Title: Lutheran Men in Mission Studies 'Blueprints for Living'
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 6, 2002
LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION STUDIES 'BLUEPRINTS FOR LIVING'
02-189-FI
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ELCA) -- "Blueprints for Living" was the theme
of the 2002 national gathering for Lutheran Men in Mission (LMM), the
men's ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Speakers, music, worship and workshops supported the "building men for
Christ" program for about 600 men here July 26-28.
A sub-theme of the gathering was the passing of the "blueprints"
from one generation to the next. Doug Haugen, LMM director, said one
purpose of the event was to help "grandfathers, fathers and sons to
discover fresh relationships with God and with other men of all ages
from around the country and around the world who are on the same
journey."
Each participant received a copy of the Master Builders Bible for
Men. Haugen told the gathering of LMM's commitment to purchase and
distribute the Bibles, which are designed to facilitate individual and
small-group Bible study. "We want to stop selling these and start
giving them away," he said, challenging the men to come up with the
money to buy thousands of Bibles.
A "Blueprints Thank-offering" brought in $56,750 in pledges and
donations. Haugen said that amount would be added to $14,750, which was
received in advance from men unable to attend the gathering. The total
$71,500 exceeded the LMM board's goal of $60,000. Haugen challenged the
gathering to give $75,000 and said he trusts another $3,500 will be
donated.
Sean Forde, a member of Advent Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Fla.,
and a student at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., served as emcee of
the event. A health screening provided cholesterol checks for 99 men
who arrived early for the gathering. A prayer chapel offered quiet
space for men to pray individually or in groups.
SPEAKERS
Rick Barnes, coach of the University of Texas Longhorns basketball
team in Austin, told stories about the men who were his mentors and
about the students for whom he was a mentor.
"You can make a difference in your community. There is someone
there who needs your help," Barnes said. "All it takes is sharing --
giving -- and, believe me, it'll come back to you tenfold," he said.
Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology, Eastern University,
St. Davids, Pa., told the men that Lutherans are known for their
scholarship and their faith. "It's not just about creeds and theology.
It's about being Jesus for other people," he said.
Lutherans don't do evangelism well, Campolo said. "You don't talk
about your faith. You don't close the deal. You don't ask people to
accept Jesus."
"Lutheran churches are not growing like they should because the
saints are not doing their job in the world," he said. The clergy are
to equip the saints, he said, but a lot of saints are not equipped.
"Lutheran is a good thing to be. At least you are a member of a
church that's not afraid to deal with the hard issues of the day,"
Campolo said. "God sees you as wonderful and having enormous
potential."
Dick Hardel, executive director, Youth and Family Institute,
Augsburg College, Minneapolis, said 8 percent of Lutheran men have a
faith mature enough to pass it on. He distributed "faith talk" cards to
the participants and asked them to use the questions on the cards to
initiate conversations about their Christian faith.
"Teach this to your children and your children's children -- by
heart," Hardel told the men. He encouraged them to discuss their faith
with other members of their families.
Millard Fuller, founder and president, Habitat for Humanity
International, Americus, Ga., said his organization built 100,000 homes
in 76 countries between 1976 and 2000, and it's on its way to building
another 100,000 homes between 2000 and 2005. He called Habitat "a
ministry that builds houses with and for families in need, as an
expression of God's love."
"How can we say we love God while we sleep in decent homes and our
neighbors sleep in dumps?" Fuller asked. "If you believe it's good for
you and your family to have a house, then you have to advocate for
everyone to have a house," he said.
"We have all the materials to end poverty housing in this world
but one -- the will to do it," said Fuller. "And we need the will of a
bunch of Lutherans to do it."
MUSIC
The Rev. Richard M. Webb, Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des
Moines, Iowa, led the gathering's music and worship team. Guitars,
drums and keyboard provided a musical framework for each segment of the
gathering's program.
Peter Mayer sang and played songs from his "Stirrin' Up the Water"
compact disc, including "Blueprints," which was written specifically for
the LMM gathering. Another song, "Loose In The World," was inspired by
the 1999 LMM gathering. Mayer composes and performs light-rock
Christian music with his brother, Jim Mayer.
Tony Melendez, born without arms, played the guitar with his feet.
From Nicaragua, Melendez has toured the world singing original and other
inspirational songs. He came to the LMM gathering from the World Youth
Gathering in Toronto.
"Without arms, I'm no construction man," Melendez told the men.
"But, without arms, God has me building the kingdom."
WORSHIP
The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the ELCA Caribbean Synod,
Dorado, Puerto Rico, presented a Bible study on the prophet Jeremiah,
who sent a message of encouragement to the Jews in exile. She said,
when one's own plans seem shattered, one must look for God's plan.
"God has a plan for our lives, and it is good," said Martinez. "I
expect to see my brothers kneeling in prayer," praying for the welfare
of each other, she said.
Martinez told the men she expected them to make their plans "with
the young people," to joyfully accept their "calling from God," to
assume roles of leadership and "to give all people a word of hope." She
added, "I expect men's ministry to grow."
The Rev. O. Dennis Mims, St. James Lutheran Church, East
Cleveland, Ohio, led the men in a Bible study of the prophet Joshua, who
welcomed life's challenges as signs that God was leading him.
"It's a mighty thing to base your plan on God's leadership," said
Mims. "We should have giant dreams."
Mims said men should be able to look up to men who are 25 years
older than them and see people who are confident in their faith. He
challenged the men to consider whether men 25 years younger than them
would see that confidence in them.
The Rev. Ray Tiemann, bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod, San
Antonio, urged the participants to hold on to the spiritual energy they
were building during the LMM gathering. "God's kingdom comes into our
lives in very subtle ways," he said, during the closing worship service.
Sometimes men want to write a check for $100,000 and say "I have
given my all," said Tiemann. Jesus would cash that check in for
quarters, he said, and ask them to give 25 cents or 50 cents at a time.
Rather than thinking better health and a stronger faith can be
achieved instantly, Tiemann encouraged the men to find time for exercise
and for personal devotion.
WORKSHOPS
Seven workshops were presented during the gathering:
+ Mim Campbell, associate director, children and family ministries, and
the Rev. Paul Lutz, associate director, adult education, ELCA Division
for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, presented several basic,
practical examples of ways a man can share his Christian faith with
friends and family.
+ The Rev. Brent Dahlseng, director, ELCA evangelism task force,
Division for Congregational Ministries, outlined several ideas for
developing and strengthening the prayer lives of men.
+ Doug Haugen, LMM director, led a workshop on ways to use the Master
Builders Bible for Men effectively in small-group settings.
+ Jim Myers, president, Honolulu Publishing Company, Honolulu, Hawaii,
fielded the "success stories" of participants about the men's ministries
in their congregations.
+ The Rev. Kerry Nelson, Covenant Lutheran Church, Houston, led a
workshop on talking about the Christian faith with "spiritual orphans,"
"prodigal children" and "the blessed rest."
+ The Rev. Arnold Pierson, vice president, marketing, ELCA Mission
Investment Fund (MIF), Chicago, and the Rev. Carol E. Spencer, associate
vice president, MIF, Fort Worth, Texas, spoke with participants about
the MIF, ways to invest in the fund and ways mission congregations can
use the fund to purchase land and construct buildings.
+ Steve Sonderman, associate pastor, Elmbrook Church, a
nondenominational congregation in Brookfield, Wis., said a few men can
build a life-changing men's ministry in a congregation with small groups
and a lot of work.
-- -- --
The Lutheran Men in Mission home page is 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
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