As hard as it is to believe, in January the Here We Stand (HWS) campaign begins its final year. This highly successful initiative of the Michigan District, LCMS is now a mere twelve months away from ending. As Campaign Director throughout the planning and implementation of the campaign, there is a certain level of sadness in knowing the end is approaching, while at the same time I am ecstatic about the impact the campaign has made and is continuing to make.
HWS has indeed been a successful journey. From providing annual scholarships to future Professional Church Workers attending a Concordia University System School or Seminary, to the literally hundreds of thousands of dollars being invested in Michigan District-wide Innovative Missional Ministries, to the annual support provided to missionaries from District congregations who are deployed throughout the world, as well as significant investment in the mission and ministries of St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Church in Middelberg, South Africa, HWS has certainly made a huge impact on current and future Gospel proclamation in Michigan and around the world.
We at the Michigan District office praise God and thank you for allowing HWS to be the successful undertaking that it is. Without the faithful and generous support of the churches and individual members of our District congregations, this level of impact would not be occurring.
So now what? If HWS were to end today, we could say it was a great success. And keep in mind, I have not even mentioned the Bible reading program joined in by thousands, or the 500th Anniversary Worship Service at the Breslin Center in East Lansing attended by some 13,000, or the over $1 million added to our Endowment Fund. Yes, the campaign has been a wonderful and successful undertaking that has allowed much to take place for the sake of the Kingdom.
But we have another year to make HWS even more successful and have an even greater impact than it already has. Another year of opportunity is before us.
As we go through these final twelve months of HWS, I invite you to prayerfully consider how you and/or your congregation can become a participant if you have not already, or consider participating again if you have already.
Thank you for your consideration, and please do not hesitate to contact me, or Linda Ekong, if you have any questions.
“O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wonderous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come” (Psalm 71:17–18).
For more information about the campaign or to make a donation please visit: herewestand.michigandistrict.org. To make a gift by phone you can call Linda Ekong at 734.665.3791 ext 265.
