Title: Lutheran Men Share 'Blueprints for Service'
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 10, 2001

LUTHERAN MEN SHARE 'BLUEPRINTS FOR SERVICE'
01-187-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A dozen one-day sessions in churches from
Tacoma, Wash., to Boca Raton, Fla., are scheduled Aug. 4 through Nov. 3
to present "Blueprints for Service" to members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) who are building men's ministries in
their congregations. Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the men's
organization of the ELCA, sponsors the events as part of its "Master
Builders" program.
     LMM launched "Master Builders: Building Men for Christ" in 1995 to
expand the men's ministry of the ELCA with new programs, to inform and
motivate Lutherans about the needs and opportunities of men's ministry
and to provide the necessary resources to assist individual
congregations in starting men's programs.
     "'Blueprint' is a term you will be hearing a lot from this
ministry for the next couple of years," said Douglas Haugen, LMM
director. "Our goal is that the resources we publish, the events we
produce and the ongoing leadership development we design will give you
God's blueprint -- God's plan for your life and men's ministry in your
congregation."
     Each session will include one or more of several featured
speakers:
     + The Rev. Richard A. Hardel, director, Youth and Family
Institute, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, writes "Positive Parenting" --
a monthly column in the Metro Lutheran newspaper, Minneapolis.
     + Haugen develops and regularly contributes to the devotional
materials and other publications of the ELCA's men's ministry.
     + The Rev. Raymond LeBlanc, First Lutheran Church, Carson, Calif.,
is president of One Church, One Child of Los Angeles, an adoption
recruitment and advocacy program.
     + The Rev. Roland D. Martinson, professor of pastoral care, Luther
Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., received the first "Tom Hunstad Award" of
the ELCA Youth Ministry Network to "honor those who have made a
significant impact on youth ministry in the ELCA."
     + The Rev. Heidi B. Neumark, Transfiguration Lutheran Church,
Bronx, N.Y., helped the ELCA develop its "Stop the Violence: Healing
Hurting Families" program.
     + The Rev. Steve Sonderman, associate pastor for men's ministry,
Elmbrook Church, Brookfield, Wis., is the author of "How to Build a
Life-Changing Men's Ministry: Bringing the Fire Home to Your Church."
     Several sessions will also feature a renowned musician:
     + Peter Mayer, a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Nashville,
Tenn., has toured with Jimmy Buffet's Coral Reefers and recorded several
CDS with his brother Jim Mayer, including "Stars and Promises" -- a
collection of original and traditional Christmas carols.
     + Tony Melendez, Dallas, an inspirational speaker, author and
composer, was born without arms but has gone on to become an
accomplished guitarist and to produce his own CDS, which include "Hands
In Heaven."
     + Paul Todd, Cape Coral, Fla., has composed theme songs for the
Make a Wish Foundation, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and
Lutheran Men in Mission, and has raised thousands of dollars in benefit
concerts for Lutheran Disaster Response.
     Local congregations host "Blueprints for Service" sessions. LMM
selected the host congregations because of their effective men's
ministries:

August 2001
 4 Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Babylon, N.Y.
12 Christ the Savior Lutheran Church, Fishers, Ind.
18 Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Puyallup, Wash.
25 Advent Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Fla.

September 2001
 8 Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church and San Luis Obispo
      Lutheran Church, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

October 2001
 6 American Lutheran Church, Billings, Mont.
 7 Christ Lutheran Church, Whitefish, Mont.
13 Christ Lutheran Church, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
13 Hosanna! Lutheran Church, Lakeville, Minn.
20 Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, Iowa

November 2001
 3 Faith Lutheran Church, Flower Mound, Texas

     The twelve events will build toward the churchwide Lutheran men's
gathering July 26-28, 2002, in San Antonio.
-- -- --
     Lutheran Men in Mission maintains a home page at
http://www.elca.org/lmm/ on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html