District Vision

1.  Planting and Revitalizing Congregation (Rev. Matthew            Richard

2.  Lutheran Education (Mrs. Kristin Nistler)

 

Mercy 

3.  International Mercy Care (Rev. Rick Jones)

4.  Local Mercy Care (Rev. Paul Krueger)

 

Life Together 

5.   Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (Rev. Sean                   Daenzer)

6.   Youth /Young Adults (vacant) 

 

Our Witness, Mercy,  and 

Life Together in Chile

"Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."  Matthew 9:34

 

 

First of all, I want to express my deep and sincere thanks to you for adopting 2015 Convention Resolution 2-10 concerning our new partnership with the Lutheran Church in Chile, especially from an anonymous gift of $25,000 to the North Dakota District, which was graciously designated for missions in Chile.

 

Let me share with you how this gift is going to be used for the sake of the Church.

 

Rev. Rick Jones (ND District Chairman of International Mercy Care), Mr. Bill Sharpe (District Business Manager), and I were in Chile May 14-19.  We went there to meet with the Church of the Lutheran Confessions of Chile (Iglesia Luterana Confesional de Chile).  This church body is a partner Church of th e LCMS, which means that we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship with them.

 

Rev. Cristian Rautenberg is the president of this Chilean Church body, overseeing five pastors, two schools, and extensive mercy care to the Chilean people.  This is a very confession and conservative church body, with their focus on Word and Sacrament ministry and mercy care to their neighbor. 

 

Rev. Cristian Rautenberg, President

 

The purpose of our trip was to see how our district dollars could best be used in partnership with the Chilean Church.

 

On Thursday, May 14, we traveled to Valpara?so, Chile.   Rev. Juan Pablo pastors two congregations and two schools in Valpara?so.  Valpara?so is a major city of over 250,000 people, a major seaport, and educational center in Chile.  Greater Valpara?so is the second largest metropolitan area in the country.  Recent devastating fires in the residential area of the hills ravaged this community.  Pastor Pablo continues to spend many days helping the people with manual cleanup and ministering to the people with the comforting Gospel. 

 

Rev. Kinas, Baneck, Rev. Pablo

 

On Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, we traveled to the cities of Talca and Constituci?n.  Talca has a population of about 200,000 and Constituci?n has a population of about 50,000.  The distance between these two cities is about 67 miles.  The same pastor serves the church in each of these two cities.  Because of the Maule River, this ministry is called Misi?n Maule. The pastor of these two congregations is Rev. Omar Kinas.  Rev. Kinas is married and has two small children.

 

Church in Talca (outside) Rev. Omar Kinas

Church in Talca (inside)

Church in Constitucion Rev. Omar Kinas

 

On Monday and Tuesday, May 18-19, we attended their Third Chile Mission Foro (Forum).  This is a meeting of all the partners involved to discuss the mission and ministry of the Chilean Lutheran Church. Attending partners included Rev. Ted Krey (OIM), Rev. Sergio Fritzler (Seminary present in Argentina), Paulo Warth and Marianela Brave (Lutheran Hour Ministries), Rev. Ross Johnson (Synod Disaster Response), Carly Hatcher (MOST Ministries), and the pastors of the Lutheran Church in Chile.  The Foro meeting is the idea of Rev. Ted Krey, regional director of South American missions, Office of International Missions, LCMS.  The Foro is meant to get all the major players together for communicating and planning for mission and ministry.

 

At the Foro, three main priorities in the Chilean Church were identified: (1.) Maule Region with Rev. Omar Kinas, (2.) The two Lutheran Schools in Valpara?so, and (3.) A Mercy Center in Valpara?so.  The Maule Region ministry expenses include the pastor's salary, deaconess salary, transportation, missionary training, office rent, utilities, office supplies, evangelism materials, and Sunday School materials. 

 

Foro Participants

 

The North Dakota District has determined to contribute $25,000 per year for this triennium toward the Maule Ministry.  The amount will be one-half the expenses for this ministry.  Rev. Kinas is a very energetic, evangelistic, mercy-oriented, confessional pastor.  He is continually catechizing while visiting and serving the community people.  To supplement his income, Rev. Kinas has a hotdog and sandwich stand where he prepares and sells food in his local neighborhood in the late evening.  (The evening meal in Chile is at about 9:00PM).

