It's really a 

God given vision

, and it comes right out of His Word,  Brunette

says.  It's nothing unique. 

It's right there.

It says to 

go and make disciples

, 

to preach the Gospel to all the world. When that's constantly set before people, 

the Holy Spirit lays on folks

 on their hearts the need 

to reach out and care for

and build people 

toward maturity

in Christ. 

Carmel's four daughter congregations are

Growing in the heartland

Family of Christ Lutheran Church and School,

Founded in 1976, Carmel Lutheran Church in

Fishers; Holy Cross, Geist; Advent, Zionsville; and

Carmel, Ind., has created a remarkable legacy: Not

Lord of Life, Westfield.

only has the suburban Indianapolis parish grown

from 100 to approximately 2,000 members, it has

Reaching out through VBS

begun four daughter congregations.

Founding new congregations has been part of

Long a staple of parish education, many con 

Carmel's strategy since the beginning, says Rev.

gregations employ vacation Bible school as a tool

Luther Brunette, senior pastor.  The congregation

for outreach into communities that are far more

decided early on that, not only would we grow at

diverse and less church centered than a generation

this site, but we would, with God's grace, attempt to

or two ago.

start new ministries in the area, and God has given

Hope Lutheran Church in Greece, N.Y. (sub 

us fertile ground. 

urban Rochester), is one example. Two, one week

 I joined the congregation in 1981,  said Dave

VBS sessions reach more that 1,600 children annually

Reed, chairman of Carmel's outreach team.  At that

time there was a very positive spirit, and I think

A   P RO F I L E   O F  

that's been evident in all of the pastors and pastoral

L C M S   M E M B E R S H I P

leadership since the beginning. That is so critical,

that the pastoral leadership and the lay leadership

Communicants

Congregations

work in harmony. 

Carmel's church planting plans have varied

1,000 to 2,000+

302

with the opportunities, Brunette says.  Some started

900 999

73

as a result of a `pioneering effort,' where people

800 899

91

would move into an area. They would drive a long

distance to come here to church. At some point

700 799

131

they'd say, `We'd like to do a homestead thing and

600 699

171

start a new church.' 

500 599

288

Carmel's long range plan is to found a new

congregation about every five years, Brunette adds. 

400 499

419

To facilitate its church planting efforts,

300 399

635

Carmel works closely with the Indiana District. 

200 299

991

Rev. Daniel Schumm, Carmel's associate pastor, is

the head of the district's outreach council, and

100 199

1,527

Carmel offers seminars to help other churches 

50 99

884

start daughter congregations.

0 49

574

 It's really a God given vision, and it comes right

out of His Word,  Brunette says.  It's nothing unique.

   Two thirds of LCMS congregations average fewer than

It's right there. It says to go and make disciples, to

160 at worship.

   For every one congregation with an average worship

preach the Gospel to all the world. When that's 

attendance over 500, nine have an average worship of

constantly set before people, the Holy Spirit lays on

100 or less.

folks on their hearts the need to reach out and care

  Based on statistics for 2000

for and build people toward maturity in Christ. 

(33) FEBRUARY 2003

5