Print-friendly Reporter - Nebraska District

Board of Directors
Summary
The Nebraska District Board of
Directors took the following
actions at its meeting on
December 4:
 Ratified the constitution and
bylaw revisions for Immanuel,
Eagle; Grace, Grand Island;
and Our Savior, Valentine.
 Proposed an overture to be
presented for submission to
the 2016 LCMS Convention
regarding the election process
of Concordia University
System college and university
presidents.
 Authorized the selection of the
LCMS Internal Audit
Department to conduct the
audit of the Nebraska District
LCMS for the fiscal year ending
January 31, 2016.
 Approved the housing
allowance for called
employees of the Nebraska
District LCMS.
 Approved the amended 2016
mission and ministry
operating expense and
revenue budget of $3,674,333.
 Approved the mission and
ministry capital budget of
$128,000.
 Approved the charter of the
merged District Finance and
Audit Committee.
The next Nebraska District Board
of Directors meeting is scheduled
for March 11-12.
From the District President
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold Magi from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is
he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have
come to worship him.”
The Magi (Wisemen) are such an integral part of the Christmas story that
most manger scenes have the Magi showing up the night of Jesus’ birth, just
shortly after the shepherds arrive, if not simultaneously! Scripture indicates
that their arrival was one if not two years later. This reminds me how important
it is that we draw our information about what we believe from Scripture and not
from Christmas greeting cards.
It also reminds me that indeed, “wise men still seek Him!” We have the
profound joy and privilege of looking into the mind and heart of God as He
reveals Himself in His Holy Word, both the Word made flesh and the living,
written Word.
Epiphany this year was here and gone in the blink of an eye, but however
brief, it is the season of revelation as God reveals Jesus as the promised one.
Jesus makes Himself known not only to a few Magi, but to Jews and Gentiles
alike by word and deed as Messiah Savior.
The Magi head to Jerusalem to find the newborn king, Herod heads to the
teachers, and the teachers head to the Scriptures. You have some digging to do.
We all have something more to learn. Too often we take the attitude that if we
don’t have all the answers, we at least have most of them...as if God were so
small that we could comprehend Him with our limited intellect. Wise men may
still seek Him, but sometimes I am (and you are) not all that smart.
Scripture is the revelation of God and brings the revelation (epiphany) of His
love for you and me in Christ. Thankfully, He is the one seeking you and me
since you and I are, by nature, blind. And now that your eyes have been opened
through the gift of faith, He invites you to a lifetime of discovery. I think that is
one reason He made us curious beings.
The star reveals His birth. The star guides their journey. The star brings
them to the right location. And all that is left to do is bow down in worship and
present gifts of praise. May God place in you and in all of us the hunger for
discovery and the wisdom of where to look
as He makes known to each one of us the
gift of grace in the one who is Grace in the
Flesh. Ahead indeed are happy trails, filled
with the joy of discovering grace upon
grace.
Rev. Richard Snow, District President
Upcoming Events
The First Rosa Showing January 26, 8 p.m., Concordia University,
Nebraska
Spring Pastors’ Conference April 4-5, Younes Conference
Center, Kearney
Spring Administrators’ / Early Childhood Education Conference
April 28-29, Carol Joy Holling Center, Ashland
LWML Nebraska North Convention June 17-18, Lutheran High
Northeast, Norfolk
National LCMS Convention July 9-14, Milwaukee, WI
National Lutheran Schools Week
will be
celebrated January 24-30, 2016, under the theme
“Life Together in Christ.” The theme is based on
1 Corinthians 1:9.
Lutheran schools focus on a three-fold mission:
1) making disciples through nurture, 2) outreach,
and 3) reclaiming the lost.
According to CAPE (Council for American
Private Education), these are the top reasons
parents consider a private school:
 Provide an education that will challenge the
child (97%)
 Help child develop/maintain a love of learning
(96%)
 Small class size/individual attention (84%)
 Help child develop a strong moral character
(82%)
 Help child’s emotional and social development
(77%)
 Help child secure superior college placement
(74%)
The ministry of Lutheran schools is made
possible because the 246 congregations of the
Nebraska District provide financial support for the
office of Superintendent of Lutheran Schools
through their faithful mission and ministry gifts to
the Nebraska District. Thanks be to God for this
great ministry made possible through His people.
Contact a Lutheran school in your area to find
out more about what they are doing to observe this
special week.
Please pray for the students and teachers of
our 74 Nebraska District Lutheran schools and
early childhood centers as they take time to
celebrate the work God is doing in their midst.
Find more school statistic
information on Nebraska
District schools at
www.ndlcms.org/schoolstatistics-summary/ or scan
here with your smartphone.
National LCMS Youth Gathering July 16-20, New Orleans, LA
LWML Nebraska South District Convention September 16-17,
Younes Conference Center, Kearney
Anniversaries
Grace, Grand Island, 60th, January 2016
Mt. Olive, Norfolk, 85th, April 30, 2016 (details to be determined)
Immanuel, Daykin, 125th, July 31 2016 (details to be determined)
Our Savior, Odell, 90th, September 18, 2016, with services at 9:00
a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and lunch following the morning service.
