Convention Workbook

The first in a national series of evangelism
conferences, Lutheran Hour Ministries
(LHM) co-sponsored with our District the
Regional Outreach Conference (ROC) held in
Tempe. It was so well received that we will
co-sponsor a second ROC in early 2013 in the
Los Angeles area. Participants were moved to
action by the major presenters and workshop
leaders. We also work with LHM in
MISSION U, a witnessing-training program.
Both Faith in Vista and Christ the King in
Newbury Park have hosted this ongoing
program.
The 72-Partners on the Road is a Synodical
Program of partnering with congregations to
begin, enhance or expand their ministry to
reach those who do not know Jesus Christ as
their Savior and Lord. Trained teams come to
the congregation, develop a plan with the
leadership, and do the training. Our District,
a partner with the 72, is blessed to have five
trained volunteers. Congregations that have
participated are Grace in Banning, Shepherd
of the Valley in Oceanside, Christ the
Redeemer and St. Paul’s in Phoenix, and Light
of the Valley in Valley Center. Additional
resources can be found on the District
Website in outreach section.
In faithfulness to our mission of “resourcing
congregations and schools to fulfill the Great
Commission”, I have visited and consulted
with congregations regarding planning. These
include Lift High the Cross in Alpine, Light of
Life in Bermuda Dunes, Rock of Ages in
Sedona, and Life in Christ in Peoria. Other
visits and consultations have included
evaluation and assessment using the Natural
Church Development (NCD) process with
Trinity in Temecula.
Region Mission Facilitators
Teaming the Call is a process used when the
Pastoral Office has been vacated, and the
congregation is anxious to fill the position.
President Stoterau, the Circuit Counselor, and
I do a meeting with the congregation to
explain the process of calling a new pastor,
connecting with the Circuit Counselor, and
the congregation does a survey under my
direction. The surveys are then scored and a
summary report is written and presented to
the congregation. Since the 42 nd Convention
the process has been done at Fountain of Life
in Sun City, St. Paul’s in Holtville, Shepherd
of the Hills in Yuma, St. Luke’s in Mesa,
Atonement in Spring Valley, and Good
Shepherd in Yucaipa. We have found the
process gives direction to the congregation in
calling their Pastor, prepares them for a new
chapter in their history, and helps them to
reshape their ministry. Once the new pastor
has arrived, they are visited, and invited to the
New Pastor Orientation, offered annually at
the District Office.
Many of our congregations are shrinking in
size because of aging of the members,
relocations, being called to glory, and
sometimes a disconnect with the changing
community. My task is to find ways to help
them either individually or corporately to look
out to “the fields that are ripe for the
harvest”. Connecting with the community,
our neighbors, our fellow workers, our
friends, and even sometimes our family, is the
calling we all share. And it is a joyful calling!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Gary Norton, Regional Mission Facilitator
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