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Mission Update
Rev. Peter Kelm, Missions Executive 
South Wisconsin District
 
414-464-8101 Kelm@swd.lcms.org
Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation
A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him"
              (Luke 9:35) 
SOS Lunch & Auction
  • April 24 at Klemmer's from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
CPTLN Planning Workshop
  • Saturday, Feb. 6, Oklahoma Ave. Lutheran from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Truth on Trial
  • March 4 & 5, at CUW
February 2016
A reconfigured life
Pete Rose isn't getting into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame anytime soon. Despite the fact that he is the all-time hits leader with more than 4,000, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Rob Manfred, has denied his request to be reinstated from his lifetime ban.

The reason? Manfred put it this way: Pete Rose "hasn't presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life." You see, what got Rose into big trouble in the first place was that he bet on baseball games, including baseball games in which he was one of the managers. Rose admittedly still bets on baseball.

Manfred is looking for more than a simple, "I'm sorry."

And this is what is so interesting to me. Though he may call it "evidence of a reconfigured life," what Manfred is really looking for from Rose is repentance.
Because repentance is more than a simple, "I'm sorry." "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" John the Baptist would have us remember. Repentance is a changing of the mind, going in a completely different direction. Beyond a simple apology, repentance is a changed life.

But here's the thing: repentance is a gift. A gift from God. Because on my own, I can't recognize the seriousness of my sin (let alone change my life) any more than a blind person can make himself see or a dead person can make himself live.
Spring Luncheon & Silent Auction to support SOS Center-- Sunday, April 24 
  
This fundraiser for SOS ministry will be held at Klemmer's Banquet Center, 10401 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee 53227 from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

To order tickets or for more   information, contact Sheila at sstrozier@soscenterinc.org or 414-449-9964.

Tickets are $40 each, or $300 for a table of 8.

Come to support one of our most vital ministries to our children--our future--in urban Milwaukee!

Come to enjoy fellowship and lunch with friends supporting a common cause.

Come for the fun of finding an interesting theme basket or items to take home. (Contact Johnnie Fields, jfieldsjr@sbcglobal.net if you'd like to donate to the auction.) 

See you there! 
Ministering to Hispanic Families in Wisconsin 

CPTLN-Hispanic Lutheran Ministry Wisconsin will be holding a "planning workshop" on Saturday, February 6 from 9:00 a.m- 12:00 noon at Oklahoma Ave. Lutheran Church, 5335 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53219. 

We will be sharing with you the programs  available from CPTLN and we will be working together to see how we can partner to grow Hispanic ministry in our different congregations and sites. We invite you to attend and to bring some of the leaders from your congregation or group with your plans for the coming year and your ideas and questions of how we can partner with you to help you carry out outreach among Hispanics in your area or neighborhood.

Call 414-477-9448 for complete information. 
Vicar David Blas inducted 

On Sunday, January 10, Vicar David Blas (right) was inducted as the new Missionary-At-Large for the LCMS Sheboygan County Hispanic Outreach at Sheboygan Lutheran High School. Rev. Dr. Carlos Hernandez (left) from LCMS Hispanic Ministry in St. Louis preached, with Rev. Dr. John Wille serving as liturgist. This new work is the effort of Sheboygan County congregations, SWD, and LCMS Hispanic Ministry. Please pray for Vicar Blas as he begins his work of reaching the thousands of Hispanics in Sheboygan County with the Gospel!
Volunteers--MANY volunteers--are needed for the LCMS National Convention July 9-14!  

Any amount of time that you can commit to this exciting event will be a great experience for you and a huge help to the convention committee! You will have an opportunity to see your synod at work. Click here for a Convention Volunteer Form and brief job descriptions to choose from.
 
Feel free to call the District office (414-464-8100) if you have further questions about anything.
Truth on Trial: Science and Faith in the World Today
March 4 & 5  

Science and faith - are they contradictory? This Concordia Apologetics conference, held on CUW's campus, is to aid pastors, lay people, and youth in their understanding of the relationship between scientific investigation of the world and the Christian faith.  

To view the speakers, presentation topics, schedule, and more, check out the links in the sidebar!

Cost of Attendance

Friday - Saturday: $100
One-day Saturday: $60
Student Rate: $30
CUW Student (with meal card): $15

Register today!
Tyler McMiller
LCMS Missionary of the Month 

Tyler McMiller serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as a GEO (globally engaged in outreach) missionary in Mexico. In this role, Tyler partners with local church leaders and other LCMS missionaries to strengthen the existing Lutheran Church in Mexico through raising up local pastors and lay leaders. Using his musical talents, he also organizes the music in each mission location. Tyler also assists with the publication of a new Lutheran hymnal for the Spanish-speaking world. In addition, he helps coordinate translation projects of theological material used in developing Hispanic pastors.

Here is his January newsletter. 
Available for preaching and missions presentation 
Please contact me if you would like me to be a guest preacher or missions presenter for you. My preaching calendar is currently full until April.
Rev. Peter Kelm, Missions Executive, Kelm@swd.lcms.org
Peg Raabe, Administrative Assistant, Raabe@swd.lcms.org
You may call us directly at 414-464-8101