Application

Application for the 2006 ELCA Evangelism Grant 1. Title and Description of the Proposed Project or Program: Preparing to Pass on the Faith 2. Amount Requested: $1,875.00 3. Start Date: January 2007

Total Project Budget: $3,500.00

End Date: June 2007

4. How will this proposed project advance work in the area of evangelism as specified in the evangelism strategy? Trinity Lutheran’s demographics closely follow that of many other ELCA congregations. Because of this, Trinity's members are generally older than the surrounding community is. The challenge for congregations like Trinity is to translate the faith that has been given to them by the Holy Spirit into their specific situation. Even in the best of times, this outreach to others who do not look like you is a difficult problem. Unfortunately, this fact is born out by the ELCA at large because the denomination lost about 1.6% of it membership in 2005. This problem is only compounded for Trinity since this area of the synod has never been a particularly strong location for Lutherans. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus tells His disciples as they go out to the lost sheep of Israel to, “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” This proposal follows Christ’s command. Wisdom is careful with what is precious. Since Trinity Lutheran has limited resources, the clear identification of a group helps to minimize expenditures that this congregation cannot afford. Being innocent means that we are to be more trusting than most other people and this must be seen in how we interact with others. Therefore, we must carefully listen to the situation that others find themselves in and the questions that they have about life. Finally, we must find out how tell others about God’s wisdom found in the foolishness of the cross. After the completion of this phase of the project, it is expected that Trinity will actively reach out to these individuals so that the congregation, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can pass on the Christian Faith to another group Implementation Details: The ministry that is currently being done at Trinity is a maintenance ministry. This ministry must be transitioned to be more missional if Trinity is to survive. There are three reasons why Trinity must change. The first reason is demographics. The current membership is aging and is not replenishing itself through childbearing. Aggravating this decline is the lack of traditional Lutherans that might be enticed to join Trinity. The second issue is economic. Trinity needs more members so that it can have enough income to pay the bills. Currently, Trinity cannot afford a full time pastor. Unfortunately, a part-time pastor does not have enough resources to support the existing congregation and to reach out to others. The final issue is that we are commanded by God to be a missional tradition. Jesus tells us to go and tell others about Him.

Making this transition from one form of ministry to another is extremely difficult because it requires changing the expectations of the congregation. One way to accomplish this movement is to focus the congregation on one overarching goal: Find and witness to those who need God's life giving Word. If we had the luxury of unlimited resources, we could follow the great commission without any planning. Practically, Trinity neither has the economic reserves to waste nor do we have a never-ending supply of people that could work on mission. Therefore, before embarking on Christ's command, we must decide what we want to do. This is the primary goal of the proposed project. There are two steps in the proposal: identification and understanding. Identification is recognizing that others need to be saved from their sin. The pastor of Trinity will lead the adults in a Bible study on this topic, prayers will be offered for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and the pastor will assist the congregation in understanding that salvation is for everyone. At the end of the twelve weeks, the congregation will name at least one local group that they wish to learn about. The pastor will inform the council of the congregations’ decision. Understanding is looking at a situation from every side. This action familiarizes us with others and makes us aware of their needs, wants, and desires. The pastor and the council will choose twelve members that will go out in pairs and talk with members of the identified group. Payers will be offered for the visitors and the visited. Using the input from the twelve members, the pastor will construct a report from this step and it will be presented to Trinity’s council. If we were to stop here after the problem has been identified and understood, then we would be like a physician who diagnosis a disease but do nothing to cure it. Our salvation comes from the Lord and this message needs to be given to everyone. Therefore, the final step in understanding is formulating a specific plan on how Trinity, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, will tell others about Jesus. This plan will be prepared by the pastor and it will be presented at an adult education class and to the church council. It is our hope and prayer that the work of mission does not end here with the final report but continues so that we can work together with the Holy Spirit in God’s saving action. 5. Who is the intended audience? The identification of a specific group is one of the project’s stated goals. Thus, at this time the specific details of who the project will serve is unknown. 6. What measurable outcomes will be accomplished? (Include timelines) 1. To identify at least one local population that Trinity can engage in dialog. 2. To have assigned individuals learn about this group’s needs, wants, and desires. 3. To critically reflect on how Trinity Lutheran can bring the Good News to these specific people.

The total duration of this proposal is 26 weeks. The first phase, the identification of a specific group, will take twelve weeks. In the second phase, selected member of Trinity will become familiar with these people. This portion of the project will last for twelve weeks. The final goal of theological reflection will take two weeks. 7. How will you share your learning and accomplishments with the wider church? A final report will be presented to the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod’s Mission developer by July 2, 2007.

Synod: Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Contact: Joseph Winston Address: 2015 Scout St, Liberty, TX 77575 Telephone: 281 460 4958 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 281 480 7330

RETURN TO: ELCA - EOCM Evangelism Team 8765 W. Higgins Rd. Chicago, IL 60631-4101