Calvary, Madison
- March 13: South Wisconsin District office, Milwaukee
- April 10: Trinity, Wisconsin Dells
- May 8: Hope, Fond du Lac
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Danelle Putnam
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On the "Faith in the Dominican Republic" blog, Barb Below (director of social ministry at Lutheran World Relief and Human Care) spoke with Danelle Putnam, missionary in the Dominican. She writes, "I spoke with Danelle this morning and she told me that everyone there is okay. She explained that her, Rev. Krey, Rev. Ries, Willy and Joseph (vicars) and Ramon (theology student) were studying in the church building in Santiago when the earthquake hit.
Country Springs Hotel, Pewaukee ♦ April 24, 2010
The theme for this the retreat is "Forgiveness," presented by Gary Janetzke.
LCMS World Mission asks you to join in prayer for the people of Haiti suffering from the affects of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake on January 12.
| Members from St. John, Glendale, working in Port au Prince with a Lutheran mission team, have been reported safe. They are expected to return to Milwaukee later this week. |
 Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible: Ancient Artifacts, Timeless Treasures brings together archaeological objects and manuscripts to tell a story 2,000 years in the making. Witness actual Dead Sea Scrolls and other early biblical artifacts to learn how transmission of these early writings has shaped the beliefs of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
 As news of what is being called the largest earthquake to hit Haiti in more than 200 years reached LCMS World Relief and Human Care (LCMS WR-HC) on Tuesday, the Synod’s mercy arm began preparing to reach out in the Caribbean nation with much needed assistance and working in cooperation with Lutheran partners.
 The second Multi-Ethnic Symposium will be held February 1-2, 2010, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. This year’s topic is “Conversations of Hope.” This conference is sponsored by the Board for Black Ministry, the Black Clergy Caucus, National Mission Affiliates, the Center for Hispanic Studies, National Mission Executives, and LCMS World Relief and Human Care.
Congregations are encouraged to “save the date” on their fiscal calendars. For more information contact Concordia Seminary Continuing Education at 314-505-7486 or e-mail ce@csl.edu.
 The Partnership in Seminary Education reached another milestone Dec. 5, 2009, with a preaching festival at Beautiful Savior, Milwaukee. Prospective candidates for the SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) program and a few SMP vicars prepared sermons on Matthew 2:1-12. Coordinator Dr. Harald Tomesch said he “saw Satan falling as lightning” as eleven sermons came to life. Sermon audio
Many of the first-time preachers are African American students who will make a great impact on the city of Milwaukee.
 Streams and rivers running through a steward's life
Following through on the concept that mission without stewardship is impossible and that stewardship with mission is pointless, the SWD is offering stewardship classes combined with a fly fishing class at the Richfield Cabela’s store. The classes start Jan. 21, 2010, and run every other Thursday from 6:30-8 p.m. Local parish pastors will lead participants through a biblical stewardship lesson which follows a session on fly fishing. The classes will be open to the public shopping at the Cabela’s store. The course is free to all attendees. Flyer
 Vicar Gui Kasongo, a French-speaking African immigrant from the Congo, has almost finished his studies in the SWD Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) program. He is currently serving his own French African International Lutheran Church of Zion congregation that meets at Benediction, Milwaukee. But his heart is also in the Congo with his people there. He wants so much for them know the entire truth of the gospel that he has come to know here.
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Fellowship
Outreach
Learning
Leadership
Organization
Worship
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Join in for Lutheran singles lunches at 12:45 p.m. after church services are over. To sign up for lunches call Linda at (414) 299-9127 and leave name and telephone number by the Satruday before so reservations can be made at the restaurant. Separate checks will be requested at the restaurant.
Read the full article for a list of lunch dates and locations, Bible studies and other singles events.
Basic education for the practice of intentional inteirm ministry is a six-month program in three sequential phases.
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.
