Discovering Hope
About 75 participants from congregations in the Central/Southern Illinois Synod and the Northern Illinois Synod gathered on October 6 for a Discovering Hope workshop focusing on key ministry themes for small membership congregations such as worship, evangelism, prayer and caring ministries and the power of the Holy Spirit. Participants were inspired to consider simple ways to engage people in ministry, and created a plan for conference follow up. Take home ideas included using the mission statement as part of the dismissal in worship, identifying key assets of the congregation, “teach kids, play with adults,” “church happens in community outreach,” and involving children in worship leadership. Seventeen C/SIS congregations were represented at this event. Thank you to St. Mark Lutheran, Washington for their hospitality in being the host site for this conference!