Make A World For Christ Appeal

Before our risen Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, He made it ever-so-clear as to what the goal was to be for His Church from His ascension until His return:  Bring the Good News of the Savior to the World!

“Make A World For Christ!” seeks to do just that.  Born out of our Synodical convention in 2004 with the adoption of the “Fan into Flame” appeal and our 2006 District Convention’s approval of an appeal for Lutheran Island Camp, “Make A World For Christ” is the marriage of those two appeals into one appeal which will be conducted jointly by the Minnesota North District and Lutheran Island Camp.

The purpose of this appeal is to strengthen our church’s on-going effort to raise up and send out people who will bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their neighbors and to all corners of the world.

We call those sent people “missionaries.”  For the purpose of this Appeal, the term “missionary” has a two-fold meaning.  First, it is the official title given to persons called and sent out by the LCMS to work as church professionals.

A second definition of “missionary”, and equally as important, refers to every Christian.  The call of Jesus Christ is for Christians to follow Him and to be missionaries in their daily lives, touching the lives of others with whom they live, work and play.

One of the places where this raising up and equipping of Christians to be missionaries is done is Lutheran island Camp as people of all ages are lead into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ in order that they might go out in service to be missionaries wherever they are.

The “Make A World For Christ” Appeal seeks to invest in Lutheran Island Camp and upgrade and expand current facilities as well as provide a new facility designed for adult events.

The Appeal will also raise funds to support mission projects in foreign countries.  these projects will focus on equipping and preparing people to bring the Gospel to others in their own countries and communities.  Those gathered as representatives of our congregations at this District Convention have selected three projects to be included in the appeal.

1. The Wittenberg Project

2. Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil, India

3. Mission Health Care Centers across Africa

The basic goal for the Appeal is $1.35 mission dollars to be given over a three-year period.  Of that, $900,000 will go to Lutheran Island Camp to expand and improve the Education Retreat Center and kitchen, and $450,000 will go to the Mission Projects as selected by the Convention.

A next level goal would provide an additional $175,000 for world missions and funds to construct a new building at LIC with 10 sleeping rooms and one gathering room.  A final level goal would provide another $175,000 for world missions as well as additional funds allowing LIC to add to more wings with 12 sleeping rooms to the new facility.

A tentative timeline for “Make A World For Christ” calls for clergy information meetings to be held the fall of 2009 followed by visits with each church council the first part of 2010 with the primary time for congregations to conduct their appeal being September through December of 2010.  Congregation appeals are continuing into 2011.