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What does the Commission do?
It is the responsibility of the Adult Discipleship Commission to promote and
assist congregations within our district with materials, workshops, and seminars
designed to promote spiritual growth among the adult members of the church.
What assistance is available?
Materials are produced to assist congregations in
- promoting Bible class participation
- improving Bible study
- training lay leadership
- encouraging Christian stewardship
- providing teaching guides for the classroom
- strengthening family and senior ministry
For information, assistance and/or materials, please contact:
Rev. David Clark,
Commission Chairman
Notes and News from the District Commission on Adult Discipleship
Winter/Spring 2007
Partners together in the
gospel ministry,
Epiphany – Jesus reveals who he is – the God who performs
miracles, yet also has become one of us to reclaim humanity for himself. What a
marvel to hear him unfold the mystery of God and his love and to see its proofs
during his journeys on earth. We marvel also in the personal “epiphanies” today
that occur as the Holy Spirit uses the message of Jesus to work faith and trust
in people’s hearts – a work that makes the angels of heaven rejoice.
We as your
Adult Discipleship partners rejoice in the opportunity to join with you in
getting people into the Word and helping them see how the Word impacts their
daily lives. The following are some updates from Adult Discipleship:
2007 WELS National Marriage Retreats – “Strengthening
the Friendship at the Heart of Your Marriage ”
The 2007 WELS Marriage Enrichment
and Getaway Weekends are being set up to partner with churches throughout the
country build up strong families at their core. Three more presenters have been
added to help meet the schedules. This year’s theme is “Strengthening the
Friendship at the Heart of Your Marriage.” More weekends are still being
scheduled. Posters have been sent to congregations. Those that are accepting
registration at this point are:
·
February 2-4 at the Osthoff Resort, Elkhart, WI
·
February 9-11 at Mariott, Riverside CA
·
April 20-22 at Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan, WI
·
April 27-29 at The Lodge, Helen, GA
·
August 24-26 at Belleview Biltmore, Tampa area, FL
·
September 21-23, Embassy Suites Downtown, Omaha, NE
Web site for
registration or additional information http://www.welsmarriageretreat.org
Faith
Focused Finances Workshops
This effort is being developed
for individuals, leaders and congregations to “help God’s people aim their
treasures toward the Christ-centered mission.” Brochures are available and
postcards will be sent out when there is a workshop or seminar scheduled for
your area. This effort includes three separate components:
-
Pastoral Leadership Seminars intend
to bring together pastors and their wives in a meaningful retreat setting to
work through personal financial goals and their leadership for the
congregation in the area of financial stewardship.
-
The Congregational Leaders Workshops
target pastors and leaders of congregations to provide
assistance in setting up a stewardship culture and a year long stewardship
calendar for their congregations.
-
A Personal Financial Course which
is presently in development with hopes to pilot it by Fall 2007.
The priority focus during this first phase of Faith Focused
Finances will be the personal financial seminars for pastors (and school
principals). The following Faith Focused Finances activities are presently
scheduled.
o
Congregational Leaders Workshop – in Antioch, IL on February
17-18, 2007.
o
Called Workers’ Personal Financial Seminar – North Atlantic
District pastor/teacher conference (June 12-13, 2007), Clifton Park, NY.
See Web page for more information.
Women’s Ministry Studies and Conference
The Bible study on the
relationship of men and women is presently in the process of editing. We expect
this intensive study to be available by summer 2007 to help men and women grasp
the wider picture of what God has equipped them to do together. A series of
Forward in Christ articles will begin to unfold in winter 2007 to introduce all
of this.
The Women’s Leadership Conference
is planned for July 7, 2007 (7/07/07) at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. This will
be an opportunity for women who uniquely impact ministry to come together to
grow in their understanding and excitement of what God can do through them. More
information and registration will be available on the Web.
North American outreach Phase Four - “Every life for
Christ”
This year’s North American outreach resources will be sent out to congregations
in the beginning of April 2007. All the resources will be on a CD and also on
the Web. The subject matter will focus on our “Christian vocation” and its
relationship with living as “priesthood of all believers.” Adult Discipleship
is again offering its services in design, packaging and distribution of all the
material. Our stewardship component will expand on some of the practical ideas
for Christ-centered living used in the 1989 stewardship material, “For Me to
Live is Christ.”
Newly Released
Whole Bible Project
This long awaited resource has
been released and has become a popular resource already. You are limited only
by the extent of your creative imagination on the use of these on-page Bible
studies. The customizable format allows you to teach whole Bible books or
portions of books. They can be used for Bible classes, small groups or
beginnings of meetings. The People’s Bible is a perfect complement to this
resource.
The Service Zone - Fifth Pew from the Front Series
This “Fifth Pew” episode begins
with a humorous take-off on the Twilight Zone. It focuses on the Taylor family
seeing the everyday opportunities for serving others in their lives. Bible
studies are available online. The next two episodes that will focus on response
to disasters are undergoing the final stages of editing.
God bless us all in our gospel
work using our unique gifts for our specific callings, locations, and
situations.
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