The Ewell (B)Log - Our Lutheran Schools in Mission - Part III

By God's grace, enrollment across the 66 schools of the English District for the fall of 2008 is up 67 students over last year. Daily, just under 5,700 young people have the opportunity to grow in their faith relationship with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Do Lutheran schools make a difference? The answer is "Yes" and current statistical research indicates the following regarding those who attend Lutheran schools:

* Report more frequent experiences with God in their personal lives.

* Exhibit a more consistent belief in the divinity of Jesus.

Change or Die!

The statement "change or die" is as harsh as reality gets. "Change your diet and lifestyle or the next heart attack will kill you." Is that statement one of harsh reality or one that is incredibly caring? Maybe it’s both. In the business book "Change or Die" the author Alan Deutschman says your answer doesn't matter. Most people will not change their lifestyle or diet no matter the intent behind the statement change or die.

Great to be a part of the English District

I am new to blogging and new to the English District. But just in case any of you check this out regularly, I wanted to say hello and let you know I am thrilled to be on staff with the English District. I look forward to meeting many of you soon and sharing in the ministry as we share Christ with those around us.

Please check out my web site at http://www.lcmsfoundation.org/englishgp.asp.

The Ewell (B)Log - Our Lutheran Schools in Mission - Part II

This is my second blog entry in a series on the mission and ministry opportunities in our Lutheran schools in the early part of the 21st Century. My last blog entry, dated May 4, dealt with the tremendous mission opportunities that are afforded by our Lutheran schools and the three key challenges that I see facing our schools (early childhood centers through college) at this time.

Creating Community

Friends, I have been doing some reading as it concerns reaching post-modern generations and reaching them with the saving Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I've also spent a little time with our three kids (two of who are Gen Xers masquerading as Millennials and the youngest is a Millennial) and asked them about many things I don't understand. One of these is the time surfing the Internet. I was shocked when my youngest daughter said, "About an hour a day, Dad." "Even at school?," which for her is Concordia University-Irvine. "That's right, Dad.

The Ewell (B)Log - Our Lutheran Schools in Mission

I will soon begin my 25th year in the Lutheran teaching ministry. With each passing month and year, I become more convinced that our Lutheran schools are the best outreach ministry we have in the LCMS to reach young families that are unchurched, dechurched or nominally churched.

Over the past ten years, more than 40,000 students have been baptized as a result of attending a Lutheran school. Over 600 of these students were in the English District. To God be the glory!

The Ascension of our Lord

May 1st was not only "May Day" and the commemoration day of Saints Philip and James the Less, Apostles of our Lord. It was not only U.S. National Day of Prayer. It was also the Festival Day of the Ascension of our Lord. I love this day which we celebrate as the Coronation of our Lord, His return to heaven (Himmelsfahrt, where He is preparing a place for us, His Bride, the holy people of God. In heaven our Lord and Savior is also our Adovcate and Great High Priest, interceding for us, His Church. I love the Ascension hymns; they are so rich and substantive.

The Ewell (B)Log - The Spiritual Dimension of Youth Ministry

The following suggestions are taken from the new "Lutheran Youth Fellowship Handbook: A Guide for Building Better Youth Groups"

HOW TO ENCOURAGE THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION IN YOUTH MINISTRY

1. Remember your teens and youth in your personal prayers.

2. Pray with your teens.

3. Give your teens opportunities to pray for each other, for what's going on in their lives.

4. Speak of God. Make Him a natural part of your conversation. Identify His presence in any activity.

The Ewell (B)Log - Lincoln's Secrets of Leadership

Recently while reading some articles at www.achievementdigest.com, I ran across a piece by Gene Griessman titled, "Top 7 Secrets of Communication that Abraham Lincoln Used for Effective Leadership." I believe that there can be some real applications here for leaders in our churches and schools as well.

The seven simple, timeless principles of good communication and leadership that Abraham Lincoln utilized were as follows:

1) IF YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, YOU MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

2) USE STORIES, ANALOGIES AND IMAGERY (not "jokes").

3) ASK QUESTIONS.

Mission Dia (Blog)--The Forgotten Ways Introduction

The Forgotten Ways

Over the next few months I'm going to dia-blog on the book "The Forgotten Ways," by Alan Hirsch. Your comments are welcomed.

Today I want to talk about the introduction to the book.

My first day of ministry began with a cry and a prayer, "I was never prepared for this!" While unloading our furniture into the church rented home a member of the church took a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. I learned the ministry of tears that day.