MINISTRY PLAN 2008
Strategies and Financial Plan
CELEBRATING GOD’S MINISTRY HERE AT WEBSTER GARDENS
Pastor Joel Christiansen
“The more I know God the better I am.” These are words spoken to me just before his baptism a few weeks ago. Those are also words that apply to all of us when we are connected to God. The more we know God and His saving love in Jesus Christ, the better we are. As we are changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, there is a ripple effect. Our relationships are changed and those to whom we extend care in the name of Christ are changed also.
What we do today as the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens in the name of Christ is without question the most important investment of our time, resources and energy. As a result of God’s grace for us and working through us, people are experiencing the grace of God in their own lives, are coming to faith, are receiving the Sacraments, are growing in faith, and are preparing for a life forever with Christ in heaven. We are making a difference for today and for eternity! There is nothing more important than that!
2007 HIGHLIGHTS
There were many highlights in 2007. Some of them are:
- More adult baptisms than in any year since I have been here.
- A continued commitment to serve the community through First Serve Saturday.
- The start of Jefferson Hills – Gravois Bluffs worship services. One of our worship teams leads worship there every other week. In addition, we have three families who are serving as part of the CORE team.
- A growth in small group participation. Currently we have 51 groups with over 500 participants!
- Every Member Visits that were conducted which gave us the opportunity to ask people about their faith, their challenges and their witness opportunities.
- The highest average weekly worship attendance in our history – YTD 843.
Remember: “The more we know God the better we are.” God desires that we know Him as our best friend. How does that happen? Church participation does not equal spiritual maturity. Sometimes all of the activities and programs here at Webster Gardens keep us busy but don’t result in spiritual growth.
OUR MISSION
As you consider your activity and involvement at Webster Gardens in 2008, focus in our mission statement. We are “Friends Sharing Christ” and our mission is to nurture:
- An intimate relationship with the Lord. This happens in personal quiet time and corporate worship.
- Loving relationships with each other. This happens in small groups and relational settings. You will never get to know everyone here at Webster Gardens, but all of us need Christian friends who will come alongside us, pray with us, point us to Christ, and help us as we get to know God better. When people are in relational groups, they are encouraged and receive care from others. As a result, they don’t “fall through the cracks.”
- Meaningful relationships with those who aren’t part of God’s family. This happens as we serve others and share the Gospel of Jesus with them.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2008
As we look ahead to 2008
- We will continue to see growth in our ministry with parents and young children. With the addition of Eric Gledhill to our staff and the shift of Brian King to Children’s Ministry, we are able to bring a greater focus on parents with young children.
- We will serve our community. While First Serve Saturday continues, we will also help someone in our community in March with an “Extreme Makeover.”.
- We look forward to conversations with CCLS about providing pre-school and Moms Day Out ministries for the community on our campus.
- We are excited about our missions focus in Macau China as we seek to reach people for Christ. We will be sending several members from Webster there this spring.
- We are all personally challenged to be more effective at serving the community and reaching those who don’t have a church home or aren’t yet in a relationship with Jesus. When we built our new sanctuary many of us gave sacrificially so we could make space for new people. The space has been made. Now we must go to where the people are, build relationships with them, serve them, and invite them. This is not a Field of Dreams – “build it and they will come.” This is the Kingdom of God, “Go and make disciples.”
- We must increase the number of leaders and people in ministry. Each staff person has a responsibility for growing the number of volunteers in ministry.
- We will develop disciples who are strong, generous financial givers. It is our prayer that God will give each of us grace to give at least ten percent of our income to the Lord’s work here at Webster Gardens. We celebrate how in recent weeks many people have given generously and sacrificially so that our day-to-day ministry continues.
In the pages that follow, the strategies of our congregation for 2008 are outlined. These strategies are aligned to the 5-year goals that we established in 2006 to connect 5,000 in the world and 500 in our community to Jesus in 5 years.
Connecting People to Jesus
5,000 in the world;
500 in our community in 5 years
Each of our ministry teams focus on four key words to help us as we pursue the mission of connecting people to Jesus. Strategies are developed for each word.
Attract: Bring the unchurched to an activity/event/worship service.
Connect: Enter into active membership/ covenant relationship.
Equip: Prepare to be sent.
Send: Verbalize the Gospel to the unchurched.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Ministry Plan for 2008
Staff Contact, Brian King
Ministry Team Leader, Tim McGue
ATTRACT - 250 unchurched or non-believer children to Webster Gardens.
1. Through Kingdom Quest, children will be excited and want to attend and invite their friends.
2. Family Movie Nights will expand to form a “next step” previously missing between the large “attract event” (SBA, Easter Eggstravaganza) and the connecting/equipping ministry of Kingdom Quest.
3. Begin a MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) program based on the research of our exploratory MOPS team.
4. Children’s ministry team will examine the role of Summer Bible Adventure in our church’s ministry, and will look for unique and new ways to attract more children so that they may be told the message of Jesus.
5. KQ Carnival will join the Easter Eggstravaganza as a community outreach event, as well as another holiday-related community event (along the lines of Frightless Hallowe’en or Christmas Advent-ure) to create regular “first steps” into the church.
6. HighWay skate sessions and other middle school outreach events will bring students without a church home to Webster Gardens.
CONNECT - 25 children into a new relationship with Christ.
1. Kingdom Quest shepherds will follow a plan to call every student in their group monthly, to maintain connections with member and guest families, particularly focused on disconnected families.
