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 The
Special Ministries Commission is devoted to providing assistance and materials
to congregations in an effort to better serve those with special needs.
Services include ministries to the vision and hearing impaired, ministries to
the aging, institutional ministries, military Chaplain services, mental health
and special education ministries, and worship
materials for those away from home.
For more information, assistance, or materials, please contact:
Rev. Ricky Himm,
Commission Chairman
For additional service
organizations affiliated with the WELS, please see the Organizations
page on this web site.
Notes and News from the District Commission on Special
Ministries:
Deaf and Hard of
Hearing:
-
Available Material: Sign To The Lord A New Song; Catalog of Material; Sunday
school Curriculum For Young Hearing Impaired Children; Offering Envelopes
for Special Sunday.
-
There is a need for qualified interpreters. If anyone is interested they can
contact the MDHH coordinator
- A
district Williams Sound System is available for congregations to try
Institutional
Ministries/Prison Ministries:
-
There are now more the 40,000 prisoners receiving our materials
- The
Institutional Ministry Committee is to be replaced by the Prison Ministry
Committee
-
Facing Freedom Symposium: Our workshop at this convention gave you a taste
of what this symposium is about. A larger version can be brought to the
circuit level.
-
There is always a need for Pen Pals and also test correctors. If you are
interested please contact Dave Nack
Mental Health Needs:
-
There is a growing need for information, which will help pastor counsel and
then refer people to outside counselors.
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Materials Available are: 1) Ask a Therapist; an interview tool for lay
members: 2) Christian or Non Christian Counselor; a tract to help members
decide about counseling: 3) A Brief Revue of Counseling Models/Glossary;
designed to help members and pastors understand psychological talk; and 4)
When To Refer; designed to help pastors and teachers come to a decision
about referral.
Visually Impaired:
-
Approximately 500 people are recipients of the materials offered through
this division
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Available Material in Large Print: Meditations; Mission Connection;
Beginnings; Lutheran Parent and Forward in Christ.
Military Services:
-
Prof. and Mrs. Plitzuweit were in Europe for a year as Prof. Plitzuweit
served as civilian chaplain
- Rev.
Paul Ziemer made two trips to Kuwait to contact WELS members
-
There are plans to have a Military Contact Pastor Symposium in our district
in the fall of 2006; probably in November in Southern California
-
Referrals: There is great concern over the number of our people who are
entering the service and are not being reported. It is important that their
information gets to our Military Services Committee so that they can receive
encouragement. You can refer your members online through the WELS Web page.
Special Education:
-
Special Education is to assist congregation with material for teaching God’s
truth to those who have some level of mental handicap.
-
Working with “Jesus Cares Ministries” material has been developed for both
the Old and New Testaments. It is entitled: Dear Christian Friend. This
material is also useful at the Pre-School level
- Many
Districts are hosting “Jesus Cares Camps” for the developmentally disabled
-
There is a need to develop some kind of support network for parents
Ministry To The
Aging:
- The
new chairman is Pastor Fred Kogler
- This
committee hosted a Serving Senior Symposium in August 2005 at Grace Lutheran
Church in Glendale, Arizona.
- It
is the hope of this committee to host another Serving Senior Symposium in
Southern California.
- This
is one of the fastest growing age groups in our Synod. It is important that
we seek to address their needs.
Care Committee For
Called Workers:
-
There is a continuing need for each of our congregations to have a CCCW
committee so that they can encourage and support the called workers and
their families.
- It
would also be helpful to have a CCCW on the District level
-
Care-To-Care: This is a DVD and written material designed to help
congregation develop a CCCW committee and then to train them to conduct
visits. The material is available at this convention. Please see me at the
table to receive your copy. We need every congregation to take this material
home.
In closing, it continues
to be a joy and a challenge to serve our district in the area of Special
Ministries. Please contact me if you have any needs and we will keep you
informed about special events planned for our district. May God bless your
efforts in serving God’s precious souls.
Pastor Ricky Himm, District Coordinator
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