Phase I – Nov. 2-6, 2009
Phase III – April 19-23, 2010
Struggling financially, Camp LuWiSoMo is shutting down during the winter months. In a recent letter one of the Camp board members wrote, “Rather than have President Wille act alone, the camp board decided that it was necessary to suspend operations at the camp for a period of six months.”
The suspension of day to day operations will begin Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 and continue through April 30, 2010.
This is an age of the “stimulus” package. We as Christians remember the ultimate "package" was given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This stimulates us to “go forth and teach all nations.”
These days we look for others to do the “heavy” work, often hiring someone else to do the hard labor. We live in a time of “working smarter not harder.” and At some point we decided more should come from less. Missions are hard work and hard labor—balanced by the joyous fulfillment of seeing men, women and children brought into the arms of Jesus Christ for eternity through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be on constant guard against complacency, always willing to spread the Gospel to the lost, searching for new ways to reach out and teach.
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A Lutheran delegation from Congo meets with SWD staff and local leaders.
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Individuals and area congregations have been involved on a daily basis with mission work to Africa. They were reaching the Africans in the Congo more intimately than imagined. Vicar Gui Kasongo was taking his materials and seminary education from
weeknight classes at the District office and translating them for the benefit of men in congregations in a remote province of the Congo. Seminary education here was being leveraged, not only by Kasongo but also other students who were passing their instruction to loved ones thousands of miles away in Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
Now a new LCMS program is bringing live satellite education to 400 locations in Africa and Asia. Read more to learn how you can get involved.
 The SWD’s new adopt-a-student program gives you an opportunity to assist and encourage students to continue in their studies for the ministry. Your charitable gift will make a difference by providing immediate debt relief for students and their families. You may offer a one-time gift or provide support over a defined period of time. It is a meaningful and wonderful way to support spreading the Gospel. Your gift will benefit a student based on financial need, commitment to the ministry and academic eligibility. For more information, please contact Chuck Kiehl, mission advocate, 8100 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53222 Phone: 414-464-8100 or e-mail kiehl@swd.lcms.org.
Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) was an exemplary model of discipleship, mentoring, and encouragement. To assist congregations in the South Wisconsin District with missional discipleship, SWD staff members are available to help your congregation set up Barnabas clubs. The clubs are a way of growing disciples and encouraging others to grow in faith, as stewards, and to reach out to tell the Gospel.
Barnabas clubs are a unique way of engaging members in living new lives as disciples and stewards in the Kingdom.
Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minn., has a ministry called "TLCare" that offers hospitality to those receiving medical care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. TLCare now has lodging to offer LCMS brothers and sisters at no cost. The small apartment is located on the edge of the Mayo campus and is available first come, first served. For more information, please contact Jennifer Jurgensen, tlcjennifer@charterinternet.com or call Trinity at (507) 289-1531.
Get up, get up, it’s out of here...home run!
That is exactly how the SWD stewardship “All Star” event played out…a homerun! The event was held at the South Wisconsin District office Tuesday, July 14, the same night of the Major League All Star game. There were 50 men and women in attendance, including pastors, laypersons, school administrators and financial counselors.
A simple guide provided by Concordia Health Plan Services
- Call Cigna Behavioral Health at (866) 726-5267 (24 hour toll-free hotline specifically for Concordia Plans).
- Visit the Cigna Behavioral Health website at cignabehavioral.com.
- Click on "Login to access your benefits."
- Login with the word LCMS at the bottom left hand corner. This will help you understand the benefits and support available through Concordia Plans.
- Click on "Find a provider" to find a therapist or psychiatrist in your area.
 The South Wisconsin District office often receives phone calls asking how someone interested in a specific ministry pastor (SMP) program might begin his studies. Most answers about the SMP program of the two seminaries may be found online at lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=13117.
In the SWD we are interested in connecting specific ministry pastors to specific missions. First, the needs of a particular mission are identified. Do they need a pastor regularly trained in residence or a specific ministry pastor?
With the recent mobilization of over 3,400 members of the 32nd Brigade and the 732nd in Tomah (with Pastors Doug Fleischfresser and Gene Henke, LCMS chaplains) the stress on military members is rising.