Rev. Omar Kinas Hotdog Stand

 

 

In 2010, the city of Constituci?n experienced an 8.8 earthquake, immediately followed by a devastating tsunami, with a fatality of over 500 people.  Much of Rev. Kinas' ministry involves mercy care in the community from this deadly devastation, through which God has opened many doors for evangelism and the proclamation of the Gospel. 

 

Through his ministry, Rev. Kinas is mentoring a young man, who is in his first year at the Lutheran Seminary in Argentina.  This is one of South America's main Lutheran seminaries.  This seminary has a close working relationship with Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN.  In addition to giving aid toward the Maule Ministry, the North Dakota District will also provide tuition assistance of approx. $4,000 per year for the theological training for this seminary student. 

 

All funds will be run through the Office of International Missions (OIM) of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  The North Dakota District will dispense a proportionate allocation to OIM after first receiving a quarterly report from the Chilean Church concerning the Maule Ministry. 

 

It is exciting for the North Dakota District to enter into this partnership with the Iglesia Luterana Confesional de Chile.  This church body is well structured under capable ministerial and administrative churchmen.  They are well organized with a vision and ministry master plan.  First and foremost in their hearts and minds is their adherence to God's Word and the Lutheran Confessions.  This church body is indeed a Christ-centered Church of Word and Sacrament, Witness and Mercy. 

 

It is a joy and a privilege for the North Dakota District to be a part of this Foro, having a voice at this international table.  I pray this is a positive relationship that can be enjoyed for many years to come. We are looking into a possible mercy experience trip for young adults in conjunction with MOST Ministries.  I am also looking at the possibility of having Rev. Cristian Rautenberg be the speaker of a pastor's conference in 2016.  

 

Please keep this partnership and especially the Chilean Lutheran Church in your corporate and personal prayers.  What a joy it is to have brothers and sisters in the same confessional faith in still another continent.  God's Church is truly amazing!

 

- President Baneck

 

• For the Supreme Court as they rule on marriage for our nation
• For the strengthening of Christian families and living out our godly vocations
• For the LWML Convention in DesMoines Iowa this month
• for those affected by natural disasters nationally and abroad 
• For strength and joy in Being Lutheran for this Moment
• Patton Douglas, son of Josh and Angie Douglas (Josh is a teacher at Martin Luther School, Bismarck) as he undergoes treatment for leukemia
• Synod Convention resolutions impacting our pastors and congregations (go towww.lcms.org/convention)
• The Church under the changing climate toward at attack on Christianity
• Kenya Africa - Project 24, thanksgiving for ELCK and LCMS church fellowship
• Our new partnership with Rev. Ted Krey and the Lutheran Church in Santiago, Chile (partner church of the LCMS), for Pastor Omar Kinas, as we support his ministry in Talca and Constitucion 
• Rev. Matthew Harrison - Synod President and all elected vice presidents of Synod, especially Rev. Herb Mueller, first vice-president 
• For all those serving in the military, especially those of the LCMS, and for our LCMS Chaplains
• That the ND District continues work toward a LIFE TOGETHER in mission, financial support, and prayerful encouragement  toward one another
• For our Circuit Visitors and their faithful servanthood role in the District:  Rev. Scott Ramey, Rev. Steve Schulz, Rev. Douglas Wanderer, Rev. Richard Biberdorf, Rev. Carlyle Roth, and Rev. Kirk Peters
• For our Vice-presidents: Rev. Arie Bertsch (west) and Rev. Tom Eckstein (east)
• For our two Lutheran Elementary Schools: Grace (Jean Syverson-Principal) and Martin Luther (Kathy Jones-Principal), and our preschools throughout the district
• For Shepherd's Hill at the Crossroads and all of our RSOs (Recognized Service Organizations)
• For Grafton Developmental Center (Teacher Evelyn Allensworth and Chaplain Pastor Seter)
• Campus Ministries at UND (Pastor Buchhop) and NDSU (Pastor Schulz)
• Struggling rural churches (financial and declining membership) and pastors bearing the burden of shepherding God's people in the rural setting
• For the 10 LCMS Universities and 2 Seminaries

Calls Being Considered   

Rev. John Sias, Colstrip, MT is considering a call to Immanuel, Wahpeton.

