The challenges of this last convention cycle are greater than we could have ever predicted. The challenges before us could easily overwhelm. I am daily reminded that the task is too great, yet God has chosen you and me, in the midst of our brokenness, as members of His Body, to perform His gracious work. This is why We Preach Christ Crucified. Much of our time and effort has gone to visitation. I yearly visit each of the circuits as pastors gather in their monthly meetings. I present a topic and facilitate discussion on issues that challenge us. Most of those visits are in person, though some have required virtual presence. Government restrictions also inhibited some of my congregational visits, but outside of those restricted months, the goal is to visit two congregations each month to worship, listen, share, and evaluate ministry on the local level. We can’t walk together if we don’t talk together, and we can’t talk together if we don’t meet together. I continue to pursue transparency, trust, and mutual encouragement. I receive encouragement in these visits, and I am proud of our congregations and workers as I see the effort and creativity in all circumstances to proclaim the reconciling grace of our Lord with one another and with the community. As promised, God works for the good in all things for those who have been called according to His purpose. Critical to our work is the understanding that the Nebraska District is not a small group of staff working out of an office in Seward. Rather, it is 233 congregations and related ministries and leaders in various locations, working side by side to strengthen the found and reach out to the lost. For this body to work the best, each part needs to function.
Outcome #1: Strengthen Relational Health of Ordained, Commissioned, and Other Workers—Our personal lives and relationships are our loudest Gospel message. God calls us to live in and live out that Gospel first to those closest to us, which in turn speaks to those around us. Conferences, trainings, intentional communication, and individual interactions seek to promote an engaged faith integrated in all of life. We are working to bless workers’ spiritual relationship with our triune God. We are working to nurture cognitive, emotional, physical, and financial health. We are working
to build strong bonds in marriage, family, and close friends. Enhancing the relational health of our workers strengthens our work to reach out to the lost with a heart for the hurting. We have developed and are monitoring a triennial health questionnaire to develop a longitudinal study to measure outcomes.
Outcome #2: Healthier Congregations and Ministries—The Holy Spirit works through the Means of Grace when and where He pleases. This faith produces good fruit and good works. The work of the district is fundamentally the work of each congregation serving the Body of Christ with Word and Sacrament and sending people out into their vocations as witnesses of the Savior. Conferences, trainings, intentional communication, and individual interactions seek to build the Body of Christ as it grows in discipleship. Divine Service and Bible study are fundamental. Parents, grandparents, and guardians are called to make disciples with the children God has placed in their lives. Ministry opportunities like VBS, daycare, preschool, school, youth, and small group are used to develop relationships and foster discipleship, service, and outreach. Vocations of neighbor and coworker give us opportunity to reach out with Christ’s compassion and Gospel. Assisting in the call process is my highest priority. Visitation and evaluation to encourage congregations is also a critical priority for me.
Outcome # 3: Healthier Circuits, District, and Synod—We cannot walk together if we do not talk together. We cannot talk together if we do not meet together. As leaders, we seek to care for one another, foster unity, and build trust in our work together of sharing the Gospel message. Each of us has our own work, and each congregation has its own work. We also need one another to do those things we cannot do working alone. A healthy Synod must have healthy relationships. God calls us to work together. As a Synod, we have committed to walk together. Pastors communicating, congregations cooperating, and reconciliation happening are signs of a healthy church. Again, visitation—meeting with circuits and congregations—is my second highest priority. We meet together around Scripture and our Confessions to transparently and fraternally discuss issues of doctrine and practice and build consensus. We celebrate and share ministry opportunities and successes. We also are working to find greater ways to help congregations and districts collaborate for greater impact and efficiency. All three of these outcomes are aspects of discipleship. In the Means of Grace, God pours out His grace and empowers us with new life. This is a life of repentance. The discipleship journey calls us to new ways of living. To that end, we are working to see change. Our approach to conferences is not just gaining more information but pursuing transformation. Pastors conferences are more than “one and done” as we design ongoing professional development through circuit gatherings, personal reflective practice, and lifelong learning. Circuit visitor training is focused to enhance a growth environment for our pastors to look at their own self care and relational health. We just began our fourth Leadership Learning Community, an intensive gathering of 12 pastors for two years. They meet, learn, and grow together, building capacity to lead themselves, their families, and their ministries. Leading by example, the district staff has focused our development on relational health and discipleship.
Our 2018 convention celebrated the plan to renovate University Lutheran Chapel in Lincoln and the district office in Seward. Both of these renovations are now complete with over $3.5 million donated. Ministry has benefited greatly at both locations. Accessibility and larger meeting space has allowed more groups to gather for planning, workshops, and training at both locations. Partnerships have developed with Concordia University, Nebraska, and Grace Point Institute for Relational Health to use the Chapel. Pandemic and cultural stress has brought more and more people through our doors. Mission to our campus students and community remain first priority, but so much more ministry has been enabled by these renovations. The Nebraska District has four campus ministries. University Lutheran Chapel in Lincoln has been in ministry since 1923. We also provide funding for campus ministry in Omaha, Wayne, and Kearney. Ricky Jacob continues to serve faithfully in Native American ministry in Winnebago. Hispanic and African immigrant ministries continue to make known the love of Christ. More and more of our churches are looking at ways to reach out to ethnic populations in their own backyard. In all this work, we seek but one thing: to preach Christ and Him crucified. To God alone be the glory.