2. Kingdom Quest ‘We Prize Friends’ weekly drawing (for up to 3 weeks) will create a culture of consistent participation by celebrating returning guests.
3. Baptism Box ministry will expand to continue to intentionally connect families of baptized children into the faith community, meeting parents at baptism classes and seeing that they remain connected after the child’s baptism.
4. “Dad and kid” activities will focus on the relationships between fathers and young children to strengthen dads in their job as parents and connect unchurched dads into the church community.
5. Faith 101 (6-7th grade confirmation) will adopt a format where bringing friends is encouraged with the goal of connecting more unchurched students/families to the church through confirmation ministry.
EQUIP - 100 children to follow Christ and share His love
1. Equip children to share their faith with their family and friends through KQ.
2. Train ministry partners (e.g. KQ Shepherds) to connect with children and their parents, inviting them to a “next step”, and sharing their own faith in an engaging way.
3. Equip parents with worship resources for kids that help make the worship service a more meaningful experience for them.
4. Confirmation ministry will train 6-7th grade students in a clear method of sharing the Gospel and will help them identify people who don’t know Jesus.
5. Retreats and lock-ins for middle school will focus on equipping topics including praying for non-believers and answers to tough faith questions.
6. 8th graders will interview a spiritual mentor about their spiritual life, including what it means to share their faith.
SEND - 100 children to serve others and share Jesus’ story.
1. Through KQ and a summer equipping event, children will learn to identify unchurched people in their lives, share their faith and invite friends.
2. Create a visual reminder, present at Kingdom Quest, where kids can stick stories of how they and their families have witnessed to others, (a “witness wall”). This will be reinforced by shepherds celebrating students who tell stories of sharing the Gospel.
3. 6-7th graders will be accountable to their table leaders to share their faith after learning to share the Gospel in the fall.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - Develop 30 New leaders in Children’s Ministry.
1. To begin, Children’s Ministry will call every adult member at Webster Gardens to invite them to participate in Children’s Ministry, with a plan in place to immediately utilize those who volunteer.
2. Children’s Ministry volunteers will be invited to participate in the LCMS Children’s Ministry Conference in Summer of 2008.
3. Children’s Ministry will organize a trip to King of Kings in Omaha, along with other growing Sunday school ministries in the area, for further development of Kingdom Quest ministry.
4. Children’s ministry and middle school ministry leaders will spend time at meetings identifying new potential leaders and reporting on those they’ve contacted about leadership.
YOUTH MINISTRY
2008 Ministry Plan
Staff Contact, Eric Gledhill
Ministry Team Leader, Cindy Godbey
Attract- 50
What are we trying to accomplish? Provide ways in which people will get known.
Attraction will happen through the following events:
· Focus 418 - a weekly event held on Wednesday nights where there will be games, fellowship, relevant teaching, worship, and relationships formed with churched and unchurched students.
· The BIG Event - a monthly fellowship event based on the idea that an opportunity for youth to come together for a fun, safe event, will provide an environment where relationships can be built.
· Skate Competitions- (6-12th grades) several events throughout the year that will attract those interested in participating and observing these events.
· Lock-ins, Retreats, and special events – events intended to form and strengthen relationships.
Our main attract strategy is through equipped students inviting students. Students invite friends, and student leaders also contact student prospects. Youth ministry will also work with the church office to get numbers of student worship guests and contact them.
For high school students, the next step is generally Bible Class, worship participation, or regular involvement through service in an area of youth ministry. The key is that relationships would be formed at the attraction events and that students would be followed up with and invited to Connect. Every event with an “Attract” component should involve a way to get the student’s/families’ contact information. That information will be used to invite students/families to Connect.
Connect- 15
What are we trying to accomplish? People that desire a meaningful relationship with Jesus are made aware of their role and responsibility in the Kingdom.
Connection will be evaluated based on the youth’s:
· joining the Webster Gardens church family.
· becoming regularly involved in worship.
· becoming regularly involved in Sunday Bible class and/or Confirmation.
· Serving in an area of ministry (drama, event planning, video, evangelism).
· The connection will be measured through a covenant to deepen involvement in their relationship with Christ.
A new student who becomes involved in regular weekend worship would be listed as “Connected”. High school students who are regular worshippers but aren’t able to become regular “Members” will take an alternate route through a “covenant”, that indicates their belief in Jesus and commitment to growing in spiritual maturity.
Once connected, a method is in place to help young adults discover their “SHAPE” or their wiring (spiritual gifts) that will assist them in finding their niche in ministry. Knowing their spiritual wiring will lead to the best way to EQUIP them.
Equip- 60
What are we trying to accomplish? As the young adults discover what Christ desires from them and their individual abilities and passions they will take action in the Church.
Equipping will occur through the following:
High school Sunday: The main focus of this class is to equip the youth to be able to verbalize their faith through a better understanding of their role and responsibility in the Kingdom. There will be a component of relationships as well so as to testify to the “shared” responsibility of the calling on our lives to share the Gospel.
Dare 2 Share Conference- a local event held in town each February that trains and challenges the youth that attend to be able to share their faith and see their surroundings as a place “ripe for harvest”.
The focus of this stage is ACTION. This goal will refine the efforts of the Sunday morning Bible classes and off-campus opportunities that will train and equip our students to be missionaries in their schools and neighborhoods.
Those that are equipped, will be encouraged to take on leadership positions within the ministry as they have discovered their abilities and passions, and have been trained to take on those positions. Testimonies from those that are equipped will encourage the growth and maturing of others. These steps will lead these equipped youth to be SENT.
