Growing in God's Mission in the SC Synod

QUICK LINK FOR YOU: 2008 SC SYNOD RALLY
Want to be inspired? Check out the Synod Rally page, and click on the videos. Listen as Pastor Ruben Duran talks with us about God's mission. Enjoy the music of Ken Medema. Smile as you watch your fellow Lutherans dancing in the aisles of Wiles Chapel on the Newberry College campus!

What’s Up?
What’s up with God in your life and the lives of all the people God loves?

Early in the morning as you rise, ask a question that will guide you into the day and into the presence of God all day long. Ask God, “What’s up?” and listen. Listen, for God is calling you to journey with him into the new day, being God’s joy, love, hope and helping hand for the sake of all God loves.

That’s all there is to it. Your day is planned. Your work and way are ahead and all around you. The living Spirit of God moves within you, showing the way and being your voice. As you take the first steps into the new day, you sense that the Spirit of God is filling your heart with joy for the day’s journey-a faith journey of following Jesus into the world for the sake of others, in life changing acts of grace.

Sounds simple? Well, it is.

Growing in God’s Mission is a daily journey of faith and amazing grace. It’s God calling you, waking you up to his loving presence in you and in your neighbor. God’s says, get going, but go with purpose. Our purpose as people living in the Spirit of God is to love God by loving all God’s people and to serve God by serving all God’s people.

Getting going in the day’s journey with Jesus begins with a deep breath, a short silence, a moment of prayer, and a firm faith that this day is God’s gig, and by the grace of God you’re going to be part of it.

I am a big believer in walking the walk if you are going to talk the talk. So, one day recently, I was thinking, “What is God up to in my life and the life of people around me?” God knows that for me, seeing is believing, and my eyes fixed on my neighbor who was cutting his grass on a Saturday morning.

I thought, “Okay, maybe it is time for me to walk over and ask the key question, ‘What’s up?’” I got to my front door, opened it, took a deep breath as I walked across the street, and prayed a quick prayer: “Lord, help me.” By that time my neighbor saw me coming, stopped his lawnmower and walked up to me. I opened my mouth, and out came a big, “What’s UP?” My neighbor looked at me and said, “Nothing much; how about you?” I looked him in the eye and said, “I saw you from my window and thought to myself that I want to find out what’s up in your life; after all, you are a very good neighbor.”

We talked for an hour that morning about what all was going on in our lives. We really listened and cared about what was up with each other. I walked back to my house with the feeling that I knew—in a new way—what God is up to in me and in my neighbor.

About an hour later, I saw my neighbor talking to the guy next door. I could not hear what was being said, but they talked for a long time. About two hours later, I saw my neighbor carrying a casserole over to his neighbor’s house. That evening, I heard from that neighbor that his friend had walked up and asked, “What’s up?” and they talked for an hour.

The next thing he knew, that guy was bringing him a casserole his wife had made. He said, “I told him my wife had been sick for several days and the kids were tired of the hot dogs that I fixed every night, but I had no idea he would show up with a casserole for our supper!” He added, “God is good and so are my neighbors.”

Growing in God’s mission to love and bless the world starts with the key question, “What is God up to in my life, and the lives of all those God loves?” Ask that question—and
listen. Listen, for God is calling you to follow Jesus into the world around you and be what you already are, the presence of the living Spirit of God, called to be a blessing to all God loves.

So, “What’s up?”

Pastor Bob Beaver
Mission Director, SC Synod
 

Look and see how God’s mission is
being fulfilled by the people of God
through the South Carolina Synod!


NOTES FROM THE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT:

Click here for pictures from the SC Synod Leadership Summit.

Presenter Dave Daubert kindly sent us the three
PowerPoint presentations he used during the summit!
If you would like to see them/use them, here are
links to each one.

PowerPoint #1

PowerPoint #2

PowerPoint #3


Click here to connect to the GGM Blog!

Report of New Mission Development

Crossroads/Indianland:  2008 marks the beginning of the third year of development of Crossroads.  Jason and Mitzie Schafer continue to lead this mission congregation in faithful, creative and life changing ways.  Each Sunday, Crossroads welcomes about 45 people for worship, and fellowship.  Discipleship, Fellowship and Service are the key values that move the people of Crossroads in acts of ministry in their daily lives. The house on the property owned by Crossroads has become a community and spiritual center for Crossroads and the community it serves.  SCLMM and mission partner congregations across the synod have been generous in their support of this new mission.  The year ahead looks to be filled with a growing number of new members and the  continued strong support of SCLMM and mission partner congregations as together we serve in God’s mission to the people of Indianland

Breath of Life/Blythewood: This new congregation underdevelopment in Blythewood is led by Pastor Mikki Gay.  Strong and committed lay leaders are gathering to share in God’s dream for the people of Blythewood.  The new mission started in September of 2007 and welcomes an average of 20 people each Sunday for worship and fellowship.  Community outreach is at the heart of this new congregation’s vision for being in mission with God.  In 2008 Breath of Life will focus on using an expanded space in a child care center for a growing number of people gathering for worship and fellowship on Sunday mornings, while continuing to use rented space of a home at 125 Blythewood Rd. for week day programs of ministry that will serve the people of that growing part of Richland county.  The continue support of SCLMM and Mission Partner congregations of our synod have been supportive in 2007.  2008 will be a time when increasing support of SCLMM and synod congregations will be needed to develop needed programs of ministry.

Manantial De Vida/Columbia/West Columbia:  This newly developing congregation is focused on providing ministry to a growing number of Hispanic people living in Richland and Lexington counties.  Pastor’s Sandra Jones and Andres Leone lead this ministry of outreach.  This mission was started in October of 2008 and is located in the facility that once served Trinity/Columbia.  December 21, 2007 marked the day that Manantial De Vida welcomed 30 Latino people for worship, and a fiesta that including wonderful food and Christmas gifts for the gathered families.   2008 will be an exciting year of growth of ministries that will serve the Hispanic community, and the start of weekly worship.  The support of SCLMM and Mission Partner congregations of the Midlands has been generous in getting this ministry established in 2007.  Continued and growing support of mission partners will be needed in 2008 to support this evangelical outreach ministry that serves a diverse Hispanic community.

Faith/Pickens:  Faith has been approved as a site for new mission development.  After two years as a worshiping community of our synod, Faith is ready to welcome a pastor/mission developer in early 2008.  After two years of strong growth in membership, and outreach ministry, Faith averages about 45 people at worship, owns its own building, and provides a faithful Lutheran witness to the people of Pickens. The strong and committed missional leadership of the people of Faith has been a real gift to the people of Pickens and to our synod.  The generous support of SCLMM was appreciated in 2007 and is still needed in 2008. 
 

The Growing God's Mission implementation team seeks to refocus, renew, and release the people and congregations of  the South Carolina Synod for their role in
growing God's mission in the world. 
 
The Growing God's Mission implementation team will be guided in all actions, decisions, and plans by these guiding principles:

• Our work begins with God's dream for the world

• Include everyone to reach everyone

• Take action

• Expect transformation

• Be ready to follow wherever the Holy Spirit leads
  
   

Quick links for you:

 "Growing God's Mission" resolution approved by Synod Assembly