Rev. Jonathan Buescher, Immanuel Grand Forks is considering a call to Mt. Pulaski, IL, Central IL District.

Calls Accepted/Returned 

Rev. Douglas Bergelin, Zion Bismarck, has accepted a call to Lebanon, WI (South WI District).  

Ordinations/Installations

Pastor-Elect Aaron Hambleton (Ft. Wayne) will be ordained and installed at Redeemer Lisbon on June 21, 4pm.  Rev. John Pless preaching.

Pastor-Elect Zelwyn Heidi (Ft. Wayne) will be ordained and installed at Redeemer Grassy Butte on August 16 (date tentative).  Rev. Dr. Roland Ziegler preaching.

Vacancies/Calling Process 

Immanuel Wahpeton (Rev. O'Brien, Daenzer, Ahrendt, vacancy pastors) - in the process of calling from the field.

 

Holy Cross Lidgerwood (Rev. Adam Moline, vacancy pastor) - in the process of self-study.

 

St. Paul Rugby (Rev. Joshua Reimche, vacancy pastor).

 

Redeemer Lisbon (Rev. Douglas Wanderer, vacancy pastor) - Candidate Hambleton has been called.

 

Redeemer Grassy Butte (Rev. Mike Wolters/Rev. Scott Hojnacki are sharing this vacancy) - Candidate Heidi has been called.

 

Redeemer Langdon (Rev. Chepulis, vacancy pastor).

Trinity, Tolley (Our Savior Minot pastors sharing the vacancy).

 

First American  Lutheran  Church (Independent Lutheran Church, formerly served by Rev. Rolf Preus) - vacancy served by Rev. Jacob Swenson, under the permission of President Baneck and consultation with President Harrison.

 

Note:  As of the 2010 LCMS Convention, two or more congregations being served by the same pastor is considered a dual, tri, etc parish. "Permanent Vacancies" no longer exist.

You've spent most of your life gathering assets and managing God's blessings. Even so, many people spend more time planning their vacation than planning to transfer their estate. A majority of Americans don't have an up-to-date Will. With a well-prepared Christian estate giving plan, you can transfer property to loved ones in the best way, at the best time and at the least cost.

A well prepared plan protects and provides for you in your senior years. You designate trusted person(s) to manage your property, help doctors and other medical staff approach important decisions and assure that you receive the best care possible. A Christian estate plan can enhance security and protect goals.

God's Word clearly illustrates God's ownership of all.  

--Farewell for Rev. Tim Jenks

Bethel Lutheran Church, Bismarck,  would like to invite the North Dakota District to a "Farewell" and 25th Ordination Anniversary Celebration for Pastor Tim Jenks on Saturday, June 6th at 6 pm here at Bethel.  We will have a potluck dinner at 6 pm with a program beginning at 7 pm.  All are invited to enjoy fellowship and say "Good-bye" to Pastor Jenks & Michelle before they leave for Canoga Park Lutheran Church, Canoga Park, California.



Roger spent all 50 years of his ministry  in Devils Lake. The first two decades were spent exclusively in ministry to the School for the Deaf  and extending out as far as western Minnesota. Every Sunday he and his family would load up in their mobile home and travel more than 200 miles to do services at 4 locations, all in sign language. Some of those schools closed down, and the children would go home on the weekends, that ministry decreased. Roger then was extended and accepted a call to serve as Pastor for St. Peter's Lutheran in Devils Lake and Grace Lutheran in Lakota. He also began a ministry to seminarians by engaging in the vicarage program. He had about 2 dozen vicars over the years.
 
About 15 years ago, after suffering a major heart attack, Roger retired from the ministry, but he remained in Devils Lake. He and his wife, Sonya provided sign interpretation for the services at Devils Lake, as some of the students at the deaf school had become members of the church during his ministry to them. He also continued to mentor young pastors, providing both support and advice to the two men who followed him in the service at St. Peter's and Grace.

About 5 years ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. This has impacted both his mobility and his memory, as well as his stamina, so the celebration will be both simple and short, for his sake.
 
You are welcomed to join us as we honor this faithful servant of the Word. Divine Service is at 10:30, and the celebration will be shortly after the service, approximately at 12:00pm. If you are unable to make it for the celebration, cards may be sent to:
 
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
attn. Rev. Roger Leonhardt
PO Box 834
Devils Lake, ND 58301-0834.


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