|
Equipping the Saints Greater Milwaukee Synod Mission Appeal
Members of Christ the King:
Last week, CTK announced its involvement in the Greater Milwaukee Synod’s Equipping the Saints Campaign. Below is a letter from Bishop Paul Erickson which provided an update of the Campaign’s status in the Fall of 2023:
Dear Leaders in the Greater Milwaukee Synod:
When launched in early 2020, Equipping the Saints was a bold initiative to position the Synod for effective ministry into the future. Little did we know that future would come so quickly with the Covid pandemic. What we have accomplished together, considering all the challenges we are facing, is a testimony to your faithfulness and to God’s goodness.
Together, we have raised over $1 million for ministry, and congregations are still conducting appeals this fall. Here are a few highlights of the impact this campaign has already made:
• Innovation and Collaboration: 6 ministries have already received collaboration grants; all congregations can apply for innovation grants starting in November!
• Racial Justice: Pastor Afi Dobbins-Mays has joined the staff as Assistant to the Bishop for Authentic Diversity and Leadership; the Synod Council has appointed a task force to guide the strategic planning growing out of the Authentic Diversity Audit, and that work has begun.
• Leadership: 60 rostered ministers have received grants for continuing education, student loan reduction, or to augment retirement funds.
• Mission tithes have supported leadership development in Meru, Tanzania and El Salvador and refugee resettlement in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
To date, 13 congregations have conducted a 5-week campaign; 5 congregations have conducted a campaign in conjunction with a capital or special appeal; and 14 congregations have given a special gift through their budget, an endowment or other additional gift. Those gifts and pledges total $535,596 from over 360 giving units of individuals or congregations. Though we often live within a mindset of scarcity, this was a clear demonstration of God’s abundance and how the people of our synod are eager to strengthen our churches for the journey ahead.
Friends, CTK now joins a successful funding initiative that will strengthen our churches in the Greater Milwaukee Synod to live into God’s preferred future. For detailed information, the second half of the prospectus is available following this link: https://www.equippingthesaintsgms.org/ (also below) If you desire a hard copy of it, there are copies available on the back table in the upper sanctuary. You can also learn more about the campaign during midweek worship on Wednesday, March 20th “Love the Lord Your God with All Your Strength” when videos will be shown during the message time about the campaign. Please consider how we are stronger as we work together as you prayerfully consider supporting this campaign.
Shalom,
Pr. Jackie
| 