Send- 50
What are we trying to accomplish? Through the meaningful relationships that have been formed among the young people, and a growing relationship and understanding of Christ, young people that are SENT, will go and be church to those around them.
Send will occur in the following ways:
Mission Trips: both local and distant; opportunities to bring the Hope of Jesus Christ to those who need it through whatever means the trip provides.
Local service opportunities: these events may be as simple as raking leaves or helping fill boxes of food, but the emphasis will be on the youth’s ability to verbalize the Gospel in the serving.
Friends Sharing Christ: ultimately, we want young people to be able and confident to share their faith in whatever setting God has placed them. This is the goal of this ministry!
A healthy ministry will contain individuals at each stage of spiritual development. This mixture will ensure a continuous movement to further growth within the ministry.
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY (18-29 yr. olds)
2008 Ministry Plan
Staff Contact – Eric Gledhill
ATTRACT- 50
What are we trying to accomplish? Provide ways in which people will get known.
Attraction will happen through the following events:
REACH 1727: a regular weekly gathering of young adults meeting in the YaCC for worship, teaching, prayer and fellowship. This ministry is the point ministry from which most others spring.
Monthly outings: each month we take a break from the weekly gathering at the YaCC and go somewhere. Throughout the summer, we head to nearby Whitecliff Park for fun and fellowship. This is a low impact opportunity for others to bring friends to begin to form relationships with the REACH crowd.
Seasonal activities: In the fall we play in a large-scale flag football league where many people not connected yet to ministry play on the various teams. We’ll also explore a winter basketball league as well.
People that are attracted will be lead to CONNECTION by being encouraged to get involved, through relationships with others and interest and abilities, into the various ministries within the Friday night event or other outside events such as: Worship team, technology team, fellowship team, and interest groups.
Attraction happens when Christians invite others who do not yet know Christ. This is part of the intentional breakdown of who’s at REACH 1727 each week, both Christians and non-Christians. This is how those that are SENT can see their responsibility in being present at an ATTRACT event like REACH 1727 in order to connect those who do not yet know Christ to the ministry.
CONNECT- 20
What are we trying to accomplish? People that desire a meaningful relationship with Jesus are made aware of their role and responsibility in the Kingdom.
Connection will be evaluated based on young adults either joining in church membership (perhaps not Webster Gardens) and/or being baptized.
Once connected, a method is in place to help young adults discover their “SHAPE” or their wiring (spiritual gifts) that will assist them in finding their niche in ministry. Knowing their spiritual wiring will lead to the best way to EQUIP them.
EQUIP- 30
What are we trying to accomplish? As the young adults discover what Christ desires from them and their individual abilities and passions they will take action in the Church.
Equipping will occur through the following:
Small Groups: Equipping will continue to occur through the several small groups that are already occurring within this ministry. More will be grown throughout the coming year. In these small groups, the small group coordinator will track what each group is discussing and the status of those involved.
Retreats: In the past, we have taken a winter retreat where peer evangelism was the focus. It was a tremendous blessing to all that attended based on participant responses. We studied through Bill Hybel’s, “Just Walk Across the Room” curriculum.
Online Bible Study: In order to better connect to and train our college students that are physically disconnected from the church, a weekly Bible study that will occur in an Internet chat room, run by the point person, will be launched this year. Information will be sent out a week in advance, and then at a designated time, a live discussion over the Internet, will enable our college students (and anyone online) to join in a relevant discussion on the subject at hand.
Those that are equipped, will be encouraged to take on leadership positions within the ministry as they have discovered their abilities and passions, and have been trained to take on those positions. They will be encouraged to carry out ministry genesis of their own (creating ministries based on their particular gifts). Testimonies from those that are equipped will encourage the growth and maturing of others. These steps will lead these young equipped adults to be SENT.
SEND- 20
What are we trying to accomplish? Through the meaningful relationships that have been formed among the young people, and a growing relationship and understanding of Christ, young people that are SENT, will go and be church to those around them.
Send will occur in the following ways:
1st serve Saturdays: In an ongoing way each month, young adults are encouraged and enabled to serve people in their immediate environment. Verbalizing the Gospel in word and action will be the difference between being sent and an attraction event.
International Student ministries: Assisting in the connection and serving of the international student ministry, young adults will have the opportunity to share the Gospel with those that have not yet been reached.
Mission trips: Both local and distant; opportunities to bring the Hope of Jesus Christ to those that need it through what ever means the trip provides.
Friends Sharing Christ: Ultimately, we want young adults to be able and confident to share their faith in whatever setting God has placed them. This is the goal of this ministry!
A regular encouragement through testimonies and stories will boost those in this ministry to reach those that do not yet know Christ with the saving Gospel.
A healthy ministry will contain individuals at each stage of spiritual development. This mixture will ensure a continuous movement to further growth within the ministry.
ADULT MINISTRY
2008 Ministry Plan
Staff Contact, Chad Starfeldt
Ministry Team Leader, Colette Brasier
(L)eadership Development
- 1 “Turbo Small Group” will train people to lead a small group and then the group will split up after 2-3 months to begin their own groups. (Starting in Jan.)
- 1 or 2 Discipleship Essentials triads will be trained and then split to lead 4 Discipleship Essentials Triads. (Starting in Jan.)
- Build an Adult Ministry Team: We will expand the Adult Ministry team beyond Colette Braiser and Chad Starfeldt to a team of at least 3 more people.
Attract
- Sunday morning worship guests will continue to be one of the largest attract ministries.
- Fall Small Group Campaign will attract 20 unchurched people into small groups. (September and October)
- Support Groups: Divorce Care & Grief Share will attract 10 unchurched people.
- Building on Ministries we already have that meet a need:
- “Grief Hurts” Saturday Morning Event leading into Grief Share (January)
- “Divorce Hurts” Saturday Morning Event leading into Divorce Care (February)
- “Before You Marry” Saturday Morning Event leading into Love & Respect Marriage Group (March)
- Lutheran Hour Parenting Workshop leading into a small group (April)
- “Faith In Action Day” – Huge First Serve Saturday Day leading into Regular First Serve Saturday Ministries (October
Connect
- Christian Maturity Classes (101, 201, 301, 401, 501) will lead people towards membership and a mature faith in Jesus Christ.
- Connection Partners Ministry will follow up with worship guests through building relationships ultimately leading them toward connection into membership, Bible class, small groups and ministry.
- Fall Small Group Campaign will connect regular attendees into the Webster Gardens Family through small groups.
Equip
- Biermann Evangelism training – Pastor Biermann will be doing some evangelism training again for Connection Partners and others.
- DWG Class: Evangelism Class – Every new member class has a session on sharing your faith. (May, Aug., Dec.)
- Discipleship Essentials: Evangelism Session – There will be a few people trained through the session in Discipleship Essentials on Evangelism and sharing your faith.
Send
- Groups Ablaze will equip people to lead their own small groups that are evangelistic in nature. This is a six week training.
- 1st Serve Saturday – Will continue to send small groups of people into our community to work on homes of people in need and sharing their faith as well.
We could use support from these specialized ministry teams in these areas:
- Human Care for 1st Serve Saturday follow up
- Evangelism for training the Connection Partners and others to share their faith.
- Connection Teams for the Connections Partner Ministry and the Christian Maturity process and membership.
OLDER ADULT MINISTRY (60+)
Ministry Plan for 2008
Staff Contact, Pastor Dan Teuscher
Ministry Team Leaders, Ann Pooker and Vickie Svaglic
Attract:
10 unchurched residents from the Crestview Senior Living Apartments to our Sr Fellowship Group and to Worship Services.
5 unchurched seniors to participate in our Grief and Loss programs through personal invitation and media blitz.
5 unchurched seniors to attend one or more remaining sessions of our retirement planning seminar through personal invitation and media blitz
2 unchurched seniors being served by our 1st Serve Saturday program.
2 unchurched persons through personal invitations to our Homes For the Holidays event.
Connect:
4 unchurched residents from the Crestview Senior Living apartments through personal contact and relationship building.
2 unchurched seniors from those participation in our Grief and Loss programs through personal follow-up and relationship building.
1 unchurched senior being served by our 1st Serve Saturday through personal follow-up and relationship building.
EQUIP
8 senior members to become a friend and mentor to unchurched residents of the Crestview Senior Living apartments.
2 senior members to become a friend and mentor to unchurched participants in our Grief and Loss.
3 senior members to develop a close relationship with the unchurched seniors being served by our 1st Serve Saturday ministry.
20 senior members by providing tips, helps and encouragement 2 or more times throughout the year for our Drivers so they can more easily share their faith in their Transportation Ministry with the Shepherd’s Center and CORP
35 members by providing tips, helps and encouragement to share their faith with those who they serve at the Ronald McDonald House
2 senior members to receive training for working with older adults.
16 committee members through the subscription renewal in the Christian Association Serving Adult Ministries and Significant Living to receive instructive materials and information for more effective ministry to, with, and by older adults.
Send:
3 senior members to share their life and faith with the unchurched participants in the Grief and Loss groups.
3 senior members to develop a close relationship with the unchurched seniors being served by our 1st Serve Saturday ministry.
35 members to serve the unchurched and others through the Ronald McDonald House and share their faith in Jesus.
10 senior members to serve as guides and provide transportation for the blind and share their faith with those they serve.
20 Drivers into the community to share their faith in their Transportation ministry with the Shepherd’s Center and CORP.
Other Step Strategies to Support the Above Outlined Strategies:
- Develop and implement a Senior CareLine Ministry communicating regularly with those seniors not involved in our senior Fellowship Group.
- Plan 2 or more (Living Room) events primarily for those over 50 years age.
- Continue to partner with CORP, the Shepherd’s Center, and the Mayor of Webster Groves’ Senior Roundtable to address the needs of older adults in our congregation and community.
- Partner with other Ministry Teams when people 60 years of age and older are involved.
CONNECTIONS TEAM
2008 Ministry Plan
Staff Contact, Chad Starfeldt
Ministry Team Leader, Steve Gaertner
1. Continue to connect 100% of our new members (DWG graduates) with the people, ministries and activities of The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens. During the connection process, equip each of them with an understanding of their spiritual gifts, personality characteristics, and areas of potential service to Christ, His church and the unchurched. Send each of them on specific paths of spiritual growth and service in the WG church family and beyond.
The strategies are established for accomplishing this goal. However, we need to focus on:
- Recruitment and involvement of additional team members to avoid placing burdensome workloads on a few.
- Review and improvement of administrative procedures in the pre DWG to membership process.
- Integrating the existing strategies with those developed in support of the Connection Partner process.
2. Continue with implementation of the Connection Partner Process. Expand CP capabilities so that by the end of the year, 50% or more of our new members arrive at New Member Sunday via the CP process. Equip additional connection partners, so that 50 or more members are actively involved by the end of the year. Using feedback from the initial cadre of connection partners, simplify and clarify CP procedures and guidance by mid year.
3. Review and redefine as needed, the role of Connection Ministry Team members. Determine the roles and responsibilities of the core team members vs. connection partners. Consider opportunities for leadership development of team members, specifically through training mentoring and managing groups of connection partners.
4. Explore opportunities for connecting and working with other ministry teams to more effectively utilize resources and accomplish goals. In consideration of previously stated goals to expand the Connection Partner process, specifically seek opportunities with Evangelism, Hospitality, Spiritual Life and Small Group leaders.
5. Explore options for including the Connection Partner process in various WG outreach events and among all demographic groups.
6. Explore options for institutionalizing connection partner activity by all equipped members in all worship services, rather than scheduling individuals for specific duty. This includes equipping people to serve as CP's for friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc. that they bring to WG.
EVANGELISM MINISTRY TEAM
Ministry Plan 2008
Staff Contact, Pastor Joel Biermann
1. Provide at least one quarterly personal evangelism training session for the Discipleship Ministry team.
2. Develop and implement a process for following-up with the members of LCWG who provided names of people they knew who needed to hear the Gospel.
3. Provide individuals equipped to confidently share their faith (Those trained using Pass It On) to be used as needed by Connections Partners as they strive to make the Gospel known to worship guests.
4. Explore ways that LCWG can integrate her outreach efforts with district and synodical emphases—especially the movement dubbed ABLAZE!
5. Serve as an advocate for the centrality of the task of evangelism in the life of the church, thus encouraging all groups to remember that the outcome of each Christian’s faith is the lively proclamation of his or her hope in Christ.
HUMAN CARE/PARISH HEALTH
Ministry Plan 2008
Staff Contact, Rita Moss
Ministry Team Leader, Rita Moss
As an adjunctive ministry team our goal and purpose is to support the core ministries. We support people in both the congregation and the community, serving God’s people. By reaching out to both members and non-members, we provide credibility to being the church of Acts. Given due time and appropriate notice, we are available to help any ministry team meet their goals and strategies.
In 2008, we plan to:
- Grow the reserve fund that assists those in crisis situations in our congregation and in the community so there are funds available to assist greater numbers of people in need.
- Host a clothing/coat drive to minister to those in need in the community.
- Grow the food pantry; develop a leader to coordinate that ministry.
- Be available as a resource and provide other resources for those in need in the congregation and in our community.
We further plan to work with the CORE ministry teams as follows:
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
- Provide health info to Sprouts during Greenhouse
- Provide first aid at events
- Baptism class
YOUTH
- As needed for youth events
YOUNG ADULT
- Single Mom ministry
- ESL available
ADULT MINISTRY
- Mother’s Day event
- Nurses for Newborns
- ESL—new American church service
- Coat drive
- Food drive
SENIORS
- Assisting with retirement seminars
- Lunch with the Nurses—great opportunity for connection
- Grief and Loss
- Medical Moments with Senior Fellowship
MISSIONS MINISTRY TEAM
Ministry Plan 2008
Staff Contact, Pastor Joel Christiansen
Ministry Team Leader, Pastor Jim Lange
In order to commit people to Jesus, the Missions Ministry Team will have as its goal for 2008 the development of “mission” attitudes and actions in every member of the congregation, so that members are able to learn about, pray for, and participate in 8 key mission endeavors throughout the year.
We read in Acts 1:8, “But you are to receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The names in this passage give our congregation the quadrants of the entire witness responsibility.
Quadrant I: Jerusalem (witnessing at our home base)
This is the province of the Evangelism Team
Quadrant II: Judea (witnessing in territory nearby)
Three key areas close to home
A. Jefferson Hills Lutheran Church
- This team will publicize news about, seek support for and encourage attendance at Jefferson Hills Lutheran Church (JHLC).
- Arrange to have those members who are serving and helping at Jefferson Hills Lutheran Church offer testimonials from time to time about what Jesus is doing at Jefferson Hills.
- Choose a Sunday for a JHLC pastor to preach at LCWG.
- Make JHLC one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
- Choose two months for JHLC to be emphasized in the Bible classes and supported by Bible Class offerings
B. Good Samaritan Services
- This team will develop the interest of young adults in claiming Good Samaritan Home as a project for them to maintain and upgrade.
- Regularly publicize the activity which Good Sam helpers are doing.
- Arrange for Sunday morning testimonial(s) of the outreach accomplished at Good Sam by a congregation member(s) serving there.
- Make Good Samaritan Services one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
- Choose two months for Good Sam to be emphasized in the Bible classes and supported by Bible Class offerings.
C. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hyde Park Neighborhood
- This team will seek to learn from Rev. John Schmidtke how LCWG members can help take Jesus to the neighborhood every month of the year
- Regularly publicize what is happening at Bethlehem to make Jesus known in the community.
- Arrange a date for Rev. Schmidtke to preach at LGWG
- Make Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hyde Park one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
- Choose two months for Bethlehem to be emphasized in the Bible classes and supported by Bible Class offerings.
Quadrant III. Samaria (witnessing in nearby special people groups)
Three key areas in other cultures close to home
A. International Student Ministry, St. Louis
- This team will make prominent in the congregation the mission and work and of ISM, St. Louis and the efforts of WGLC members currently involved in ISM, St. Louis.
- Regularly publicize the mission of ISM, St. Louis
- Arrange for Sunday morning testimonial(s) by ISM, St. Louis directors, scholars or students of what Jesus means.
- Perhaps have one of ISM St. Louis’ pastor Board Members to peach at LGWG.
- Make ISM, St. Louis one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
- Choose two months for ISM, St. Louis to be emphasized in the Bible classes and supported by Bible Class offerings.
B. Light of Christ Chinese Mission
- Kurt and Karen Rolland are continuing the parenting class “Growing Kids God’s Way” at the Immanuel, Olivette, MO church where the Chinese Mission is located. It is their 3rd parenting class with Chinese people. This ministry under Pastor Shaw is a thriving one.
- Regularly publicize the mission of Light of Christ Chinese Mission (LCCM)
- Plan for representatives of LCCM to offer Sunday morning testimonials.
- Make LCCM one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
- Choose two months for LCCM to be emphasized in the Bible classes and supported by Bible Class offerings.
C. Lutheran Blind Mission
- With Rev. David Andrus and other blind people in the area, we have a ready resource and reason for promoting work among the Blind. It is a viable ministry and one that our members have previously embraced.
- Regularly publicize the ministry of Rev. Andrus and Lutheran Blind Mission.
- Have a Sunday morning speaker from Lutheran Blind Mission talk about the mission.
- Make Lutheran Blind Mission one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
- Choose two months for Lutheran Blind Mission to be emphasized in the Bible classes and supported by Bible Class offerings.
Quadrant IV. Ends of the earth (witnessing afar)
Two key areas at earth’s ends
A. Ablaze!
- This team will embrace and promote the Ablaze! initiative in the congregation.
- Engage a Synodical representative to preach an Ablaze! sermon on a designated Sunday.
- Carry Ablaze! articles each month in LCWG’s publications.
- Arrange Ablaze! Articles each month in LCWG’s publications.
- Make Ablaze! one of the choices which members commit to praying for, serving and supporting throughout the year.
B. Macau and Jiangmen, China
- This team arranged for a group to participate in a mission trip to these two areas.
- Arrange for the congregation to learn more of the ministry happening in these places through visual presentations before and after the mission trip and through testimonials by those visiting the areas.
- This is a good Kingdom Quest emphasis.
- Prayed about and embraced by WGLC’s members and church attendees.
Another idea that the Missions Team is encouraged to carry out is one supplied by Pastor Christiansen based on something he read recently from Rick Warren. It is to use commitment cards. On the card we ask members to write down four mission endeavors they commit to praying for, serving in some way, if possible, supporting and encouraging throughout the year. The card is returned to us bearing a signature of the person making the commitment. We record the information, laminate the card and return it to that person to carry in his/her card wallet as a reminder. We could set a goal (400?) for the number of people making a commitment and chart our success in reaching that goal.
No doubt we should connect with the Evangelism Team in regard to quadrant I material and the commitment card.
Bible Class emphases and offerings will be for 6 of the 8 mission endeavors noted above. Both a monthly emphasis and a bi-monthly emphasis for mission offerings were considered, and bi-monthly won out when it seemed that offerings should be for our key mission endeavors. Since both Ablaze! and China support will receive congregational emphasis, the remaining 6 will be emphasized as follows:
January and February Good Samaritan Services
March and April Jefferson Hills Lutheran Church
May and June Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hyde Park
July and August Lutheran Blind Mission
September and October International Student Ministry, St. Louis
November and December Light of Christ Chinese Mission
It is hoped that when these mission endeavors are emphasized, a broader audience than those folks in Bible Class might be given to them.
MUSIC AND WORSHIP
Ministry Plan 2008
Staff Contact, Joel Hieber
- Develop a video team and mentor a leader for the team. Videos will be used to enhance worship. In conjunction with the development of a video team, it is a goal to develop space for a permanent editing bay on site.
- Expand the praise teams to include brass to enhance worship and to grow the teams to 4 teams, staffed by completely different people. Currently, there is some cross-over of teams. Each team would lead worship one week out of every four weeks and would be able to worship with their families three weeks out of every four.
- Adult Choir to host concerts (at least two internal-driven) and one outside group here at LCWG to be focused on outreach to our community. An additional goal of these concerts will be to strengthen our position of excellence in arts in the community.
- Children’s Choirs – Grow the current children’s choirs. There are currently two choirs. The youngest choir is singing four times this school year; the older choir, seven times this year. Expand their visibility and involvement in worship to once a month for one or the other of the children’s choirs.
- Grow Hospitality Ministry – Critically review communion process with goal of improving it to the point where it is a smooth, simple process. Increase the number of people on each hospitality team to 12, including at least one teenager on each team.
PROPERTIES MINISTRY TEAM
Ministry Plan 2008
Staff Contact, Edie Grieshaber
Ministry Team Leader, Lloyd Pooker
As a supporting ministry team, the Properties Team will continue to work with core and other supporting ministry teams, as well as Christ Community Lutheran School, to review facility space as it relates to current and future ministry needs and is consistent with the congregational vision.
Attract
- The Properties Team will provide and maintain safe, clean, attractive facilities to support the mission/goals of the congregation. These specific areas will be addressed in 2008:
- Seek bids and contract for the installation of a lawn sprinkler system so that appropriate and attractive landscaping may be accomplished.
- Replace HVAC and roof at the YaCC to insure that the space can continue to be used for ministry to youth, adults, and the community.
- Cover the peeling and unattractive wood fascia on the exterior of the educational wing to make the facilities more attractive and maintenance-free.
- To make the facilities safer and more attractive, upgrade interior lighting in north hallway between the Nursery and restrooms and put VCT flooring on the concrete flooring on the lower level.