President Richard Snow will preach at the 2:00 p.m. service.
Called to Glory
Linda Becken, Commissioned Minister—Teacher Emeritus,
departed this life on November 23, 2015. While in the Nebraska
District, Linda was instrumental in starting the school at Christ,
Lincoln. She served there as principal and Kindergarten teacher
from the fall of 2002 until she retired on June 30, 2015.
The Reverend Glen D. Keylon, pastor emeritus, of St. Paul,
Nebraska, was called from this life on Saturday, January 2, 2016.
He most recently served at Christ Lutheran Church, Cairo,
Nebraska (March 1998 to
December 2014). He also served
as circuit counselor for the
Grand Island Circuit, PALS
facilitator, and on the board of
Heartland Lutheran High School
in Grand Island. He was also a
passionate supporter of
Comfort Dog Ministry.
Not a fan of paper newsletters? Would you like to receive the
Nebraska District Reporter in color? Sign up to receive the
Reporter as a PDF by email. Send your request to
reporter@ndlcms.org and receive the Reporter every other
month straight to your inbox. You can also find it on our
website at ndlcms.org/district-reporter/.
Hispanic Ministry in Nebraska: An Emerging Mission Field
Many people prize living in Nebraska because of the availability of jobs, the low cost of living, low crime, and
good schools. These are also reasons that make Nebraska an increasingly popular place for Hispanic immigrants.
Data from a UNO Center for Public Affairs census provided information that many were
already aware of: Nebraska’s non-metropolitan areas are shrinking, and two-thirds of the
state’s population currently resides in 13 metropolitan counties. Some of the data which
came as a surprise to many was the marked increase in Nebraska’s Hispanic population.
The least populated counties in Nebraska have an average 3% Hispanic population, and
the more densely populated counties have an average Hispanic
population of about 9%. In some areas of Nebraska, especially
those towns with work in the meat packing industry, the Hispanic
population is much larger.
The percentage of Hispanics in Nebraska is expected to nearly
triple and reach about 24% of the population by 2050, with many
of those being native-born Nebraskans of Hispanic heritage.
The Nebraska District LCMS sees this demographic shift as a
tremendous opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with our new neighbors. One
important ministry for reaching the Hispanic population of Nebraska is the bilingual
Spanish/English congregation of Cristo Cordero de Dios in Grand Island, Nebraska’s
first Hispanic LCMS congregation.
Members of LCMS congregations in Grand Island have been active in
the Hispanic community and with Cristo Cordero de Dios through their
time, talents, and treasures for years. Members of Peace have organized
VBS in a trailer court in the area and partner with the members of Cristo
Cordero de Dios to be able to communicate with children and parents who
are not fluent in English. Members of both Trinity and Peace have worked
alongside members of Cristo Cordero de Dios to renovate and repair the
sanctuary and parsonage. These congregations find many ways to reach
out to the Hispanic community around them.
The congregation of Cristo Cordero was blessed this December when
Rev. Salvador Ferrero was installed as their pastor. As a bilingual pastor, he
will be able to reach out to
those in the area who speak
Spanish as their primary
VBS outreach at a trailer court in Grand Island
language, and also to their
children, who often use English as their primary language. Rev. Ferrero
and his family are from Mexico, and have spent the last few years living
in California. His wife, Isabel, has been studying for her PhD in
chemistry and has been a teacher. Their two sons, one in high school
and one in preschool, are settling in to a very different life during their
first Nebraska winter. Please pray for this family as they begin their
work in Grand Island.
Rev. Ferrero and family at his installation at Cristo
Take
some time to think about your community and the ways the
Cordero de Dios, Grand Island
demographics have changed. Perhaps your community doesn’t have a
significant population of Hispanic or Sudanese immigrants, but you may have an increased amount of
single-parent families, of young families, or of homebound elderly as your population ages and younger people
leave. Your congregation is likely to find that you are surrounded by people with many needs who are not yet
connected with Christ.
The Nebraska District is grateful for the congregations and individuals who donate to the District and Mission
Central, as through those donations you are already partnering with these and other ministries. To learn more about
outreach opportunities in the Nebraska District, please contact Rev. Rich Boring or Nichole Hetz at
missions@ndlcms.org, or visit the District Ministries page of our website at ndlcms.org/missions-communityengagement/district-ministries/.
Hispanic Ministry is just the tip of the iceberg. Learn about some of the different ways Nebraska District
congregations are meeting the needs of the people around them in our “In the World, Not of the World” videos at
vimeo.com/ndlcms.
ORDAINED
CALLS ACCEPTED
Rev. John Carrier (StL’83) intentional interim pastor, St. Paul, Minden,
to intentional interim pastor, Mt. Calvary, Detroit, MI.
Rev. Bryan Drebes (StL’01) Bethany, Overland Park, KS, to senior
pastor, Pacific Hills, Omaha.
Rev. Salvador Ferrero (CCM’09) candidate status, English District, to
Cristo Cordero de Dios, Grand Island.
