Under the theme Building on the Rock, the 2022 California Nevada-Hawaii (CNH) District Convention reelected their District President Mike Lange of Brentwood, California, and elected First Vice-President Mitchell Gowen of Aiea, Hawaii. The convention resolved together to make one new ministry start in each circuit in the next triennium. In addition, the convention accepted and endorsed a triennium strategic mission plan under this mission statement: We strengthen God’s People to serve and bear witness to Christ. Its five goals serve these purposes:
- connection and collaboration: promote a culture of God’s people working together;
- leadership development: effective leadership in recruiting, retention, and training;
- growing ministries: create and strengthen new and existing ministries;
- worker wellness: provide resources to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being; and
- effective use of resources: establish an effective clearinghouse of people and resources.
Congregational additions to our district during this time included Trinity Lutheran in Chowchilla, California; Shepherd of the Valley in Galt, California; and St. Matthew in Kauai, Hawaii. We also added a micro-school and two preschools, as well as two additional “other language” ministries. The challenges of the pandemic led the CNH District into a greater focus upon Worker Wellness and Health. Intentional connections, training, wellness and respite training, and options were made available to all workers at no or minimal cost. Creative ongoing Worker Health initiatives have been created and are in the process of being enhanced. Three new executive staff leaders were added during this triennium. Ms. Denise Lo was promoted to the position of Executive Director of Operations. The Rev. Joseph Robb was called to serve as Executive Director—Mission Leadership. Mr. Joel Wahlers was called to serve as Executive Director for Education and Congregational Services. All serve as assistants to the Office of the President. LINC Bay Area, under the direction of the Rev. Aaron Putnam, continues to serve as a trusted partner for the development of leaders and mission assistance, especially in the greater Bay Area. The Missio Dei West Foundation, an independent nonprofit, serves as an independent holding, investment, and granting source with the single purpose of supporting mission and ministry of the CNH District. The CNH District continues to offer grants and mission loans for newly planted outreach ministries and for the purpose of enhancing congregations and making new inroads for intentional Gospel proclamation into their communities. These grants are funded by congregational remittance as well as the generosity of individual donors. Additional education grants for residential students as well as continuing education are made available upon request. The CNH District took ownership of the Mission Training Center this past triennium together with the Northwest and Pacific Southwest districts. This lay training platform partners with Concordia University, Irvine, to provide quality theological and miss io logical training in support of the congregational and pastoral ministry. The CNH District has emphasized the identification and education of “in place” servants for pastoral ministry. Four more former lay deacons were processed through the Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) colloquy program, and of the remaining two lay deacons operating with Word and Sacrament Council of Presidents (COP) exceptions, one will begin SMP studies. The CNH District’s need for well trained pastoral leadership has not waned. We continue to explore ways in which workers can be identified, appropriately educated, called, and sent to serve both the gathered and the scattered. We will intentionally raise up and train lay leaders for disciple-making ministry, equipping them for works of service and proclamation in their communities and beyond. Natural disasters have continued to be a part the CNH District landscape during this triennium. Family homes and one of our
churches were burned out during this triennium. Congregational members around the district have been supportive, giving of their treasures and their time. Comfort Dog ministries have doubled in our congregations, which have given those congregations involved unprecedented access to difficult and challenging ministry opportunities. Connections have been made by our church and local school ministries to partnership opportunities in East Asia and Africa, and support has been provided for a Ph D student who is a primary missionary leader in the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY).