VIDEOS FROM THE 2018 DISTRICT CONVENTION
A video series for the 2021 District Convention is currently in progress and will be made available here as the Convention is underway.
In these videos from 2018, you will learn more about: ecclesiastical supervision, which is one of the most important duties of a district president; support services in the District Office, which allows ministry to happen across Nebraska; the Sandhills Ministry in an area that extends from the border of Nebraska and South Dakota in the north to Grant in the south, from Bingham in the west to Halsey in the east; District events, which are designed so you, as members of the Nebraska District, have the opportunity and the training to think of new ways to engage others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ; ministry taking place at and through the Peace International Friendship Center in Omaha, which provides for human care needs and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with immigrant and refugee groups; direct support to Synod, which has been and remains one of the highest priorities in the District budget; and tuition assistance and scholarships for students going into full time church work and families who wish for their children to attend elementary or secondary schools operated by congregations and recognized service organizations of the Nebraska District LCMS.
All of this is possible thanks to the generous financial support and faithful prayers of the congregations and individuals of the Nebraska District. Thank you for your continued support of the mission and ministry work in the Nebraska District.
We Engage: Pastoral Calls
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Ecclesiastical supervision is one of the most important duties of a district president. This includes working with the Board of Directors on the business of the district, facilitating conflict resolution, supporting circuit visitors as they build community between pastors and congregations within each circuit, and helping congregations as they go through the call process and prepare to welcome their new pastors.
Pre-call meetings with each congregation help them to better understand their needs as a congregation and community. Dave Knorr, a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Humboldt, and a lay member of the Nebraska District Board of Directors, shares about what his congregation (part of a dual parish) learned about their needs through the pre-call process and in welcoming their new pastor.
The Nebraska District has developed a year-long training process known as Seasons of Change to walk alongside congregations and newly ordained pastors as they transition from seminary life to their first congregation. This process gives congregations the knowledge and tools to care for their new pastor and his family so they can become firmly rooted in the community, and together the congregation and pastor can grow as an important part of God’s kingdom work. Rev. Nathan Abel, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wilcox, will share how the things he and his congregation learned in Seasons of Change helped them all have a smooth and healthy transition in his first years of ministry.
This video is part 1 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
We Engage: Support Services and Your District Staff
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All ministries need support services to allow ministry to happen. Together, the District Office staff equips and encourages pastors and church workers, assists congregations in exploring new opportunities for outreach, provides resources to the District’s Lutheran schools, assists congregations and members with estate and planned giving, and plans faith formation events and conferences.
We are thankful for your support.
This video is part 2 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
We Engage: Sandhills Ministry
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The Sandhills Ministry is a unique ministry in Nebraska because of the unique culture of Western Nebraska which it serves. This ministry works to minister to the needs of the people in western Nebraska.
This ministry is made up of three congregations: Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hyannis, Bingham Lutheran Church 20 miles west of Hyannis, and Faith Lutheran Church 35 miles north of Hyannis. From these outposts, a variety of people and needs are served. Rev. Andy Safarik ministers to the people in these areas. His wife, Johanna, serves as director of the preschool, a ministry of Shepherd of the Hills. This school ministers to more than 20 young children and their families.
This ministry attends to the spiritual needs of the farmers and ranchers that live in this area through Word and Sacrament worship services, Vacation Bible School, and Bible studies.
This video is part 3 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
We Engage: District Events
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Many of the mission dollars you send to the District allow us to support, train, and encourage the congregations, pastors, commissioned ministers, and lay members of the District through many different events. We design these events so you, as members of the Nebraska District, have the opportunity and the training to think of new ways to engage others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This video is part 4 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
We Engage: Peace International Friendship Center
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Ministry taking place at and through the Peace International Friendship Center in Omaha provides for human care needs and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with immigrant and refugee groups including: African, especially Ethiopian and Sudanese; Middle Eastern; Asian; Muslim; and Hispanic. There is an amazing mission field right in our “backyard.”
The Peace International Friendship Center is a caring place where immigrants and refugees can learn English, prepare for U.S. citizenship, gain useful skills and make lasting friendships in a Christian environment. The Peace International Friendship Center is a Lutheran space in Omaha dedicated to serving the physical and spiritual needs of many different immigrant groups.
Rev. Eddie Mekasha is an Ethiopian LCMS pastor who works as a chaplain in a local meat packing plant, building relationships and ministering to the many immigrant workers there, while also serving the needs of the immigrants at the Peace Center as part-time pastor at Beautiful Savior, LaVista.
Rev. Jim Haack of Beautiful Savior, La Vista, is the Peace Center director, organizing the ministry and volunteers that make the ministry possible.
The Sudanese Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mission worships and holds classes weekly at the Peace Center.
The staff at the Center are also connecting with other Omaha congregations, encouraging their support and partnership in the work taking place. This team works together to make the Peace Center a hub of care and compassion for the many immigrants in and around the Omaha area. Learn more at the Peace International Center’s Facebook page: facebook.com/peaceinternationalfriendshipcenter
This video is part 5 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
We Engage: Direct Support to Synod
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Unrestricted support to Synod has been and remains one of the highest priorities in the District budget. Over the last five years, the Nebraska District has sent $4,972,000 in unrestricted, undesignated support to Synod. The Nebraska District ranks in the top 10 of the 35 LCMS district in terms of membership size, but in the top 4 in terms of unrestricted support to Synod.
This video is part 6 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
We Engage: Tuition Assistance and Scholarships
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In the next 5-10 years, 40% of our Lutheran school teachers and 50% of our pastors will retire. It is essential that we continue to fund scholarship opportunities for students going into full-time church work. The Nebraska District LCMS has also established a fund for the purpose of assisting families to pay tuition costs for students who wish to attend elementary or secondary schools operated by congregations and Recognized Service Organizations of the Nebraska District LCMS.
When you give to the District, you help support future church workers. Thank you.
This video is part 7 of a series of 7 videos produced for the 2018 Nebraska District LCMS Convention.
