Greetings from NID Michael Zimmer, Mission Facilitator: Schools

Greetings from NID
Michael Zimmer, Mission Facilitator:
Schools and Commissioned Ministers
Revitalize, rejuvenate or re-generate?
How shall we address the state of affairs
in the Church today?
What does this mean?
How is this done?
The “system” and the good ole days
Born at Lutheran General
Family heritage- Mother prayed/ Dad spanked
Church was packed
An honor to be usher captain
Festival Canticle
Grown up? “The Te Deum”
CTC-RF had LCMS profs everywhere
Then the late 70’s came along…

Dinner table conversations about the “walk out”

The neighborhood changed > White flight to the burbs

Church attendance began to decline

Declining enrollment in the school > Tuition

My friends parents stopped going to church > Church
wars, embarrassed over life choices, angry about
constant requests for money, “tuition” suddenly made
the public school look good!
Then God Called me out of the system…
But while I was gone,
the system changed!!!
LCMS – Membership Gain or Loss
20,000
10,000
0
-10,000
-20,000
-30,000
-40,000
-50,000
-60,000
Probably transfer to LCC
-70,000
-80,000
-90,000
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
LCMS – Adult Confirm/Baptism
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2012 LCMS Worship Attendance
(5,970)
 500+
= 215 = 3.6%
 250-499 =
579 = 9.7%
 100-249 =
1,739 = 29.1%
 99
or less = 3,437 = 57.6%
What do the numbers say?
 In
1971 LCMS had 2.89 M. Today around 2.3 M
 72
churches (not just LCMS) close in the US / week
 In
1971 LCMS had 64,000+ Baptisms. 28,000 in 2012
NATIONAL LCMS ELEMENTARY
ENROLLMENT (K-8)
180,000
160,000
155244
147613 143322
130395
140,000
120684
120,000
100,000
98181
91181
90904
2011
2012
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Current LCMS School Statistics
2013-14 > 2012-13
Schools = 2334 > 2,255 (1,285/880/90)
Students = 230,815 > 221,301(87,728/113,919/19,655)
Uh, Oh! We’re in trouble!
What must we do to help our church survive?

“We need to go back to the good ole days”

“We are getting old; we need young one’s to take over”

“Our volunteers are burning out”

“We want to add more staff”

“We are having trouble meeting our bills”

“If only we had a Pastor like “_____________”
Name
that
shark!!!
From 1897-1917 the LCMS experienced
A 50% increase
>We gathered the German’s
Questions to Ponder
Q: When you were a child, where was the “mission field?”
Q: Where do you see mission field opportunities in this
community today?
The Church in America: 1945-present
Denominational
“Our
beloved Synod”
Attractional
“If
we build it, they will _____”
Post
From
denomination
transaction to
transformation
Practice
*Growth from within system
*Strong Education: LES/SS/Youth
Group/Adult Ed
* Growth by attraction
* Programming: Youth, Mission
trips,
* School: Excellent Priv
Christ/Safe PS
*Stand and share absolute truth
*Safety/Trustworthy
*Community of
Care/Relationship
Not yet connected
Congregation
Christian Community
It is NOT…
A
lack of people in our communities
 Because
people don’t need grace
 Because
people in the church “do not care”
A
lack of activities in the church
 Because
people in the church are unfriendly
“But our church is friendly”
What is the difference between?
 Kind
 Friendly
 Inviting
 Inclusive
 Caring
 Spiritual concern
Reasons to gather
 Social
Fellowship
 Religious
 Moral
 Safe
training
environment for children and youth
 Honor
the family heritage
 Provide
 Pass
Rituals
good services for the community
on the faith to the next generation
God’s Mission – or man’s structure?
God’s Plan
Man’s Structure

Passion for the Lost

Daily turning over to the
Lord

Competition for resources

How can we control and build?

Relationships dominate

Facility dominates

Transformed lives

Transactional membership

Mission is messy

Policies and procedures rule

Tradition is valued in light
of the Gospel

Tradition is valued as an icon
Revelation 2:4
Jesus says, “Ephesus…You have
forsaken your first love…”
Does anything in your church ever
take the place of God?
•Bricks
and mortar
•Traditions
•Heritage
and history
Finances
Institutional Competition
Causes Chaos
Silos
Can be useful for the mission
Related but independent
Have their place in the yard
Can become stand alone units
“God’s Church” will always prevail…
“Man’s Church” will not

God’s church- the congregation (gathering) of
saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and
the Sacraments are rightly administered.

Man’s church- Too often becomes a building,
budget, “good works” center, organizational
structure, or family heritage builder masked
under the guise of religious activity.
What is God’s Mission?
1991 CTCR Document states:
“Mission begins in the heart of God”
“God...wants all men to be saved and to come
to a knowledge of the truth.” 1Timothy 2:4
CTCR Document states:
“God’s mission is to and for everyone”
“God’s mission is our mission”
What is God’s Mission?
“That at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
Philippians 2:9
Q: Every knee? Why do we sometimes
hesitate reaching out to others who do not
yet know Jesus?
Have you heard these questions?
If we go thru a “healthy church program” will our
church grow again?
Will birthing a new church help our church survive?
If I befriend my neighbor will they join our church?
Will new programs help us get new members?
Living Things
Grow & Multiply!
New
Significant
What
mission start
“new ministry”
community need is NOT
being addressed right now?
3
A church which is 0-3 years old takes ___
attendees to reach 1 person for Christ.
7
A church which is 3-10 years old takes ___
attendees to reach 1 person for Christ.
89
A church older than 10 years takes ___
attendees to reach 1 person for Christ
Tom Nebel & Gary Rohrmayer, Church Planting Landmines
“Let’s find a church growth program”
TCN
NCD
The
72
Refocus
Consultants
Workshop
What I have learned…
Programs
can help…or hurt
New plants may be an answer…or a waste of
time
Strategic Planning is great…don’t count on it
The Pastor is important…but not the solution
Sticking your head in the sand does not help
There is hope!

God’s Word and Sacraments are what this world needs

The “system” possesses great resources

6,000 congregations

CUS + Educational Focus

Missions
“Mission Focus”
DaySchool
Preschool/Child Care
Member Expectations
Service Activities
Programs
Worship
Member commitment
Finances
Forming around God’s mission
 Phase
One- Why? Celebrate our unity
around the mission of God in this church.
(Mission Statement)
 Phase
Two- Who? Identify the values and
gifts in this congregation.
(Congregational strengths)
Forming around God’s mission (cont)

Phase Three- Where? Understand the unique
needs of this community and beyond.
(Community Connecting Points)

Phase Four- How? Establish and align mission
activity based on the needs and resources
(Goals)
3. Community
1. Mission of God
2. Congregation
4. Goals
3. Where?
1. Why?
HOW???
4. Goals
2. Who?
How is this done?
 Program
 Study
comes second to mission
and grow together
 Willingness
 Love
to repent
for people
So what steps should we take to
“grow” our church again?






Get on your knees
Pray for your Pastor
Get in the Word
Revel in the Sacraments
Serve your community. Corporate and
individual.
Share the hope you have in Jesus Christ
Two Non-negotiables
#1 - The truth of God’s Word is
clearly and boldly preached.
#2 - The Sacraments are faithfully celebrated.
Where is the mission field?
“You will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.” Acts 1:8
Which is easier?
How have these gotten closer?
What opportunities lie ahead?
Revitalize, rejuvenate or re-generate?
How shall we address the state of affairs
in the Church today?
What does this mean?
How is this done?