ELCA Congregations Reach Out in Small Towns

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