to children and to their families. Quite often, through

the child we reach with the message of God's love, we

also reach Mom and Dad. 

Listening guides changes in District

and Congregational Services 

Almost three years ago, staff from the Synod's

Board for District and Congregational Services set

out to evaluate their work. They did it in a personal

way by visiting all 33 district offices and listening.

What they learned has become  a work in

progress,  says Executive Director LeRoy Wilke.

They have moved toward being a  facilitator to the

facilitators  changing to a resource center instead

of a developer and provider of programs. 

In short, it's the realization a national office

cannot provide  one size fits all  services or 

programs to 6,150 congregations. But, by working

specifically with districts, it can connect needs with

More than 200 volunteers helped Hope Lutheran Church produce two

resources. 

one week vacation Bible schools, which drew about 1,600 children

 We didn't just find out that districts need to

each summer in Greece, N.Y. The congregation sees VBS as a tool to

reach children and their parents with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

have a bigger role in developing resources and 

programs,  Wilke says.  We also heard over and

and serves as an important component of the con 

over statements like `Thank you for asking our

gregation's year round children's ministry.

opinion rather than telling us what's coming our

 Greece is a community of about 100,000

way or asking for dollars.' 

folks, and we believe about half of those people are

As the department has endured budget and

unchurched,  says Rev. Larry Stojkovic, associate

staff cuts, the changes have not been easy. Wilke

pastor.  About 20 percent of the children enrolled

admits,  Most of us were called to a position to

in our VBS programs come from unchurched 

develop three ring binders with 80 pages.  The

families. 

changes also address studies showing that congrega 

The annual program is no small under 

taking. Church staff, VBS planners and more

than 200 volunteers insure that the news gets

R E A C H I N G   T H E   YO U N G

out, the details are attended to and each child

is made to feel welcome. They also insure that

 Many of today's young families are selecting congregations based on

the program is integrated with Hope's other

what's available for their children,  says Judy Christian, director of early

ministry efforts. Unchurched families receive a

childhood education with the Synod's Board for District and Congregational

welcome call and visit, information about the

Services.  They will come or go based on the strength of programs for

congregation's other programs for children,

children. 

and an invitation to attend worship services

Early childhood ministries continue to grow. Each year over the past

and Sunday school.

10 years, 30 to 40 LCMS congregations added early childhood programs

 With our children's programs we're

like daycare and preschools.

interested in sharing the message of Christ

Christian cites  immense challenges  in staffing, especially in

with these little hearts,  Stojkovic says.  We

preschools, where about 9 percent of current staff are synodically trained.

want them to know that Jesus is their Savior,

 It's not baby sitting,  she observes,  It's affecting children's lives with the

and we firmly believe they can have a faith

love of Jesus so they know and experience His grace. 

relationship with Him. 

Other areas of children's ministry, such as Sunday school and vaca 

He and his staff also understand that 

tion Bible school, also need support, according to Christian.  Patterns of

children often become a doorway to their 

behavior are established very early in children's lives,  she continues.  They

parents, Stojkovic adds.  When we talk about

also know at an early age when they're welcome or not. 

our children's programs, we talk about ministry

6

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS (34)

Photo: Hope Lutheran Church, Greece, NY.