- Continue to support and oversee the work of committees responsible for the unfinished MRFM projects (i.e., stained glass committee, liturgical art committee, etc.).
Connect
The Properties Team will encourage young adults/adults to become connected into the life and ministry of the congregation by using their gifts and talents to serve on the Properties Team and/or helping to maintain and care for the property that God has given to us. This will be accomplished by:
- Extending personal invitations to partner in the stewardship of the building and property by either assuming leadership roles or partnering in the hands-on ministry of the team.
- Sponsoring work day events to connect with those people who have a passion to use their gifts and talents in the stewardship of God’s property.
Equip
The Properties Team will identify, recruit, and mentor at least one prospective future leader to serve on the Properties Team.
Send
The Properties Team will serve the community by partnering with 1st Serve Saturday ministry, sharing a verbal witness to those who are being served.
SPIRITUAL LIFE MINISTRY TEAM
Ministry Plan 2008
Staff Contact, Pastor Joel Christiansen
Ministry Team Leader, Dr. Keith Odegard
Our ministry: We are spiritual leaders impacting people’s lives and encouraging them in their walk with the Lord. We do this by building Christ-centered relationships, praying for and with our people, and inviting them to participate in the life and ministry of the congregation. We assist the pastor in providing appropriate spiritual care.
Our Goal: All Webster Gardens adult members not in a small group receive a monthly contact from a spiritual life ministry partner. This contact is to build relationships, invite a closer walk with Jesus and maintain and grow LCWG connections as friends sharing Christ!
Attract: We indirectly attract members by maintaining a caring commitment to our current membership. We want to prevent “back door losses” from LCWG and disconnections from Jesus because a member doesn’t feel recognized, significant, or connected to our congregation.
Connect: Our ministry is relational.
- We will have face-to-face conversations with our people.
- We will contact our people monthly, in person, on the phone, through e-mail or regular mail
- We will focus our conversations on spiritual matters, prayer, a Bible verse, and opportunities at WG
- We will set and help move our people toward a spiritual goal of their choosing.
- We will place our strongest efforts on those members who have been with us less than two years
Equip: Team leads will concentrate on supporting the partners, who do the majority of the ministry. We want to:
- Continue to recruit and train new partners of the SLMT; goal is five new partners and one new lead.
- Have ongoing quarterly gatherings to share stories, build our own relationships, and discover more techniques to improve our connections to Jesus and to others.
- Provide a monthly “Cue Sheet” to help provide Bible passage ideas, conversation starters, and LCWG highlights to make calls easier.
- Teach all of us to share our faith more clearly and easily with special training from Pastor Biermann.
Send: Our “customers” are the members of LCWG not in small groups. Some of these folks are frequently missing Sunday services and fellowship and may not be growing in their relationship to Jesus. Our goal is to let these people feel the love of Christ in our congregation so the Holy Spirit can draw them into a closer relationship with Him.
FINANCIAL PLAN
|
|
|
2007
|
|
CORE Ministry: |
|
|
|
Children’s Ministry |
$ 12,600 |
$ 23,000 |
|
Youth Ministry |
14,250 |
17,900 |
|
Young Adult Ministry |
3,700 |
3,000 |
|
Adult Ministry |
3,500 |
7,500 |
|
Senior Adult Ministry |
3,155 |
3,655 |
|
|
|
|
|
Supporting Ministry: |
|
|
|
Connections |
2,000 |
2,156 |
|
Evangelism |
2,400 |
3,400 |
|
Human Care |
3,425 |
3,225 |
|
Missions |
78,000 |
72,000 |
|
Spiritual Life |
500 |
500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ad Hoc Ministry: |
|
|
|
Worship |
5,450 |
11,200 |
|
TOTAL |
$128,980 |
$147,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
Christian Discipleship--Schools: |
|
|
|
CCLS |
415,670 |
399,683 |
|
LHSS |
33,600 |
40,360 |
|
Financial Aid |
15,000 |
30,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$464,270 |
$470,043 |
|
Salaries and Benefits |
$641,121 |
$624,810 |
|
Office Operating/Worship Support |
$ 52,350 |
$ 57,250 |
|
Properties/Mortgage |
$453,075 |
$536,700 |
|
TOTAL BUDGET 2007/2008 |
$1,739,796 |
$1,836,339 |
|
ANTICIPATED OFFERINGS |
$1,630,807 |
$1,735,877 |
|
CCLS BUILDING USAGE AND OTHER INCOME |
108,989 |
100,462 |
|
|
$1,739,796 |
$1,836,339 |
|
Increase in Giving Over Anticipated 2007 |
$130,338 |
|
November 2007
FAQs Sheet
1. The 2008 budget shows an increase of $130,338 or an 8.7% increase over expected budgeted giving for 2007. How was the bottom line number developed?
At the end of October, giving for 2007 was up more than 8% over giving for the same period in 2006. That 8 percent increase was applied to the 2006 actual year-end giving figure, which resulted in an anticipated year-end giving total for 2007. Assuming that the rate of giving will continue to increase at the rate of 8 percent during 2008, another 8 percent was added to get an anticipated giving figure for 2008. The final budget figure for 2008 is an adjusted total of anticipated giving for 2008, other income (room rental, interest income), and the facility usage fee paid by CCLS.