The military has resources available to all military members, whether they are active duty, National Guard or Reserve. To see some of these resources, visit militaryonesource.com. For emergency purposes, Military OneSource has a tollfree number that is operational 24/7, (800) 342-9647.
Gathering under the theme "With Unveiled Faces: Reflecting the Lord's Glory," based on 2 Cor. 3:18, South Wisconsin District delegates voted to:
- adopt a goal of 50 mission starts in five years based on five priorities -- focus the Gospel on the unchurched; be locally supported and supervised; partner with other congregations, the district, and the Synod for additional support and accountability; not require high financial investment of any one entity; and be self-supporting in a short period.
Convention election results for president, vice presidents, secretary, board of directors, covention nominations, Concordia University Wisconsin board of regents and Camp LuWiSoMo board of directors.
LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick answered questions on June 8 from the District convention delegates. One delegate asked how other church entities can emulate the successes of both the LCMS World Relief and Human Care and the Fan into Flame efforts. Kieschnick responded, “We continue to need to tell the story. There are lots of great things that are happening…. Our problem is being able to reach the people in the pew.” He stressed the need to communicate the good work already being done and working together in a collaborative fashion.
To change or not to change . . . that was the question at hand in Session II of the South Wisconsin District convention as delegates reviewed and discussed the LCMS Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance. The task force, appointed by President Gerald Kieschnick in 2005, is currently presenting its twenty tentative proposals for restructuring the LCMS to district conventions throughout the Synod. Rev. Robert Greene, task force chair, summarized each proposal and then responded to questions and concerns expressed by the delegates.
Rev. Dr. John Wille was re-elected as LCMS-South Wisconsin District President on June 7, 2009 at the District convention. Wille has served as president for the past three years and was elected for a second term in office.
Pictured left to right are Rev. Mark Meier, Rev. Daniel Torkelson, SWD President John Wille, LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick, Rev. Randy Raasch and Rev. David Paape.
March 24-26, 2011
Duke Energy Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
The theme for the 2011 LEA convocation in Cincinnati - the city of bridges - is Crossing Over.
National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference
July 16-19, 2009
The possibility of a swine flu epidemic or pandemic could be on the horizon but the facts aren’t all in yet. LCMS World Relief and Human Care is offering the following articles in an attempt to stem the tide of false information or even panic in communities and churches.
Please go to the official Centers for Disease Control website for the most updated and accurate information, cdc.gov/swineflu. A recent press briefing transcript and audio recording (MP3) are also available.
Check the LCMS World Relief disaster news website for daily postings,
A new mission field update newsletter about mission happenings in the Dominican Republic has been launched, and the first issue just arrived. The South Wisconsin District is a mission partner with LCMS and Bethesda Lutheran Homes in this mission field, and we are glad to share this newsletter. Please take a look at the news from their corner of the globe. If you’d like to receive it in your own mailbox, send an e-mail to drlutheranmission@gmail.com. DR Mission Field Update
Congratulations to the 2009 recipients:
Early Childhood - Tammy Horton, St. Paul's, Oconomowoc
Elementary - Roxanne Gerlach, St. Paul's, Oconomowoc
Secondary - Kevin Hasseldahl, Racine Lutheran High School
Administrator - Duane Graf, St. Paul's, West Allis
These recipients were recognized at a dinner on March 1.
 A man we’ll call Eric showed up at the SOS Center recently needing help. Eric and his family live in urban Milwaukee, but the women of rural St. John, Brown’s Corners were able to reach out to this family in need in a special way.
 DIRECTed serves as a "Professional Learning Community" experience for leaders in early childhood ministries. Each workshop is either four or three weeks in length led by a Concordia University professor and/or field practitioner. Weekly readings, practical applications and a one-hour conference call connect participants with lively discussion and helpful learning insights. Each four week workshop is $100 per person plus materials. Each three week course is $75 per person plus materials. Participants receive six hours of CEU upon completion of each four week workshop and five hours of CEU upon completion of each three week workshop.
