FAN INTO FLAME/ABLAZE!

Ablaze! is about sharing your Christian faith-specifically, sharing the message of Christ's gift of forgiveness and salvation-within the context of a relationship and when there is an opportunity for a person to respond to the Gospel proclamation. The response may be "Tell me more," "Yes," or "No thank you," but Ablaze! activity must include the direct, person-to-person sharing of the Gospel. We encourage you (individuals, congregations & organizations) to submit your stories of how the Holy Spirit worked and moved in you to share your faith and hope in Jesus Christ with someone who does not yet know Him.

When one person gives a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to another person, so that there is an opportunity for that person to respond, this activity "counts" toward the 100 million goal. A person may "respond" by receiving the message, rejecting it or asking for more information.

An example: A congregation puts 1,500 flyers in the local paper. The 1,500 flyers do not count. But, any inquiries that came as a result of the flyers and opened the door for the congregation to share the Good News with an unreached or uncommitted person will count toward the 100 million goal.

We are not specifically counting baptisms or conversions--visible fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are counting the number of Gospel seeds planted. We depend on the Holy Spirit to work the miracle of faith. President Kieschnick refers to this activity as the "Critical Event."

Please report your contact here.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod World Missions, through its National Missions Staff has developed a process designed to assist local congregations in revitalizing their sense of mission. The LCMS Districts will be the responsible parties to introduce, communicate and monitor the Revitalization Process among selected congregations in their judicatory. Districts will not be looking for all of their congregations to participate, nor even for full participation from a selected region or circuit of the district. Rather districts will be fostering the formation of learning communities comprised of willing congregations which have undergone a screening process. Ideally, these learning communities will comprise congregations in sufficient proximity for pastors and leaders to conveniently meet face-to-face. However it may also be possible for congregational leaders to meet via distance technology.

Links:

Six Series of Bible Studies

Congregational Consultation

Pastoral Learning communities-FAQ (Powerpoint Presentation)

Groups Ablaze

Triads (Powerpoint Presentation)

Helping to fulfill the 2004 LCMS Synod convention mandate to plant 2,000 new congregations in the United States by 2017 as part of its Ablaze! initiative, LCMS World Mission provides leadership and assistance to help healthy congregations replicate themselves. Working with LCMS mission leaders, districts, and mission societies, 600 "healthy" Synod congregations that will commit to planting three or four "daughter" congregations each by 2017 are being identified and invited to spearhead this church-planting movement as "Ablaze! Covenant Congregations."

Ablaze! Covenant Congregations:
• are recruited by the respective district or self-identified and approved by the district;
• form a covenant with their district and this in turn is shared with LCMS World Mission; and
• may be comprised of a partnership with other congregations to plant up to four new congregations.

Every congregation--regardless of its growth potential--can take part in church planting by partnering with LCMS World Mission and other congregations to provide prayer and financial support, and perhaps even ministry leaders willing to serve outside their communities.

Links:

For more information, contact Yohannes.Mengsteab@lcms.org.

Church Planting Through Leadership Development Video

Covenant Congregations Brochure

Covenant Congregations Booklet

Lutheran Hour Ministries Church Plant Toolkit for Covenant Congregations

The following six bulletin inserts focus on involvement in God's mission through Ablaze! and the seven mission responses. Each of these bulletin inserts are in "pdf" format for easy copying and inclusion in your Sunday bulletin. Just click on any of the six to see the full bulletin insert either in color or black and white. Note: Only the front of the bulletin is displayed below.

         

          

        

Six Bible Study series for Groups Ablaze
(Click on series for list of files)

1. Series #1 - Motivation
2. Series #2 - Prayer
3. Series #3 - Natural Evangelism
4. Series #4 - Ablaze Living
5. Series #5 - Seeker Series
6. Series #6 - Coaching Toolkit

Study Pack #1 - Motivation (Complete set of files for this study. Zipped)
            Goal of study series #1 is to spark and interest in personal evangelism as a part
          of the individual Christian’s discipleship.
          Included in Study Pack #1 are the following files:

             Motivation for Mission pdf (2 mb) the entire folder in one printable file.

   Bulletin inserts to publicize this first Bible Study
                  Motivation for Mission bulletin insert OPTION 1
                  Motivation for Mission bulletin insert OPTION 2
                  Motivation for Mission bulletin insert OPTION 3

   Facilitator's Guides
                  1. Lost in America
                  2. Why is the Church on Earth
                  3. Change
                  4. The Search
                  5. The Power of a Team
                  6. Volunteer Spirit

   Congregational Research material that can be used before and after
               the Bible Study to determine the study's impact.
                  Interest Survey for Church Leaders
                  Interest Survey for church members
                  Pastor Profile
                  Survey Results Report

   Participants' Guides
                  1. Lost in America
                  2. Why is the Church on Earth
                  3. Change
                  4. The Search
                  5. The Power of a Team
                  6. Volunteer Spirit

Study Pack #2 - Prayer (Complete set of files for this study. Zipped)
             Goal of Study Series #2 - to assemble the prayer resources of the group for
          the participants’ evangelistic work.
          Included in the Study Pack #2 are the following files: 

              Prayer pdf- The entire folder in one printable file.

                 Facilitator's Guides
                       1. Prayer with a Purpose
                       2. Hallowed be Your Name
                       3. Daily Bread
                       4. Your Kingdom Come
                       5. Forgive us Our Debts
                       6. Deliver Us from Evil

     Participant's Guides
                       1. Prayer with a Purpose
                       2. Hallowed be Your Name
                       3. Daily Bread
                       4. Your Kingdom Come
                       5. Forgive us Our Debts
                       6. Deliver Us from Evil

Study Pack #3 - Natural Evangelism (Complete set of files for this study.)
             Goal of Study Series #3 - to grow in confident spiritual friendship skills-listening
           and sharing.
             Included in the Study Pack #3 are the following files:

    Natural Evangelism - The entire folder in one printable file.

    Facilitator's Guides

1. Natural Evangelism
2. Improving Your Serve
3. Improve Your Serve (Together!)
4. Forming Friendships through Listening
5. Forming Friendships through Curiosity (common interests)
6. Natural Sharing

   Participant's Guides

1. Natural Evangelism
2. Improving Your Serve
3. Improve Your Serve (Together!)
4. Forming Friendships through Listening
5. Forming Friendships through Curiosity (common interests)
6. Natural Sharing

  Word Document Sermon Series

1. Natural Evangelism
2. Improving Your Serve
3. Improve Your Serve (Together!)
4. Forming Friendships through Listening
5. Forming Friendships through Curiosity (common interests)
6. Natural Sharing

Study Pack #4 - Ablaze Living (Complete set of files for this study.)
            Goal of Study Series #4 - to help the participants set personal discipleship
          and evangelism goals in line with what the Lord is doing with each of them individually.
          No Sermons or Bulletin inserts for this series.
             Included in the Study Pack #4 are the following files:

    Ablaze Living - The entire folder in one printable file.

1. Ablaze for the Harvest
2. Power in Prayer
3. Starting Spiritual Conversation
4. Praying for the Harvest
5. Clear Communication
6. Starting Interest Groups

1. Ablaze for the Harvest
2. Power in Prayer
3. Starting Spiritual Conversation
4. Praying for the Harvest
5. Clear Communication
6. Starting Intrest Groups