As I began to plan strategies for outreach and mission growth, I also paused to consider the character of the congregation we were seeking to organize. The goal wasn't just to grow, but to become a church which would offer something truly unique to our community.  Clermont already had two large Lutheran Churches, a huge Roman Catholic Church and lots of protestant churches that want to be thought of as "non-denominational" or generic.

What could a little mission-church like ours offer? I identified five things: As confessional Lutherans we offer A Gospel Focus and Authentic Biblical Teaching, both of which I found lacking in the local churches that I visited. In an era of dumbed-down courses, we offer classes that provideSupport for Spiritual Growth. Instead of jumping on the bandwagon for contemporary worship with its law emphasis, we offer Reverent, Uplifting Worship with a Scriptural Gospel emphasis. Rather than plugging people into programs, we are small enough to pay Attention to people's individual Needs.

Another challenge has been organizing our congregation around God's Scriptural and Gospel-centered purpose and then enlisting and training church leaders to join together in this purpose. After reading constitutions from several congregations-plus some suggested "model" constitutions, I typed up a draft for discussion. After several meetings we came to a consensus on wording that provides a flexible framework for involving people in meaningful service of Christ. Starting with a handful of "coordinators" we can expand to have several committees, each with a number of people. While being careful to uphold Scriptural principles (with supporting Bible references printed out), we also provided for a Deaconess committee to provide women expanded Scripturally appropriate opportunities for service  We included a Social Service committee for communicating Christian care to people with special needs (a particularly relevant function in light of our recent hurricane). God has already given us some good leaders, and they are growing in their service as they grow in their faith in Christ.

With God's help, we have laid the foundation and built a Scriptural framework upon it. After making over 50,000 contacts to people in our area, including canvassing over 8,400 homes and telephoning over 8,500 households, we have 700 prospective families, 600 of which receive our church newsletter, which we publish monthly in full color. Our membership is small but growing. Most of our families are from non-Lutheran backgrounds who have been received by adult Confirmation, or who have a Lutheran background, but not recently. God has granted our little mission congregation a rate of receiving members that places us in the top dozen ELS congregations for adult Baptisms and Confirmations.

We appreciate the commitment that our Synod's Home Mission Board has made to plant a church here in Clermont, and their faith in God's promise that His Word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish the purpose that He has determined for it.  To God be the glory.

Pastor Greg Sahlstrom of South Lake Lutheran Church, Clermont, Florida