New this year are the five Mission Action Councils, each of which is responsible for allocating district mission grant dollars to new and existing missions and new ministries.

Each MAC has determined a cut-off for 2006 grant applications of late August or early September.

So, how do you know if your new ministry or mission idea, or that of your circuit or mission society, qualifies for a grant? First, go to the CNH website and go to the tab, "Missions," then the drop-down tab, "Mission Action Councils." Download the "Priorities and Parameters" to familiarize yourself with the grant guidelines.

Then download a grant application form. You may wish to review some of the completed grant applications samples to see how to fill our your form.

Finally, after you have gained approval for the mission or new ministry from your governing board, submit to the chairman of your MAC the application. (Don't know how he/she is? Look at the map of our district to determine your MAC region and then go to the listing of that MAC.) A determination will be made in October and announced shortly thereafter.

If you need special assistance with this, or want to know how to begin the endeavor of planting a new church or starting a new outreach ministry, contact one of our three Mission Counselors: Ed Krueger, Ted Hartman, or John Whaley.

The CNH District is receiving a number of fine men and women who are either called into a position in the district or will be spending a year of internship at one of our churches. (See the complete listing of candidates and interns at the CNH District website.)

One such man is Thomas Henning who will serve Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Turlock, CA, as a Director of Christian Outreach Intern.

This is what Thomas writes:

"Greetings from St. Paul, Minnesota!

"I am excited to serve at Good Shepherd. I have felt that God has been leading me towards a life of service "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). I look forward to getting to know you, the community, and the awesome opportunities we will have together in ministry.

"I was born in Oak Park, Illinois (which is very close to Chicago). I have three older bothers, that gave me a deep insight into the story of "Joseph and his coat of many colors". This is not to say that I am spoiled rotten, but that I can understand how being the "baby" of the family can get "good little boys" like me into trouble. I was married in the summer of 2004, and currently finishing my degree from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, as a Director of Christian Outreach.

"Please keep my wife (Bonnie) and I in your prayers just as we are already praying for you."

In Christ,

Thomas Henning

That's the title of a book written by Herbert Mather and J. Clif Christopher. (Click here to order a copy from West Coast Supply.)

They propose the discipline of tithing as a way for Christians to symbolize and renew their relationship with God. The key to achieving this is to present the tithe, not as a legal obligation, but as a benchmark in a spiritual relationship that is generous and giving. In six provocative chapters the authors present:

• A comprehensive survey of the current literature on tithing and giving, followed by a close look at the practice of tithing in Scripture and church history.
• Questions and answers related to tithing.
• A step-by-step process to help congregations develop a long-term plan for nurturing individuals in the spiritual discipline of tithing.

A 2002 survey of the stewardship attitudes and practices of LCMS clergy indicated that tithing is not a neglected relic of the past. When asked if they were tithers, 83% of those responding answered "yes." And yet, across denominational lines, about 10-15% of congregational members are tithers. Could it be that pastors and congregational leaders are not asking their fellow members to consider tithing?

Ed Uthe of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Commission for Financial Support listed four interesting research findings:

• CONGREGATIONS THAT ASK MEMBERS TO PLEDGE have average giving levels 30.2 percent higher than congregations that do not ask for pledges.
• CONGREGATIONS THAT HAVE A STEWARDSHIP EMPHASIS have average giving levels 23.3 percent higher than those that do not have a financial stewardship emphasis.
• CONGREGATIONS THAT HAVE ASKED MEMBERS TO CONSIDER TITHING have average giving levels 19.6 percent higher than those that do not make such a challenge.
• CONGREGATIONS THAT USE ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE LISTED ACTIVITIES have giving levels 38.5 percent higher than those that use none of them.

Christine Sinnott, Communications Director for LSS of Northern California, shares with us current news from LSS.

On June 5th, during the English Worship service, 32 adults and high schoolers , with their team leader, DCE Allan long, were commissioned for their Youth Mission Trip to Tijuana, Mexico, June llth-19th, 2005.

This group of mission servants will spend one week as Short-term Missionaries to Tijuana, Mexico where they will share the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ with the people there and assist in repairing homes.

On June 29th there will be a special sharing by the young people, to tell what the Lord has done during their trip. All praise and thanks be to our Lord who has provided this opportunity of Mission Service!

Take a look at the new LHM Congregational Tool Kit that rolled out in conjunction with the redesigned Lutheran Hour Ministries Web site. Products in the Tool Kit include: print, radio, and TV advertisements; awareness ads; bulletin inserts; Web site resources; on-site training and event information; tools for schools; topical booklets (in PDF format); and comprehensive religious research to help you determine ways to reach out to your community. In addition, LHM offers Response Center services to support your local media campaigns.

To learn more, visit LHM Congregational Tool Kit. You will be prompted to sign up before you can access the Tool Kit. Use your e-mail address or any name you choose in the "user name" field and any password you wish. If you have questions or encounter problems while logging on, contact us at 1-800-944-3450, ext. 4305, or via e-mail at localmedia@l hm.org.

Lutheran Hour Ministries is a media and congregational outreach ministry supporting The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Lutheran Church-Canada, and churches worldwide. It is also known as the International Lutheran Laymen's League, a volunteer movement of 150,000 supporters. The ministry airs TV, radio, and Internet programming in more than 50 countries and has ministry centers in 41 nations. Its flagship radio program is The Lutheran Hour®, the world's longest-running Christian outreach radio program, airing since 1930.

New Prayer Requests:

Rev Doug Williams, Santa Rosa, CA, has received a call to be Pastor of Vineyard of Faith Lutheran Ministries, Windsor, CA.

Rev. John Gross, pastor at St. Matthew, Roseville, CA, has accepted the call to Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church, Mammoth Lakes CA.

Rev. Paul Zimmermann, pastor at St. Peter, Lodi, California, has accepted the call to First Lutheran, Clearwater, Florida.

Rev. Mark Bowditch, teacher, St. Mark, Kaneohe, Hawaii, has accepted the call to the Michigan District as missionary at large.

Rev. Mitch Gowen, pastor at Our Savior, Aiea, Hawaii, has a call to Trinity Lutheran, Bowie, Maryland.

Rev. Dr. David Stohlmann, Sebastopol, atrial fibrillation - corrective procedure June 22.

Leota Hindenburg, mother of Deacon Bruce Hindenburg, Coarsegold, California, who has been diagnosed with cancer of the kidney. She had surgery on June 9 to remove her right kidney.

Rev. David Shoemaker who will serve as Circuit Counselor, Circuit 3, replacing Rev. Paul Zimmermann.

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

Upcoming events:

• Hispanic Task Force, Ministry Center -- June 16
• Sierra/Nevada Region Mission Action Council Conference Call, Friday, July 29, 10:00 - 11:00.
• Southern Region Mission Action Council meeting, Wednesday, July 20, 10:00 - 3:00, location to be determined.
• Campus Ministries meeting at Lutheran Church of Arcata, California, August 15-16.
• Northern Region Mission Action Council meeting, Thursday, August 18, 9:00 - 4:00, at First Lutheran Church, Willows, CA
• Pacific Region Mission Action Council meeting, Tuesday, August 30, 10:00 - 3:00, at the Ministry Center
• Sierra/Nevada Region Mission Action Council meeting, Friday, September 9, 2:00 - 8:00, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Sparks, NV
• Board of Directors, Ministry Center - - September 10
• Southern Mission Action Council meeting, Saturday, September 24, 10:00 - 3:00, at St. Paul, Merced, CA
• Fall Pastors' Conference, Fresno -- October 11-13