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Mission Update
Rev. Peter Kelm, Missions Executive
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Passionate believers... confessing Christ
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Everyday Missionaries
- SEPT. 15, 9 a.m. at Greenfield Park Lutheran Church, West Allis
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St. Martini Multicultural Celebration
- SEPT. 26, 5:30 p.m. at St. Martini's Lutheran Church, Milwaukee
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Center for US Missions
"Churches planting churches"
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| Rural & Small Town Mission's National Conference
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"I have other sheep that are not of this
sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice..."
(John 10:16)
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Stay Connected
 
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Jesus shows up in the strangest places in our culture.
Maybe you've seen the commercial. At first it just seems like just one more ad for the upcoming Southeastern Conference Football season. But if you listen closely, you'll hear the background music: Johnny Cash.
And Johnny Cash background music is good enough no matter what, but this particular song is too good to ignore. The song is "The Man Comes Around." The Man is Jesus, and his comin' 'round is Judgment Day.
"There's a man goin' 'round taking names.
An' he decides who to free and who to blame.
Everybody won't be treated all the same.
There will be a golden ladder reaching down.
When the Man comes around."
As I saw the ad for the first time I couldn't help but think, "Do those ESPN producers know that Johnny is singing about Jesus coming on Judgment Day?" The Man is coming around. We don't know when, but He's a-coming. And Johnny gets it right later in the song, too: "And at His feet they'll cast their golden crown." It won't matter on that Day how many SEC championships your team has won. Or how many Heisman trophies. Johnny Cash gets it right. In the end, Johnny Football doesn't matter.
Weird. But there it was, the Second Coming of Christ, on my ESPN. It got me to thinking ... are we faithfully proclaiming that the Man is comin' 'round to this culture?
... More
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Did you know?
There are four congregations in our SWD with Spanish-language worship services. St. Martini, Grace, and Oklahoma Avenue on the south side of Milwaukee and Primera Iglesia (Santa Cruz) in Racine. Edmundo Rosales from Racine recently began work at the Center for Hispanic Studies at the St. Louis Seminary in a program leading to ordination, and Vicar German Novelli, Jr., will be ordained at Grace on December 14th. Save the date!
We thank God for the Hispanic ministry in our midst, and those who labor in the growing mission field here in the
U.S. For a great little video on the sheer expansion of Hispanic  culture in our country, click on the YouTube clip at the right. (Thanks to Pastor Doug Groll, vacancy pastor in Racine, for sharing this).
Have you noticed a growing Hispanic population in your community? How can you serve them and share the Gospel with them?
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 Save the date!
Churches planting churches...
The South Wisconsin District will be hosting a "Churches Planting Churches" Seminar on Friday, October 17-Saturday, October 18 at Divine Savior, 3200 Highway K South, Hartford. This seminar is led by the Center for US Missions (an LCMS RSO), and is intended for congregational leaders (pastors and lay leaders) whose congregations are interested in beginning the conversation about the possibility of planting a church.
"A great way to work together with my staff and develop an exciting vision for reaching the lost in our community," (said a pastor, MNS).
"It got our group thinking outside the box, thinking of new ways to reach more people!" (said a lay person, IDW).
Even if you aren't sure if your congregation is being called in this direction, the seminar is a great way to explore the possibilities. Why plant churches? So many reasons, but primarily because planting new churches helps us to reach the lost!
Deadline is September 30.
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 Everyday missionaries
Greg Finke, Executive Director of Dwelling 1:14 (reference from John 1:14 and the incarnational, missional nature both of Jesus and of those who would follow Him into the world), is coming to our area on Monday, September 15. Greg has been a pastor in the LCMS for more than 20 years and is the author of "Joining Jesus on His Mission: How to be an Everyday Missionary." Dwelling 1:14 helps pastors and leaders rediscover how to disciple their people to be everyday missionaries in the places they live, work and go to school. The goal of our time with Greg is to give us the opportunity to "kick the tires" of the Dwelling 1:14 process. If you have been thinking about how your congregation can become more intentional about joining Jesus on His mission, this event is for you. We will be meeting at Greenfield Park Lutheran Church, 1236 S 115th St, in West Allis. We gather at 9:00 a.m., begin at 9:30 and we will conclude by 11:30. Pastors, staff and lay leaders are all invited. There is no cost for attending. Please contact Pastor Fred Reaman @ 414-774-3019 or Pastor Peter Kelm @ 414-464-8101 to register. For more information, visit Dwelling 11:14 and Joining Jesus on His Mission
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 St. Martini multicultural celebration
St. Martini Lutheran Church and School will host a multicultural event on Friday, September 26, at 5:30 p.m. Those attending are asked to bring a dish of food from your culture to share, or just come and enjoy! If you would like to have your multicultural group represented by a display, dance, or musical number, please contact Pastor Prada at 414-233-0569, or email alfonsorosmy@yahoo.es no later than Aug. 31. St. Martini is located at 1500 S. Cesar Chavez Dr., Milwaukee, 53204.
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Tyler McMiller,
serving the Lord in Mexico
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LCMS Missionary of the Month
Tyler McMiller, the son of Rev. Dan McMiller, former SWD Mission Exec and now director of recruitment for the LCMS Office of International Mission and his wife, Lisa, seems to be following in his father's footsteps. Recently, Tyler wrote to us saying, "Two months ago I accepted a missionary position to serve the Lord in Mexico City. God willing, I will be in Mexico City by January of 2015. If you know anyone interested in Lutheran Missions, please send me their email and I will include them in my monthly newsletter emailing list. Thank you very much for all your prayers and support. God bless."
So Tyler is our Missionary of the Month for September. I'm sure you will join me in praying for him as he begins this new chapter in his life! You can read more about him and what he will be doing here, and perhaps you will want to add your name to his email contacts.
Tyler's Prayer Card
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Need a guest preacher? I'd be happy to preach for a mission festival or District Mission Sunday...or just to give your preacher a break. I still have openings on Dec. 7 and Jan.4.
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Peg Raabe, Administrative Assistant, Raabe@swd.lcms.orgYou may call us directly at 414-464-8101
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