The congregations of Hawaii held their MAC orientation this past Saturday as they prepare to take fuller ownership of future mission planting on the Islands.

Pictured left to right are District President Bob Newton, Pastor Milt Fricke (Emmanuel, Maui), Pastor Bruce Betker (St. Mark, Kaneohe), Pastor Don Arehart (Waikoloa, HI), and Pastor Jeff Mueller (Good Shepherd, Honolulu).

Members of the MAC representing the other churches on the Islands not able to make the training are Marsha Wittig, Peter Tirbak, Connie McCarty, Paul Halvorson and Wayne Delventhal.

The day before Easter, we had our kite festival at Our Savior Lutheran. We were overwhelmed with about 50+ young families mostly from the preschool.

I spoke with one woman whom I had shared the gospel with either last year or the year before. She told me she had just been baptized the week before at the nearby EV Free Church. She told me that my influence had been a major part of her growth which led to an in depth study of the Christian faith and eventually resulted in her being added to Christ's body through baptism.

I was encouraged to hear what had happened to that "seed" because I had just removed her from my list of current contacts since I had not heard from her in a year.

David Wilson

Missionary at Prince of Peace, Fremont

Good Shepherd Communities of Fountain Valley, CA, is seeking a part-time Parish Ministry Consultant who will consult with Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services Chief Religious Life Officer and Oregon PMC concerning overall spiritual life program direction, resources, training and the like

The duties include working cooperatively with management and staff of Good Shepherd Communities (GSC) to ensure that programs and activities are appropriate to the mission and goals of Good Shepherd Communities and are coordinated with other Regional PMCs.

A few days ago, you were notified about a new demographic tool available to every church and mission of the CNH District FREE OF CHARGE.

As of Monday, 93 churches and 133 individuals have registered on Link2lead.com, but that still leaves half our churches who have not yet accessed this tool.

I thought that I would remind you once again that, if you have yet to register, please go to the link below and take a moment to register one of the accounts available to your congregation.

Again, these resources have already been paid for by the CNH District. There is no additional cost to you or your congregation.

May God bless your ministry.

Rev. Ed Krueger

The CNH District has become one of the largest grant recipients among the districts of Synod this year as announced by Robert Scudieri, National Mission T.E.A.M., LCMS World Missions.

The grants, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, were awarded from applications submitted earlier this year by the mission execs and counselors of the 35 districts. The awards were weighted on the needs of the area, the completeness of the mission plan, and the likelihood for the mission to make a difference in reaching, assimilating, and discipling unchurched people.

The grants to the CNH district are:

• Grace Libererian Ministry, Pittsburg, CA: $10,000
• AIMS (Acts in Mission Society) Bakersfield, CA: $10,000
• East Bay Mission Society, Oakland, CA: $50,000
• St. Paul Lutheran Hmong Outreach Mission: $50,000
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Honolulu, HI: $50,000
• St. John Hispanic Ministry, Napa, CA: $10,000

For the family of Rev. Emeritus, William Bragstad, who was called to glory on March 29.

For the family of Rev. Emeritus, Richard W. Schick, who was called to his eternal home on March 29.

For Bernie Pankow as he undergoes cancer therapy.

For the membership of Grace, Crescent City, as they seek to call a pastor upon the decline by Rev. Rick Twenhafel.

For the membership of Vineyard of Faith, Windsor, as they seek to call a pastor upon the decline by Rev. Chris Davis.

God's blessings upon the pastors and presenters at the Spring Pastors' Conference being held in Rohnert Park this Tuesday - Thursday.

If you have a specific "district" prayer request that you wish to add, please let us know (rita@cnh- lcms.org)

Upcoming events:

• Pacific Region Mission Action Council, Ministry Center -- April 14
• Education Administrators' Meeting, Ministry Center -- April 15
• Interim Pastors Meeting, Ministry Center -- April 19
• Human Care Committee, Ministry Center -- April 21
• Chinese Ministry Conference, Prince of Peace, Fremont -- April 21-23
• District LWML Convention, Santa Rosa-- April 30
• Sierra/Nevada Misson Action Council, St. Luke, Reno, NV -- May 6
• Large Church Meeting, Ministry Center -- May 26
• Board of Directors, Ministry Center -- June 11
• Hispanic Task Force, Ministry Center -- June 16
• Board of Directors, Ministry Center -- September 10
• Fall Pastors' Conference, Fresno -- October 11-13