2. What is the process for developing the budget?
Early in the fall ministry teams were asked to develop plans for 2008 as well as budgets to support those plans. In addition, budget information was gathered from LHSA and CCLS regarding 2008 education costs and from Concordia Plans regarding the 2008 cost of fringe benefits for employees. All the data was put together into a draft budget with no adjustments and was then submitted to the Board of Directors. After reviewing that first draft of the budget, the Board requested a revision. The reason was that the percentage of increase over the previous year was too high. Subsequently, leaders were asked to review their budget requests again, and some cuts were made. The Board established the final budget based on the revised budget requests, known expenses, and anticipated giving. The attached 2008 proposed budget was approved by the Board of Directors at their November meeting. It will be on the agenda for the December 2 congregational meeting.
3. What are the major areas of the budget? (See pie chart)
| Ministry Teams |
$128,980
|
7.41%
|
| Christian Discipleship—Schools |
$464,270
|
26.69%
|
| Salaries and Benefits |
$641,121
|
36.85%
|
| Properties |
$283,075
|
16.27%
|
| Mortgage |
$170,000
|
9.77%
|
| Office Operating and Worship |
$ 52,350
|
3.01%
|
4. Cuts were made in the proposed budget. What were some of the most significant cuts?
Interest only payment on mortgage for one year
Reduction in part-time personnel
Reduction in properties
Roof/HVAC work on YaCC. HVAC equipment at YaCC is very old and could fail at any time. It is not good stewardship to continue repairing that equipment. If the equipment fails during 2008 and needs to be replaced, there will be holes in the roof where existing equipment is removed, making it necessary to repair or replace the roof. While the total cost of roof replacement and new HVAC equipment is anticipated to be as much as $60,000, that amount was reduced in the hope that only a partial replacement of the roof will be necessary and/or that some of the work could be done by volunteer servants. Other reductions to the Properties budget were made such as the expense of grass cutting. The plan is for the grass to be cut by volunteer servants.
5. How is CCLS funded?
CCLS is an association school. It receives funding from each of the five association congregations. In 2005, the CCLS Board adopted a plan that changed the way that the association churches support the school. Instead of paying a per student cost to CCLS, a more level cost for each of the congregations went into effect beginning in January of 2006. The cost to the congregations increased 4 percent for calendar year 2007 and is set to increase by 4 percent for calendar year 2008. Parents make up most of the difference in the per student cost with their tuition payments to CCLS. CCLS pays a facility usage fee to Webster Gardens based on an agreement that was developed in 1996 and was revised in 2005 to be more in line with the consumer price index for all urban consumers in the Midwest region.
6. What is our debt? Our mortgage payment? Over how many years?
The outstanding balance on the building loan is $2,602,646. There was $210,000 put into the budget for mortgage payments in 2007. The actual cost of principal and interest in 2007 will be approximately $245,000. The amount of the payments that are over and above what is in the budget have come directly from the building fund account. The loan is amortized over 20 years, and the interest rate is locked in for 10 years.
7. Why is there such a large operating deficit this year?
The budget is developed each year before all the year-end contributions and expenses are in. Last year at this time, we adopted a budget for 2007 that called for a 10.03% increase over the giving needed to fund the 2006 budget. We did not receive the gifts that were needed to fund the budget in 2006. As a result there was a much larger gap (20%) between actual gifts received in 2006 and gifts needed to fund this year’s budget. While giving for 2007 is up, the percentage of increase is not 20%. Historically for our congregation, when giving has been significantly less than what was budgeted, expenses have also been less than was budgeted. In 2007, however, we have had higher than anticipated expenses, especially in some areas of our budget. For example, we have had higher than anticipated repair expense for aging HVAC and other equipment in the building.
8. Do we have a cash flow problem?
Currently we do not have a cash flow problem. We are “borrowing” from other designated funds when necessary to cover operating expenses.
9. How much do we have in total designated accounts? How is it broken down?
We have $685,000 designated in four groups of accounts as follows:
1 - Lutheran Witness, KFUO, special Mission collections, etc.
2 - CCLS Financial Aid, Congregational Care, MRFM, Stained Glass Windows, etc.
3 - Memorials
4 - Endowment Fund, Parish Nurse Endowment Fund
10. What are the capital campaign projects? How were/are they funded?
Our two capital campaigns, Growing! Give God the Glory! and Making Room for More have been funded through pledged and unpledged donations that have come from our members as well as donations from guests.
11. What have been the results of the two capital campaigns?
We received $2.1M in pledges for our first capital campaign, Growing! Give God the Glory! That campaign began in June of 2001 and ended in June of 2004. Over $2.22M of donations were collected for Growing! Give God the Glory! Our second three-year campaign, Making Room for More, began in June of 2004 and ended in June of 2007. We received $1.8M in pledges for that campaign. To date, more that $1.844M in donations have been made.
12. Are gifts still being given to Making Room for More? What happens to those gifts?
Yes. Pledged and unpledged gifts are still being given to Making Room for More. Unless the gifts are designated for a specific project like stained glass windows or the outdoor sign, the gifts go into the building account. One third is used for projects that were not completed, and the other two thirds is used to pay the mortgage as well as additional principal payments on the loan. If gifts are designated for a specific project like stained glass windows, they are placed into a separate designated account to be used exclusively for that project.
13. As a result of the financial challenges we are experiencing in 2007, has the budgeting process changed for the 2008 budget?
Yes. A budget that is developed using actual numbers rather than budgeted numbers provides a more accurate financial blueprint for ministry for the year. Because the budget is developed in October and November each year, it is impossible to use actual giving information for the current year. As a result, the actual giving figure for 2006 was used as the starting point for developing the 2008 budget.
