21st Century State of the World

  • 72 Million person population increase in the U.S. between 1970 and 2000.
  • In the same time, the LCMS membership declined by 350,000.
  • 6.5 billion people in the world….4.5 billion people have not heard the Gospel!
  • It is estimated that 1.2 billion or 60% of "Christians” are nominal or non-practicing
  • Every minute 83 people die NOT knowing Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin.
The Beginning

Ablaze!® began as a vision of LCMS World Mission to involve every member of the LCMS, its partner church bodies, and partner mission agencies in one focused and concentrated effort to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him. By joining together in this effort, not only would those who hear and receive the message of salvation in Christ be transformed by it and brought into the body of Christ, but our own church bodies, mission organizations and congregations would be strengthened as members grow in discipleship through mission involvement. Additionally, all our Lutheran resources would be strategically coordinated, so that more can be accomplished in mission to the glory and honor of our one, true God. It was the desire of LCMS World Mission to give this vision away—to ignite a spark that would become a mission movement of individuals, groups, congregations, etc., all committed to the goal of reaching 100 million unreached and uncommitted people with the Gospel by 2017, which is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Fan into Flame is the LCMS campaign to gather financial support for the Ablaze!® Movement.

The Mission of the NED is to encourage and assist its congregations in their ministry of Word and Sacrament to build up the body of Christ and to make disciples of all peoples.
 
In accordance with our mission, the New England District of The Lutheran Church has established a 5 year Fan into Flame goal of $600,000 for mission outreach throughout the world. Up to $180,000 (thirty percent) will be used for mission work within the New England District! As of January 2010, the total pledged by the congregations and members of the New England District is over $264,000.
 
To date, nineteen congregations of the NED have indicated they plan to participate in the Fan into Flame program, and the New England District and its congregations have already received funds totaling $14,385.08 (August 2010) that have been or will be used directly to reach out with the Gospel in various ways through programs right here in our district.
 
Thanks be to God!
 
For more information about the national Fan into Flame efforts, as well find resources and check updates, go to http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=10395.
 
All gifts to Fan into Flame are encouraged to be paid over a three to five-year period.