As congregations begin fall activities and schedules, you are invited to attend our annual “Discipleship Gatherings” which will be held in eight different conference locations throughout the Synod.
Our theme for this year’s gatherings is Communication and the Congregation: What Would Jesus Tweet? Whether you are a beginner in the newer communication world or already using more intermediate communication tools in your congregation, the Discipleship Gatherings will provide helpful information to further communicate God’s word in this new technological world!
Every congregational member is encouraged to attend one of these Gatherings which will provide an opportunity for lay and rostered leaders to gather together and learn more about a powerful evangelism tool – Communication!
Everything is communication. Everything can be evangelism. Everyone in the congregation is involved in communication – from the people who smile when a visitor walks in the door, to the person who helps give directions to the restroom and yes, to the person who doesn’t give up “their” pew for a visitor!
Why focus on external communication? Jesus told us to “go therefore and make disciples…” Why focus on internal communication? It is important for the people in our congregations to know they are part of a larger church.
We are thankful to Synod Communication Director Karin Graddy and Pastor Scott Stolberg (St. Mark, Rockford) for sharing their expertise with us during our time together.
From the conference location schedule on the right, please find the most convenient location and mark your calendar to attend. The agenda on the right will provide further details for the evening.
All gatherings will begin at 7 p.m. with registration at 6:30 p.m., with the exception of the Southwest Conference which will be on Sunday, November 20 at Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville beginning at 4 p.m.
Come learn, share, and strengthen our communication/evangelism skills in this new technological world we live in.
Download a bulletin insert to advertise the Mission Gatherings in your congregation:
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Dates and Locations
All gatherings will begin at 7pm with registration at 6:30 pm, except for the SW Conference gathering on 11/20 which will begin at 4 pm. Pre-registration is not necessary.
- Thursday, September 8 – Bethlehem, DeKalb
- Tuesday, September 20 – St. Mark, Rockford
- Thursday, October 6 – First, Moline*
- Tuesday, October 11 – Faith, Joliet*
- Thursday, October 13 – St. John, Mendota
- Tuesday, November 8 – Prince of Peace, Freeport
- Thursday, November 10 – Immanuel, Dixon
- Sunday - November 20 – Grace, Knoxville – 4 p.m.
*West and East Conference Discipleship Gatherings will also include their Fall Mission Support Consultation by Rev. Kurt Nordby. Find out more...
General Agenda
(General Agenda | Moline & Joliet Agenda | Knoxville Agenda)
6:30 - 7:00 Registration
7:00 - 7:05 Welcome & Announcements
7:05 - 7:15 Devotions by Bishop Wollersheim
7:15 - 7:35 Introduction to Effective Congregational Communication
- all the whats, whys, whens, whos, and whys
7:35 - 7:45 Break
7:45 - 8:30 Small Groups:
Basic
- Why does our church need a web presence (website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)?
- How do we get an effective web presence?
- How do we keep our web presence relevant for ministry & evangelism?
- How can we accomplish all this when we already have too much on our plate (and too little in the offering plate)?
- Success Stories
Intermediate
- How do I make hyperlinks? And why do I need them?
- Why do I need a server?
- How do I set up wifi?
- Places to keep media in “The Cloud”
- Success Stories
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