Pastors - Central Illinois District - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Telling The Good News About Jesus 5LLL ConventionThe Central Illinois District will host the86th International Convention of theInternational Lutheran Laymen’s League,July 17-20, at the Peoria Civic Center.John McBride, Chairman of theConvention Committee, says the CentralIllinois District of the Lutheran Laymen’sLeague is hard at work preparing for thebest-ever Convention.The 86th International Convention isdrawing people from around the worldto become energized for the great workour Lord has entrusted to us. It is a timefor worship, planning, sharing and renewalfor people from all walks of life; a comingtogether of our brothers and sistersin Christ.Thursday evening the convention willopen with the occasion of receivingboth His Word and His precious Bodyand Blood as we gather for the DivineService. Saturday evening the arena willoverflow with God’s message of salvationin Scripture and song as all who attend“God’s Grace In Peoria. . .A CelebrationEvent” will be taken on a journey of faiththrough the Christian life and experience.This exciting service will feature Scripturereadings and brief meditationsinterspersed with some of the greatesthymns of the Church, including “TheChurch’s One Foundation”, “A MightyFortress”, and “Crown Him With ManyCrowns”. The Rev. Ken Klaus, Speakerfor Lutheran Hour Ministries, will givea longer meditation.The Friday combined luncheon formen and women will feature well-knownPastors’ Wives Retreatdramatist, musician, speaker and author,Dr. Jeffery E. Burkart, presenting adramatic retelling of the “Parable of theSower” in music and drama. Dr. Burkart,is the author of the book “The HiddenPrince”, and has produced many otherbooks for the LLL as well as music forthe LWML.Friday and Saturday breakfast speakersinclude Phyliss Wallace, Rev John Nunes,Dr. Oswald Hoffman and Dr. Robertand Mrs Gonzalez. The Friday eveningLLL Family Night is loaded with funand inspiration. The evening will beginwith a root’n-toot’n country buffet.Motivational speaker, Ken Davis andfriends, will perform. Following KenDavis and Friends, a concert will begiven by Echelon.Friday afternoon seminar speakers willpresent seminars to help us grow in faithand provide ways we can be of serviceto others:Dr. Paul Maier: Christianity –Defending the FaithDr. Reed Lessing: Defining Judaism –A key that Clarifies the BibleDr. Roland Miller: Discovering Islam –Sharing ChristThe Rev. Art Simmons: “Equipping theSaints” for EvangelismRuth Koch: Christian Conflict ResolutionDr. Richard Bimler: Live a Healthy andHappy Life in the Lord!The Annual CID Pastors’ Wives Retreat will be October 3-4 at Camp CILCA with thetheme being “To Be Content.” Elaine Bickel from Millington, MI, is the speaker andthe Bible Study leader. Plan now to attend.Issues the ConventionWill FaceSixteen overtures were submitted to the54th Regular Convention of the CentralIllinois District, by District boards,circuits, circuit forums and congregations.Overtures submitted to the Missions,Evangelism and Human Care Committeeencourage the support of the ministry ofLutheran Child and Family Services ofIllinois and to continue the “Tell the GoodNews About Jesus” in every congregation.The Theology and Administrationcommittee will consider overtures dealingwith David Behnke, Wallace Shultz, aSynodical Commission on ConstitutionalMatters decision, Biblical dissent, proposedchanges in the 2007 hymnal’s wordingof the Nicene Creed, joint pastoralconferences, fellowship and witnessingof the Gospel at public events.The Education, Communications andCongregational Life Committee willreview overtures regarding the LutheranLaymen’s League.The Stewardship, Finance and ChurchExtension Committee will considerproposals regarding church workereducational debt, Concordia Retirementplans spousal survivor benefits and theuse of CID mission offerings.The various committees review theovertures, hear anyone who wishes tocomment on them and revise them, ifnecessary, before they are presented tothe Convention as resolutions. A committeemay recommend an overture be declined.However, the Convention can call up theoverture for consideration. The resolutionsare considered and debated at theConvention and may be amended.One pastor’s wife stated last year “I can think of many reasons not to attend, but I needthis retreat. We all need this retreat to help equip us in our role as pastors’ wives!”