Rev. Christopher Hazzard (StL’01) St. John’s, Westfield, MA, to St. Paul,
Minden.
Rev. Paul Kern (Spg’72) emeritus status, Nebraska District, to
assistant/visitation pastor, Faith, York.
Rev. Jonathan Meraz (StL’03) Zion, Plainview, to Trinity, Norfolk, VA.
Rev. Mark Schlamann (FtW’01) non-candidate status, Nebraska
District, to First, Tooele, UT.
Rev. Russ Sommerfeld (StL’80) candidate status, Nebraska District, to
assistant professor of theology, Concordia University, Seward.
CALLS DECLINED
Rev. Christopher Asbury (StL’08) associate pastor, Grace, Norfolk, to
Grace, Waterloo, IA.
Rev. Ronald Benson (FtW’01) associate pastor, First, Papillion, to
Grace, St. Cloud, FL.
Rev. Rick Mensing (StL’83) associate pastor, Messiah, Lincoln, to
Trinity, Indianapolis, IN.
Rev. Craig Niemeier (StL’98) Zion (Worms), St. Libory, to Mount Hope,
Casper, WY.
Rev. Ryan Oakes (StL’06) associate pastor, Risen Savior, Broomfield,
CO, to Zion, Grant.
Rev. Nathan Reichle (StL’06) associate pastor, Shepherd of the Hills,
Greenville, WI, to associate pastor, Christ, Norfolk.
Rev. Jonathan Schultz (StL’08) Our Savior, Vernal, UT, to Centennial,
Superior.
Rev. Randy Sturzenbecher (StL’01) Divine Shepherd, Black Hawk, SD,
to St. John, McCook.
Rev. Neil Wheeler (StL’05) Peace, Waverly, to Trinity, Indianapolis, IN.
STATUS CHANGE
Rev. Alvin Bruenger (StL’59) emeritus status, Kansas District, to
Nebraska District.
Rev. Claude Houge (StL’96) emeritus status, Nebraska District, to
Minnesota South District.
Rev. Robert Koch (Spg’75) non-candidate status, Nebraska District, to
emeritus status.
Rev. Mark Kophamer (FtW’89) candidate status, Nebraska District, to
Mid-South District.
STATUS CHANGE, CONTINUED
Rev. Leon Rosenthal (Christ Seminary, StL’76) associate pastor, Christ,
Norfolk, to emeritus status.
Rev. Jerome Troester (StL’83) emeritus status, South Dakota District,
to Nebraska District.
INSTALLATIONS & ORDINATIONS
Rev. Justin Bell (StL’11) as associate pastor, Divine Shepherd, Omaha,
November 8.
Rev. Sean Chapman (StL’15) as SMP pastor of family life, Divine
Shepherd, Omaha, December 6 (ordination also).
Rev. Salvador Ferrero (CCM’09) as pastor, Cristo Cordero de Dios,
Grand Island, December 20.
Rev. James Haynes (StL’15) as SMP pastor, Christ, Lincoln, December
20 (ordination also).
Rev. Christopher Hazzard (StL’01) as pastor, St. Paul, Minden,
December 13.
Rev. Eddie Mekasha (StL’07) as associate pastor, Beautiful Savior,
LaVista, November 8 .
PLACEMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS
Sean Chapman (StL) SMP vicar to SMP pastor of family life, Divine
Shepherd, Omaha, November 15.
James Haynes (StL) SMP vicar to SMP pastor, Christ, Lincoln,
November 15.
COMMISSIONED
CALLS DECLINED
Kayleigh Belvery (RF’12) DCE, St. John, Burlington, IL to DCE, 1C,
Columbus.
OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Joy Barefoot (S’89) non-candidate status to candidate status.
Linda Becken (RF’72) emeritus status, called to glory November 23,
2015.
David Bliss (S’79) candidate status to non-candidate status.
LaRuth Castens (S’71) emeritus status, resigned from the roster.
Neal Castens (S’71) emeritus status, resigned from the roster.
Vivian Kesar (AA’85) candidate status, Atlantic District to candidate
status, Nebraska District.
James Knoepfel (S’87) principal, Trinity, Fremont to candidate status.
Rhoda Wahl (S’76) non-candidate status to candidate status.
Sometime in Unclear? Unsure? Unsettled?
mid-February, church offices should receive notification by
Everyone has an idea. Everyone has an
mail of the login information they will need to submit an
expectation. And the community has so many
electronic congregational statistic report for 2015.
needs. And “We’ve always done things this
Congregations are asked to submit their information by
way.”
February 28. Congregations are also encouraged to keep a
VisionPath, from Lutheran Church Extension
printout of the information for their records. These statistics
Fund (LCEF), will help you gain clarity and bring
are needed to accurately determine delegate representation
into focus God’s vision for your ministry and the community
for the upcoming Synod convention. Contact Kim Hofer at the you serve.
District office at 888-643-2961, ext. 1014, or by email at
Clearly see God’s vision. Align your ministry for action.
kimh@ndlcms.org with questions if your congregation does not
Learn more at lcef.org.
receive it by mid-February.
Congregational Statistics Reports