Title: ELCA Congregations Reach Out in Small Towns
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
September 29, 1997
ELCA CONGREGATIONS REACH OUT IN SMALL TOWNS
97-28-081-MR
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutherans living in rural and small town =
communities are learning that their churches can grow both spiritually and =
numerically. *Mission Possible,* gathered leaders of rural congregations =
to examine methods for effective outreach in their communities for *growth =
and vitality.* The one-day event at five sites was sponsored by the =
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America*s Division for Congregational =
Ministries, =20
*Every human being has a hunger to know a God of love. Low =
self-esteem runs rampant among people living in rural and small town =
communities,* said the Rev. Carl L. Johnson, All Shepherds Lutheran =
Church, Powell, Ohio. The evangelism efforts of the ELCA *need to speak a =
word of hope for people who are discouraged,* he said.=20
*Mission Possible* was held Sept. 15-20 at five locations: Sidney =
and Havre, Mont., Ritzville, Wash., Eugene, Ore., and Deshler, Ohio. =20
Many rural congregations believe that *they do not have the =
resources to grow ... that evangelism is not possible in their setting,* =
said the Rev. David Poling-Goldenne, ELCA director for evangelism and =
education. *It is important that congregations in rural and small town =
communities have a chance to come together and break apart this stereotype =
under which most of them operate,* said Poling-Goldenne.
*The first thing a small town congregation must look at is getting =
to know its members and the context in which they live and do ministry,* =
said Johnson. Participants learned that effective outreach in rural =
settings begins with learning about a town*s *history, its people, its =
structures, its everyday life, its expectations for pastors, its hopes and =
fears, and the place of the church in the community.*
*The purpose of the seminar is to underscore the fact that there =
is a potential for congregations to do outreach in rural and small town =
settings,* said the Rev. Brent W. Dahlseng, Prince of Peace Lutheran =
Church, Fulton, N.Y. *Some congregations underestimate the impact they =
have in their community,* he said. Worship attendance at Prince of Peace =
grew from 20 to 300 participants through a program called *Friendship =
Sunday.* Members of the congregation invited their *friends and neighbors =
to attend a Sunday worship service at Prince of Peace,* said Dahlseng. =20
*We invited people who were long-term, inactive members and found =
a rich network of people. Invitations were given four to six times =
bi-monthly before receiving an initial response.* We were very persistent =
in our efforts and found potential for our congregation to do outreach,* =
Dahlseng said.
*Congregations must have a very clear understanding of hospitality,=
since it is important for visitors to feel welcomed and part of a =
congregation,* said Johnson. *Congregations must provide a service to =
their community, whether it be a vacation Bible school program for =
children or a well-child clinic,* he said. Developing a vision and =
mission that have a focus on outreach can do much to bring vitality to the =
life of a congregation, he said.
Mission-driven congregations focus not only on themselves but on =
others outside of the church, said Poling-Goldenne. *Members of a =
congregation have a biblically-based, shared vision for the future and are =
intentional about providing multiple, easy access entry points for =
newcomers into the life of a congregation,* he said. =20
A congregation*s worship service is key to the congregation*s =
growth and vitality, said Johnson. Worship services *must be spiritually =
vibrant. The Holy Spirit is active in a congregation*s prayer life, Bible =
study and worship service,* he said. Worship service planners should =
select a focus for each service and plan everything around that focus.=20
More than 20 percent of all ELCA congregations are in rural =
farming areas, and an additional 7 percent are in rural non-farming areas. =
ELCA rural congregations are concentrated in the Upper Midwest and in the =
Northeast.=20
*There is sense of despair among people living in small town =
communities who need to be embraced. Congregational leaders need to be =
supported as they look for new ideas and new possibilities for reaching =
out to the unchurched in their areas,* Poling-Goldenne said.
*Mission Possible* was supported in part by Aid Association for =
Lutherans, a fraternal benefits organization based in Appleton, Wis.
For information contact:=20
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS=40ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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