A New Beginning for
	Missions  2001	

Dear People of Mission at First Lutheran Church!

God has placed an outreach opportunity before us!

One of the most important and exciting ventures of Christian outreach in 50 years is beginning to unfold in the Chippewa Valley.  The groundwork is being laid to start a new Lutheran congregation in Eau Claire.

For some time now, you have heard oral announcements at worship and read written material which has broadly described the ministry to be developed.  The case for a new congregation in Eau Claire is easy to make.  Our community is growing like wild fire and the need for another Lutheran presence is compelling.

A steering committee has worked for over a year to carefully study growth patterns, demographic information, and mission potential.  They have developed a working budget, established a strategy and time line, and organized broad based support in Eau Claire and with the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.  Now the strategies are unfolding and will eventually result in calling a mission developer pastor with the goal of holding the first service of worship the fall of 2002.

Now is the time for our members and Lutherans in Eau Claire and across Wisconsin to commit to this new mission congregation in the Chippewa Valley!

During 2001, it is necessary to secure the financial support required to give a strong and vibrant start to the new mission congregation.  Funding will come from the nine Lutheran congregations in Eau Claire, the churches of the NW Synod of Wisconsin, and the ELCA.  It will take strong support from all expressions of the church to make this mission start a reality.

Therefore, I ask that you make a three-year commitment to support the new Lutheran church.  A commitment card is enclosed.  Please complete it and bring it to the church this coming Sunday when we will have a special worship celebration that we’ve entitled Rainbow Sunday.  If all of us provide whatever support we can, thousands of people will be blessed by the ministry of this new church in the years to come.  Just think of how many will know Jesus and be involved in ministry!

A personal word . . . This is a mission effort to which I am deeply committed.  A new congregation has the chance to bless thousands of people in the future.  Our mission statement at First Lutheran says that we are a church “. . . reaching out in the name of Jesus Christ.”  Our strong support of a mission congregation will empower us as the people of God to reach out in ways beyond our imagination.

							Yours in Christ,

							Duane Pederson, Pastor

First Lutheran Church . . . a community of faith reaching out in the name of Jesus Christ.