Outreach Committee

The N.I.S. Outreach Committee seeks to assist the Northern Illinois Synod in the planting of new congregations and the redevelopment of existing churches, encouraging congregations to be engaged in effective outreach ministry to all people, and to support the efforts of our Global Mission Subcommittee to accompany and uplift the ministry and mission of the church in other countries.

With great joy we will receive two newly organized congregations into our synod during the 2006 Assembly.  Followers of Christ Lutheran Church, Plainfield, is organizing as a congregation on May 21^st, and New Creation Lutheran Church, Channahon, is organizing on June 12^th.  We celebrate and give thanks to God with these new faith communities of our synod and their Pastor/Developers, Ron Voss (Plainfield) and Herb Priester (Channahon). Let prayers continue that the Holy Spirit will increase and multiply the ministries of these newest of our congregations.

This spring also witnesses the beginning of a new outreach ministry in Machesney Park.  This is a satellite start-up program of Grace Lutheran Church, Loves Park.  Worship is being held in a theatre, and a pastor is being called to guide this new ministry.  The synod also seeks to assist redevelopment work at Bethlehem Church, Rockford (Pastor Frances Reilly-Olson), Good Shepherd Church, Romeoville (Pastor Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle), and at Abundant Life, Plainfield, and St. John’s, Joliet, as they begin a partnered ministry.

Growing areas of our synod territory which are being explored for possible mission development include: north Yorkville area, Poplar Grove, Elwood/Manhattan, McHenry County, etc.

Another growing ministry opportunity is the rapidly increasing Latino population in our Synod.  Pastor Keith Forni, Santa Cruz Church, Joliet, has spearheaded efforts to move forward in developing a strategy for Latino Ministry on several fronts across the synod.  The Outreach Committee is also concerned to expand our ministry effectiveness among this segment of our people and to encourage the equipping of Latino ministry leaders.

The Global Mission Sub-Committee continues to work to expand the Companion Synod and the Companion Congregation programs with the Arusha Diocese of Tanzania, and they continue to undergird the Mwangaza teacher exchange program.  Another opportunity before our synod is the exploration of another Companion Synod partnering with the Lutheran Church of India.  The committee continues to explore this opportunity with the ELCA Global Mission Unit and the NIS Council.

The ELCA Evangelism Strategy challenges all congregations to make outreach and evangelism a central focus of parish life throughout our church.  To assist in this focus, our synod continues to offer the TIME process (Together In Mission Engagement - Pastor Kendall Koenig, coordinator) to congregations from across the synod who desire assistance in outreach planning, training, and mutual support in order to reach their mission goals.  We also have a number of NIS congregations who are working with trained coaches from our synod utilizing the NCD (Natural Church Development) program to aid congregations to strengthen ministry and outreach.

The Outreach Committee is grateful for the dedicated work of Pastor Janet Hunt, Mission Director for the NIS.  Janet brings excellent leadership, skills, and a deep care for God’s people and for the church in its mission of evangelism.

Pastor Dennis Heaney

Outreach Committee Chair