Post-Indiana District LWML Convention 2018
The 27th Biennial Convention of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League Indiana District was held on June 29 – July 1, 2018 at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. The convention theme was from Isaiah 2:5b – Walk in the Light of the Lord. Rev. Mark Moog made that come to life for us in the Opening Worship Service in the Chapel of the Resurrection on campus. Candidates for office and past presidents were honored at a reception afterwards at the Beacon Hall Grand Lounge. Don Wharton, the song leader, led the group in "making a joyful noise to the Lord" throughout the weekend. A Mission Moment was presented at each meeting. This is a video showing the story of a grant recipient and its activities from the last biennium and how the grant made a difference.
The Mitey Mites walk began the day on Saturday. Two business meetings followed. In the first one the agencies that requested Mission Grants were presented. The LWML had $122,000 to present to the agencies selected by the voters. This meeting was followed by break-out sessions. In the second session, our motivational speaker, Rev. Dr. Robert Roegner, shared with us his and his wife's (Kristi's) experiences in the mission field in Africa and now to continue in Tel Aviv, Israel. Their organization is Apple of His Eye. The By-Law amendments were presented and accepted. This was followed by introduction of the officer candidates and the vote to fill these positions. Other sessions of interest were held until dinner time. The final meeting was held to finish up business. Entertainment in the evening featured Three Longs and A Short (a barbershop quartet) and Great Lake Sound Chorus (a chapter of Sweet Adelines International). A great night of music!
Sunday morning brought the final meeting. All the voting results were presented:
Mission Grants
Small Grants
1. Early Childhood Ministry at Trinity Lutheran in Darmstadt $5000
2. King's Community Outreach $4600
3. Proclaiming the Gospel in Monterrey, Mexico $5000
4. Rebecca's Garden of Hope $5000
5. Word, Worship & Witness (Togo) $2150.50
Large Grants
1. Concordia Theological Seminary Food & Clothing
Co-op $10,000
2. Orphan Grain Train Forklift Replacement $10,000
3. LAMP Ministry Inc. $10,000
4. Worship Anew $10,000
5. Ascension Lutheran Christian School Playground
$10,000
6. Calvary India Mission $5500
7. LCMS Missionary Support – Rev. Campbell $7500
8. Compass International Family Center $10,000
8. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Food Bank $10,000
10. Lutheran South Unity School $8624.75
10. Multimedia Gospel Outreach to Burmese People
$8624.75
Election of Officers
President – Marge Gruber
Vice President – Spiritual Resource Department (SRD) – Libby Moeller
Financial Secretary – Arlene Wolfgang
Pastoral Counselor– Rev. Rodney Schmeltz
Nominating Committee
Area 1 – Peg Brettin
Area 2 – Renee Schuller
Area 3 – Jenny Parkos
Area 4 – Bobbie Luke
Congratulations and God's blessings to our new officers! The dates and places of the future conventions and retreats were announced.
2019 District Retreat – March 29-30, 2019 – CRG Event Center - Plainfield, IN
2019 National Convention – Mobile, Alabama –
June 20-23, 2019
2020 Indiana District Convention – June – Parkview Mirro Center, Fort Wayne, IN
The convention adjourned and we praised the Lord in the closing worship service with Rev. Joseph Cunningham as the Proclaimer.
The Lord has abundantly blessed the LWML with the means to carry out His will that ALL may know Him who made the Plan, His Son who carried out the Plan and the Holy Spirit who makes it a part of our lives. Praise be to God.
