Convention Workbook

Report from Mr. Gary Norton Regional
Mission Facilitator Region 3 and the
Arizona portion of Region 4
“Proclaiming the Mysteries of God” is the
assignment of the Church, carried out in ways
that connect those who know and believe to
those who do not yet know. In the Pacific
Southwest District we do the proclaiming
through congregations acting separately and
cooperatively in a regional and district
structure. This report outlines ways, since the
42 nd Convention of three year ago, I have
encouraged, trained and supported such
proclaiming in Region Three and the Arizona
part of Region Four.
Since the 42 nd Convention I have had the
privilege of supporting the work of both
Region Three Mission Council and Region
Four Mission Council. You will find reports
from each of the Chairpersons serving in
another part of this Convention Workbook.
The volunteers who serve on each of the
Regional Mission Councils demonstrate
faithfulness to the task, good stewardship of
funds donated by our congregations, and
strong missional hearts. They have to make
difficult decisions with very limited resources,
yet they carry out the task with cheerfulness
and resolve, bathed in prayer. In support of
the Regional Mission Councils decisions I
regularly visit the mission grant recipients,
worship with them, and review their quarterly
reports.
“Healthy Connections” is a process developed
in our District to help smaller congregations
to develop a vision for connecting with their
community and revitalizing their ministry.
The process best works when three
congregations work together, each developing
Region Mission Facilitators
their own vision. Each congregation forms a
team of five members, including the President
and the Pastor. In the evaluations done at the
end of session five, the participants have
consistently given high ratings to the
experience and the value of sessions with
other congregations. The congregations who
have participated are Beautiful Savior in
Tempe, St. Paul’s and King of Kings in
Phoenix, Messiah in Buena Park, Prince of
Peace in Anaheim, First in Ventura, Lutheran
Church of Our Redeemer in Ojai, Faith in
Moorpark, St. Paul in Agoura Hills, Redeemer
in Thousand Oaks, St. Paul’s, Vietnamese and
Good News Korean in Garden Grove, Christ
the Cornerstone in Mira Mesa, Mt. Olive in
Poway, and Shepherd of the Valley in
Oceanside.
“Faith Aflame 360” is a stewardship process
aimed to develop a whole-life stewardship
culture in a congregation. The author is
Wayne Knolhoff, the Synodical Director of
Stewardship. He has twice come to our
District to lead congregations in an
introductory session. Of those who have
attended the sessions, Pilgrim in Chula Vista,
Hosanna in Mesa and Life in Christ in Peoria
have committed to using year one. More of
the introductory sessions will be held in 2012.
On the topic of stewardship resources, many
congregations have used LCEF’s Consecrated
Stewards and the three programs included.
Other resources are listed in the resources and
forms section of the District Website (psdlcms.org).
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