More information - class dates, description, brochure and more.
(From President Kieschnick’s e-news)
Last month, I received the final 2008-09 enrollment statistics for our Concordia University System schools, along with comparisons with last year and four years ago. Some of the news is positive. For example, the total headcount at CUS schools is up by 32.6 percent since 2004, thanks to a 158.4 percent increase in the number of graduate students. However, there is a challenging statistic that I call to your attention: The number of students preparing for church-work careers has declined by more than 25 percent since 2004, from 2,729 to 2,034.
 Thousands of families* throughout Wisconsin each year experience firsthand the reality of our nation’s ongoing conflict against terrorism as loved ones serving in the Armed Forces are sent overseas to places once unfamiliar and unknown. Congregational ministries of care and support can help these families and their loved ones make it through the anxious times of separation that a military deployment brings. It is not always easy, however, to know just how to reach out to these families in ways that are helpful. Military deployments present challenges for congregations just as they do for the families themselves.
 Declining membership and challenging finances have led a number of congregations to look at ways to turn around these trends. One solution is to enter into a “learning community” program resourced by the trained leaders from the South Wisconsin District. It has been adapted from the LCMS Revitalization process to more specifically suit the needs of our District. It's being called the "Three R’s of Rejuvenating Churches."
 After Jesus washed his disciples’ feet (John 13:5), he said (verse 15), “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
Jesus was a servant, and so are you! You already serve God in your homes, churches and communities. The South Wisconsin District will soon be giving you and your congregation additional opportunities to serve Jesus as VIPs. (“VIPs” are “Volunteers in Personal Service.”)
As a child I spent a lot of time on my grandparent’s farm in Northwestern Iowa. Each week consisted of hard work, grocery shopping on Saturday and church at St. John’s Lutheran every Sunday. I can still hear my grandfather enthusiastically singing the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers" as I sat beside him. I could always tell that it meant something more to him than many of the other songs by his robust voice.
 What a Way is an initiative to encourage active recruitment and retention of church workers as an integrated part of the LCMS culture and lifestyle in our congregations.
At 94 years old, Walter Buescher recently saw an ad from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in the South Wisconsin News that triggered an “I remember when” moment.
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Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo.
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Walt remembers being present at the dedication of the seminary on a hot, humid day in 1926. “I was a boy of about 12 years old,” he recalls. “About 30 train cars brought people from all over the country to the dedication. It was beastly hot and attendees consumed bottles of soft drinks that were served from tank cars. That farmland area west of St. Louis had no trees or grass,” he said.
The South Wisconsin District in an effort to generate endowment and charitable gift planning recently received a $100,000 grant designed to generate thousands more in financial gifts to urban based congregations and inner city missions and ministries. Focusing on the great commission, these gifts will continue to build and uplift these congregations and support them in the work that they are doing to reach out to the lost in their neighborhoods.
 Grace Place Lutheran Retreats provides a haven for Lutheran pastors, teachers, ministers of music and other professional church workers and their spouses through education, restoration and recreation. During the week-long retreat, you will learn new ways to be healthy, and enjoy rest and fellowship. The couple will walk away from the week renewed in body, mind, and spirit.
The SWD youth ministry advisory cabinet has partnered with Concordia University Wisconsin and Maximum Potential Strategies.org. to bring servant based/experiential learning in the area of Christian leadership. This is completed through "The Christian Steward Based Leadership Continuum Project" that breaks out a program into three facets, based on age appropriate activities for youth from 14-24 years of age.
We are at a time when 70 million Americans access the internet every day. It is more important than ever that your congregation or organization provide an interactive and vibrant internet presence. To assist member congregations and organizations in that effort, the South Wisconsin District is launching the "Active Internet Ministry" project. The project is designed to offer participating congregations and organizations the ability to operate a state-of-the-art internet presence with a limited budget across a broad range of technical abilities.
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